Confession!

When Villegas got the job as nightwatchman and the predecessor returns, I confess that I hoped Villegas would see him off and keep the job. When I watched the scene a second time, I realised how little I cared for the original snivelling, unwashed, drunkard who Villegas had replaced; people like him can't be trusted. I had been totally partisan, on the side of my hero who I suppose I wanted to strike gold and become rich and famous. I noticed that at first Villegas waited with Lechien outside on the bales rather than in the slightly more comfortable personalized cell, presumably because he didn't like taking over the space. Only later, when he needed the bed, did he inhabit the cell. On first viewing, because I wanted Villegas to have the job, I think I refused to see the plastic alter as representing the humanity of the predecessor and thus presenting a dilemma for the protagonist.