I read 17 pages.
You can do it, said Tam Lin from the darkness on the other side of the fire.
"I know I can," said Matt, smiling back. (page 380)
Ahh! Last line of the book! I like this, because even as Matt thinks about the future of Opium, he knows Tam Lin is still right there with him.
Chapter 37 Summary: Matt is recovering in the hospital of the Convent from spending the past few months as a mistreated orphan and refugee. One day, Esperanza comes and tells Matt what she needs him to do. She explains that since El Patron's death, Opium has been on lockdown. The only way to get into Opium is with El Patron's handprint and signature, and since he is now technically El Patron, he might be able to get in. She also says he could take over Opium too, since El Patron is now dead. Since she had abandoned Maria, Matt doesn't trust Esperanza very much, but agrees to go to Opium. He flies in a hovercraft to Opium and puts his hand on the scanner. It works, and he goes into Opium. He goes into the house and hears music. Following the sound to the music room, he finds Mr. Ortega, his music teacher, playing the piano. Matt tries to get his attention, but Mr. Ortega freaks out and runs away. I would be freaked out too if I thought someone was dead, and they randomly come from nowhere and try to talk to me. Matt sits down at the piano and plays for a bit, until Celia greets him. He asks her about Tam Lin, and she begins to explain what happened when he left.
Chapter 38 Summary: Matt listens to the story from Daft Donald, Celia, and Mr. Ortega's point of view. At El Patron's funeral, a box of wine was pulled out. The wine was made the year that El Patron was born, and he wanted it to be served at his 150th birthday, or his funeral. The Alacrans, Tom, El Patron's bodyguards, and the doctors drank the wine. Daft Donald didn't drink the wine, because Tam Lin warned him. A few minutes passed, and everyone who drank the wine died. Devastated, Daft Donald blew up the entrance of the dragon hoard. After the story, Matt didn't understand why Tam Lin would drink the wine since he knew about the poison in it. Apparently, Tam Lin saw this as a great opportunity to free the eejits. He also never forgave himself for blowing up the bus full of children and believed drinking the wine would make up for it. Matt goes to the oasis, and he starts thinking about how he was going to run Opium. He also wondered if eejits could be turned back into humans. When he finally arrives at the oasis, Matt digs out the letter that Tam Lin left him. Matt made a plan to reverse the eejits and let them go back to their families. He also wants to plant real crops, and he was going to get Fidelito, Chacho, Ton-Ton, and Maria to live with him. Matt looks up to find a scorpion in the red light of the sunset. He runs to it, pressing his hand against it. The false rock moved, and Matt enters to find parts of El Patron's dragon hoard. The passage led straight to El Patron's coffin. He went back to the oasis, and thought once again about running Opium, and he knew it wouldn't be too difficult as longs as his friends were there. He hears Tam Lin say You can do it. Matt agrees, saying, "I know I can."
I really enjoyed this book, and I can't wait for the sequel to come out. I was entertained the whole time while I was reading.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Chapters 34-36
I read 28 pages.
Jorge flinched. "Laudanum?"
"The Aztlan police have wondered for a long time how drugs were being distributed in this country. They were extremely interested in what they found at the saltworks."
"That's a vicious lie! Someone's trying to undermine the reputation of the Keepers!" cried Carlos. "Rumors like that are spread by idiots who want orphans to lie around like pampered house cats. We know they're squalid little parasites until they're reeducated into good citizens. If any laudanum was found, it was planted by the police!"
"Fine. Then you won't mind taking a drug test," said Esperanza. She stepped aside, and suddenly the doorway swarmed with men in blue uniforms. They must have been waiting just out of sight. Jorge and Carlos looked stunned as they were led away. (pae 362)
Woohoo! The Keepers are finally caught! Someone finally showed them up, and it will only be worse for them since they lied.
Chapter 34 Summary: Matt has escaped the bone pit, and is trying to get Chacho to wake up. All of a sudden, Matt hears clanking and thinks the Keepers are coming. Turns out, it is just Ton-Ton and Fidelito driving on the shrimp harvester. Ton-Ton carefully uses the shrimp harvester to get Chacho out of the pit. I thought that was pretty awesome. He says that Chacho is in a state of shock and he needed to get fluids into him. Ton-Ton gives Chacho and Matt strawberry soda, which they were very pleased with since they were dehydrated. He says they are all going to make a run for San Luis. Apparently, the boys took over control at the factory. Ton-Ton drugged the Keepers with Laudanum, and the rest of the boys barricaded the compound with bags of salt so they couldn't leave if they woke up. The boys are now taking the shrimp harvester to San Luis. Matt notices that Chacho is hurt badly, and they will have to go to a doctor as soon as they arrive to San Luis. Since the shrimp harvester is solar powered, the boys travel until dark. Matt doesn't think Chacho can make it to morning without seeing a doctor, so he and Fidelito run ahead to go find help in San Luis. Ton-Ton tells Matt and Fidelito to be extremely careful near the Colorado River because it is very bad.
Chapter 35 Summary: Fidelito and Matt are walking to San Luis in the dark. As they near the Colorado River, Matt finds the stench is almost as bad as the eejit pens. They see a tentacle coming out of the river, and they quickly cross it. Matt has an asthma attack and passes out after they cross the river. He wakes to an inhaler being held to his face by a woman. She is with her brother, Guapo. They take Matt with them, saying that they won't tell the keepers about him because they hate the Keepers too. They had also already sent an ambulance for Chacho. Matt follows the woman, Consuela, and Guapo to a door where they enter into a cemetery. He is taken aback by this because he's not used to graves being in the ground, since the Alacrans had a mausoleum. Matt and Fidelito had arrived on El Dia De Los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, which is a popular Mexican holiday. Conseula explains that death is a part of everyone when Matt doesn't understand why people would celebrate death. He knows Celia celebrated every holiday, but he had never heard of this one. Matt smells something, and it reminds him of Felicia. He then gets homesick at the party. Conseula and Guapo say they'll take the boys to see Chacho, which is coincidentally at the Convent of Santa Clara, where Maria lives. She gives them Halloween masks to disguise themselves from the Keepers. The masks look like skulls, and Matt is uncomfortable with wearing the masks, but Conseula says it is the only way to go unnoticed. He does not like wearing the mask at all.
