Zach's Lie

More students, including Darrell, now read at lunchtime thanks to Zach. Peter watches Zach constantly, but steers clear of him. Zach begins to feel at home in Elko and knows Mary and Wanda like it there. Darrell loses his bet to Zach since Mary has not mentioned his fight with Peter. Mary mails the postcard.

Zach works for Sam, cleaning sawdust out of Sam’s rundown building while Sam and two Basque carpenters work on Mary’s bookshop downtown. Zach is unused to physical work. Sam lives next door in the Nevada Hotel and takes Zach there to clean up before dinner. Zach showers and changes into borrowed clothes while his are washed. Sam’s spartan room is tidy and empty except for a full bookcase and some magazines written in Russian and Arabic. Sam also speaks Basque. There are no photographs on the walls. Zach wonders why Sam lives there when he could afford a house, but Sam explains he is a bachelor, and the hotel provides room cleaning, laundry service, and good food. The hotel is filled with male Basque borders who work locally as sheepherders or miners.

Catalin serves food in the crowded dining room. Catalin’s grandfather, Benat Pasquale, emigrated from the “old country” in 1946 and purchased the hotel, which is now owned by Catalin’s parents.