Conversation · The Hanged Man

"Yeah, wait -- let's reconsider." (Consider other options first.)

But what other options? The corpse twists on the belt, like chicken on a skewer...

"They can get him down too."

He sighs. "Okay. Let's do it the lousy, dangerous way."

"I'm out of ideas. Let's have another look at him."

"Hmmm..." The lieutenant falls deep in thought.

"That's it. We have to ask for help from the harbour." (Commit to it.)

"The cadaver is a good 1.2 metres up, neither one of us can reach the belt without assistance. And even if we do, there's the question of cutting it..."

Step back and have another look first.

The cadaver slowly twists on the cargo belt, his torso covered in tattoos and extremities blotched pink and blue.

"We should have a look at that belt before we even consider taking him down. It looks worrisome." (He points to the belt around his neck.)

I have something I need to know, corpse-man.

Of course! You have questions, don't you? The power of your imagination is at your service.

At the autopsy, you said you have ancient mysteries.

Oh yes, Cobo mi Lobo! In the gift horse's mouth, tracts and wakes and waterways! Ancient materials buried...

Yeah, but to where, brother?

Just a small gulp away, my beloved Cobo. A small gulp away.

Alright.

It's all right.

Which was it that killed you, then -- love or communism?

Huh?

You said love killed you, but when you fell down you said it was communism.

You're misquoting me, Roonie. I said communism killed me. Love DID ME IN.

You really need to learn the difference, buddy. This is embarrassing.

Who killed you?

Love did me in, brother Coppo. It was love all along...

Can you ask me a question?

Sure, Lobo, I can ask you a question: Why are you doing this?

What?

Looking at my face, motionless. Looking into my eyes. Standing here. Why are you investigating my murder?

I don't have anything else to do. This case is all I have.

I'm all you have? Then you truly lost it all, brother. You let the world drag it all away from you, and what it left, you pissed away -- and here we are.

Maybe this will lead to something? Something indescribable. Unforeseen. Miraculous?

Hah! The clown lips on the corpse appear to smile.

Something is on its way. Something hidden. It's coming, a miracle -- from the northwest -- and it's almost here. You can feel it in the air on your hands, the cold spring air smoothing them over.

Hah! The clown lips on the corpse appear to smile. The face rotates before you, slowly...

Because he told me to. (Nod toward Kim.)

You're a lying sack of shit, coppo. You're doing this because there is nothing else to do. Everything else is over. It's just me now.

Where have you gone?

Into the wild pale yonder.

Where is that?

In the past. Way out west.

What was that -- 'pale yonder'? Do you know what the pale is?

I can see you're gone, but who are you?

I'm a joke. Look at me.

There's nothing funny about you.

There is nothing funny about jokes, either.

Who were you when you were alive?

A killer. A motherfucker and a killer.

Takes one to know one.

I have another question for you.

Go ahead, Cobo.

You are now, but who were you when you were alive?

What is the pale?

The pale, Coppo... it spooks me out.

All right, I had another question.

Of course you did, you question-lover.

Why does it spook you out?

The corpse is silent. The nose in the middle of his face is swollen, so are his cheeks. His lips are motionless.

Why were you feeling pleasure when you died?