Chapter 36 Summary: Guapo, Matt, and Fidelito get into a hover car to go to the Convent of Santa Clara. When they arrive, Matt and Fidelito wander around until a nurse spots them and takes them to Chacho. They discover two Keepers trying to take Chacho and Ton-Ton away when they get to the room. Carlos and Jorge say they are going to take Chacho without permission, even though the Sisters say that Chacho will die if they move him. The Sisters say the Keepers will have to go through him, and Matt steps in and says they will have to go through him too. Jorge goes for Matt, and everyone begins fighting. This part would make a hilarious movie scene. A lady comes in and demands everyone to stop fighting. Turns out, she is Dona Esperanza, which is Maria's mother! She tells Ton-Ton to explain everything. He does, starting from Fidelito almost getting beaten and telling her everything. Jorge denies everything, and she acts if she believed Jorge over Ton-Ton. I was like she better not believe him! She asks the Keepers about the laudanum, and how the police were investigation where all of the drugs in the country go. Of course the Keepers lie and say that if the police were to find any laudanum it was planted. Esperanza then says that they shouldn't mind a drug test. Out of nowhere, the Keepers are taken away by men in blue uniforms. Nice job, Esperanza! She explains that she had been trying to catch the Keepers for drugs, and without Ton-Ton she wouldn't have been able to get them. This makes Ton-Ton feel special, because she actually listened to him. Maria comes in and reunites with Matt. Woohoo for good endings to chapters!
Jorge flinched. "Laudanum?"
"The Aztlan police have wondered for a long time how drugs were being distributed in this country. They were extremely interested in what they found at the saltworks."
"That's a vicious lie! Someone's trying to undermine the reputation of the Keepers!" cried Carlos. "Rumors like that are spread by idiots who want orphans to lie around like pampered house cats. We know they're squalid little parasites until they're reeducated into good citizens. If any laudanum was found, it was planted by the police!"
"Fine. Then you won't mind taking a drug test," said Esperanza. She stepped aside, and suddenly the doorway swarmed with men in blue uniforms. They must have been waiting just out of sight. Jorge and Carlos looked stunned as they were led away. (pae 362)
Woohoo! The Keepers are finally caught! Someone finally showed them up, and it will only be worse for them since they lied.
Chapter 34 Summary: Matt has escaped the bone pit, and is trying to get Chacho to wake up. All of a sudden, Matt hears clanking and thinks the Keepers are coming. Turns out, it is just Ton-Ton and Fidelito driving on the shrimp harvester. Ton-Ton carefully uses the shrimp harvester to get Chacho out of the pit. I thought that was pretty awesome. He says that Chacho is in a state of shock and he needed to get fluids into him. Ton-Ton gives Chacho and Matt strawberry soda, which they were very pleased with since they were dehydrated. He says they are all going to make a run for San Luis. Apparently, the boys took over control at the factory. Ton-Ton drugged the Keepers with Laudanum, and the rest of the boys barricaded the compound with bags of salt so they couldn't leave if they woke up. The boys are now taking the shrimp harvester to San Luis. Matt notices that Chacho is hurt badly, and they will have to go to a doctor as soon as they arrive to San Luis. Since the shrimp harvester is solar powered, the boys travel until dark. Matt doesn't think Chacho can make it to morning without seeing a doctor, so he and Fidelito run ahead to go find help in San Luis. Ton-Ton tells Matt and Fidelito to be extremely careful near the Colorado River because it is very bad.
Chapter 35 Summary: Fidelito and Matt are walking to San Luis in the dark. As they near the Colorado River, Matt finds the stench is almost as bad as the eejit pens. They see a tentacle coming out of the river, and they quickly cross it. Matt has an asthma attack and passes out after they cross the river. He wakes to an inhaler being held to his face by a woman. She is with her brother, Guapo. They take Matt with them, saying that they won't tell the keepers about him because they hate the Keepers too. They had also already sent an ambulance for Chacho. Matt follows the woman, Consuela, and Guapo to a door where they enter into a cemetery. He is taken aback by this because he's not used to graves being in the ground, since the Alacrans had a mausoleum. Matt and Fidelito had arrived on El Dia De Los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, which is a popular Mexican holiday. Conseula explains that death is a part of everyone when Matt doesn't understand why people would celebrate death. He knows Celia celebrated every holiday, but he had never heard of this one. Matt smells something, and it reminds him of Felicia. He then gets homesick at the party. Conseula and Guapo say they'll take the boys to see Chacho, which is coincidentally at the Convent of Santa Clara, where Maria lives. She gives them Halloween masks to disguise themselves from the Keepers. The masks look like skulls, and Matt is uncomfortable with wearing the masks, but Conseula says it is the only way to go unnoticed. He does not like wearing the mask at all.
Chapter 36 Summary: Guapo, Matt, and Fidelito get into a hover car to go to the Convent of Santa Clara. When they arrive, Matt and Fidelito wander around until a nurse spots them and takes them to Chacho. They discover two Keepers trying to take Chacho and Ton-Ton away when they get to the room. Carlos and Jorge say they are going to take Chacho without permission, even though the Sisters say that Chacho will die if they move him. The Sisters say the Keepers will have to go through him, and Matt steps in and says they will have to go through him too. Jorge goes for Matt, and everyone begins fighting. This part would make a hilarious movie scene. A lady comes in and demands everyone to stop fighting. Turns out, she is Dona Esperanza, which is Maria's mother! She tells Ton-Ton to explain everything. He does, starting from Fidelito almost getting beaten and telling her everything. Jorge denies everything, and she acts if she believed Jorge over Ton-Ton. I was like she better not believe him! She asks the Keepers about the laudanum, and how the police were investigation where all of the drugs in the country go. Of course the Keepers lie and say that if the police were to find any laudanum it was planted. Esperanza then says that they shouldn't mind a drug test. Out of nowhere, the Keepers are taken away by men in blue uniforms. Nice job, Esperanza! She explains that she had been trying to catch the Keepers for drugs, and without Ton-Ton she wouldn't have been able to get them. This makes Ton-Ton feel special, because she actually listened to him. Maria comes in and reunites with Matt. Woohoo for good endings to chapters!
Chapters 31-33
I read 27 pages.
"Doesn't it bother you that the Keepers have these things and we don't?" said Matt.
Both Ton-Ton and Luna drew themselves up like offended rattlesnakes. "They earned it!" Luna said. "They put in their time; and when we put in our time, we'll have those things too!" (page 308)
It seems like the Keepers have somehow brainwashed the workers to make them think they are great, even though the Keepers treat them terribly. They probably lectured or beat it into everyone. I bet the workers don't know any better, so eventually they begin to believe that the Keepers are good people.
