That spring, Antonio does so well in the first grade that he discovers, on the last day of school, that Miss Maestas hag promoted him to the third grade. He is jubilant as he meets Samuel, who suggests they go fishing. Their poles set, Samuel tells Antonio that it is bad luck to fish for carp because long ago, when the world was young, the people in this region were given all they desired because they were faithful. They could eat everything — except the sacred carp. However, during a severe drought, the people were so hungry that they ate the carp. The gods were so angry they were going to kill the people until one god pleaded their case. The gods spared the people but turned them into carp. The god who pleaded their case was turned into a golden carp.
Antonio considers the possibility that his mother has been praying to the wrong god; perhaps she should pray to the golden carp. He asks Samuel where he can see the golden carp and is told that Cico will show him the fabulous carp. From that moment on, Antonio is obsessed with the concept of the holy, golden carp.
That summer, Antonio hears rumors that his Uncle Lucas is bewitched; he has been ill all winter and now it is summer, and he is still very ill, apparently because he watched some witches (the three Trementina sisters) dancing and performing "black rites." Ultima agrees to treat him but warns Gabriel and María that they will be held responsible for perhaps unleashing an uncontrollable chain of events if she tampers with Lucas' fate. She says that Antonio will be her assistant, and Uncle Pedro stresses Antonio's strong Luna blood.
