Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 ï>¿The Courier by EC

   Chapter 9 - A moment in life with Victor

   The next morning Maria Elena was awake early to set up the kitchen, in
spite of having had only a few hours of sleep.  Cecilia was up as well,
fixing breakfast for her nephew, who was still in bed sick.  The Dominican
was clearly exhausted from having spent the entire night with Jason, but
she also felt guilty from having dumped caring for Pedro on Victor while
she spent Saturday out of the house.  She'd have to make it up to both of
them on Sunday, although it was obvious the only thing she wanted was to go
to sleep.

   Cecilia took her nephew's breakfast to his room while Maria Elena
awaited Victor.  Because it was Sunday, Victor had no reason to dress in a
suit; instead he put on a prayer robe to go to a nearby church for early
services.  As dictated by custom, he wore nothing underneath the robe and
was barefoot.  Apart from putting on a single piece of clothing; there was
nothing he needed to do to prepare for worship.

   Maria Elena wanted to accompany him, partly out of curiosity and partly
out of wanting to be with him.  However, the thought of going outside in
the nude on a cold drizzly morning did not appeal to her, and she was
intimidated at the prospect of being naked at a Temple service without
understanding anything that was going on.  Victor did not give her any
indication he wanted her to go, so she held back and quietly watched him as
he went out the door.  He joined a group of neighbors in the street, all of
whom wore black robes.  Victor and his companions knelt in a circle, stood
up, and solemnly marched out of sight.

   Cecilia had crawled into her nephew's bed to read to him, but promptly
fell asleep.  Pedro was asleep as well, so Maria Elena was left alone.  She
cleaned the kitchen and bathrooms, but those tasks were completed within 30
minutes.  Out of boredom she turned on the TV, but all the channels were
playing the same public service message, a still picture of an old temple
with scrolling text.  Maria Elena later would learn that the message was a
request in archaic Danubian for the viewer to leave home and attend
services at the Temple.  On Sunday mornings there were only two socially
acceptable activities in Danubia: resting or attending worship services.

   The prisoner's melancholy mood from the night before returned, as did
her desire to step out into the chilly misty weather.  Although it already
was mid-morning, the only sounds she heard were drops falling off the trees
and the ringing of Temple bells.  The bells had a different sound than what
she was used to hearing in Colombia, which she found sinister and spooky
when combined with quiet dripping of water and rustling of tree leaves.

   Maria Elena looked at her ruined fingernails, which still had traces of
fingernail polish.  That polish was the final reminder that, just a few
days before, her life had been totally different from what it was now.  Her
nail polish, just like all of the other items she had brought with her from
Panama, was gone, seized by the Danubian police.  She took a deep breath,
because she realized that her only material possessions were a toothbrush
and a comb, both of which had been given to her by Cecilia.  That was it,
just two insignificant personal hygiene items that she could call her own.
She was stripped...  totally stripped, completely cut off, not only from
her former life, but also from the world of material possessions.

   *****

   Two hours after they left, Victor and the others returned.  It was clear
that their religious obligations had ended, because instead of marching in
silence they were chatting casually.  The neighbors disappeared into their
respective houses while Victor noticed that his house guest was standing
alone in the street.  The poor girl was soaked and shivering...  why was
she standing in the rain instead of staying inside where she could be warm
and dry?

   Before he could say anything, Maria Elena went to her knees and touched
her forehead to the ground.  She was immensely glad to see her host and
enormously relieved he had returned.  He wondered what was going on with
her, but his first concern was getting her back inside before she got sick.
He tapped her on the shoulder:

   "Dosheschkt dek holodnikt.  Poganakt dek nad tebe...  poganakt dek nad
tebe."

   She knew the words "holodnikt", which meant "cold", and "poganakt" which
meant "bad".  She correctly guessed that he had said "This rain is cold. 
It's not good for you."

   She responded:

   "Ya poganakt.  Ya negat harash...  ya...  "

   Victor whistled to show his disapproval of her last comment.  She had
told him in Danubian that she was no good, but with a long low whistle he
disagreed.  There was nothing wrong with her, she was a nice girl...  but
he didn't know how to tell her that in Spanish.  With a quick short whistle
he ordered her to stand up and follow him into the house.

