Mañanaland

Isadora moves slower than Max and he worries that he won’t make it home in time for fútbol tryouts at this pace. However, they arrive on time to the first safe hiding spot, at a “patch of dense privet bushes” (152). They prepare to spend the night and Max relaxes. They are doing well for time and don’t seem to be followed. He starts to tell Isadora the story of Yadra to prepare their meeting. As Max begins the story, the nature around them seems to join in to set the mood: “The shadows grew darker. Crickets began their songs. The slow slap of the water against the bank kept a rhythm” (153). Isadora has not spoken the entire time since Max has met her. However, Isadora speaks up to say: “I like stories” (153). She listens intently as Max talks about Yadra and the secret bridge. Max tucks Isadora into a blanket and gets ready to sleep. Max sees a shooting star and thinks about what to wish for. His hopes for life have changed in only a short time. The fútbol clinic was once the biggest thing on his mind. Now his life has become more complicated. Max makes his wish: “I wish to know what will become of me and if the path I’m on is leading to a place I want to go” (156).

The next morning, Max wakes to find Isadora missing. He finds her by the river picking flowers. Max admonishes her for disappearing without telling him, which frightens Isadora. Max feels bad and lets her know he was only worried. Max packs up camp and notices smoke from another camp further down the river. Max worries someone is following them, and they quickly continue their journey.

They walk all day, until they come across a stream they need to cross. There is a tree serving as a bridge. Isadora is terrified of heights and nervous about crossing the tree. Max encourages her and helps her across. Max is proud of Isadora for being brave when she’s so young.

They camp at another safe spot that night. Max gives Isadora a sandwich made with fig jam. Before Isadora’s parents were killed, her mother used to make fig jam every year. Isadora carries a wooden box her father made, with their fig tree carved on the lid. Max used to help his aunts make fig jam from his aunt Mariana’s fig tree. Max and Isadora bond over their memories of making jam. Isadora lies down to sleep and touches her wrist in pain. Max asks if she hurt her wrist, but she doesn’t answer. Before Max goes to sleep, he climbs up rocks to scan the horizon. He sees a campfire nearby and realizes they are being followed.

They leave early the next morning and continue onward. They stop once to pick blackberries. Lola runs around and comes back smelling terribly from something she rolled around in. Max sends her into the river to bathe. A man appears on the bridge behind them, holding a rifle. He heard Lola splash in the river. The man knows two girls were reported missing and that there’s a large reward for information. The man wants to take Max and Isadora to a police station, feigning concern about their safety. Max agrees to join the man. However, when the man turns his back, Max and Isadora run for the opposite bank.

The man leaves to report Max and Isadora to the police. Isadora is scared that she will be forced back to Abismo. She is too upset to move onward. Max consoles Isadora by sharing a secret with her. He promises to tell her about his mother as they walk to the next safe place. Max tells Isadora about his best friend, Chuy, and how even he doesn’t know this secret. Then, Max tells Isadora about Max’s mother—how she was also a hidden one, that she left when he was young, and that he’s hoping Yadra will help him find her.

They keep traveling until they reach their last hiding spot. They are due to reach Yadra’s the next day. Isadora talks about her parents and her life in Abismo. Her parents worked at a factory, her mother sewing curtains and her father working with machines. After her parents were killed, Rosalina and Isadora started working cleaning a rich man’s house. They were told they would be able to go to school, but the man did not follow through on the promise. Isadora’s questions about school annoyed him and he broke Isadora’s hand to silence her. The man also planned to marry Rosalina as soon as she turned fourteen. A doctor who helped Isadora with her broken hand told the girls he would get help for them. The next day a cook from the church collected the girls, telling the man the priest needed them for sewing. The girls hid in the church until a guardian came, first for Rosalina, then for Isadora.

Max tells Isadora she is the bravest person he knows. He realizes the impact of being a guardian and helping hidden ones cross safely. His commitment to helping Isadora to safety becomes more important to him than finding answers about his mother.