Part 2: Chapter 1 (Page 59-80)

After six years, the priest returns to his hometown. He is not warmly welcome as he thought he would be, but they accept him anyways. Seven years ago he had an affair with Maria, and they had a daughter, Brigitta. "They had spent no love in her conception: just fear and despair and half a bottle of brandy and a sense of loneliness had driven him to an act which horrified him- and this scared shame-face overpowering love was the result" (page 66). She was the result of a sin and he became aware of this when he looked her in the eye.

Maria received him and gave him a bed to sleep in and some brandy. He offered to confess the town people and give Mass. They agreed, but deep inside they didn't want it. First, they were scared of what would happen to them if they got caught, and second, their faith in religion was no longer the same. We begin to see how the Red Shirts are winning the war against religion. It is no longer as important, plus they are being brain washed by the government. "He said with conviction, 'This child is worth more than the Pope in Rome" (page 74-75). The lieutenant felt such an immense resentment against the Catholic church that he is willing to say anything in order to capture the priest.

As he prayed, the priest realized the people wanted it to be over as soon as possible. Then when the lieutenant arrived and took Miguel as a hostage "He could feel all round him the beginning of hate" (page 77). He tried to switch the boy's place, but the lieutenant rejected him. The people didn't want him there anymore, he wasn't worth risking another life. Maria is the only one who says it to his face, "You're no good anymore to anyone" (page 78).