The novel then returns to the tension of the present, and the grimly events that are about to be uncovered. True enough, the plan of Gueverra succeeds, setting off a bomb that exploded as the governor was up the stage. Unfortunately, Adrian was afflicted by the bomb and fell into the sad state as his late grandfather Old Andy who used to go around in a wheel chair rambling about. Eliza was dragged away by soldiers, and a few days after the bombing incident, her body has showed up at the beach. Anna was the most fortunate of the trio, getting a job of teaching children up in the mountains, and carrying the child of Adrian.

             Violence is splattered allover the novel, like blood seeping out of a salvage victim"s body, tattered with bullet holes. Man often creates conflict wherever he goes, and when he is bored with hunting down animals, fellow man is a more challenging conquest. From the dark and dangerous jungles where the guerillas used to lay hidden and wait for the time to attack, to the bombing of the stage where the governor was about to give his speech, there is no escaping of the stench of death brought about by conflict. .

             When Manolo said " They"re fighting back ", mentioning the oppressed people who were picking up stones and whatever weapons they could lay their hands on to use against the military, one could not help but think about more bloodshed and the dead bodies of those people.

             Another disturbing matter is exhibited in the novel: the capacity of humans to lie and hide things from each other. It is unnerving, how things could seem so different in just a few seconds after learning the truth. The truth is often concealed or not told because they are not meant to for the risk of making a scandal or disturbing a peaceful relationship. However, there are those truths that are better off to be told, entailing a risk and danger be taken for the hopeful good or justice that will be done.