He got a jacket, went through the garden, and opened a rose-trellised gate that led to the shore. First one frog and then another plopped into the water. A night bird startled him by whirring off from sedges near his feet. He stood still, his heart pounding. At once, he called himself a coward, but as he began to follow the shore, he realized someone was trailing him. He stopped, his hand on the trunk of a primavera tree and waited for the man to approach. "Coming ... coming," came Manuel's voice. Raul broke into a chuckle. "Why are you following me? Haven't you anything better to do?" "You need company." "I suppose I do. A night bird scared me. I'm an old woman." "It's no time for an old woman to be about alone," laughed Manuel. "I'm not going far." "I brought this," said Manuel, tapping his revolver. "For the frogs," said Raul. "Not tonight," Manuel said. Raul walked on, across clumps of grass that had wiry tops. "I think we're overdoing this gun business ... too much precaution." Raul was touched by Manuel's solicitude. Who else, beside his children, cared so much at Petaca? Even if there was no danger, it amounted to the same thing. Their walk took them through cane, and a snake slid toward the lagoon, its gray-white body sparkling, as if carrying dew or pieces of spider web. He and Manuel had routed many a snake along this shore. Ash, eucalyptus, pepper, jacaranda, primavera, tabachin and palm grew here. His grandfather and father had planted them. Close to the shore some of the trees had not done well, but on higher ground all were superb. Paths wound among them. Where moonlight scraped a circle on the ground, Angelina had placed a rustic table and chairs. Raul sat on a log, and Manuel crouched on his heels, his back against an ash tree. "Were the men having tortillas in the court?" Raul asked. "Yes ... they hadn't had any for several days." "Salvador came tonight, to live at the hacienda," said Raul. "I know," said Manuel. "He'll be a lot of help." "Do many know of my decision?" "Most of them, I think." "How do they feel about it? What have you heard?" "I've heard only good things: some are very pleased, even excited." Manuel moved closer and squatted beside Raul. For a while they were silent, listening to the waves and the night sounds. "It's beautiful tonight," Raul said. "Perhaps it's too beautiful. The charcoal makers, who came down from the volcano today, say smoke is seeping from the crater." "If there were much smoke we would have seen it ... wouldn't we?" "Perhaps," said Manuel. "You sound pessimistic. What is it? Tell me why you followed me?" "Pedro is here," he answered, after a pause. "You know that for a fact?" asked Raul, stiffening. "I saw him. He came from Manzanillo." "Where did you see him?" "In the stable, with other men." "Did you speak to him?"