Chapter 31 Summary: Matt wakes up in the infirmary, where he and Ton-Ton are recovering from the previous night. He learns from Luna, Ton-Ton's friend and Keeper-in-training, that every boy trains to be a Keeper. This confuses Matt, because there are about 210 boys and only 20 Keepers. After talking to Ton-Ton for a while, Matt realizes that Ton-Ton isn't dumb, he's just a slow thinker and speaker. He also learns from Ton-Ton that Keepers have a luxurious life, and they have all kinds of entertainment and great foods. Ton-Ton says that the Keepers do laudanum every night, and Matt thinks this will help his escape plan. Turns out, Ton-Ton is from San Luis, and Matt wants Ton-Ton to go with him when Matt escapes, along with Chacho and Fidelito. The next day, Matt tells the boys that he wants to escape. Then, Ton-Ton tells the story of how Jorge saved him. Both of his parents disappeared over the border and Ton-Ton tried to run, too, but was nearly killed by the Farm Patrol. Jorge rescued him. He's got a grandmother in San Luis, but Jorge convinced him to stay at the orphanage to become a Keeper. Ton-Ton feels as if he owes his life to Jorge now. Then the boys go back to the factory, and Matt mentions Celia. Chacho asks who Celia is, and Matt say that was his mom. After that, Matt broke down and cried because he realized that Celia was one of the few people who ever loved him and cared about him. Chacho understands, and leaves Matt alone to get himself together.
Chapter 32 Summary: Jorge criticizes Matt yet again that night, but he also turns on Fidelito. Matt tries to step in and defend Fidelito, but Jorge won't let up and goes to beat Fidelito. Matt throws himself on Jorge and Chacho joins in. Soon all the boys are surrounding them and shouting. After a few minutes, Matt stops himself and then gets Chacho off of Jorge. Then Jorge goes outside and comes back with all twenty Keepers. Uh-oh. This can't be good. The other boys shout and exclaim that Jorge nearly killed Fidelito, which makes Carlos pause, but Jorge says they're lying. The Keepers try to leave, but Flaco gets everyone to surround the doors and trap them inside. Since there are two hundred boys and only 20 of them, the Keepers become nervous. They are greatly out-numbered. Jorge then tells everyone how Luna saw Matt's "Property of the Alacran Estate" tattoo on his foot when he was in the infirmary. Carlos says that's the name of the vampire from Dreamland. Then Jorge said that anyone who was the property of Alacran estate was either a worker or a zombie.
Ton-Ton says that even though he was trapped in Dreamland, he's not a bad person. He also says their parents went to Dreamland and were turned to zombies, but they still weren't bad. The majority of the kids are in denial about their parents, although they all know that it's true. Jorge tells Ton-Ton to shut up. The Keepers lock Matt and Chacho in a dark closet, with tape over their mouths.
Chapter 33 Summary: At dawn, Keepers come to get Matt and Chacho out of the closet. The boys are taken out to the pit of bones they had seen while working a few days earlier, which is known as the boneyard. Their feet and hands are bound together, and the Keepers throw them into the pit. The boys try to find a way out. Chacho is scared of the bats, and Matt has to calm him down so they don't get pushed down into the bones further. Using sharp bones, the boys get the tape off of their hands. Chacho asks Matt about the zombies, and Matt describes them. A storm approaches over the bone pit, but it only rains for a short length of time. Matt goes through the bones, and he eventually reaches dirt. He climbs his way out and calls out for Chacho. Not receiving a response, Matt begin to worry. He hears Chacho's snores moments later, and sees that he is okay but exhausted.
"Doesn't it bother you that the Keepers have these things and we don't?" said Matt.
Both Ton-Ton and Luna drew themselves up like offended rattlesnakes. "They earned it!" Luna said. "They put in their time; and when we put in our time, we'll have those things too!" (page 308)
It seems like the Keepers have somehow brainwashed the workers to make them think they are great, even though the Keepers treat them terribly. They probably lectured or beat it into everyone. I bet the workers don't know any better, so eventually they begin to believe that the Keepers are good people.
Chapter 31 Summary: Matt wakes up in the infirmary, where he and Ton-Ton are recovering from the previous night. He learns from Luna, Ton-Ton's friend and Keeper-in-training, that every boy trains to be a Keeper. This confuses Matt, because there are about 210 boys and only 20 Keepers. After talking to Ton-Ton for a while, Matt realizes that Ton-Ton isn't dumb, he's just a slow thinker and speaker. He also learns from Ton-Ton that Keepers have a luxurious life, and they have all kinds of entertainment and great foods. Ton-Ton says that the Keepers do laudanum every night, and Matt thinks this will help his escape plan. Turns out, Ton-Ton is from San Luis, and Matt wants Ton-Ton to go with him when Matt escapes, along with Chacho and Fidelito. The next day, Matt tells the boys that he wants to escape. Then, Ton-Ton tells the story of how Jorge saved him. Both of his parents disappeared over the border and Ton-Ton tried to run, too, but was nearly killed by the Farm Patrol. Jorge rescued him. He's got a grandmother in San Luis, but Jorge convinced him to stay at the orphanage to become a Keeper. Ton-Ton feels as if he owes his life to Jorge now. Then the boys go back to the factory, and Matt mentions Celia. Chacho asks who Celia is, and Matt say that was his mom. After that, Matt broke down and cried because he realized that Celia was one of the few people who ever loved him and cared about him. Chacho understands, and leaves Matt alone to get himself together.
Chapter 32 Summary: Jorge criticizes Matt yet again that night, but he also turns on Fidelito. Matt tries to step in and defend Fidelito, but Jorge won't let up and goes to beat Fidelito. Matt throws himself on Jorge and Chacho joins in. Soon all the boys are surrounding them and shouting. After a few minutes, Matt stops himself and then gets Chacho off of Jorge. Then Jorge goes outside and comes back with all twenty Keepers. Uh-oh. This can't be good. The other boys shout and exclaim that Jorge nearly killed Fidelito, which makes Carlos pause, but Jorge says they're lying. The Keepers try to leave, but Flaco gets everyone to surround the doors and trap them inside. Since there are two hundred boys and only 20 of them, the Keepers become nervous. They are greatly out-numbered. Jorge then tells everyone how Luna saw Matt's "Property of the Alacran Estate" tattoo on his foot when he was in the infirmary. Carlos says that's the name of the vampire from Dreamland. Then Jorge said that anyone who was the property of Alacran estate was either a worker or a zombie.
Ton-Ton says that even though he was trapped in Dreamland, he's not a bad person. He also says their parents went to Dreamland and were turned to zombies, but they still weren't bad. The majority of the kids are in denial about their parents, although they all know that it's true. Jorge tells Ton-Ton to shut up. The Keepers lock Matt and Chacho in a dark closet, with tape over their mouths.
