Through the Arc of the Rain Forest

GGG continues to research Matacão plastic. After extracting more samples, they find they can create near-perfect imitations of real objects. At a convention, attendees are unable to differentiate between a real tiger lily and a Matacão replica. Matacão plastic can improve numerous markets—construction, clothes, plastic surgery, even food: “in short, the myriad of commercial products with which the civilized world adorns itself” (127). The dominance of Matacão plastic comes to be referred to as the Plastics Age.

Kazumasa and the ball continue to travel from one place to the next, being the only two beings who can locate more of the Matacão around the world. Together, they find several other sites. Rival companies and governments send spies after Kazumasa. Initially open-hearted and friendly, Kazumasa sees more people that want to take advantage of him, and worse, take the ball away. He calls his house, looking forward to speaking with Lourdes. Instead, Tia Carolina answers. Excited to finally hear from Kazumasa, Tia Carolina urges him to call Radio Chico, where Lourdes remains.

Newspapers print headlines pondering Kazumasa’s whereabouts. Hiroshi worries about his cousin, too. People pray, and yet others try to extort Hiroshi, sending destroyed imitation balls and claiming Kazumasa is in danger.