The Fountains of Silence: A Novel

Nick warns Daniel that he cannot expect Ana to be part of some illicit affair, but that if Daniel wants real conversation and is willing to take things slowly, she will be a girl he’ll never forget. Daniel then tells Nick about Antonio’s advice to photograph the Inclusa. Nick is not surprised but says that even if Daniel took photographs he couldn’t prove anything When Daniel is confused, Nick clarifies, explaining that Daniel will never be able to prove that “some of the babies they’re selling aren’t orphans” (258).

Puri is very upset by the discovery of the infant’s body. She has begun to put together all the things she has seen and heard, especially the letters from parents. She makes herself sick trying to fit this information into the world and the faith in which she believes.

She goes to confession and asks the priest if it is better for a child to have no parents at all than the wrong parents. The priest replies that they “owe it to [Spanish] children and [their] future to protect Catholic values and morals” (263). When Puri restates his answer, replying that he “means […] it is better to be raised by the right parents, even if they are not the birth parents” the priest responds that Puri has “answered [her] own question” (263).