HAVANA, 1957. ON THE SAME DAY THAT THE MAFIA CAPO UMBERTO ANASTASIA IS ASSASSINATED IN A BARBER'S CHAIR IN NEW YORK, A HIPPOPOTAMUS ESCAPES FROM THE ZOO AND IS SHOT AND KILLED BY ITS PURSUERS. ASSIGNED TO COVER THE ZOO STORY.JOAQUIN PORRATA. A YOUNG CUBAN JOURNALIST . FINDS HIMSELF EMBROILED IN THE MYSTERIOUS CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE HIPPO'S AND THE MAFIOSO'S DEATHS IN THIS INTOXICATING STORY OF MURDER, MOBSTERS, AND, FINALLY, LOVE.