There but for the grace of God

Panotti, Galhardo and Morales saw me at Corporal and asked why I stopped the sessions - and hurried to tell me they were not exactly missing the sessions, only curious about the apparent interruption of the works. Figueira stood at another point of the room, but it was obvious he followed our every move and talk. I filled them with glib talk that would settle the discussion down without turning their eyes more to Figueira than the usual. His profile has been much too high for these times. It's nice to have a high profile in this sport I think, but not this kind of high profile.

Zangrandi and Figueira approached me and we talked in private for some minutes. Zangrandi told me the impression he knew me from before our first meeting at Corporal was growing stronger and stronger. Figueira looked at me, without knowing what to say. I said my memory was a bit short, but that he might be right.

Then Zangrandi went on to talk about the calendar for the Regional Tournament on Saturday. Figueira sighed and remembered the step they were about to take to the State Tournament. Zangrandi told me the thrill of it grows each day as they wait for the tournament. Not friendly anymore, dog eat dog, everyone is there to win and period. With that on mind and the rules in the heart, you can cross all the borders. I said it could be cruel for some of them.
"Yes, but it can be cruel for anyone. If it's not for my opponent, it's going to be for me. Everybody knows. If I don't do that to him he is going to do that to me", said Zangrandi shrugging.
"Some guys are bulldozers, like the Column", added Figueira, "they have no feelings, only the will to win. This is how they gather all that mountain of metal."

For some time it seemed to me that Figueira spoke as if he wasn't about to surrender to victory. As if he tried to give a dead basis to a stillborn idea. Zangrandi was looking at him for some time while he spoke, clueless about what to say to talk him out of being so stubborn.

I can see now | My son has joined the wrestling team

Radio Universal: The Making Of A Thousand Gods.