Conversation · Kim Kitsuragi

"You've not just been unhelpful when it comes to solving the case, you've been an active hindrance to the investigation..."

Just a sorry stack of shit...

Yeah, didn't even know they stack shit that sorry.

'Irretrievable human catastrophe' sounds about right.

So that's it? You don't even want to change?

A goddamn superstar, that's what.

Kind of hard to sing a duet when you're all alone on-stage, isn't it, superstar?

The harbinger of doom.

The only doom you've brought about so far is your own.

"...and I'm sorry."

"Let me ask you something..." He leans in to inspect you.

"What do you see when you look at me?"

"A Seolite."

"Well, at least you're explicit about it. Most of the time people try to be polite." The lieutenant doesn't even flinch. "You know what you did not say I am, though?"

"Revacholian."

"I don't suppose anyone ever questions whether you belong here. Whatever your faults, you're a solid detective. You're obviously Revacholian..."

"I was born here. I grew up here. It's the only home I've ever known. And there's a good chance I'll die in the line of duty here, too."

"But -- to most of my countrymen, I will always be some monkey fucker."

"To me, you're my partner."

For a moment the lieutenant seems to be suppressing something uncomfortable. Then he clears his throat...

The lieutenant's not comfortable with emotional openness. He's eager to change the subject.

"Now -- if it were any other day, I would leave for the night. But we have more pressing matters. We need to get to the island -- and we need to do it as soon as possible."

"This case," he turns to face the sea, "is much, much bigger than just you and me. We're close -- let's keep it professional until the very end."

The dark shadow of the church is drawn out on the sand... two men stand there. In silence.

"Now -- if it were any other day, I would leave for the night. But we have more pressing matters. We need to wrap up this investigation and we need to do it fast."

"Well, good, because we are partners. Now, I have some personal matters I'd like to get in order. If you don't object, I'm going to leave the rest of the day's investigation to you..."

"Go ahead."

"Try not to break anything while I'm gone. I'll see you in the morning, detective."

The dark shadow of the church is drawn out on the sand... two men part there. In silence.

"Wait, I wasn't done..."

"Wait, before I blacked out, I talked to La Revacholière."

"You... what?"

"I spoke with the spirit of Revachol. Or, I guess, she spoke to me."

"Suppose I don't recommend you be involuntarily committed for a moment... what did La Revacholière say to you?"

Hold on a moment. Maybe now's not the best time to tell the lieutenant that the world is ending...

"Uh... she said the RCM is gonna have an important role to play..."

"A role to play in what?"

"The end of the world."

"The world... is going to end..." The lieutenant considers this for a long moment...

The lieutenant is a rational observer of reality. His worldview can't accommodate this kind of thing.

"Promise me something, detective: You won't tell anyone else what you just told me."

"Are you sure? It seems kinda important."

"Detective, I'm serious. Have you considered what will happen to the RCM's reputation if one of our own starts going around talking about the end of the world? In an official capacity?"

"Now, I... think I need to take care of some personal matters for a while. If you don't object, I'm going to leave the rest of the day's investigation to you..."

"Go ahead."

"Wait, I wasn't done..."

"That's probably wise."

"But Kim, I'm the Augur of Desolation."

"The... future?"

"What kind of future are we talking about here?"

"The end of the world."

"You know... like stuff that hasn't happened yet."

"Quit fooling around, detective." There's real urgency in the lieutenant's voice now. "What did La Revacholière tell you about the future?"

"She said the world is ending in 22 years."

"She said the world is going to end in 22 years."

"She said it was important that we stick together, as partners."

"Never mind, I was just talking crazy talk."

"I see..." the lieutenant says, tapping his foot...

The lieutenant's not comfortable talking about himself so openly. He's eager to change the subject.

"In any case, I have some personal matters I'd like to get in order. If you don't object, I'm going to leave the rest of the day's investigation to you..."