Into the Beautiful North: Chapter 26 Summary & Analysis

Nayeli sinks into the water of the pool, thinking that nobody knows she's here. She feels like she lost Yolo, Matt, and Vampi, and she wonders if she'll lose Irma now that Chava is in the picture. Nayeli understands that she's being demoted since Irma is here, and she decides that the only thing to do is for her and Tacho to go to Kankakee, Illinois.

The next day, Nayeli, Tacho, Vampi, and Yolo walk into the hotel where Irma is staying. Irma greets them in the lobby with kisses, though she slaps Tacho. She notices Atómiko and El Brujo outside and asks what they are, and before Nayeli can respond, Irma mutters about drug addicts, grabs a cigarette, and goes outside. She demands the boys' names and calls them degenerates. Angel politely says that he's not a degenerate. Irma looks Angel over, insists that Angel is a pimp name, and asks if he's started puberty yet. She turns to El Brujo, who introduces himself as Alex and "Vampi's man." Irma laughs and asks if both he and Vampi will dye their hair purple for the wedding. Atómiko's slang is too much for Irma. She heads back inside.

A bit later, Nayeli knocks on Chava's door. He refuses to answer and asks if "she" is with Nayeli. Nayeli says that "she" sent her, and finally, Chava opens the door. He's wearing pajamas and is unshaven. Nayeli tells him to shower and shave while she waits. Chava complies, and then Nayeli tells him that he must help Irma recruit the rest of the men, as Nayeli must leave to find her father. Nayeli hands him Irma's hotel information and insists he must go. Chava gives her cash and a gas card.

Back at the hotel, Irma is incensed: Vampi promised El Brujo control of the cinema one night per week, and Angel wants a mechanic's shop. She rents a conference room to conduct interviews for the remaining four slots, thinking that romance is no way to run a government operation. She finds she likes Atómiko and thinks he'd be a policeman if she could convince him to come to Tres Camarones. Though Irma thinks Nayeli’s trip to find her dad is foolish, Irma gives Nayeli a debit card and tells her that men, Don Pepe included, are no good.

Matt spreads out his road atlas and helps Tacho and Nayeli plan their route. Yolo watches and openly admires Matt, and Nayeli sneers at her. Tacho and Nayeli plan on going through Vegas, up to Colorado, and then east to Illinois.