Chapter 33 Summary: At dawn, Keepers come to get Matt and Chacho out of the closet. The boys are taken out to the pit of bones they had seen while working a few days earlier, which is known as the boneyard. Their feet and hands are bound together, and the Keepers throw them into the pit. The boys try to find a way out. Chacho is scared of the bats, and Matt has to calm him down so they don't get pushed down into the bones further. Using sharp bones, the boys get the tape off of their hands. Chacho asks Matt about the zombies, and Matt describes them. A storm approaches over the bone pit, but it only rains for a short length of time. Matt goes through the bones, and he eventually reaches dirt. He climbs his way out and calls out for Chacho. Not receiving a response, Matt begin to worry. He hears Chacho's snores moments later, and sees that he is okay but exhausted.
Chapters 29-30
I read 17 pages.
"Some boys," Jorge said in a thin, almost wheedling voice that sent chills down Matt's back, "some boys have to learn the hard way. They have to be broken and mended and broken again until they learn to do what they're told. It may be simple, like sweeping a floor, but they do it eagerly to keep from being broken again. And they do it forever, for as long as they live."
"In other words, you want to turn me into a zombie," said Matt.
"No!" several voices cried out.
"How dare you accuse me of that!" Jorge reached for the cane. (page 302)
I love how Matt tells him straight up what he thinks, and even though it's partly true, Jorge acts like Matt said something wrong. Since the Keepers from the orphanage told them he was an aristocrat, the Keepers from the plankton factory didn't like met before they even met him. This just adds to their dislike of him, even though Matt is just pointing out what they're basically doing.
Chapter 29 Summary: Matt wants to know why everyone is calling him the aristocrat, and Chacho tells him it's because of the way he speaks and how he acts. Matt has a bigger vocabulary, thinks more, and has better manners than the other boys. Before bed, Jorge talks to the kids about how if a door is always being opened and closed, it won't stick because the hinges won't rust. He describes the workers as the doors, meaning if they work hard and don't goof around, they won't get "rusty" like the door hinges. Jorge asks Matt how to keep your mind clean, and Matt says that you need to use your brain all the time to keep your mind clean. He didn't like Matt's answer, so Jorge says that self-criticism is how to keep your brain clean. A kid named Ton-Ton answers the question correctly, by telling everyone something wrong he did then saying how he should be punished for it. The other children start doing this too, which I thought was really crazy and strange. When it was Matt's turn to confess something, he says that he has done nothing wrong. This angers Jorge, and he starts saying everything that Matt has done wrong. Fidelito tries to stick up for Matt, but Jorge insults him too. The other boys, except for Chacho and Fidelito, start insulting Matt and saying what he has done wrong. Matt had thought the boys had liked him and were his friends, but that obviously wasn't true. He begins to think about Maria, Tam Lin, and Celia. His thoughts were about how they love him and saw him as a real boy. Matt realizes he has Chacho and Fidelito, and that is all he needs right now.
Chapter 30 Summary: One day, Matt and Chacho go investigate something in the distance and discover a huge pit filled with giant bones. Chacho also sees a human skull in the pit. The boys decide to leave before one of them falls in, and they didn't want to leave Fidelito alone too long. When they get back to Fidelito, who didn't go because of the long walk, they explain the bones to Fidelito. He tells Matt and Chacho that they are whale bones. Matt also begins to get used to the "self-criticism" insults he receives every night from the other boys. Although one night, Jorge turns against Ton-Ton when Matt says he has done nothing wrong. Jorge accuses Ton-Ton of stealing from the Keepers and punishes him. He tells Ton-Ton to "assume the position" and selects a cane to beat him with. After waiting a few seconds, Jorge runs after him, and beats Ton-Ton several times. Jorge says that some kids must be repeatedly taught to be good, but sometimes they have to be taught the "hard" way. Matt knows Jorge is doing this to intimidate him. After all, the beating is so bad that Ton-Ton has to be taken to the infirmary when Jorge is done. Matt still refuses to confess to doing something wrong, so Jorge threatens to beat him. Of course, Matt talks back and accuses Jorge of turning the kids into zombies, causing Jorge to become even more furious. Fidelito stands up for Matt and says that he will confess for him. Knowing that Fidelito wouldn't survive a beating, Matt confesses and gets into the same position Ton-Ton was forced to get into. After beating Matt really badly, Jorge exits. All of the boys cheer Matt on for saying what he did to Jorge. Matt is taken to the infirmary, where Ton-Ton is, and falls asleep after he was given laudanum.
"Some boys," Jorge said in a thin, almost wheedling voice that sent chills down Matt's back, "some boys have to learn the hard way. They have to be broken and mended and broken again until they learn to do what they're told. It may be simple, like sweeping a floor, but they do it eagerly to keep from being broken again. And they do it forever, for as long as they live."
"In other words, you want to turn me into a zombie," said Matt.
"No!" several voices cried out.
"How dare you accuse me of that!" Jorge reached for the cane. (page 302)
I love how Matt tells him straight up what he thinks, and even though it's partly true, Jorge acts like Matt said something wrong. Since the Keepers from the orphanage told them he was an aristocrat, the Keepers from the plankton factory didn't like met before they even met him. This just adds to their dislike of him, even though Matt is just pointing out what they're basically doing.
Chapter 29 Summary: Matt wants to know why everyone is calling him the aristocrat, and Chacho tells him it's because of the way he speaks and how he acts. Matt has a bigger vocabulary, thinks more, and has better manners than the other boys. Before bed, Jorge talks to the kids about how if a door is always being opened and closed, it won't stick because the hinges won't rust. He describes the workers as the doors, meaning if they work hard and don't goof around, they won't get "rusty" like the door hinges. Jorge asks Matt how to keep your mind clean, and Matt says that you need to use your brain all the time to keep your mind clean. He didn't like Matt's answer, so Jorge says that self-criticism is how to keep your brain clean. A kid named Ton-Ton answers the question correctly, by telling everyone something wrong he did then saying how he should be punished for it. The other children start doing this too, which I thought was really crazy and strange. When it was Matt's turn to confess something, he says that he has done nothing wrong. This angers Jorge, and he starts saying everything that Matt has done wrong. Fidelito tries to stick up for Matt, but Jorge insults him too. The other boys, except for Chacho and Fidelito, start insulting Matt and saying what he has done wrong. Matt had thought the boys had liked him and were his friends, but that obviously wasn't true. He begins to think about Maria, Tam Lin, and Celia. His thoughts were about how they love him and saw him as a real boy. Matt realizes he has Chacho and Fidelito, and that is all he needs right now.
