Top Dead Center VIII

MYRAS

You gotta kill a dog.

FELLA

What?

MYRAS

A dog.

FELLA

I have to what?

MYRAS

You gotta kill one.

FELLA

A dog.

MYRAS

A dog.

 

FELLA

I have to.

 

MYRAS

Kill you one.

 

FELLA

I don’t understand.

 

MYRAS

You gotta take a dog an kill it.

 

FELLA

I mean why?

 

MYRAS

What?

FELLA

Why do I have to kill a dog?

MYRAS

Make that engine run right.

FELLA

What?

MYRAS

Laws of nature.  Laws of man.

FELLA

I still don’t—

MYRAS

I’ll set it out real simple.  When an engine’s bout to die, it’s because you didn’t take care of it.  It lost its juice, its soul.  Well you gotta sacrifice something that’s gonna put that back.

FELLA

The engine’s about to die?

MYRAS

That engine is dead dying dead fella.  Won’t make it even back down the hill unless we fix it right, done once and for good.

FELLA

I still don’t understand—

MYRAS

Oh yes you do.  You just ain’t comfortable with the concept.