Conversation · Tiago

"So you're another immigrant, come to take up space and steal jobs..."

"Space? Jobs?" He laughs. "Do you see anyone taking swings at me for my place on the rafters?..."

"Well, at least, you're human. That's a relief."

"Glad you're feeling more comfortable." He grins. "First-timers are always nervous."

"You talk funny."

Yeah! My body is my church!

Tell him, son! Show him you're not going to be bent out of shape by his philosophies.

I don't want to argue with him. He's kind of scary.

What is this? Is this what you've been training for? So you could wuss out when push comes to shove?

"There must be something illegal about living in a church ceiling. I don't know what yet, but there must be."

"Oh, man, I'd love to see that statute." He pauses to think. "I'm sure I'd be 'trespassing' if the church was in use -- but it's not, hombre."

"I've done my share of illegal shit. Used to be in a gang, the whole deal. But even memories of that time are fading... Most of them are already gone."

"Have you by any chance heard the viejita say the password to her radiocomputer?"

"Too many times, ese. You need it for something?"

Sssurveys are a good way to fish for personal information, especially in the name of public sssafety...

"Honestly I just want to break into a radiocomputer, see what's on it."

"Don't sweat it, vato. The password is 'AFTER LIFE DEATH.'"

That is true. But what comes after death?

"What'd you think of that? Makes me almost pity la nihilista pequeña when I hear it."

"Just tell me what's the password." (Step closer.)

"Yes, it's for a first-degree murder investigation in Martinaise."

The lieutenant raises his eyebrow, but doesn't say anything.

"I'm doing a survey of passwords and passcodes, identifying regional trends. In the interests of public safety, of course."

No need to overdo it. He won't mind sharing it with you.

"Some ravers want to turn this place into a nightclub."

"The ones in the tent outside, right? I seen 'em. Guessing they're the ones who call me a crab? Probably scared of me..."

"Turning a church into a nightclub -- I have to say it's a great idea. You should support it."

"Absolutely, man. Wouldn't bother me none to have 'em spin music in here. I'm usually way up there, imbibing."

"Might even be nice to have some company..."

He said that in spite of himself. He's more attached to the human than he'd like to think.

"Wait, do they have reason to be scared?"

"Naw, man. They look pretty funny. And I don't harm no one anymore anyway."

Though he used to. A long time ago.

"So, what do you think? About the nightclub, that is."

"Why not? They wouldn't bother me none. I'm usually way up there, imbibing. Ain't no music on Earth that can reach where I go."

"I trust you won't get in the way of some enterprising youth? Their business looks promising."

"Wouldn't bother me none to have 'em spin music in here. I'm usually way up there, imbibing."

"The ones in the tent outside, right? I seen 'em. Think they're scared of me."

"What was that about coffee? I feel like I've heard it somewhere before..."

"Look, man. I'm at liberty to talk about the sacred blaze of the Mother's glorious heart. But not about the coffee."

"You know, there are some speedfreaks around here who call you 'the crab-man'."

"Un Cangrejo!" He laughs. "Never thought of myself as a crab. More like... a flame flickering among the rafters and beams..." He pauses. "It may be that I gotta work on my technique."

That's not the only technique he's working on. Look at those carved sculptures. And is that a satchel of tools over there?

"To be fair, it's really more like a spider. But everyone calls you the crab-man."

"It don't bother me none. Crab's no worse than a man, if you think about it."

"Just thought you should know."

"Wait, did you carve those sculptures?" (Point at the nearest pillar.)

"Sure am. Whittling wood used to be something I just did to busy my hands..."

"...now I use those same hands in service of something greater than my own restlessness."

All right. Let's consider the context and meaning here.

"Honestly, I don't get it. All these figures look half-finished."

"It's all just for the Mother, man. No need to overthink it."

"You're promoting the objectification of women with your reactionary depiction of female bodies."

(Squint your eyes.) "These seem a tad... derivative."

"I see what you've done there. It's as if these figures are trying to become one with the church -- or perhaps with the Mother herself."

(Rub your chin.) "You've got some nice... curves going there."

"I thought you'd be offended. Go and scare them or something."

"I can't leave my post here." He smiles. "Besides, it don't bother me none. Crab's no worse than a man, if you think about it."

"You've been here for a long time. Did you see the police raid that took place here?"

"Something like that," he responds, his voice suddenly flat.