Friday at school was another unpleasant session. Some of the students were angry because he wouldn't make a fight of his expulsion, and he almost got into one altercation in the hallway, but a teacher came and broke it up. He was glad to get back to the facility. He found himself picking up the brochure again and scanning through it. But then he put it down again. He had to admit, it seemed like an interesting place. The school was virtually self sufficient. It produced all of its own food on its surrounding farms. If nothing else Samuel was impressed.
Saturday started off good. He spent a couple of hours in the pool then went to the lounge.
"Hey, Samuel!" Roberto called, "Things are getting interesting down at the park. That Speaker White is about to show up. Come watch!"
Samuel came over and sat down. A reporter was talking. "As you can see," he remarked, "the anti drug rally has drawn an incredible crowd! They estimate there may be as many as a million people here! So far, things have been quiet, though the local drug gangs have been prowling around the edge of the park in their cars screaming obscenities and calling for people to leave them alone. Here comes Speaker White! A word, Speaker!" the reporter asked.
"Hello Sam!" Speaker White cried. "Can't you wait a couple of minutes for my speech?"
"Couple of things I'd like to ask first," the reporter put in. "What are these complaints from The Civil Liberties Union that you're forcing people out of their homes in your campaign to racially mix neighborhoods?"
The Speaker laughed. "Totally unfounded!" he answered. "We buy all properties fairly on the open market. When we establish a mixed racial group in a community, it's very often with the consent of that community. When we do dislocate someone, we often see to it that they have a better residence to move into, than the one they were put out of.
Our new building designs are fire resistant and far more earthquake resistant than the dwellings they are replacing. You bring me one legitimate complaint and we'll remedy it IMMEDIATELY!"
"What about the disappearance of one hundred members of the Northside gang after Speaker Richardson was killed? People claim they've been killed in retaliation."
"That I can't help you with," the Speaker answered. "I have no knowledge of that situation whatever. Now, if you'll excuse me, I really must get up to the podium"
Suddenly there were popping sounds and a security man rushed forward, grabbed The Speaker and pulled him to the ground. "Get down!" he cried, "Get down!"
"What's happening? the reporter cried. "Charlie, swing to the street. Oh, my God! The gang members cruising by in their cars, they're firing assault weapons into the crowd, and, grenade launchers! People are falling everywhere, not realizing what's happening! Get down, Charlie, get down!
The police and the Guardsmen are firing back. One car is hit, it's exploded! It's on fire! The others are heading into the side streets rushing off! Oh Jesus! Jesus! There's bodies everywhere! There's a little girl nearby. We won't show her picture. She must be five or six. Most of her face is gone. There's a dead mother lying by a stroller with two babies in it. It's horrible! It's simply horrible! We need help down here. Anybody that can hear me, all the emergency services, get down to the park! We need EVERYBODY, EVERYTHING! PLEASE HURRY! It's horrible! It's simply horrible!"
The young men around Samuel just sat in stunned silence watching the scenes on the television.
"It was a peaceful protest!" one of the boys muttered. "They weren't doing anything, just letting people know they were against the drug trafficking."
"Apparently that was too much for somebody," Samuel put in.
The hours passed and the reports of the carnage continued to come in. There were 430 dead in the park. Early in the afternoon the matron entered the rec room with two police officers. "Roberto!" she cried, "Come here, please."
Roberto rose slowly, staring at the two policemen with total horror in his eyes.
"Roberto SanDomingo?" the female officer asked. Roberto nodded. "I regret to inform you," the police officer continued, "that your mother and sister were in the park taking part in the demonstration. I'm afraid they were casualties, both killed by the same bullet."
"Have you identified the people shooting yet?" Roberto asked.
"They were all wearing hoods," the police officer answered, "to conceal their identity and they removed their license plates."
"May I have my notebook?" Roberto snapped. The police officer quickly gave him her pad. "These five people were driving the lead cars," Roberto informed her. "These are their addresses. I have been watching the videos over and over again. These notes will tell you where their cars were hit. They have most likely been taken to these two body shops for repairs."
The police officer took the note pad back. "Thank you!" she snapped. Undoing her microphone she stepped aside and began to call the information in.
"If you will excuse me," Roberto remarked to no one in particular. "I think I'll go lie down." He left the rec room

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