“Your father had a trick,” said Esteban, and Gaspar perceived a change in his voice that forced him to pay attention. I’m trying to do it now. You and I can speak and that idiot over there will hear a different conversation. I don’t know if it’ll work, he promised to leave it to me before he died, look, he gave me this mark on my head, but you can’t try with just anyone and it’s been a long time since I’ve had someone to practice with, Tali won’t let me anymore.

What are you saying?

You don’t want to die. Or maybe you do, but you can also get away from here.

Gaspar looked at the guard and then at Esteban, who was sweating as if he were lifting something heavy. His father used to do this, the thing Esteban was trying to do now. He used to get into his head. Gaspar had always thought it was an exclusive communication between the two of them, and its oddness hadn’t been apparent to him until many years later.

He can’t hear us, who knows what he hears. But come on, I don’t have much time. It’s painful for me to keep this up. Ask, go on.

Why are you with them?

I’m not on their side, if that’s what you’re asking. They’re my family. They’re yours, too. There are plans for them, and you have to carry them out.

I don’t believe you.

Well, you don’t have many options left, Gaspar, you should really trust me.

Why did they kill my uncle? Why did they take Adela?

Luis’s death was out of my control. I didn’t even know about it. Adela was going to go no matter what, and plus, you took her there, much as it pains you. I can’t summarize decades of history in the ten minutes until the doctor comes and my strength runs out. Your father decided Adela would disappear: he gave her up to save you from your family, and he used you as an instrument. I think that when he did it, he released unknown forces.

Gaspar smiled almost involuntarily.

I don’t think the salvation is really working.

You’re mocking me. At least that’s a change from how resigned you’ve been since you got here. I remembered you as a brilliant child, one with character. Our family is brutal, Gaspar. You can’t allow yourself to be weak. You never used to be weak.

That was a long time ago. I remembered you as a friend.

Enough with the sentimentality. Wake up, Gaspar. You can’t do anything out there in the jungle where they take you, but you can do other things. You haven’t sensed any doors?

Gaspar looked at this sweating man, his damp gray hair, and he observed the guard, who seemed nervous but wasn’t paying them any attention. The guard was watching the path. It was clear that Esteban was right: either he didn’t hear the conversation or he didn’t understand it.