   Victor and Maria Elena were alone in the living room.  She was trembling
badly from being cold: her skin was covered with goose-bumps and her teeth
were chattering.  Unfortunately, she was prohibited from covering herself.
Her only option would have been to take a hot bath.

   Victor felt immensely sorry for the poor girl.  Maybe he couldn't give
her a blanket to warm up in, but he wanted to stop that shivering and try
to cheer her up.  She looked at him with sad eyes...  her expression
clearly stating: can't you at least hold me, Victor?

   Shyly, Victor stuck out his hand.  She immediately took it and snuggled
up to him, trying to warm herself against his body.  She put her arms
around him and started crying.  He wrapped one arm around her waist and
with his free hand gently pressed her head against his shoulder.  To be
held...  after all this time...  to be held...

   Long buried emotions and passions welled up inside Victor, the thrill of
a new love, a new beginning.  After a while Maria Elena quit shivering and
quit crying.  She was content to just stay standing close to him, to feel
the warmth and comfort of his body against hers.  The emotion continued to
build inside him.  Without thinking about what he was doing, he gently
touched the prisoner's chin to turn her face towards his.  He looked at her
eyes...  yes...  she wanted him to kiss her.  Their lips met, shyly at
first, then much more passionately...

   So...  it was done.  Victor and Maria Elena were in each other's arms
and had exchanged their first kiss...  two broken, lonely souls that had
found each other.  They were separated by language, by age, and by social
status...  but none of that mattered.  Each desperately needed the other.

   *****

   The rest of the day seemed to pass uneventfully.  The household had
dinner and cleaned up, and the women prepared for the following day and the
upcoming workweek.  After sunset Cecilia put her nephew to bed and fretted
about some stains on one of her fancy dresses.  Then, she realized the
house was totally silent.  She checked both Victor's room and Maria Elena's
room.  Both were empty.  Cecilia had an unpleasant feeling.  Hmm...  better
check downstairs to see what's going on...

   She descended a few steps and peeked into the living room.  Victor and
Maria Elena were passionately kissing each other...

   Cecilia flinched.  SHIT!!!!  Shit...  shit...  shit!!!!  I should've
kept a better eye on those two!  This is my fault!  Shit!  Kim's gonna kill
me!

   She thought about continuing downstairs and interrupting, but hesitated.
She knew there was no point in doing that; they'd only wait until she was
asleep and continue.  No, there was no way she was gonna keep those two
apart and she should have realized it from the beginning...  no point at
all.  The matter was out of her hands.

   Cecilia managed to calm down.  She still was angry at herself, but that
anger was subsiding.  Well, at least she no longer had to lose any sleep
worrying about keeping her host and her housemate apart: she had failed and
the issue was settled.  She also realized that, if Maria Elena was occupied
with Victor, chances were that she no longer would try anything with Jason.
That had worried her from the outset, because it was clear that Jason had
noticed the prisoner and enjoyed looking at her.  At least that was one
concern she no longer had.

   Cecilia took off her clothes and went to bed.  She shut her door, no
longer worried about standing watch over Maria Elena.  There was nothing
more that she could do.

   Only the Creator knew what Path in Life was in store for Victor Dukov
and Prisoner # 101025.

   *****

   Victor took Maria Elena's hand and led her upstairs.  Outside her room
they kissed again, but they were not sure what to do next.  They still
couldn't communicate with words; everything between them had to be via
expressions and gestures.  Maria Elena looked towards his room and back
into his eyes...  yes, she was ready.  To make absolutely sure, Victor ran
his hands down her back and caressed her bare bottom.  Her hungry
expression did not change.  With that he led her to the master bedroom.

   Maria Elena sat on his bed and undressed him: pulling off his tunic and
shirt, then untying the strings on his boots.  Once those were off, the
only item left was the linen pants.  Like most men in Danubia, Victor did
not use underwear.

   In bed they took their time.  Maria Elena was content to feel the gentle
caresses on her body from the hands of a man who was much more patient than
either of her two previous lovers.  His passion was different from what she
was used to, because he was older.  For a long time she simply relaxed, but
finally she began to caress his penis and massage his thighs and stomach.
She reflected that three sons had come from him: but maybe he wasn't done
yet.  Perhaps more children were destined to come from his body, children
that she would carry for him.

