Tony
still feels he is not in communication with God. Cico tells him that
there are many gods. They see the golden carp again and decide to let
Florence in on the secret. They go to the Blue Lake where they see Horse
and the others frantically calling over to them. Horse and his friends
have been swimming on the dangerous side of the lake. They tell Tony and
Cico that Florence dived in and has not resurfaced. As the lifeguard
approaches, Florence's body floats to the surface. Efforts to revive
him fail.
Analysis
The
death of Florence promises to raise more religious questions for Tony.
Tony has now witnessed three deaths, that of Lupito, Narciso and now
Florence. They all force him to ask questions about what happens to the
soul after death. The dead men and boy died in completely different
circumstances. Lupito was a murderer and therefore a sinner; Narciso was
a good man who was murdered and made confession before he died. Florence
was an atheist. What is the fate of the three souls? Tony has much to
consider. He does not know the answers either, and often the official
Catholic answers he is presented with do not satisfy him.
