One day in late August, while Antonio and Ultima are searching the hills for wild herbs and roots, he learns that even plants have spirits and that they must be told why they are being harvested; he is deeply impressed by Ultima's wisdom and begins to repeat her chants and imitate her walk. Sometime later, Ultima tries to explain to him why his mother's people and his father's people are so different; she likens the Lunas to the continually orbiting moon and the Márez to the restless, ever-changing ocean. Although Antonio lives on vast, empty plains, he is enchanted by both the moon and the ocean. Which will be his destiny? Later, during prayer time at home, he discerns a similar duality of contrasts between God, who is stern and not always forgiving, and the Virgin, who is loving and always forgiving. That night, he dreams that his mother is fervently praying to the Virgin, asking her to bring his brothers home. A voice assures her that the boys will return, and she, in turn, prays that Antonio, her fourth son, will become a priest. As he sees la Virgen praying over him, Antonio screams out in the darkness, and Ultima calms him.
Next morning, Antonio and his mother and sisters travel to El Puerto to help their Luna relatives with the harvest. Antonio is especially fond of his Uncle Pedro, who calls him "Tony." After dinner, Maria speaks of Antonio's becoming a priest and guiding the Luna family. When everyone has gone to bed, Antonio is comforted by the sound of Ultima's owl, gently hooting.
