en el camino

Who are the two main characters?

The father and his son, Ignacio.

Where is the father taking Ignacio?

To Tonaya.

Why is the father taking Ignacio to Tonaya?

To find a doctor to treat his wounds.

What does the father ask Ignacio to look for?

A light or another sign of the town.

What sound does the father want Ignacio to hear?

The barking of dogs.

What would the barking of dogs tell them?

That Tonaya is just beyond the hill.

What does Ignacio say when asked if he sees anything?

He says he cannot see anything.

How is the shadow of the men described?

It is long, dark, unsteady, and changes size as they walk.

What does the moon look like?

A round blaze of fire.

How long have the men been walking?

For hours.

What does Ignacio repeatedly ask his father to do?

Put him down.

Why does the father lean against a wall?

To rearrange Ignacio on his shoulders without putting him down.

Why doesn't the father sit down?

He fears he will be unable to lift Ignacio again.

How was Ignacio put on his father's back?

Other people helped the father load him onto his back earlier.

How does Ignacio feel physically?

He feels bad, is wounded, trembles, and becomes thirsty and tired.

What does Ignacio do with his feet when he trembles?

He digs them into his father's sides like spurs.

What does Ignacio's grip do to the father's head?

His hands shake the father's head like a rattle.

What does the father do to avoid Ignacio biting his tongue?

He grits his teeth.

What does Ignacio say when asked if the pain is severe?

"Somewhat."

What does the father say about the road?

It is not really a road, and they have already passed the hill.

Why is the father confused about their location?

They cannot see Tonaya or hear any sign that they are near it.

What does Ignacio ask for when he wants to rest?

He asks his father to put him down.

What does the father promise to find in Tonaya?

Someone to care for Ignacio, specifically a doctor.

What does the father say he will not do?

Leave Ignacio behind to die.

What does the father say he will do even if it breaks his back?

Carry Ignacio to Tonaya.

What does the father say Ignacio will do after recovering?

Return to his evil ways.

Where does the father want Ignacio to go after recovering?

Far away, where the father will not have to hear about him.

What does the father say about Ignacio being his son?

He says Ignacio is no longer his son in his eyes.

What does the father curse?

The blood he gave Ignacio.

What crimes does the father accuse Ignacio of committing?

Robbery and murder.

Who was Tranquilino?

The father's friend who baptized Ignacio and gave him his name.

What does the father ask Ignacio to do because the father is nearly deaf?

Look for signs of the town and listen for sounds.

What does Ignacio say when asked whether he sees or hears anything?

He says he sees nothing.

What does Ignacio ask for after saying he sees nothing?

Water.

Why does the father refuse to let Ignacio down for water?

There is no water nearby, and the father cannot lift him again alone.

What does the father remember about Ignacio as a baby?

He was hungry, drank water after his mother's milk, and then fell asleep.

What did Ignacio's mother hope he would do when he grew up?

Become strong and support her.

What happened to Ignacio's mother?

She died giving birth to their other son, according to the father.

How does the father describe Ignacio's mother?

As someone who loved him and hoped he would support her.

What does the father feel falling onto his hair?

Large drops that seem like tears.

What does the father ask Ignacio about the drops?

Whether he is crying because he remembers his mother.

What does the father say Ignacio gave his parents in return for their care?

Nothing but suffering and bad things.

What happened to Ignacio's friends?

The father says they were all killed.

What does the father say Ignacio's friends had that they lacked?

Someone who cared for them and to whom they could turn.

What does the father say about the moonlight?

It illuminates the men and stretches their shadow across the ground.

How does the father move while carrying Ignacio?

He stumbles, slouches, and repeatedly straightens his body.

What happens to the sweat on the father's face?

The night wind dries it, but he begins sweating again.

What does Ignacio do with his knees as the journey continues?

He gradually stops tightening them around his father.

What does the father notice about Ignacio's feet near the end of the excerpt?

They begin to loosen and balance from side to side.

What does the father compare the drops falling onto his hair to?

Tears.