Screed 14: THE SIDEMAN'S SUMMARY
After Patricia Hearst's message, a summary or situation report was given. The voice was immediately identified as that of Thero Wheeler, who had worked in Cinque's Black Culture program at Vacaville, and escaped from that prison at the time Cinque escaped from Soledad. The voice on the tape is less experienced than that of Cinque. Wheeler, if it was he, spoke from a script, and sometimes slipped away from it and tangled the syntax. Soon after, he fled the SLA.
Mr. Hearst:
As your daughter has said, she is being held under the international codes of war. And, as she is not going to be harmed in any manner unless any [sic] attempt is made to release her by force, she is being properly treated, properly fed, and she has an exercise area, fresh air, and so forth. And she is not being harmed in any fashion.
And this is also related to our captured soldiers that are being held in San Quentin. And we hope that they will receive the same treatment, according to the international codes of war.
We understand from the national reports and so forth that the police authorities and others are attempting to place the responsibility upon us, in saving the life of your daughter [sic] and to distort and mislead the realities of the matter [sic].
However, we wish to express to you, and to the authorities, and to the public, that whatever happens to your daughter will be totally your responsibility, and the responsibility of the authorities which you represent. Her life will be maintained in the fashion, that is, according to, the terms of war. And if they, or yourself, violate these, her life and her blood, if that, will be upon your hands only.
In regards to communications. For security reasons, and because of where we are at [sic], there is, not possible [sic], for us to maintain a continuous flow of communications with you. So don't
expect phone calls, communications, three or four times a week. Because they won't come.
When the stated good faith gesture is conducted [sic], and we have means to ascertain as to if they are [sic], we will begin negotiations for the release of your daughter. Until then, you can be sure, and have our word, whatever that may be to you, that we will carry out our word to the letter. And we mean exactly what we say.
DEATH TO THE FASCIST INSECTS THAT PREYS
UPON THE LIFE OF THE PEOPLE.
