The Black Pearl

Four days later, Ramón notices Luzon—a man with a red canoe—approach the coast. Ramón hopes that he has come to sell them a fine pearl, as the ones they found on their last trip were all poor quality. Luzon questions why the fleet of ships is fishing around Maldonado instead of the coast, and Ramón makes up an excuse; he does not tell Luzon that the fishing in their area is poor, but instead that they are searching for black pearls. Luzon sells Ramón a beautiful black pearl for 200 pesos. Ramón spends 50 more pesos than his father would have given so that he can ask Luzon to teach him how to dive; he wants to find a large black pearl and promises to pay Luzon for what it is worth if he finds it. Luzon agrees, and Ramón locks up the business and readies himself to leave.

The sea is turbulent when Luzon and Ramón make their way to the lagoon. It is nearly dawn by the time that they arrive. The lagoon’s entrance is hidden by rocks and opens to a narrow channel; this continues for half a mile before leading into an oval lagoon surrounded by steep hills and covered in black sand.