The novel opens just before dawn in the coastal village of La Paz in Mexico.The roosters, pigs and wild birds are already awake in the yard outside Kino's hut. The first thing Kino sees upon opening his eyes is the outlining of the door then the hanging box where Coyotito is sleeping. Then, he looks at his wife, Juana beside him on a mat. Most of her head is covered in a blue shawl that she uses to ward off the chill of night. She is looking at him.
Kino hears the sound of the waves hitting the shore.In the past everything Kino's people did or saw became a song but that time has long since passed and no new songs have been created. Kino, however, has his personal song that is "clear and soft" that, he gave it a name, that would be "The Song of the Family."
Juana rises and, after checking to see that Coyotito is well, fans an ember from the firepit into the morning cooking fire.Kino, meanwhile, puts on his sandals and steps outside the hut to watch the dawn.Kino now hears the song of the family coming from the stone where Juana is grinding the corn for the morning meal. The dawn comes suddenly while Kino watches "with the detachment of God" a group of ants in the sand. When a thin timid dog approaches Kino offers it a kind word and the dog rests contentedly near him.
The rising sun streams through the crack in the brush house and Kino and Juana's attention is suddenly drawn to a deadly scorpion descending one of the ropes supporting Coyotito's hanging box. The scorpion brings to Kino's mind the song of evil, brought by any enemy of the family, and as the scorpion draws closer to the happily gurgling infant Juana begins to recite both pagan and Christian prayers of protection. Kino slowly approaches the deadly creature but Coyotito's laughter causes the rope to shake and the scorpion falls onto the boys' shoulder. The scorpion stings Coyotito before Kino can pull it away and stamp it to death on the earth floor.
Juana pulls the baby from the crib and immediately begins to suck the poison from the wound. The neighbors, including Kino's older brother Juan Thomás and his wife Apolonia, come rushing at the sound of the screaming child. Everyone knows that though Juana has done her best to remove the poison there is a good chance the baby will die if enough of the venom remains. After the sickness begins the baby will suffer terribly until he dies. Juana demands that Kino bring the doctor to treat Coyotito.
Everyone gathered at Kino's hut knows that it would be very surprising if the doctor came since he never came to the poor indian's huts. After Kino tells his wife that the doctor will not come, she responds that they must go to him. With his son's life at stake Kino agrees. Everyone follows Kino and Juana to the doctor's house.As they proceed to the doctor's home, new people join the procession including four beggars normally posted outside the church who know everything that happens in the town. The beggars know that the doctor, who thinks of the indians as animals, will not deign to treat Kino's son.
At the gate to the doctor's house Kino hesitates when he considers that the doctor is the descendent a people that for four hundred years had subjugated his own. Kino feels weak, afraid and angry. Kino hears the music of the enemy in his ears. Even though the rage and terror grow within him, Kino thinks to remove his hat before lifting the iron knocker on the gate. The servant who comes to the door is an indian of Kino's own race and Kino says in their common language that his child is sick and needs a healer. The servant, refusing to use the indian language, tells Kino that he will inform the doctor of the reason for their visit and then he shuts the gate.
The doctor is languishing in his sumptuous bedchamber, drinking chocolate and, as he often does, thinking of the time that he spent in Paris as a young man when he could afford a mistress and still have the small luxuries of life. Dressed in a silk robe, the doctor drinks from a cup of china that is so small that he must use only the tip of his thumb and forefinger to lift it. He is fat and his voice has become hoarse. On the walls are various religious pictures including one in the same style depicting his deceased wife. When the servant informs the doctor of Kino's request, the doctor contemptuously asks if the indians have any money to pay for his services. The servant returns to Kino who produces several small, misshapen pearls of little value. After a time the servant returns the pearls to Kino and makes the excuse that the doctor has gone out to treat a serious case.
The group waiting with Kino quickly dissolves because they do not want to witness his shame. Kino stands at the doctor's shut gate in silence for a time and then, after replacing his hat on his head, suddenly strikes the iron gate with his fist which causes his knuckles to begin bleeding.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
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