Blood Relations: A NovelThis is the story of Refugio, whose family has worked in the mines of Northern Mexico for generations. His grandfather dies of silicosis, while his father is reduced to part-time work, but Refugio plans to follow in their footsteps. He takes it as rejection when his brother, Antonio, refuses to let him enter the mines. Then Antonio, too, begins spitting blood, and once more the pageantry of flowers and a black casket repeats itself. Refugio has been saved, but only to know the agony of watching helpless as the one who sacrificed himself slowly wastes away. To read this book is to know the daily round of the miners, which runs to such trivia as cigarettes, sex, sleep, food, money, and a sort of divine communion which occurs in the silence before a last. |
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afternoon already Antonio begin better blood body breathing brother cemetery cigarette close coffin coming corral covered creek dark death didn't dirt door earth everything eyes face fall father feel feet felt flowers forgive give Grandfather Grandfather Refugio grave Gregorio ground hands happens head hear heat hill hurt I'll inside it's Julia keep knew later leave light lived longer look Lord Manuel miners mother move never night noise once rain Refugio remain rest river seems side silence sister sleep smell smile someone sound speak standing station stay stop street talk tell things thought throw tired told town trees trip turn understand Villa Escobedo voice waiting walk wall week wife women