CHAPTER 4

KINOS ENCOUNTER WITH

THE PEARL BUYERS

Early in the morning, the whole town knew

that Kino was going to sell his pearl that
day.

The people talked about it in

church.

The shopkeeper knew about the

pearl.

The beggars were excited.

The most excited were the pearl buyers.

They wanted the great pearl for themselves.
The pearl buyers had their own office.
Each of them was thinking of the price to offer to Kino for
the pearl.

This was a special day for Kino and Juana.

They dressed in their best old clothes which were
clean.
Tomorrow they would have new clothes when they
sold the pearl.

Many people followed Kino and Juana.

It was an important occasion.
Only Juan Tomas walked with Kino.
He told Kino to be careful and not be cheated by the
pearl buyers.

The pearl buyers were waiting in their offices.

They kept all their pearls away.
A big pearl would look more valuable
compared to smaller ones.

Kino went to see a fat man.

The fat man seemed kind and friendly.
Kino showed him the pearl.

The pearl buyer said that Kinos pearl was not

valuable.
He offered 1000 pesos for it.
Kino felt cheated.

It is worth at least fifty

thousand pesos!

The fat man heard the people talking about the

price.
He began to feel afraid.

Ill get a second opinion.

Three other pearl buyers came to the fat

mans office.
The first buyer was
a thin man. He
looked at the pearl
and said .
I will not make an offer at all.
I do not want it. This is not a
pearl it is a monstrosity.

The second was a small man. He had a

soft voice. He took a glass and inspected
the pearl.

This pearl is soft

and chalky, it will
lose its colour and
die in a few
months.
He asked Kino to look at the pearl.

Kino had never seen a pearls

surface magnified.

He was shocked at the strange

looking surface.

The third dealer took the pearl from Kinos

hand.
He said that one of his clients liked such
things.
Ill give you 500 pesos for
it. Then I can sell it to my
client for 600 pesos.

Kino quickly took the pearl from the third

buyer. He kept it in his shirt.
I can offer you 1500
pesos.

I am being cheated.
My pearl is not for
sale here. I will go to
the capital.

Kino walked away angrily.

The neighbours were talking in their brush
houses in the evening.
They all believed Kinos pearl was valuable
and beautiful.

They felt that the

pearl buyers were
trying to cheat
Kino.

Kino was thinking about the pearl.

He had buried his pearl under a stone near the
fire.
He was afraid of going to the capital. He was
afraid of strangers and strange places.

The capital was more than

1000 miles away.

He thought of his dreams and realised he had to

go to the capital.

I will go soon.
My son must have
a chance.

Yes, you must go. I

am afraid for you.
Go with God.

Juan Tomas was afraid for Kino. He knew that

Kino had to go and look for a better future for his
family.

Kino could not sleep.

The music of the enemy played loudly in his
head.
He could feel the creeping dark things waiting
for him to go outside.
The song of the enemy was in Juanas mind
too but she fought it by singing the song of the
family.
Kino walked to the
doorway.

Juana wanted to stop him. Her mouth opened in

terror.
After looking into the darkness for some time,
Kino stepped out of the house.
He was attacked.
Juana picked up a
stone and rushed
outside to help him.
But it was over by
then. Kino was on the
ground, blood oozing
from his head.

Kino was half conscious.

His shirt was torn.
I dont know. I
didnt see.

Who?

Juana wiped his face with her skirt.

She washed the cut with water.

Juana was worried.

Kino, this pearl
is evil. Let us
destroy it before
it destroys us.

No. I will fight this thing. I will win

over it. We will have our chance.

In the morning we will go

to the capital and sell the
pearl. We will not be
cheated. I am a man.

I am afraid. A man
can be killed. Let
us throw the pearl
back into the sea.

Kino raised his hand and put it on Juanas

shoulder.

Kino refused. He told Juana to go to sleep.

Exercise 1- Arrange the events in the correct order they

occur in the story.
a)Kino told Juan Tomas that he had to go to the capital and sell the
pearl.
b) Kino and Juana dressed in their best old clothes which were clean
and went to see the pearl buyers.
c) Juan Tomas told Kino to be careful and not be cheated by the pearl
buyers.
d) When Kino stepped out of the house he was attacked.
e) The whole town knew that Kino was going to sell his pearl that day.
f) The pearl buyers said that Kinos pearl was not valuable.
g) Kino sat brooding in his house and Juan Tomas visited him.
h) Juana washed his cut with water and she was worried.
i) Juana asked Kino to destroy the pearl.