palpable, not just for Magda’s safety but also for the potential trouble Magda's impulsiveness might land them in.

Marco enters the scene as Magda visits his home, captivated by his mother’s tales. She vividly describes Marco, noting the mysterious allure of his mouth—a detail foreshadowing her eventual entanglement with him. Marco shares his political convictions, particularly his disdain for the United States' meddling in Uruguay's affairs.

Chapters 8–9

The legendary Che Guevara visits the university, igniting a spark in Magda’s rebellious spirit. Defying her restrictions, she sneaks out with Emilia to hear his speech. Che’s words prove inspiring, but chaos erupts with the sound of gunfire. In the ensuing tumult, they encounter Cora, injured. Seeking help, Magda is cornered and assaulted by a policeman. She fights back, fleeing down the street until students pull her into safety, aiding her, Emilia, and Cora in their escape back home.

Upon their return, they find Emilia's mother, Lilita, has attempted suicide, but is saved in time. In the aftermath, Lilita implores Magda to promise she will keep Emilia out of future mischief.

In Chapter 9, the mood lightens as Magda and Emilia celebrate their fifteenth birthdays. Amid the festivities, Marco dances with Magda and shares a kiss, revealing he has joined the army. There, Magda meets Jaime Betancourt, a friend of Marco’s who pursues her. As their relationship deepens, Magda’s mother disapproves due to Jaime’s humble status. Attempting to sever their bond, she offers to introduce him to influential contacts in the United States. When this fails, she tempts Magda with a trip to the U.S., hoping distance will dull her affection for Jaime.

Chapters 10–11

Chapter 10 unfurls the tapestry of Magda’s familial history. Her grandfather embarked from London at the age of twenty-four, arriving in 1902. He secured a ranch and defied familial expectations by marrying eighteen-year-old Aurelia Ponce de Aragon, despite disapproval from both families.

The story unfolds with a glimpse into Magda’s ancestral tapestry, beginning with the arrival of her forebears in Uruguay. Central to this lineage is an ancient agate puzzle, crafted by a Charrúa native, a treasure of familial heritage passed down through the ages. Magda’s grandmother shares these tales as she prepares Magda for her journey to the United States.

Within the eleventh chapter, we delve into the lives of Magda, spending a year amidst Michigan's landscapes, and Emilia, navigating her time in Missouri. Together, they reflect on the contrasts between their Uruguayan roots and their American experiences.

Chapters 12–13

Chapter twelve unfolds through a series of letters exchanged between Emilia and Magda, as well as Jaime and Marco. Through their correspondence, Magda and Emilia continue to narrate the bewildering cultural encounters they face in America. Jaime's letters to Magda brim with longing, as he asks her to discover the names of airline executives he might contact.

Magda writes to Marco about the biting chill of winter, the buzz surrounding the latest Beatles’ film, and the fervor of American sports. In contrast, Marco's correspondence with Magda carries a more somber tone, touching on the student protests in Uruguay.

By chapter 13, Magda returns to a rapidly changing Uruguay. A wave of unease sweeps the nation as Brazilians, fleeing military dictatorship, caution Uruguayans of similar threats. Marco, now a lieutenant, remains clandestinely involved with protest efforts. Magda visits Gabriela, who reveals Marco's "mission," hinting that "such men are difficult to love." Magda and Jaime part ways, as she realizes her true affections lie with Marco.

In a dramatic turn, Cora elopes with Ramiro, a man she encounters at a political rally, leaving her parents heartbroken.

Chapters 14–15

Tragedy strikes when Jaime's friend perishes in a plane crash, an incident Jaime attributes to the negligence of Captain Prego. This leads Jaime to challenge Prego to a duel, resulting in Jaime’s death from a bullet to the chest, with Prego claiming self-defense.

Amidst the fallout, Magda's photograph is splashed across the city's front page, prompting her grandmother to whisk her away to the family ranch, Caupolicán, to escape scandal. There, Magda envisions a future intertwined with the land, and her grandmother entrusts her with the ranch, recognizing her rare appreciation for it. Once back in Montevideo, Magda enrolls in university, focusing on economics and land management. She later encounters Ramiro, who promises to reunite her with Cora.

Chapters 16–17

A lively exchange among Cora, Ramiro, and Magda centers on the political climate. Russia hopes Uruguay shuns capitalism, while the United States desires a rejection of socialism. Ramiro confides in Magda about their involvement with the Tupamaros, a guerrilla group striving for social democracy in Uruguay. Inspired, Magda decides to join their cause.

Magda's proficiency in English secures her a position with the U.S. Information Services, a role she leverages to assist the Tupamaros. She uncovers unsettling truths, such as her supervisor, Dan Mitrione, instructing police in torture techniques. Magda and Ramiro devise a plan to kidnap Mitrione, aiming to exchange him for political prisoners.

In chapter 17, the grim discovery of Gabriela’s torture and death by Mitrione's men prompts Magda to seek her grandmother’s blessing to lay Gabriela to rest at Caupolicán. Accompanied by Gervasio and Cora, they transport Gabriela's remains to the sanctuary of the ranch. Meanwhile, Mitrione’s body is found abandoned in a car.

Chapters 18–19

The Tupamaros set their sights on kidnapping British ambassador Geoffrey Jackson. To gather intel, Magda befriends his assistant, Peter Wentworth. During a play audition directed by Wentworth, Emilia meets him, and romance blossoms between them.

With the ambassador kidnapped, Ramiro is apprehended, and Cora goes underground. Magda and Emilia are invited to Wentworth’s gathering, attended by Emilia’s parents, who anticipate a proposal. Instead, the police crash the event and arrest Emilia, suspecting her of espionage. Magda confesses her affiliation with the Tupamaros, insisting on Emilia’s innocence, but the authorities remain skeptical.

After three days, Emilia gains her freedom. Feeling betrayed, Wentworth distances himself from her. The Uruguayan military escalates its campaign against the Tupamaros. Marco, now a captain, clandestinely aids the rebels while maintaining his army guise, orchestrating escapes for political detainees.

In a daring escape, Ramiro flees from incarceration, and Magda learns of the hiding place he shares with Cora. Bearing sustenance, she visits them with Emilia’s help. But soon, Magda is captured and isolated, her days haunted by the tormented cries from above. Yet, a flicker of hope arrives when Marco, risen to the rank of colonel, secretly liberates her. He spirits her home, where her father takes her to the safety of Caupolicán.

On the inaugural evening at Caupolicán, Marco makes a poignant entrance. The night unfolds with tenderness as he and Magda share an intimate connection before he slips away into the night. Not long after, the world shifts dramatically as Marco finds himself in the grip of the law. Meanwhile, Magda is struck by the devastating news of Ramiro’s death and the mysterious vanishing of Cora. In the wake of these events, she makes her daring escape to the sanctuary of Brazil by the following dawn.

In the Epilogue, anticipation hangs in the air as Magda and Emilia await Marco's return. When he finally emerges, time has clearly left its mark; he appears frail, his words filled with the gravity of a man confronting his own mortality. He confesses to Magda that his journey is nearing its end, a truth that adds a poignant layer to their reunion.