Ask The Dust

The next day, Arturo returns to Los Angeles in the aftermath of the earthquake. He begins to attend mass every morning, buys a new rosary, and tries to give up smoking. He writes letters to his mother asking for money and telling her about how devoutly he prays every morning. He continues to be filled with guilt until he resolves to write a story about Vera. After making this resolution, he decides to go see Camilla at the Columbia Buffet. He asks her if he can see her after work. When she tells him that she has another engagement, he continues to insist that she see him. He waits for her in the parking lot until she appears with Sammy the bartender. Arturo says, “You’re going with me, Mexican” and tries to pull her with him (107).Sammy leads Camilla away. Arturo checks the car certificate to find Camilla’s address and decides to follow her home. However, he changes his mind and returns to his room at the hotel.

Arturo works hard on his story about Vera Rivken, which gradually develops into a novel. Around the same time, his new short story, “The Long Lost Hills,”is published in the Atlantic Monthly.