   When Victor was ready, Maria Elena lay on her back, eager to surrender
herself.  For the first time in nearly a year, Victor Dukov made love to a
woman.  He was much gentler than she was used to, but at the moment that
was what she wanted: a slow gentle experience.

   Maria Elena did not return to her own room that night.  She stayed with
her lover, violating her status as a criminal by sleeping under a warm
blanket in the arms of the man she hoped to love.

   *****

   Maria Elena woke up with a start.  She was not in her own room, not
lying uncovered on top of her own mattress.  Instead, she was under a
cover, sharing a warm bed with her lover.  She nervously glanced at the
bedroom door, realizing it was open.  She remembered that Victor had closed
it the night before.  She wondered if he had gotten up in the middle of the
night; or if Cecilia had peeked in and not bothered to close it.  She
closed the door, hoping it had been Victor who had left it open.

   She returned to the bed and sat down.  She looked at him, studying his
lined face and aging body.  Time and stress had taken their toll on his
health and appearance.  He was not physically attractive, but she had not
been looking for that when she began her relationship with him.  She wasn't
worried about being with someone who was young.  Instead she wanted to be
comforted and protected by a person she could look to as an authority
figure, someone who she could respect and who she felt could guide her.

   As a young teen, Maria Elena Rodriguez-Torres had been fascinated with
some of the older male teachers at her school, especially the school
director.  Nothing ever came of her interests, nor could she ever figure
out why older guys would fascinate her.  She had never taken any
psychology, so she did not have the education that would have helped her
understand her own needs.  A psychologist could have looked into the girl's
past and quickly identified her basic issue with men.  Her father had
abandoned her mother when she was young, forcing her mother to be a single
parent throughout most of the girl's life.  Senor Rodriguez was missing,
leaving his daughter with the burning desire to find an older man who would
give her some direction.  Of course the popular culture around Maria Elena
told her that she needed to find a handsome young guy her own age, which
clashed with her hidden hope of finding someone older who could replace her
father.

   Maria Elena's traumatic experiences over the most recent two weeks had
intensified her subconscious need to find a mature man with authority who
could protect her.  Victor Dukov, who was a business owner and the head of
the household that had taken her in, fit her aspirations perfectly. 
Victor's own circumstances; the fact he was recently widowed and his sons
were grown-up, added to his availability and desirability in Maria Elena's
mind.  She would heal him, and he would heal her.

   *****

   Maria Elena lightly kissed Victor on the cheek and stood up.  She'd have
to go downstairs and get the kitchen set up for Cecilia to cook.  It was
Monday, so after the kitchen was ready she'd come back to her lover's room
and help him get dressed.  She would be his adoring partner...  he would
rely on her and not be able to live without her.

   It turned out that Cecilia already was awake and had gone into the
kitchen first.  A quick glance sent the message that yes...  she did know
the prisoner had spent the night with their host.  There was no greeting.
The Dominican simply began with:

   "I hope you understand what you've gotten yourself into.  If it goes
bad, don't say I didn't warn you."

   The prisoner blushed.  Cecilia continued:

   "I saw you two last night...  in the living room.  I checked the bedroom
later on...  and I left that door open on purpose."

   There was another pause, because Maria Elena didn't know how to respond.
Cecilia gave her a skeptical look.

   "You don't have...  anything to say about...  what you did?"

   "Not really...  it just happened."

   "No, Maria Elena, it didn't 'just happen'.  I saw it coming as early as
Thursday.  I warned you.  You knew that I was watching you, and you knew
why...  "

   "But was it really that wrong?  We love each other...  "

   Cecilia rolled her eyes.

   "You love each other?  After six days you love each other.  You don't
even speak the same language, but you love each other.  He's 46 years old
and you're 19, but you love each other.  Please...  give me a break.  You
can't love someone you don't know in just six days...  It doesn't work like
that!"

   "Well I do love him!  I don't care about any of that stuff you're
telling me!  I love him!  What's wrong with that?  Why can't I love him?"

   Cecilia rubbed her forehead and sighed.  She thought: Maria Elena, you
don't get it...

