It was a long way until Carson City. Apart from me and three officers, there was only another guy in the van. He was a bit younger than me, probably he was fifteen. My curiosity was piqued, and wanted to know why was he there, so I tried to talk to him, but after a while I gave up. He didn't have much interest in talking, and neither did the officers. There was nothing to do, there even weren't windows in that van, so I just had to be there and let time go by, until we arrived... I had a small idea of what would I find there, and I knew for sure no one would intimidate me. Weird as it might sound, it was quite likely I would be respected, so as to say, when the rest of the guys there knew I had been accused of murder. That was a tough guy label I had to take profit of...
-You two, down! Welcome to your new house.
One of the officers opened the rear door of the van, and this other guy and me went out. Infront of us there was a huge building, with two wings. I stayed watching at it for a while, wondering how many people would be there...and how long would I have to stay. What if Gregory, the lawyer, couldn't solve things and I had to stay there for much more than a year?
One of the cops yelled at me and took those bad thoughts away.
-Move, we don't have the whole day!
We were taken inside, to what seemed to be the warden office. We had to wait for a long while before he came. He was in his early sixties, and was rather slim, with a severe expression in his face.
-These two are the new ones from California, Mr Yates. They are supposed to stay here for four years, though that one-and the officer pointed at me-has yet to go to trial, there in L.A.
-Trial? No...wait...
-Shut up! -the warden looked at the report he had on his desk, probably about the other guy and me- Jacobs, right? Well, probably you are used to do whatever you want and whenever you want, but all that is over. Here you will only talk when me or one of the officers here talk to you first. Read this, it has all the rules you will have to follow. And in the case you don't...well, we have our own prizes and punishments. Wallace! I will need two uniforms for these two, and take them to the doctor, to have them examined.
Another officer came in, and ordered us to follow him. We walked along a corridor, and saw a group of guys, in a single file line, going in the opposite direction, And as the warden had said, they were walking in complete silence. If there was a hell on earth, it was probably something like that. Most of the guys there were totally unexpressive, as if they felt nothing. "Maybe it's the wisest thing to do here, going un noticed. I'll have to keep a low key"
After being examined by the doctor, I was told by a janitor to put on the uniform, and give my clothes to the officer...I was saying goodbye to my normal life as a simple teenager, not having a damned clue about when would I get back to it, or if I even would. I kept with me the picture Jan had given me...it was my only link with everything I needed and missed.
-This will be your new room, and your bed is that one, the top bunk on the fifth row, in the left. Hurry up, dinner is about to be served and no delays are admitted.
I followed the janitor to the dining room. It was rather big, and maybe a hundred guys were there. However, a breathtaking silence reigned there. I sat on one of the free places, and looked all around, to the ones who would be my only partners in the time to come. I started thinking of Jan and the guys, what would they be doing now, and as hard as it was, I managed to hold my tears back.
After dinner, it was one of the few moments the inmates could talk, only for half an hour. I stayed there, trying to assimilate all things that had happened to me in the last 24 hours.
-Well, what brought you here?
-Sorry...what?
-Why are you here? You're one of the newbies, right? I saw you two befor, when you arrived. I'm Sam, by the way. I'm from Colorado.
-Roger, from California . And well, they say I killed a girl, in my high school. But...
-Yeah, you didn't, right? That's what everyone says, when they are brought here for killing someone.
-I don't mind what the others say. I didn't.
-Calm down, man. If you say so, it will be true, I guess. Anyway, it's not my business. Come, I'll introduce you to some of my pals here. By the way, watch out how you behave with Officer Harris, he's a real jerk. He can get you locked in punishment room because of nothin'.
I didn't even ask what was punishment room...there was no need, in fact. I promised myself I wouldn't know such a place while I stayed in the center.
-How long have you been here?
-Much more than wanted, about six months. At least, I won't have to go to trial, like...oh, sorry.
-Never mind, I'd better get used to it...
-Silence, you two! It's night time now!
Sam waved me goodnight and walked to his bed, four rows away from mine. I said nothing else...the officer in charge was Harris.