Protista

This is the story of a man who has been exiled to a barren wasteland for his "political crimes". The severity of his situation is apparent as the author describes the winds "which were dry and dusty and would sting into the very coolness of our minds." The land that the man lives on is described as "red and clayey and scarred with drought fissures from the burning sun and the long cold nights..." The author paints a picture of total desperation, one in which no human being might actually be able to survive. The total amount of time the man has been exiled for is fifteen years, and it is apparent that he is very strong willed for having already survived twelve of them. The mans wife, Maria, has long deserted him after living with him in exile for an amount of time. As this man passes in and out of consciousness from starvation and dehydration, he remembers his father and also imagines monsters which he refers to as "manfish". These manfish, which dwell in rivers, are symbolic of this mans impending death. As the author states, "And they all wanted company; they were all hungry for me, thirsty for me."