   "You can't love him because you belong to the Danubian Government! 
That's what I was trying to tell you last week!  There's nothing wrong with
you having a relationship, but it really has to be with another criminal,
with someone in the same situation as you.  If you're married to another
criminal, the Ministry will try to respect that and they'll do what they
can to keep you together, as long as you...  "

   "I don't want a relationship with another criminal!  I want Victor!  I
mean...  what about Tiffany?  She's not married to another criminal!  What
about her?  Why can't I just do what she's doing?"

   Cecilia did not know how to answer Maria Elena without spending the
entire morning explaining the unique circumstances that had brought Vladik
Dukov and Tiffany Walker together.  It was true that he was a cop and she
was a criminal, but they first met when he was suspended from his position
with the National Police and performing Public Penance.  When he and
Tiffany started their relationship, Vladik was little more than a criminal
himself.  Anyhow, Cecilia didn't want to argue further.  She wasn't going
to convince her housemate not to pursue Victor; the only thing she could do
was try to get her to think about what she was doing.

   "Maria Elena, it's a long story about Vladik and Tiffany.  Your
situation is different.  It just is.  I'm worried about you and Victor, and
I don't want to see either of you get hurt.  I just don't think you being
with him is such a good idea.  Right now...  I really can't figure out how
to tell you why I feel that way.  But I know him.  I know this country.  I
know what it's like to be criminal.  And, I know some things about you.  I
really think that a year from now, you're gonna have different needs and
Victor's not gonna be able to fill them.  That's when things are gonna go
bad between you two."

   Cecilia's words were met with a hard, skeptical look from the prisoner's
eyes.  No, she wasn't going to be convinced.  Her only option was to give
up on trying to dissuade her housemate and fall back on at least making
sure she adhered to criminal protocol:

   "I hope I'm wrong.  But I want you to think real hard about what you're
doing.  And there's something else...  "

   "What?"

   "The next time you see her, you're gonna have to tell Spokeswoman
Lee-Dolkivna what's going on.  That's not just protocol, it's the law.  The
Spokeswoman holds custody over you, so she gets final say over whether or
not you can have a relationship with someone.  You need to talk to her,
because if you don't, you'll get charged with insurrection and in theory
you could get Victor in trouble."

   "But...  she'll simply say no."

   "Not necessarily.  What she will do is force you to be sure, in your own
mind, why you want to be with him.  And, I'd imagine she'll want to talk to
him as well.  Then she'll make a decision.  She won't say no until she
talks to both of you."

   The conversation ended and Maria Elena went upstairs to assist her host
while he got dressed.  As she knelt to hand Victor his shoes, her heart was
heavy.  She was learning that romance, especially for a criminal, was not
something that simply happened in Danubian society.  For her to love
Victor, other people had to get involved.  Her romantic life would be
documented in her criminal record.  To have a relationship with Victor she
would have to obtain official permission, and to marry him she would have
to seek permission yet again.  She felt enormously sorry for him, because
for her sake he would have to seek the approval of Spokeswoman
Lee-Dolkivna, someone half his age (and his former employee on top that)
for a decision that really should have been up to him to make.

   *****

   Maria Elena returned to the university that morning with Cecilia and
Jason for a normal day of work, class, and exercise.  She spent most of the
afternoon with Carmen, realizing that the Californian was her best chance
at having a friend among the US students.  Maria Elena was aware that there
was nothing Carmen could really do to help her situation, but it was nice
just to have someone else to talk to in Spanish besides Cecilia.

   After class, the norteamericanos split up by sex to undress and attend
physical fitness training.  As usual, Cecilia handed Maria Elena her
running shoes, which she was only allowed to use during exercising.  As
usual, the gringas took off their clothes in the locker room for a ritual
that many still were not comfortable with.

   Exercise proved to be an unnerving experience for Prisoner # 101025. 
The instructor announced that she was ready to fully participate in the
program, which included the runs.  The Colombian would be expected to run
three kilometers non-stop, which was the distance that the other women
typically ran every other day.  Cecilia made the mistake of telling the
instructor that she couldn't use her switch to punish Maria Elena because
she was going on trial the following week and faced a full judicial
switching of 50 strokes.  The instructor cheerfully responded:

   "That's not a problem, Director Sanchez.  Since you are in charge of the
prisoner and are responsible for her success with us, then I will simply
give you any strokes she earns.  If she fails to live up to my
expectations, then I will hold you responsible."