Chapter 30 Summary: One day, Matt and Chacho go investigate something in the distance and discover a huge pit filled with giant bones. Chacho also sees a human skull in the pit. The boys decide to leave before one of them falls in, and they didn't want to leave Fidelito alone too long. When they get back to Fidelito, who didn't go because of the long walk, they explain the bones to Fidelito. He tells Matt and Chacho that they are whale bones. Matt also begins to get used to the "self-criticism" insults he receives every night from the other boys. Although one night, Jorge turns against Ton-Ton when Matt says he has done nothing wrong. Jorge accuses Ton-Ton of stealing from the Keepers and punishes him. He tells Ton-Ton to "assume the position" and selects a cane to beat him with. After waiting a few seconds, Jorge runs after him, and beats Ton-Ton several times. Jorge says that some kids must be repeatedly taught to be good, but sometimes they have to be taught the "hard" way. Matt knows Jorge is doing this to intimidate him. After all, the beating is so bad that Ton-Ton has to be taken to the infirmary when Jorge is done. Matt still refuses to confess to doing something wrong, so Jorge threatens to beat him. Of course, Matt talks back and accuses Jorge of turning the kids into zombies, causing Jorge to become even more furious. Fidelito stands up for Matt and says that he will confess for him. Knowing that Fidelito wouldn't survive a beating, Matt confesses and gets into the same position Ton-Ton was forced to get into. After beating Matt really badly, Jorge exits. All of the boys cheer Matt on for saying what he did to Jorge. Matt is taken to the infirmary, where Ton-Ton is, and falls asleep after he was given laudanum.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Chapters 26-28
I read 27 pages.
"Why don't you put a computer chip in the horse's brain? Then it wouldn't matter how many legs it had." A gasp went around the room.
"Are you saying---?" the Keeper stopped, as though he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Are you suggesting we turn the horse into a zombie?" (page 274)
When Matt suggests putting a computer chip into the five-legged horse instead of sawing off the extra leg, everyone seemed shocked that he would even think of something like that. I wonder how they would react to spending a day at the Alacran Estate with Safe Horses and eejits everywhere.
Chapter 26 Summary: The border guards are impressed with Matt's narrow escape from the Farm Patrol, and they ask him his name. He hesitated for a moment before telling them his name is Matt Ortega. The guards take Matt to a building to bathe, change clothes, and eat. They ask him what happened, and he recites the story Tam Lin came up with. He tells them he wants to go to San Luis, which is where Maria is. The guards ask Matt what kind of skills he has, and he tells them he can play the piano. They call him an aristocrat, which is what he is called quite a bit by the Keepers. A guard named Raul decides to send him to a plankton factory to work in San Luis. Matt thinks that sounds fine, he decides he'll just escape and find Maria when he gets there. He sees the other guards playing a holo-game, which he has never seen before since El Patron kept Opium behind present times. The game turns out to be called cannibals and missionaries, which is really strange if you ask me. Matt is then taken to a place with other children, which is the orphanage for children who lost their parents while trying to go over the border. He meets Fidelito and Chacho, and Chacho explains how everyone works and if someone doesn't meet the quota, they get less food or no meal at all. Already being smaller than most of the boys, this explains why Fidelito is so thin. Actually, Fidelito and Chacho are also going to San Luis with Matt the next day. Matt learns the guards who look after the orphans are called Keepers, and the orphans dislike the Keepers very much.
Chapter 27 Summary: Matt learns things from the kids who are working with him. The orphans are called the Lost Boys and Lost Girls, and they live in different buildings. Everyone refers to Opium as "Dreamland." The kids say how their parents are just trying to get enough money and settle in, then they are coming back for their children. It's heartbreaking to know how hopeful they are about their parents coming back for them, but Matt knows what happened to all of them. They didn't successfully cross the border, but they were turned into eejits. Matt helps Fidelito make more pills, so Fidelito can eat. At lunch, everyone had to recite the Five Principles of Good Citizenship and the Four Attitudes Leading to Right Mindfulness. Thanks to Matt's help, Fidelito receives a full bowl a beans for lunch. After lunch, Matt goes to Chacho's table, and Chacho says he should get used to making one product, because after a while you aren't allowed to switch around. We learn Chacho is secretly making a guitar, because his dad used to make them. He insists his dad is working in the United States and is going to send for him soon, although Matt knows his dad was probably turned into an eejit. Their bedtime story is about individualism, and why it is like a five-legged horse. According to Raul, individualism will cause people to just go in circles, so people should just be the same. Matt points out that not letting people be individuals is about the same as putting a computer chip into their brain, and everyone is shocked at this statement. Raul calls Matt an aristocrat. When everyone goes to bed, Matt begins to freak out, because he can't let anyone find out he is El Patron's clone since everyone at the orphanage despises "Dreamland."
Chapter 28 Summary: Chacho, Fidelito, and Matt are being taken to the plankton factory. Fidelito vomits on the way to San Luis, creating a terrible smell in the hovercraft. When they finally land, the boys exit the hovercraft only to be exposed to heat and an even worse stench of rotting fish. They fall to the ground and throw up at this. The boys go into the plankton factory, and the smell isn't as bad as it was outside. When they come across Keepers and Matt says his name, one calls him "the aristocrat," which means Raul must've already told them about Matt. They are forced to clean the vomit out of the hovercraft, but it's mainly Matt and Chacho cleaning since Fidelito still felt sick. After they finish, they talk to the head Keeper, Carlos. He rambles on about how great plankton is. It grows in the sea, then the factory manufactures it to be turned into food for humans. Matts asks where San Luis is, but Carlos tells him that it's on a need-to-know basis. The plankton factory is in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by salt hills from the leftover plankton process. They eat plankton at lunch, and Matt learns that they are where the ocean used to be, and pollution from the Colorado River killed all of the whales. He also learns that the Gulf of California is where Opium gets its water from. While working, Matt brings up swimming, and Chacho claims that is something aristocrats do. Fidelito says he knows how to swim, because his grandma lived on the seashore. Then he explains how he became a refugee when a hurricane came along and destroyed their home. Fidelito's grandma got sick and the Keepers had to force feed her. Matt didn't understand why they did this, and Chacho explained that it was every citizens' job to survive and contribute to the general good, and that if the Keepers just let any ill person or orphan go, they wouldn't have a job. Carlos comes and scolds the boys for not working. Matt talks back to Carlos, which makes the three boys lose their dinner privileges for that night. He apologizes for making Chacho and Fidelito lose dinner, but they don't mind and Fidelito says he's proud to be friends with them. Aw, that was nice of him.
