FR___ _____ES

FREE CROSSES .... "Cruces Libres, Crosses Free," an old man calls. He steps directly in front of you, pointing to the sign on his cart. --1 Crux Libre si Se Compra 2 Cuerpos--. "Hm," you say, "one free cross if I buy two bodies." "Si, free," he says. You point to a hand carved cedar cross which he places on newspaper, then empties a sack of cheap plastic figurines. You choose two, a Latin singer and a former president. The old man demonstrates how to make the crucifix by attaching a body to the cross, with hemp cord, and how to remove that body to exchange it with the other body. "Muy importante que se cambia los cuerpos con frecuencia," he says. "Si, cambiar," you say, understanding to change the bodies on the cross frequently. He takes your pesos. "Exchange the bodies, but why?" you mumble. "Porque," replies the old man, wheeling his cart down Calle Voces, "porque est..es.. e..," his words fade into eternity, moanings of the crucified. ...(by EL Seudak)