Chapter 17

           RagenfoundLebanonanimprovementoverMansfieldReformatory.Itwasnewer,cleaner,brighter.Atthefirstday’sorientationsession,helistenedtothelecturesonrulesandregulations,thedescriptionsoftheprisonschoolsandjobs.

           Abigmanwithheavyjowlsandafootballplayer’sneckgotupand,armscrossed,rockedbackandforth.

           "Allright,"hesaid."Ah’mCap’nLeach.Soyouguysthinkyou’rehotshit?Well,nowyou’remine!Youdonefuckeduponthestreet,butyoumessupdownhere,Ah’mgonnabustyourheads.Thehellwithcivilrights,humanrights,everythingelserights.Downhereyouallnothingbutapieceofmeat.Yougetouttaline,Ah’mgonnagrindyou…"

           Hehammeredawayatthemforfifteenminutes.Ragendecidedthemanwastryingtowhipthemintolinewithwords,justblowinghotair.

           ThenRagennoticedthatthepsychologist,athin,sandyhairedmanwithglasses,tookthesametack."Youmenarenothingnow.Justnumbers.Youhavenoidentity.Noonecareswhoyouareorthatyou’rehere.You’renothingbutcriminalsandconvicts."

           Asthelittlemaninsultedthem,severalofthenewprisonersbecameupsetandstartedshoutingback.