He chose this space precisely because it is unattractive to humans, but Daniel would be right to be concerned. There is no place in New York that is truly devoid of life, and if Rashad were more rational at the moment he would recognize that he is far, far too likely to attract the attention of some passerby at the mouth of the alley or in one of the dismal little windows above now that he is on fire.

"I do not want change! I would bring the world to peace and keep it in perfect stasis," he complains petulantly impatiently. "Were I myself again, were I even what you are --"

But even when he was an angel, it had been impossible. There have been unrelenting forces of entropy at work in the world as long as he has existed, and the knowledge chafes.