The House of the Scorpion

The days following María’s departure are monotonous, and the house is quiet. Matt can no longer look forward to María’s visits, as she and Emilia have been sent to a convent to become ladies. Matt wonders if María misses him or has forgiven him. When Matt orders for a Safe Horse at the stables one day, he is terrified to see that the eejit bringing the horse is Rosa. She moves about without any evidence of her past hatred and cruel treatment of Matt. Matt realizes that being turned into an eejit is a terrible fate. He rides out into the poppy fields, where the plants are still young. He wonders what would happen if the eejits suddenly woke up and attacked him. He knows, however, that eejits will never do anything unless they are ordered to by their master. He looks for the house he once lived in with Celia, but it is nowhere to be found. When Matt arrives at the oasis, he orders the horse to drink and walks to the mountains alone for the first time. As he eats his lunch, he spots a large metal chest with a blanket and water bottles.