"Why don't you put a computer chip in the horse's brain? Then it wouldn't matter how many legs it had." A gasp went around the room.
"Are you saying---?" the Keeper stopped, as though he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Are you suggesting we turn the horse into a zombie?" (page 274)
When Matt suggests putting a computer chip into the five-legged horse instead of sawing off the extra leg, everyone seemed shocked that he would even think of something like that. I wonder how they would react to spending a day at the Alacran Estate with Safe Horses and eejits everywhere.
Chapter 26 Summary: The border guards are impressed with Matt's narrow escape from the Farm Patrol, and they ask him his name. He hesitated for a moment before telling them his name is Matt Ortega. The guards take Matt to a building to bathe, change clothes, and eat. They ask him what happened, and he recites the story Tam Lin came up with. He tells them he wants to go to San Luis, which is where Maria is. The guards ask Matt what kind of skills he has, and he tells them he can play the piano. They call him an aristocrat, which is what he is called quite a bit by the Keepers. A guard named Raul decides to send him to a plankton factory to work in San Luis. Matt thinks that sounds fine, he decides he'll just escape and find Maria when he gets there. He sees the other guards playing a holo-game, which he has never seen before since El Patron kept Opium behind present times. The game turns out to be called cannibals and missionaries, which is really strange if you ask me. Matt is then taken to a place with other children, which is the orphanage for children who lost their parents while trying to go over the border. He meets Fidelito and Chacho, and Chacho explains how everyone works and if someone doesn't meet the quota, they get less food or no meal at all. Already being smaller than most of the boys, this explains why Fidelito is so thin. Actually, Fidelito and Chacho are also going to San Luis with Matt the next day. Matt learns the guards who look after the orphans are called Keepers, and the orphans dislike the Keepers very much.
Chapter 27 Summary: Matt learns things from the kids who are working with him. The orphans are called the Lost Boys and Lost Girls, and they live in different buildings. Everyone refers to Opium as "Dreamland." The kids say how their parents are just trying to get enough money and settle in, then they are coming back for their children. It's heartbreaking to know how hopeful they are about their parents coming back for them, but Matt knows what happened to all of them. They didn't successfully cross the border, but they were turned into eejits. Matt helps Fidelito make more pills, so Fidelito can eat. At lunch, everyone had to recite the Five Principles of Good Citizenship and the Four Attitudes Leading to Right Mindfulness. Thanks to Matt's help, Fidelito receives a full bowl a beans for lunch. After lunch, Matt goes to Chacho's table, and Chacho says he should get used to making one product, because after a while you aren't allowed to switch around. We learn Chacho is secretly making a guitar, because his dad used to make them. He insists his dad is working in the United States and is going to send for him soon, although Matt knows his dad was probably turned into an eejit. Their bedtime story is about individualism, and why it is like a five-legged horse. According to Raul, individualism will cause people to just go in circles, so people should just be the same. Matt points out that not letting people be individuals is about the same as putting a computer chip into their brain, and everyone is shocked at this statement. Raul calls Matt an aristocrat. When everyone goes to bed, Matt begins to freak out, because he can't let anyone find out he is El Patron's clone since everyone at the orphanage despises "Dreamland."
Chapter 28 Summary: Chacho, Fidelito, and Matt are being taken to the plankton factory. Fidelito vomits on the way to San Luis, creating a terrible smell in the hovercraft. When they finally land, the boys exit the hovercraft only to be exposed to heat and an even worse stench of rotting fish. They fall to the ground and throw up at this. The boys go into the plankton factory, and the smell isn't as bad as it was outside. When they come across Keepers and Matt says his name, one calls him "the aristocrat," which means Raul must've already told them about Matt. They are forced to clean the vomit out of the hovercraft, but it's mainly Matt and Chacho cleaning since Fidelito still felt sick. After they finish, they talk to the head Keeper, Carlos. He rambles on about how great plankton is. It grows in the sea, then the factory manufactures it to be turned into food for humans. Matts asks where San Luis is, but Carlos tells him that it's on a need-to-know basis. The plankton factory is in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by salt hills from the leftover plankton process. They eat plankton at lunch, and Matt learns that they are where the ocean used to be, and pollution from the Colorado River killed all of the whales. He also learns that the Gulf of California is where Opium gets its water from. While working, Matt brings up swimming, and Chacho claims that is something aristocrats do. Fidelito says he knows how to swim, because his grandma lived on the seashore. Then he explains how he became a refugee when a hurricane came along and destroyed their home. Fidelito's grandma got sick and the Keepers had to force feed her. Matt didn't understand why they did this, and Chacho explained that it was every citizens' job to survive and contribute to the general good, and that if the Keepers just let any ill person or orphan go, they wouldn't have a job. Carlos comes and scolds the boys for not working. Matt talks back to Carlos, which makes the three boys lose their dinner privileges for that night. He apologizes for making Chacho and Fidelito lose dinner, but they don't mind and Fidelito says he's proud to be friends with them. Aw, that was nice of him.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Chapters 23-25
I read 27 pages.
"Where are you taking it?" a man called.
"Thought I'd dump in next to the eejit pens," Tam Lin replied. The man's laughter was lost in the drum of horse's hooves striking the earth. (page 240)
For a minute there, I actually thought Tam Lin was actually going to drop him in the eejit pens! But then I thought, Tam Lin wouldn't really do that to Matt. On the next page, we actually find out that Tam Lin was just acting so the other man wouldn't be suspicious.
Chapter 23 Summary: Matt is terrified and knows he's about to die. Bodyguards come in and take him to El Patron's bedside, where Celia waits with more guards. While talking to Matt, El Patron explains how he's a good person for not destroying Matt's brain when he was first created. Of course we all think he's a great person for doing what he has done! Sarcasm is 100% intended. El Patron begins to tell Matt the story of Cinco de Mayo from his childhood, again. Since none of his siblings made it to adulthood, El Patron insists he is owed the lives of all of them. He feels as if he should be given multiple "lifetimes," each one in exchange for a dead siblings. This explanation starts an argument between Celia and El Patron. Celia says El Viejo was the only good man in the family, because he accepted death gracefully and with dignity. El Patron claims Matt owes him for the wonderful life he gave Matt. Celia quickly retorts saying that Matt owes him nothing at all. She then says that El Patron can't use him for transplants anyways. The doctor looks up from the monitor he was watching when he heard this, and the guards stirred around. Then she lets out the shocking secret: she has been poisoning Matt since El Patron's first heart attack. Of course not enough to kill Matt, but enough to make is heart unsuitable for a transplant. That explains the stomach bug he had. Celia made a very clever move, if you ask me. El Patron is absolutely flabbergasted, and his heart begins to fail from the shock. He is moved to the operating room, while Matt is left alone in the room. Mr. Alacran and Tam Lin come back in and inform Matt that El Patron has died. Then Mr. Alacran says they no longer have a use for Matt and tells Tam Lin to kill him. Tam Lin agrees and hauls Matt of to kill him. I honestly thought Tam Lin had turned against Matt for a moment. Matt asks about Celia, and Tam Lin says she's been turned into an eejit. Tam Lin requests Daft Donald's help with killing Matt, and Mr. Alacran gives him approval to go ahead. So intense!
