The focus shifts to Juan’s story, and the Book 2 introduction sets the historical background for Chapters 8 through 10.

In 1869 Don Pío Castro and his two older brothers are on a mission to find “unused land” north of Mexico City (89). Don Pío is a revered fighter who has been at war with the rich and obnoxiously powerful all his life. He lost both his parents and several siblings to war, and at this moment, after a year of pointless searching, he is starting to feel hopeless. While his brothers fall asleep, Don Pío stays up to ponder an offer he recently received from a man named La Farga. La Farga has offered to “back Don Pío and his men with enough money so they [can] build up a ranch” (90). Don Pío then has a religious experience as he witnesses the new day come upon him and his brothers. He has an epiphany and announces that the rocky land they are sleeping on is the unused land they should claim as their own. His brothers disagree as the area isn’t fertile, but Don Pío thinks that will only weed out lazy, privileged people.