Prisoners of the Williwaw Read Online Free

for a convict and his family, a place where a man could have a real job and a real say in things, a place of freedom and democracy. Freedom heals, democracy cures .   He printed the words and hung them on his wall.   The prison chaplain and Rudy helped him develop the ideas.
    And now Rudy was probably dead.
    He heard someone begin a slow, rhythmic beating on the wall.   He hoped it was not a head beating on the wall.
    Another man screamed.   Rumor had it that one of the men in the hole covered himself with feces every day.   Someone started singing mock opera at the top of his lungs, perhaps to mask the sound of the screams   "Toreador - a, don't spit on the floor - a, use the cuspidor - a, that's what it's for-a."
    Frank put his head in his hands.   How was he going to survive this place?
    Keep your sanity, Frank . He felt a bug in his hair. Slap.   Best to play the word game.   Riot.   All R's about riot: regression, repression, refuse, reject, report, replace, renege, repress, restrict .
    No hope now for his island prison.   Hope - happiness, harmony, home, homo sapiens, hurry, hard.   Freedom - free, Frank, fresh, french fries, fried.   Fried?Yes, they all might get fried, killed, on his island prison.   Convicts were convicts for a reason. Convicts: cage, care -
    Someone was coming down the hall.   The slot in front of his cell opened.   "Inmate Villa?"   It was the warden.
    Frank sat up."Yes?"
    "I want to thank you for saving my life."
    "You're welcome.   Rudy?"
    "I'm sorry.He's being buried tomorrow in the prison cemetery."
    Frank winced.A pang of grief shot through him.His world was forever changed. How could he walk the line without Rudy?   "Listen Frank, you say yes to the man and you say yes to yourself. You walk the line."
    "I - I need a favor ," the warden said.
    "What time is it?"
    "Ten thirty-five."
    "What day?"
    "Thursday, the day after the riot."
    "Why am I in the hole?"
    The warden didn't answer.
    "Why?"
    "You know, Villa.   It's a riot response.   Lock everybody up."
    "What's the favor ?"
    "The news media wants to interview a convict about the riot.   I thought you would be the most rational spokesman."
    "Why don't you get Doc?   He's an MD."
    "Come on, Villa.   You know Doc's mouth.   Say whatever you want to the media.   I'm going to argue that the key problem is that one underpaid doctor cannot care for a thousand men."
    "Can we talk about this when I'm dressed and out of the hole?"
    "Will you do it?"
    Frank hesitated.He was being used.   Calling the prison doctor a hack on TV would never fly. Saying the system didn't care would sound like the usual prisoner complaint. But the warden said he could say whatever he wanted. He could feel Rudy next to him, nudging him in the ribs. Now, Frank, now .
    It's not my way, Rudy.   I work within the system.
    Now, Frank, now.
    Frank pushed his glasses on tighter.   "Okay, get me out of here."
    The warden called the guard.   "Oh, I saved your novel for you, Island Prison or something."
    "It's not a novel.   It's a proposal."
    The warden began to laugh.   "Oh, come on, Villa."   Frank could hear the warden chuckling to himself as he went back down the hall.

 
    Chapter 3
     
     
    Stick with me now, Rudy, Frank silently prayed as Congressman Sulkowski gaveled the subcommittee into session.   This was his moment in the spotlight, his chance to present his plan for a better prison.
    His mouth felt dry, his stomach quivered. Four years of proposal writing, six years of studying the justice system, a year since the warden gave him the chance to talk to the media after the riot.   Congressman Sulkowski put down the gavel.   "We have some ... guests today."   He nodded to Frank's table where Frank, Doc and Boss Gilmore sat in chains, surrounded by beefy sheriffs.   Frank had chosen Doc and the warden had appointed Boss Gilmore, though Frank didn't know why.   Boss Gilmore had contributed nothing to his idea.
    "But first," the chairman