Irma has set up her tribunal for the meeting. The assistants of the hotel begin letting the applicants file in. There were close to twenty in the room, and a large line up moving into the hallway. No one anticipated this large of a turnout. Atomiko goes into the hall for crowd control and some of the men plead with him to go home because life in America “is too hard” (299). Atomiko has to settle the crowd from their pleading and asking questions about jobs, houses, etc. and repeats that they only want soldiers or cops. He returns to the room and tells Irma "the revolution has begun" (300). 

Nayeli and Tacho roll on. As Nayeli feels her menstruation beginning, she and Tacho stop at a gas station so she could get the necessary supplies. Tacho has corn nuts and a slushee. He gets a brain freeze and the people in the store inform him that it is from the slushee. He asks about the 6000 lb. prairie dog that the signs boasted of and the cashier tells him it is a lie - it is made of concrete. He announces to Nayeli that "It is all a cruel illusion" (303).