   Maria Elena noticed the Dominican's dark skin turn a shade lighter. 
Cecilia turned to her and translated what the instructor had just said,
adding:

   "You'd better do what she wants, and do it right.  If I have to take any
strokes for you, I'm gonna be pissed."

   "No...  Tell her I'll take the strokes...  It's not your problem."

   "It is my problem, because you have to go on trial next week.  When it's
over and you get sentenced, you're gonna get your butt whipped.  You can't
have any marks on you when that happens, so in the meantime I have to take
your punishments for you 'cause I'm in charge of you.  The only thing is,
I'm not gonna take any punishment for you 'cause you're not gonna earn any,
'cause you're gonna bust your ass on that run.  Get it?"

   "Yes, Cecilia, I get it."

   Maria Elena certainly did try as hard as she could, but there was no way
she was capable of running three kilometers non-stop.  She fell to her
knees and threw up after completing just half the distance.  Cecilia
screamed at her to get up and keep moving.  Maria Elena cried as she
staggered along the university sidewalk, pain tearing through her sides and
her legs trembling from weakness.  She put everything she had into the run,
terrified that Cecilia already was in trouble, but she knew that she was
not moving fast enough.

   When Cecilia and Maria Elena finally completed their run, both were
expecting the instructor to hit Cecilia several times with the switch. 
However all she said was:

   "Good effort, Prisoner # 101025.  You put everything into it, and that's
all I'm asking.  Wednesday I'll expect you to do better."

   *****

   Cecilia had to stay late at the university that night, because one of
the male participants had decided to quit the program.  He was having
trouble with the Danubian language, was not getting along with his host
family, and to top off everything else, he had taken three strokes that
afternoon from his physical fitness instructor.  The program director was
used to dealing with crises stemming from Americans struggling to adapt to
Danubian culture.  Normally she was able to convince the students to stay
by reasoning with them.  They already had paid their money and could not
get a refund, if they left Danubia they would lose the semester because
there was no time left to enroll back in Chicago, and if they quit, that
decision to give up would forever haunt them.  If a student was determined
to leave, she did what she could to get him or her to put it off as long as
possible.

   There were cases where Director Sanchez spent an entire semester
convincing a student to "wait just one more week...  just another week...
is that really gonna hurt you?  Just one more week?" She always pointed
out: "I know it's hard, but if you at least wait another week or so, do you
think you'd really lose anything?  If you really can't stand it, you can
always decide to leave later on, but once you leave, you can't decide to
come back."

   In the end the student usually procrastinated one week to the next,
right up to the end of the semester.  During the three years Director
Sanchez had been counseling exchange students, 130 had participated in the
program and only 4 ended up leaving early.

   *****

   Maria Elena went home by herself.  She noted that Victor was helping
Cecilia's nephew with a homework assignment, so she started dinner and
began straightening up.  She washed a load of clothing, set the table,
served three portions of food and set aside a fourth for her housemate, for
whenever she came home.

   All the while she was attending to the needs of the house; two huge
worries loomed in her mind: her upcoming trial and the horrific switching
she would have to endure, and her concern over what to do about Victor. 
She dreaded the upcoming session with her Spokeswoman even more than she
dreaded her trial, because she was convinced that Kim would put an end to
her relationship with her host and embarrass him at the same time.

   Victor made sure Pedro was properly cleaned up and in bed before putting
on his prayer robe and performing his nightly vigil beneath his wife's
picture.  Maria Elena wondered if the Danubian Church had a formal mourning
period and if Victor would ever get over doing that strange ritual and move
on with his life.  She felt that he could move on, but that he would need
her to do so.  That was something Prisoner # 101025 could tell her
Spokeswoman; that Victor's future depended on her.  She was offering him
the chance to emerge from his emotional pit of grief and guilt.  Maybe she
was his last hope, the final opportunity he would ever have to return to a
normal life.  Did Kim really have the right to take that away from him just
because of protocol?

   With that thought, Maria Elena felt much more confident of herself. 
Yes, she now knew what she needed to say that would counter the doubts of
both Cecilia and Spokeswoman Lee-Dolkivna.  Victor's life was at stake. 
Maybe his relationship with his guest was not "correct protocol", but did
anyone have a better option for him?  Did anyone else know how to get him
to return to his old life and find happiness?

