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His detractors point to the brutality of his rule, and also claim that much of the country’s wealth wound up in the hands of his family or close associates.

What might “we cannot speak an R” mean?

and then the mountains we call in whispers Katalina.The children gnaw their teeth to arrowheads. There is a parrot imitating spring. Why are they calling to the mountains?

Trujillo ruled with an iron hand persecuting anyone who opposed his regime.

What is “rain punches through?”

mi madle, mi amol en muelte. God knowshis mother was no stupid woman; shecould roll an R like a queen. Evena parrot can roll an R! In the bare roomthe bright feathers arch in a parodyof greenery, as the last pale crumbsdisappear under the blackened tongue. Someone In Spanish ‘mi madle, mi amol en muelte’ should be pronounced ‘mi madre, mi amor en murte,’ which means ‘my mother, my love in death.’ What is the author saying?

What does “palace” represent?

calls out his name in a voiceso like his mother’s, a startled tearsplashes the tip of his right boot.My mother, my love in death.The general remembers the tiny green sprigsmen of his village wore in their capesto honor the birth of a son. He willorder many, this time, to be killedfor a single, beautiful word. How does the general come up with the word ‘parsley?’

dusted with sugar on a bed of lace. The knot in his throat starts to twitch; he sees his boots the first day in battlesplashed with blood and urineas a soldier falls at his feet amazed—how stupid he looked!—at the soundof artillery. I never thought it would singthe soldier said, and died. Now What contrast can “dusted with sugar on a bed of lace” represent in the context?

The negotiations, however, fixed an indemnity of US$750,000, which was later reduced to US$525,000 by agreement between the two governments.