Chapter 24 Summary: Tam Lin and Daft Donald tie Matt up with duct tape and throw him on a horse. Tam Lin says that he is going to dump Matt into the eejit pens. Matt thinks that Tam Lin has turned on him and is actually going to throw him in the eejit pens. Once they get far enough away, Tam Lin frees Matt from the duct tape and tells him the plan. We can all let out the breath of relief we were holding now! They go to the oasis, and Tam Lin explains that he put Celia in the stables with a mark on her head to act like an eejit. Matt wants Tam Lin to go to Aztlan with him, but Tam Lin says that he has to stay in Opium and accept the consequences for the bad things he's done. Tam Lin tells Matt to find the Convent of Santa Clara, which is where Maria goes to school. He is also supposed to try to find Esperanza, Maria's mother. Since he has to be back for the wake, Tam Lin starts to leave, but not before promising he will take care of Celia. I think things are about to get even more interesting!
Chapter 25 Summary: Matt spends an uneasy night outside, and he sets of on his journey to Aztlan. As Matt heads into the mountains, he finds that Tam Lin has even thought to leave him encouraging notes on his map. How thoughtful! The farther away from Opium Matt goes, the more El Patron's death seems to hit him. After some hardcore rock climbing, Matt moves closer to the border. Matt follows the trail for a while, and he finally sees Aztlan. He automatically notices how loud it is. When he gets to the border, Matt immediately recognizes Farm Patrol on guard. He decides to hide and wait for a little while. The Farm Patrol catches a runaway, and Matt decides to run for it while they are busy with the runaway. One of the men on a horse grabs Matt's backpack, but he slides out of it and ends up falling into an oil pit. Realizing he has lost everything that Tam Lin has given him, Matt knows he will have no trouble convincing people he is a refugee. But on the bright side, welcome to Aztlan everyone!
"Where are you taking it?" a man called.
"Thought I'd dump in next to the eejit pens," Tam Lin replied. The man's laughter was lost in the drum of horse's hooves striking the earth. (page 240)
For a minute there, I actually thought Tam Lin was actually going to drop him in the eejit pens! But then I thought, Tam Lin wouldn't really do that to Matt. On the next page, we actually find out that Tam Lin was just acting so the other man wouldn't be suspicious.
Chapter 23 Summary: Matt is terrified and knows he's about to die. Bodyguards come in and take him to El Patron's bedside, where Celia waits with more guards. While talking to Matt, El Patron explains how he's a good person for not destroying Matt's brain when he was first created. Of course we all think he's a great person for doing what he has done! Sarcasm is 100% intended. El Patron begins to tell Matt the story of Cinco de Mayo from his childhood, again. Since none of his siblings made it to adulthood, El Patron insists he is owed the lives of all of them. He feels as if he should be given multiple "lifetimes," each one in exchange for a dead siblings. This explanation starts an argument between Celia and El Patron. Celia says El Viejo was the only good man in the family, because he accepted death gracefully and with dignity. El Patron claims Matt owes him for the wonderful life he gave Matt. Celia quickly retorts saying that Matt owes him nothing at all. She then says that El Patron can't use him for transplants anyways. The doctor looks up from the monitor he was watching when he heard this, and the guards stirred around. Then she lets out the shocking secret: she has been poisoning Matt since El Patron's first heart attack. Of course not enough to kill Matt, but enough to make is heart unsuitable for a transplant. That explains the stomach bug he had. Celia made a very clever move, if you ask me. El Patron is absolutely flabbergasted, and his heart begins to fail from the shock. He is moved to the operating room, while Matt is left alone in the room. Mr. Alacran and Tam Lin come back in and inform Matt that El Patron has died. Then Mr. Alacran says they no longer have a use for Matt and tells Tam Lin to kill him. Tam Lin agrees and hauls Matt of to kill him. I honestly thought Tam Lin had turned against Matt for a moment. Matt asks about Celia, and Tam Lin says she's been turned into an eejit. Tam Lin requests Daft Donald's help with killing Matt, and Mr. Alacran gives him approval to go ahead. So intense!
Chapter 24 Summary: Tam Lin and Daft Donald tie Matt up with duct tape and throw him on a horse. Tam Lin says that he is going to dump Matt into the eejit pens. Matt thinks that Tam Lin has turned on him and is actually going to throw him in the eejit pens. Once they get far enough away, Tam Lin frees Matt from the duct tape and tells him the plan. We can all let out the breath of relief we were holding now! They go to the oasis, and Tam Lin explains that he put Celia in the stables with a mark on her head to act like an eejit. Matt wants Tam Lin to go to Aztlan with him, but Tam Lin says that he has to stay in Opium and accept the consequences for the bad things he's done. Tam Lin tells Matt to find the Convent of Santa Clara, which is where Maria goes to school. He is also supposed to try to find Esperanza, Maria's mother. Since he has to be back for the wake, Tam Lin starts to leave, but not before promising he will take care of Celia. I think things are about to get even more interesting!
Chapter 25 Summary: Matt spends an uneasy night outside, and he sets of on his journey to Aztlan. As Matt heads into the mountains, he finds that Tam Lin has even thought to leave him encouraging notes on his map. How thoughtful! The farther away from Opium Matt goes, the more El Patron's death seems to hit him. After some hardcore rock climbing, Matt moves closer to the border. Matt follows the trail for a while, and he finally sees Aztlan. He automatically notices how loud it is. When he gets to the border, Matt immediately recognizes Farm Patrol on guard. He decides to hide and wait for a little while. The Farm Patrol catches a runaway, and Matt decides to run for it while they are busy with the runaway. One of the men on a horse grabs Matt's backpack, but he slides out of it and ends up falling into an oil pit. Realizing he has lost everything that Tam Lin has given him, Matt knows he will have no trouble convincing people he is a refugee. But on the bright side, welcome to Aztlan everyone!
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Chapters 21-22
I read 24 pages.
