"Well," the sheriff muttered, "Can't argue with them on that! That's certainly a legitimate request! Who's available?"
"Barney and Ben have the open slots today," the dispatcher answered. "Everybody else is on patrol or got an assignment."
The sheriff thought a minute more and nodded. "Send them both," he ordered. "That way they can have two burning sites and work much faster. See if you can get county maintanence to send up some people. If the plots are as big as they sound it's going to be a lot of work, and I'd like it finished today."
The dispatcher nodded and hurried off. The sheriff finished the morning's paperwork, and headed for the gym. He was half way through his session when the dispatcher ran in. "Sheriff!" she cried "The people burning the marijuana- somebody fired on them! They're calling for a helicopter, get the wounded out. They've got dead. Barney's one of them down!"
"My GOD!" the sheriff cried, "Go back and tell the helicopter to pick me up on the way. It'll be the fastest way for me to get there. I'll go change!"
He rushed to the locker room and quickly got back in his uniform. He was barely running out the door when the helicopter was settling onto the landing pad in front of the sheriff's office. He quickly climbed on board and asked the medic if they'd heard anything on his deputy.
"Only that he's stable," he answered, "and that there's now five wounded. We can only take three. A couple are going to have to wait for the ambulence."
The sheriff shook his head, and remained silent for the rest of the trip. They finally circled in and landed on an open spot above where the burning was being done. Five men were being cared for there. The sheriff quickly climbed out.

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