The narrator's village faces a dire situation as the relentless rainfall has caused the river to swell ominously for three consecutive days. With the harvest ruined and the narrator’s aunt having passed away, misfortune seems relentless. The family cow, La Serpentina, owned by his young sister, Tacha, has been tragically swept away by the floodwaters.

The River's Menace

Awakened by the deafening roar of the river, the narrator initially mistakes the clamor for his collapsing roof. However, as he rises, the noise intensifies, signaling the river's encroachment. An unpleasant odor of decay permeates the air, and ominously, the rain shows no sign of abating. Peering toward the village, he observes the river breaching its banks, creeping up the main street with determination. The surging waters invade the home of a neighbor named Tambora. Across the river, a massive tamarind tree in the deceased aunt’s yard has been uprooted and carried away, starkly illustrating the unprecedented nature of this flood.

A Grim Discovery

Later in the day, the narrator and Tacha ascend a ravine overlooking the tumultuous river, which holds their attention for hours. The river’s thunderous roar drowns out any nearby conversations. Through hushed whispers, they learn of La Serpentina's fate. A witness mentions seeing the cow swept away, yet the specifics of her drowning remain uncertain. It is speculated she either attempted to cross the river or was caught unawares as she slept, her panic-stricken body succumbing to the current. Though she likely cried out, rescue was impossible. The fate of her calf remains unknown, casting a shadow over Tacha’s future prospects.

Uncertain Futures

Tacha's father is deeply troubled, for the cow was meant to secure her future, shielding her from the path of her elder sisters. Despite being raised with religious devotion and respect, her sisters strayed from the expected path. Their mother, in tears and fervent prayer, struggles to pinpoint why they deviated, while their father attributes it to their unruly spirit and impoverished upbringing. In their youth, they would rendezvous with men at the river, at all times of day and night, learning things their father despised. The narrator recalls disturbing scenes of his sisters in illicit embraces, leading to their eventual expulsion from home, only to turn to prostitution in a nearby town.

The Weight of Expectations

Fearing a similar fate for Tacha, the family pins their hopes on the calf's survival. Tacha stands beside the narrator, tears streaming down her face, her emotions reflected in the turbulent river below. Her pink dress clings to her growing body, and her cries echo the river's noise. The water’s stench mingles with her tears, and as she weeps, her emerging womanhood seems to manifest in her trembling form. The uncertainty of the calf’s survival looms large, as it represents her only potential safeguard against the hardships faced by her sisters.