Chapter Eleven
Bullet worked to prepare The Black Watch, while
Bright Serpent prepared the hundreds of decrees he would issue to restore The Old Law. But he received thousands of letters from
people requesting him not to change this Law, or, that, or not to
review their child's case when The Old Law became effective again.
2 One day, just a couple of weeks before he was to take office, Bright
Serpent put down some of the letters. "I don't know," he complained to
the Aide in his office. "I understand the need to return to
The Old Law, but some of them DO seem so cruel; hundreds of letters
from people whose relatives were involved with drugs and can't
understand why they should have to die. And that's one thing I could
never see, myself. After all, they didn't make the people take the
drugs, they only supplied what they wanted. Death does seem
unreasonable."
3 "It does sometimes," agreed the Aide, "unless you know some things.
Sir, can you spare a couple of hours to come someplace with me? Maybe I
can show you something that will help you understand."
4 Bright Serpent laid down the paperwork. "I could stand a couple
hour's break!" he agreed. "Let's go."
5 They got a Driver and car and headed for the outskirts of the city.
After a few minutes they came to a group of large buildings surrounded
by a high fence. As the Driver turned in the gate, Bright Serpent saw
the yellow strip painted on the pavement and the sign over the gate
that read NORTHERN'S HOSPITAL FOR THE MENTALLY DISTURBED.
6 They traveled through the grounds and they came to a second fence.
This one had a red line painted on the curb. And every hundred feet or
so, along the fence, were diamond-shaped signs with crossed lightning
bolts. There was a Guard at the gate. The Driver stopped and the Aide
got out, showed the Guard his identification and pointed to Bright
Serpent.