The narrative shifts back in time to introduce Elena Soza, who is eating at the school cafeteria at the Universidad de San Carlos in Guatemala City when her “future mate” approaches. This is a fellow student, Antonio, whom she knows only remotely. Surprisingly, he walks up and gives her a gift: a dictionary of Quiché, the indigenous population’s pre-Colombian language. The book is finely made and expensive, and it seems like an odd gesture for Antonio to make. Nevertheless, after talking with him, Elena finds him more impressive and interesting than the gift first made him seem.

Elena is struck by how different Antonio is from her previous boyfriends. These were mostly men who were strident revolutionaries yet poor boyfriends. Antonio seems innocent and devoted; her previous partners were often womanizers. While the Marxist-Leninist ascendency within the revolutionary movement imposed more stringent moral standards, the male dominance of the movement still remained a problem.

A few days later, Elena finds herself in the park with Antonio, on the verge of making love. She asks him to find a car so that they can go somewhere, and Antonio suggests his father’s Volkswagen. Still in the park, they spot a demonstration of indignant garbage workers.