22 Suddenly her expression changed. It became
that of a wild and vicious animal and her hands were on his throat
before he could move. In a snarling voice she cried, "You can't have
me! You'll die!"
23 The Attendant came forward, drove a stun rod into her shoulder.
Bright Serpent felt the charge himself, but the woman let go, falling
to the floor, shaking. "Sorry," apologized the Attendant, "we don't
like to use these things, but the only other way to make her let go is
to beat her senseless. You can't believe how strong she is!"
24 As Bright Serpent held his throat, he spoke in a whisper. "Yes, I
can! Yes, I can!"
25 The Healer helped him up. "I think you've seen enough," commented
the Aide.
26 The Healer took them out the gate. "Her three years is up next
month," he reminded, "you'll have to be here for the hearing. Her
mother is still looking for some kind of miracle. I don't think she
realizes that, even if she gets better, she'd spend the rest of her
life in a room here."
2 7 "She remembers her the way she used to be," sighed the Aide, "the
way she was when I mated her. She won't even come in and see her like
that. She says it's all a lie, that I just want to get rid of her."
28 The Healer nodded. "Well, fortunately the rest of the family knows
better and someday she'll understand. Soon, that poor woman can be back with The Lords, where she can be
helped, and her living nightmare will be over. See you at the hearing."
29 As Bright Serpent and the Aide started down the hall, Bright Serpent
shook his head. "Good Lord!" he cried, "YOUR mate! YOUR children! I
thought she was merely your Law Client!"
30 "They caught the man that sold her the drugs,” explained the Aide.
"He said he only did it because there