Golic blinked, regarded his interrogators unrepentantly. ?I didn’t do it. Back in the tunnel. They never had a chance, not a chance. There was nothing I could do but save myself. The dragon did it. Slaughtered ‘em like pigs. It wasn’t me. Why do I get blamed for everything? Nobody can stop it.?He began to laugh and cry simultaneously. ?Not a chance, no, no, not a chance!?Clemens was working on the back of his head now.

Andrews studied the quivering remains of what had once been a human being. Not much of a human being, true, but human nonetheless. He was not pleased, but neither was he angry. There was nothing here to get angry at.

?Stark raving mad. I’m not saying it was anyone’s fault, but he should have been chained up. Figuratively speaking, of course.?The superintendent glanced at his medic. ?Sedated. You didn’t see this coming, Mr. Clemens??

?You know me, sir. I don’t diagnose. I only prescribe.?Clemens had almost finished his cleaning. Golic looked better, but only if you avoided his eyes.

?Yes, of course. Precognitive psychology isn’t your specialty, is it? If anyone should have taken note, it was me.?

?Don’t blame yourself, sir,?said Aaron.

?I’m not. Merely verbalizing certain regrets. Sometimes insanity lurks quiet and unseen beneath the surface of

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a man, awaiting only the proper stimulus for it to burst forth. Like certain desert seeds that propagate only once every ten or eleven years, when the rains are heavy enough.?He sighed. ?I would very much like to see a normal, gentle rain again.?

?Well, you called it right, sir,?Aaron continued. ?He’s mad as a fuckin’ hatter.?

?I do so delight in the manner in which you enliven your everyday conversation with pithy anachronisms, Mr. Aaron.?Andrews looked to his trustee. ?He seems to be calming down a little. Permanent tranquilization is an expensive proposition and its use would have to be justified in the record. Let’s try keeping him separated from the rest for a while, Mr. Dillon, and see if it has a salutary effect. I don’t want him causing a panic. Clemens, sedate this poor idiot sufficiently so that he won’t be a danger to himself or to anyone else. Mr. Dillon, I’ll rely on you to keep an eye on him after he’s released. Hopefully he will improve. It would make things simpler.?

?Very well, Superintendent. But no full sedation until we know about the other brothers.?

?You ain’t gonna get anything out of that.?Aaron gestured disgustedly at the straightjacket’s trembling inhabitant.

?We have to try.?Dillon leaned close, searching his fellow prisoner’s face. ?Pull yourself together, man. Talk to me. Where are the brothers? Where are Rains and Boggs??