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''The Silver Cloud Café'' (1996) is the second novel by Alfredo Véa, Jr.. Set primarily in modern day San Francisco, ''The Silver Cloud Café'' has the narrative frame of a mystery, but utilizes postmodern devices, manipulating time and space. It begins simply enough, at the scene of a hideous crime in the Mission District in 1993 San Francisco, but the story quickly spins out into various levels, calling attention to political-working-class themes and racial boundaries by exploring the depths of its diverse cast of characters. == Plot Summary *== At the scene of a crime in 1993 San Francisco, the victim, one Bambino Reyes, has been brutally slashed open and the wound cauterized. Strangely, the "murder" seems connected to two fires nearly half a mile away. And even more confusing, the drawbridge operator and sole witness, Miguel Govea, claims that the murder was actually a consecration. As in his first novel, ''La Maravilla'', ''Silver Cloud'' includes a semi-autobiographical character named Zeferino Del Campo. Zeferino is a defense lawyer in San Francisco, who has been specially requested to represent the man charged with the bizarre, ritualistic "murder." Upon meeting the accused and hearing his childhood name, Zefe, Zeferino recalls his past with immigrant farmworkers, a process that continues throughout the novel. The accused is one Teodoro Cabiri, "lover of God, and of ship-wrecked men" (48). "Ted For Short" is a hunchbacked, Filipino midget with tremendous charisma and amazing sleight of hand. During their first meeting, Ted instructs Zefe to visit a bar in the District that he will find "irresitible" (87). The bar is none other than Raphael's Silver Cloud Café, the sign of which captivates Zeferino. As Zeferino recalls his past, he realizes the connections between it and the present "murder" investigation. While at "French Camp," an asparagus farm near Stockton, CA, Faustino, Ted For Short, and Zeferino are assaulted, and Pietro Ditto, one of the "big bosses" is killed. Faustino and Ted must part ways, knowing that it may be years before they will be able to see one another again. On their way to Camp Corregidor, Ted prays for Zefe to forget all that he's seen this night that he will not have to be haunted by the memories of murder and hate. The narrative turns to Bambino, the illegitimate son of Pietro Ditto, as he arrives in San Francisco - bitter, hateful, and seeking retribution. Bambino has been on the trail of Ted For Short and Faustino all these years, but now, they have given up running, and Bambino has closed in. Meanwhile, Humberto, a crazed and ancient Mexican priest who lives atop the Silver Cloud in a silver tower, devises a plan to stop Bambino. King Pete, Anatoly, Miguel, and others take part in the climactic scene as Bambino and Ted face off in a final confrontation. *All references in the plot summary refer to the first footnote.〔Véa, Alfredo, Jr. The Silver Cloud Café. Dutton, New York: 1996.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Silver Cloud Café」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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