"I never said he was stupid. Only corrupt."
"He's considered good enough to marry me!" Maria said.
"What?" Matt couldn't believe what he was hearing. (Pages 208-209)
Matt was incapable of speech. How could anyone want Maria to marry Tom? He was such a--such a rotten little pustule! It was unthinkable. (Page 209, 3rd paragraph)
During Matt and Maria's conversation here, you can tell Matt is jealous at the thought of Tom and Maria ever getting married, and he is definitely shocked that anyone would want them to get married.
Chapter 21 Summary: It is time to being preparation for Emilia and Steven's wedding, and Matt watches the guests as they come in. Matt saw Maria get off the hovercraft, but noticed she slipped away to the music room instead. He followed her to the music room, where she was waiting for him in the secret passage. They talk for a bit, and Matt explains to Maria how he is different from other clones. Maria brings up how Tom is "considered good enough to marry" her, and Matt is definitely unhappy with that possibility. I don't think Tom and Maria will marry, unless they are absolutely forced to. Changing the subject, Matt shows Maria the photo of Epseranza Mendoza from The History of Opium. Matt suggests that Maria should try to contact her mother, because she could keep Maria and Tom from having to get married. It is so obvious Matt is jealous and doesn't want Tom to have Maria. Knowing Emilia will be looking for her, Maria sneaks back to where everyone else is. It is time for the wedding, and Matt watches from the peephole in the secret passage with a pocket telescope. During the ceremony, El Patron passes out and falls out of his chair. We later find out that he had a heart attack. Everyone rushes out, leaving Steven and Emilia alone at the altar. It seems like something always goes wrong during events like this at the Alacran Estate.
Chapter 22 Summary: Matt begins to panic, because he thinks El Patron is going to kill him for organs, but he is not completely positive. Maria goes the secret passage and tells Matt to stay put until she can come back to get him. She says they can take her dad's hovercraft and pretend Matt is her new eejit servant. Matt waits for Maria to come back, becoming thirstier by the minute. Maria finally comes back with water, and news that El Patron is doing better. He changes into an eejit uniform Maria got from Tam Lin, and they make their way out to the hovercraft. Trying to get out of the passage, they are unable to find the peephole in the wall. Maria finds a scorpion on the wall and explains how El Patron used to use the passage to spy on people. It only works for El Patron, so enemies could not sneak in. The scorpion only shows up in red light, and El Patron presses his hand against the scorpion to open the wall. By doing this, he can enter and exit the house without being seen by the security cameras. If anyone else presses the scorpion, a jolt of electricity goes through their arm, and the whole passage fills up with a poisonous gas. Since Matt is El Patron's clone, Maria suggests it could work, since they have the same DNA. It is basically a now or never situation, so Matt decides to press the scorpion, but not before Maria and Matt declare their love for each other. How sweet! He presses the scorpion, and it opens. Whooo! They eventually ended up on the hovercraft landing field, where they walked to the right hovercraft. When they board the hovercraft, Emilia and Steven show up. Maria tells Emilia that their mother is alive, but Emilia says she has known that for years. If I were Maria, I would be very upset with Emilia. Steven tells Matt he has to go to the hospital, and he tells the bodyguards to take Matt away. Matt feels betrayed, because he always thought Steven and Emilia were somewhat friends. Maria screams for someone to help him, but no one listened to her.
"I never said he was stupid. Only corrupt."
"He's considered good enough to marry me!" Maria said.
"What?" Matt couldn't believe what he was hearing. (Pages 208-209)
Matt was incapable of speech. How could anyone want Maria to marry Tom? He was such a--such a rotten little pustule! It was unthinkable. (Page 209, 3rd paragraph)
During Matt and Maria's conversation here, you can tell Matt is jealous at the thought of Tom and Maria ever getting married, and he is definitely shocked that anyone would want them to get married.
Chapter 21 Summary: It is time to being preparation for Emilia and Steven's wedding, and Matt watches the guests as they come in. Matt saw Maria get off the hovercraft, but noticed she slipped away to the music room instead. He followed her to the music room, where she was waiting for him in the secret passage. They talk for a bit, and Matt explains to Maria how he is different from other clones. Maria brings up how Tom is "considered good enough to marry" her, and Matt is definitely unhappy with that possibility. I don't think Tom and Maria will marry, unless they are absolutely forced to. Changing the subject, Matt shows Maria the photo of Epseranza Mendoza from The History of Opium. Matt suggests that Maria should try to contact her mother, because she could keep Maria and Tom from having to get married. It is so obvious Matt is jealous and doesn't want Tom to have Maria. Knowing Emilia will be looking for her, Maria sneaks back to where everyone else is. It is time for the wedding, and Matt watches from the peephole in the secret passage with a pocket telescope. During the ceremony, El Patron passes out and falls out of his chair. We later find out that he had a heart attack. Everyone rushes out, leaving Steven and Emilia alone at the altar. It seems like something always goes wrong during events like this at the Alacran Estate.
Chapter 22 Summary: Matt begins to panic, because he thinks El Patron is going to kill him for organs, but he is not completely positive. Maria goes the secret passage and tells Matt to stay put until she can come back to get him. She says they can take her dad's hovercraft and pretend Matt is her new eejit servant. Matt waits for Maria to come back, becoming thirstier by the minute. Maria finally comes back with water, and news that El Patron is doing better. He changes into an eejit uniform Maria got from Tam Lin, and they make their way out to the hovercraft. Trying to get out of the passage, they are unable to find the peephole in the wall. Maria finds a scorpion on the wall and explains how El Patron used to use the passage to spy on people. It only works for El Patron, so enemies could not sneak in. The scorpion only shows up in red light, and El Patron presses his hand against the scorpion to open the wall. By doing this, he can enter and exit the house without being seen by the security cameras. If anyone else presses the scorpion, a jolt of electricity goes through their arm, and the whole passage fills up with a poisonous gas. Since Matt is El Patron's clone, Maria suggests it could work, since they have the same DNA. It is basically a now or never situation, so Matt decides to press the scorpion, but not before Maria and Matt declare their love for each other. How sweet! He presses the scorpion, and it opens. Whooo! They eventually ended up on the hovercraft landing field, where they walked to the right hovercraft. When they board the hovercraft, Emilia and Steven show up. Maria tells Emilia that their mother is alive, but Emilia says she has known that for years. If I were Maria, I would be very upset with Emilia. Steven tells Matt he has to go to the hospital, and he tells the bodyguards to take Matt away. Matt feels betrayed, because he always thought Steven and Emilia were somewhat friends. Maria screams for someone to help him, but no one listened to her.
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