At the beginning of her essay cisneros recalls

14 chromosomes

explanation:

sperm cells of the russian dwarf hamster contain 14 chromosomes. how many chromosomes are found in a normal body cell of the russian dwarf hamster? a cell with 20 chromosomes undergoes mitosis.

chapter i -- paris: september, 1792

a surging, seething, murmuring crowd of beings that are human only in name, for to the eye and ear they seem naught but savage creatures, animated by vile passions and by the lust of vengeance and of hate.

during the greater part of the day the guillotine had been kept busy at its ghastly work: all that france had boasted of in the past centuries, of ancient names, and blue blood, had paid toll to her desire for liberty and for fraternity.

hope this answer you: )!