"He interferes with our authority," they
complained, "he takes out of our hands the running of our camps."
9 "But he BREAKS NO LAWS!" explained The First Speaker. "All that he
does is within the bounds of a citizen's duty. If he breaks The Law,
tell me,
and I will call him before me. But until then, there is not one thing I
can do."
10 "There is one thing," interrupted The First Speaker's Chief Adviser,
"while your Warlocks are all here, that matter we discussed; the
problem of all these escaping prisoners..."
11 "I don't know," questioned The First Speaker, "I agree with you. It
IS a problem, but is your answer best?"
12 "It is the only POSSIBLE answer," continued the Adviser.
13 "Very well," agreed The First Speaker, "I will sign the decree. From
now on, any prisoner that escapes and is recaptured, or any prisoner
caught attempting to escape, shall be given thirty lashes. If they
attempt a second time, the punishment is to be doubled, and a third
time, doubled again."
14 "The very threat of such a punishment," insisted the Adviser, "will
keep the prisoners in their camp."
15 But this was not the true purpose of the decree. The Adviser knew
such a decree was illegal. By Law no prisoner could be flogged for
trying to escape. It was a soldier's duty if captured, to attempt to
escape. and return to his own people. Or, if he could not do that,
create as much diversion
in the enemy's land as he could. They expected this of their own
fighting people, and no less could be expected of the enemy.
16 The Adviser knew Gray Goat would oppose such a decree, and in doing
so, would come in conflict with