More Conversations
Hiroshima
C: I’ve been reading about Crane and the others. The THESIS people.
B: Oh?
C: Do you think Crane was a bad person?
B: I don’t think he thought he was. But yes.
Claire seemed to expect a different answer.
C: It seemed like he, and Clemens, and the rest, were just doing what they felt like they were meant to do. I mean how can you tell a scientist not to invent something?
he nodded.
B: What about mad scientists?
C: I don’t think he was mad. (she was bolder now, almost defiant)
B: Just misunderstood? Brick chuckled. B: I’m sorry. It aint mine to say whether Crane is mad or not. Probably just someone satisfying his curiosity. Like Oppenheimer. He didn’t decide where the bombs would go, he was just “being a scientist.”
C: Did that really turn out so bad?
B: Ask Hiroshima.
C: I know, but… But that ended world war II. We haven’t seen a nuclear strike like that since. So didn’t he, in a way, save people?
B: This is different.
C: It’s your analogy.
B: I know.
His voice was suddenly firm. She hadn’t seen this side of him before.
B: We were lucky the nuclear bomb wasn’t the end of civilization. I hope we can be lucky again.
Kids
C: Do you have kids?
B: One. She’s almost your age, actually.
C: Is it worth it?
B: If you want something, work for it. If you don’t want something, avoid it. Whatever you do, don’t sit on the fence.
TAKE 2
C: Do you have kids?
B: One. I mean, I did.
C: Oh, I’m sorry.
B: No, I mean… she’s fine. She’s about your age. Not exactly a child anymore, is all I’ll mean.
C: But she’ll always be a kid to you, right?
He nodded.
B: That may just be my problem, I think.
Take 3
C: How Did you know I as pregnant. Really.
B: Intuition.
C: Bullshit. You’re like a detective or something.
B: You keep saying that. I told you, I’m a machinist
Claire’s eyes narrowed. C: What did you used to do?
B: I used to find people.
C: Bad people?
B: I hope so.
Walk me home
C: Will you walk me home?
B: Why me?
C: Why not you?
B: Because you don’t know me.
C: I’m a good judge of character. … actually that’s not true, but I’m learning.
TAKE 2
C: My shift’s ending. Walk me home?
B: Why me?
C: You’re the only one here.
B: That’s true.
C: There might still be those skinless people around.
B: They often come in here and bother you?
C: No, the time you were here, that was the first time. But I’ve seen them around. And I don’t want to sound prejudiced but, seeing constructs without their skin… they scare me.
B: As they should.