Through the Arc of the Rain Forest

Mané Pena becomes an honorary doctor through the newly founded Matacão University. His recognition as a founder of featherology brings him fame but drives his wife Angustia and children further away, and they leave. Mané misses the way things were. Alone, he copes using the nostalgia available to him, television: “He was sad, but he had been told that history would exonerate him in the end. […] he consoled himself with the company of his color TV, which […] brought him the same old programs everyday” (134).

Mané calls Chico Paco. Chico is happy that his mother, Dona Feliz, and Gilberto are with him now, but also frustrated with their habits. Now that Gilberto can walk, he maintains an adventurous and energetic spirit, and Chico’s mother uses the bathtub for gardening. As they continue to talk, Chico senses a change in Mané; “Chico Paco heard the sadness in Mané Pena’s voice. It was a sadness that he was not used to hearing from him. Mané had always been a man of balance” (135). Both men confide in one another, sharing their feelings.

They then discuss the increasing commotion around feathers and birds. The rapid commodification of bird feathers as a health item leads to poaching, black markets, and forgeries. As a figurehead in the feather community, Mané opposes the killing of birds for decorative purposes, but, officially, he still supports using feathers for the betterment of humanity, elevating his inner turmoil. J.B. sends a feather made from Matacão plastic, and Mané is unable to tell the difference between the fake feather and a real one, confusing Mané even more. Personally, and professionally, Mané has problem after problem. Overwhelmed and sad, Mané sits alone in his house and falls asleep with the television blaring. 

J.B. and Michelle’s public profile escalates. High-profile magazines feature them and ask about their sex life. Michelle takes to the attention naturally, using the podium to advocate for buying ethically sourced bird feathers. J.B. remains hesitant and quiet regarding his public image. Emboldened by J.B. and Michelle, other people with various extra appendages and oddities come forward, hoping society will finally accept them. Their movement becomes known as the trialectics movement, or the “freak movement.” Michelle shows sympathy to the movement, whereas J.B. feels indifferent; “J.B. felt no empathy with the painful self-consciousness most of these people spoke of. He had always felt that he was one of the more privileged human begins, a more advanced specimen” (141).

Using Matacão plastic, GGG manufactures fake feathers and dominates the market with both real and artificial feathers. The runoff from mining the Matacão plastic mutates rats. GGG reassures the concerned masses that they are ecologically mindful and diligent with their waste management. J.B. handles more of GGG’s public relations as a result of the rats, to his chagrin. He feels “he was now in a constant fear of finding himself deposed from the top, lopped off the twenty-third floor of GGG” (142). However, in his personal life, J.B. lives a happy life with Michelle, and he is ecstatic when she becomes pregnant with triplets. 

Chico and his followers continue listening to the prayers they receive over the radio. Some of Chico’s followers do a poor job fulfilling prayers for others but are weeded out. Chico remains youthful in the eyes of the public but grows and matures:

Pilgrimages and food had filled out the long, thin frame and thickened the growth of blonde hair on his face. His eyes, however, were still the same iridescent green, the same mysterious color; they did not betray the changes within the man (144).

At home, Chico’s mother adapts to life in his apartment, moving the garden out of the bathtub. Gilberto, meanwhile, remains relentless in his desire for speed and excitement. Despite Chico’s disapproval, Gilberto dabbles in various high-octane sports like roller skating and riding motorcycles. Gilberto’s daredevil ways scare Chico, but he loves Gilberto like a brother and enjoys the chance to spend time with him. Still, when Gilberto proposes building an amusement park, Chico shutters with dread. Making matters worse, J.B. enthusiastically agrees to invest in the park, seeing it as another way of promoting Matacão plastic. Chico confides in Lourdes, who assures him that Gilberto’s wildness is only a phase. Lourdes continues to help at Radio Chico and search for Kazumasa, whom she misses dearly. She decides, when she finally finds him, she will confess her feelings.

With the help of J.B.’s money, Gilberto’s amusement park is constructed and named Chicolándia. It features elaborate recreations of historical monuments and movie sets, all made from Matacão plastic. Gilberto happily costumes himself in various outfits and reenacts movie scenes in his personal fantasy park. Chico watches, worried by Gilberto’s stunts, and regrets agreeing to the park. Complicating matters further, Hiroshi receives another threatening message. Someone claims to have Rubens and Gislaine. They want Kazumasa and the ball in exchange for the children’s lives. 

Batista gravely misses Tania as she continues to jet set around the world and expand their business. He tears himself apart, thinking in circles: “Batista was alternately consumed with jealously and depressed with his inability to treat their separation with nonchalance” (151). What if she’s having affairs as she travels the world? He drives himself into an anxious fury, constantly missing and being angry with his wife at the same time.

While Batista pictures Tania living a lavish and extramarital lifestyle, Tania’s real travel is laborious. She works hard, is honest with buyers, and performs the legwork necessary to expand the business. Batista is unaware what her life is really like, and “If Batista could hear his Tania Cidinha, he might have been impressed, but he had no idea” (152). Meanwhile, Tania—like Kazumasa earlier—feels saudades; bittersweet joy that comes from love. She misses Batista, but his angry and jealous messages also drive her away. She continues working and never has an affair.

Batista, meanwhile, frequents Hiroshi’s karaoke club. He flirts and drinks and dances with women, but never anything more. He sees Michelle, now near the end of her pregnancy. Michelle sings to relax, wishing to be as stress free as possible for the duration of her pregnancy.