Raphael continues the narration again and begins by saying that Gardo finally allowed them to go to the station. This reinforces the nature of their friendship and it is clear that Gardo is in charge. Gardo, Rapahel and Rat sneak onto a train and head to Central Station.
Rat explains that he will need to be the one that gets the bag. He tells them that he’ll have to pay the ‘station boys,’ to gain entry into the station and he also says that if anyone sees three of them, they’ll chase them and one will get caught but says no one will manage to catch him, as he is so fast.
When they reach the station, they are approached by the station boys who are much bigger than them and Raphael tells us that he can sense Gardo reaching for his hook, which he always carries. This hints at how violent Gardo can be and also how dangerous the world they live in is. Rat talks to the station boys and hands over 90 Pesos to gain entry to the station.
As they move through the station, Raphael is terrified of getting caught. He tells the reader about the stories he has heard of young boys getting caught by the police and never being seen again. He doesn’t know if they are real or not but it makes us question the way in which the police operate in this country.
Rat manages to locate the locker and retrieve the package and rejoined them as they made their way out of the station. There is a lot of tension in the story as the boys try to get out of the station without being stopped. Raphael says that his heart is pounding as they try to appear normal. They manage to get out unnoticed and begin opening the parcel that Rat got from the locker.
In the bag there was a brown envelope, sealed with tape and inside that was a letter with a stamp on it, waiting to be posted. It was addressed to Gabriel Olondriz, who was a prisoner in Colva prison. They opened the letter but could not understand it. There was a slip of paper with the letter, which was written in code with random numbers and dashes.
Questions:
- Describe what happens at the station as the boys attempt to retrieve the package.
- How has the author created more mystery?
- What is your impression of Rat in this chapter? Has he surprised you?
- Who is the letter addressed to? Is this surprising?
- How has the author used foreshadowing again at the end of the chapter?
- Imagine you are Jun-Jun (Rat). Write a diary entry explaining the last two days and how you feel about helping the boys.