The Shadow of the Wind

This section covers one day in Daniel’s life: his 16th birthday.

Daniel hosts a birthday party on his 16th birthday; he has invited Clara, Don Barceló, and Bernarda, though his relationship with Clara has become strained. Daniel’s father prepares a feast and purchases the best cake he can find. He puts on his best suit and presents Daniel with a gift. Daniel, angry and embarrassed that only Bernarda shows up for his party, slams the door to the apartment as he runs away, completely humiliated.

Daniel walks down to the docks, where he has taken pleasure cruises with his father in the past. Completely absorbed in his thoughts, he is startled when a stranger speaks to him from the shadows. This man, smoking a cigarette, is the same man that Daniel saw outside his window, and who Daniel now realizes also followed and accosted Clara. Frightened of the man but also determined, he spurns the man’s attempts to buy The Shadow of the Wind. The man smells of burnt paper.

Using the light of a match, the man reveals his burned, scarred face and declares his intention to burn The Shadow of the Wind whenever he does find it.