Into the Beautiful North

The group arrives at an isolated Muffler shop, operated by Wino's uncle. They soon learn that he is a drug smuggler. The "hole" is an underground tunnel that is used to "move product" (180). The girls recognize it from a movie, a dirt tunnel from The Great Escape. "It runs over half a mile. Right across the border. Right under the noses of the migra. It comes up in a curtain-and-drapery-stitching company on the other side" (181). The girls, along with Atomiko, walk through the tunnel and wait for the associates on the other side. After a long wait, two men open the tunnel. They are moved to the back of a truck and are driven for a while in the dark. After quite some time, they are removed from the truck and are left in a parking lot, between two churches. They are in San Diego.

They walk and find a playground where Vampi and Atomiko play on the swings. They delight in the clean and well-lit public bathrooms. "I love America," Nayeli sighed. "The policemen ride bikes and wear shorts" (187). Atomiko's biggest desire is to see Disneyland and they cry over

Don't Miss Out!

Access Study Guide Now