After Agatha’s Suicide - “Life on Grimsey Island”
Vasquez explains, "The van was resting beside the curb like an anesthetized horse. To Oliveira it seemed like a useless, obsolete, almost despicable machine… His eyes began to water and the interior of the vehicle was a hazy vision. Oliveira squeezed his eyelids and one fat tear fell onto the steering wheel. Then others formed in his eyes, as if they were trying to dissolve his perception of things or at least delay his departure." Oliveira projects his frustration from Agatha's suicide on the vehicle by deeming it an outdated machine. The car does not contribute overtly to Agatha's suicide though. The tears are indicative of the pain of losing Agatha by the end of their night-stand. He mourns Agatha even though he has been intimate with her just once. Seeing Agatha dead is tantamount of seeing the real death which traumatizes him.
“The Trout” - “Hiding Places”
Vasquez describes, “He (Gibert) begun to try to free it (trout) from the lure, but the hooks had pierced its cheek and impaled its brown tongue. The blood spread over the silver-plated lure and Gibert’s pale fingers. The trout shook, fell to the ground, Gibert squeezed it in his hands again to try to free it, and said keep still, coonasse, I’m trying to help you.” Gibert recognizes that the trout is premature for consumption; hence, he resolves to return it to the water. However, the attempts to rescue it from the hooks are unfruitful. The trout sustains pain in the process which is epitomized by the blood. The trout lacks a ‘hiding place’ which would secure it from fishermen. Accordingly, it is emblematic of vulnerability of human beings which makes them susceptible to unfortunate incidents.
The Gun
Vasquez explains, "The barrel of the gun was like a machete and I used it to move the stalks out of my way." The gun is useful in hunting. Besides, it aids in navigating the plants in the course of hunting, so that the guns offer hunters an edge over the prey animals by wounding or killing them.
Dogs
Vasquez writes, "Suddenly, Pierre moved his arm in the air. He pointed at the planted field next to Michelle. I raised my rifle. Pierre snapped his fingers and the dogs understood." The dogs interpret the snapping of the fingers as an instruction to pursue the prey. After the shooting, the dogs go for the prey because it is impaired. The dogs are hunting partners who increase the chances of catching a prey.
