THE APPLE TREE’S BRANCHES swayed leisurely scratching gently against Andres’s window pane. Crimson, pink and purple were pasted on a thin ribbon across the horizon as the veil between night and day slowly lifted.

Andres punched at his feathered pillow several times as he tossed and turned, trying to sleep. Except for his briefs, he lay naked on top of a thin sheet He turned over onto his back. A chill swept over his body and he climbed under the sheet. Below his room, he could hear his ...