John Grady and Rawlins are now stranded in a horrid, infested, brutal, and cruel Mexican prison with no sign of how long they will be entrapped there. They spend the first five days fighting for survival and the chance to see daylight one more time. The boys believe that they are being held here until they propose a bribe to the police force because they think the John Grady and Rawlins are rich--which they aren't. Perez, a wealthy prisoner, also asks the two boys for a bribe. When they don't come through--because they can't due to their financial position--Rawlins is knifed in the court yard, taken to the medical ward, and loses contact with John Grady. John Grady goes to Perez a few days later to find out where Rawlins was taken. Perez again asks John Grady to bribe and hints at what will take place if John Grady refuses. Nonetheless, he refuses the bribe and then uses the rest of his money to buy a knife in order to protect himself from the attack that will come at some point or another.
The attack occurs while he is eating in the mess hall. For some dumb reason John Grady thought it would be a good idea to sit with the loner that had black holes for eyes. Good choice John. This creepy guy, who is the assassin, tries to stab John Grady. They fight for a bit and John Grady is greatly injured however he is able to stab the assassin in the heart and break off the blade. As John Grady leaves the mess hall he collapses in the court yard and is taken to the medical ward by none other than Perez's bodyguard. How ironic.
John Grady spends days in the medical ward where he is considered a fasthealer by the doctor. He is released from the hospital with his clothes, an envelop of money, and Rawlins. They later discover that Duena Alfonsa, Alejandra's great-aunt, was the person to bail them out of jail. Pondering their past actions over a meal and coffee, Rawlins--who cries over the death of Blevins--decides that he is going to return home to Texas. John Grady, on the other hand, decides to stay in Mexico in order to reclaim their horses and win over the heart of Alejandra.
I actually enjoyed this section, especially towards the end of it. The action that accumulated in the prison and the brutal outcome of the dangerous events provided an actual entertaining plot. I also liked how Rawlins and John Grady decided to part ways. Yeah they are best friends and partners and crime, but I feel that with Rawlins gone we can focus solely on John Grady and the results of his journey to Mexico. Hopefully John Grady's character is more clearly developed with the absence of Blevins and Rawlins.
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