Woman of Light

Pidre designs an outdoor entertainment show centered on Simodecea, and her affection grows. One night, she asks if they can go to his cabin, and they make love. Another night, Mickey waits for her outside of Pidre’s cabin and criticizes her for their relationship. Simodecea responds, “You know who else was jealous […] The fallen angel […] Be careful who you model yourself after” (201). The couple eventually have two daughters, Sara and Maria Josie. When the girls are six and seven, Simodecea notices the encroachment of tents on the ridge above the amphitheater. Pidre explains these tents house radium miners. He learns that a train track runs near Pardona and decides to take his family to see where he grew up. When they arrive at Pardona, they find it is a ghost town. Pidre goes to his grandmother Desiderya’s grave. He tells her that he misses her and has brought his family to see her: “Simodecea stepped forward. She hung her head. With certainty in her heart, she knew bad days were to come” (209).

One day, when Lizette longs for liberty, Natalya sends her to a Catholic convent home for pregnant unwed white women to collect a bill.