[The man with the black spots moving over his face stirs from where he's been leaning against a column. His voice is deep, raspy, and it sounds like he's unused to talking for any length of time.]

Heard joke once. Boy is crying because dog died. Mother tries to comfort him, says dog is in Heaven with God. Boy stops crying, looks at mother. Says, "What would God want with dead dog?"

[Well, he didn't say it would be a good joke, now, did he?]