   She finished in the kitchen and set a pot of water to boil for tea.  As
usual she would make a cup for her host and kneel beside him to serve him.
She now knew a few words and phrases, so she could communicate with him at
a simple level.  As she waited for the water to boil she went to the
bathroom and studied her reflection in the mirror.  She noticed that her
breasts now were as tanned as the rest of her body, that the marks from her
swimsuit were completely gone.  She was developing a new tan-line, the one
on her lower neck that was the result of constantly wearing a collar.  She
knew that her neck would be uncovered briefly the following week, when she
would take off the temporary collar and be fitted with her permanent one.
For a few minutes her neck would be uncovered, then covered again,
permanently.

   Permanently.  This would be her life.  How strange...  only a week
before she had been sitting on a plane, worried about delivering a kilo of
cocaine.  Just two weeks before she still was in Colombia.  Just two weeks,
but it felt like so much more than two weeks.  So much had happened in just
two weeks...  so much...  The worries she had just two weeks before had no
presence in her life at all now.  She was a different person, worried about
different things, with different goals and aspirations.  It was not her
choice to become different, but nonetheless she was able to accept what had
happened to her.  Just one week after her arrest, Maria Elena had fully
adjusted to the Path in Life that the Creator had set up for her.

   The prisoner knelt with her cup of tea.  This time Victor quickly
finished his prayer and took the cup.  He stroked her face and touched her
hair.  Yes, she was his escape, the sign sent to him by the Creator that he
was free to stop grieving about his dead wife and move on with his life.

   A few minutes later they were upstairs in his room.  Maria Elena pulled
off his prayer robe and carefully hung it up.  He took her hands and kissed
her passionately.  The couple embraced, then he explored her bottom with
his hands.  He felt bad, because within a week her backside would be
covered with painful welts, but after her trial he would comfort her.  She
would spend the night crying on his bed, as he gently rubbed lotion onto
her body.  Finally he would hold her hand and she would fall asleep.  The
next day she would wake up, and he would be there for her...  and for once
he would be the one with a cup of tea for her...  and she would begin her
new life...

   Yes...  my poor little foreigner...

   He became aroused much more quickly the second night than the first. 
She had reawakened those old feelings and passions, something that just a
week before he felt that he had no right to enjoy.  There was so much in
him that she had brought back, so much of his life that she had restored.
He now had something to live for, apart from running his business and
serving his employees and clients.  He held, in his arms, a lovely girl
that he could call his own and love.

   That night she got on her hands and knees on the bed and he took her
from behind.  She was so lovely...  so different from the Danubian women he
had known...  so lovely...  his Maria Elena...

   *****

   The next day Cecilia asked the university gardener to let Prisoner #
101025 off work early so the two women could see Spokeswoman Lee-Dolkivna
before lunchtime.  At 11:00 she met Maria Elena at the shower.  The
Colombian sighed, because the trip meant that she would have to come clean
about her relationship with Victor sooner than she had wanted.  She cast an
angry look at Cecilia, suspecting that she must have placed a call to
Spokeswoman Lee-Dolkivna to arrange the appointment, precisely to mess up
her plans with him.  The Dominican, who was extremely observant and picked
up on everything, snapped:

   "Quit looking at me like that.  I didn't call your Spokeswoman.  She
called me.  She wants to talk about your trial.  It's got nothing to do
with Victor."

   The two women arrived at the Central Police Station and entered the
Spokeswoman's office.  At that moment Maria Elena saw the reality of her
future close-up, because a badly beaten criminal was lying face-down on a
foldable table that looked like a padded massage table.  He was young,
perhaps even younger than Maria Elena.  His bottom and the top part of his
thighs were a solid mass of reddish welts that were about a centimeter wide
each.  Where the blows crossed each other they formed blisters that were
purple.  Six reddish stripes crossed the criminal's upper back.  In spite
of the severity of the punishment, Maria Elena noted that he was not
bleeding anywhere, but that was not much consolation.  It was obvious the
young man was in a lot of pain and content to just lie still on the table.

   Cecilia explained that all criminals received their first judicial
punishment immediately after they were convicted.  The first switching was
part of the ritual of trial and the criminal's formal introduction to the
reality of his sentence.  No matter how many or how few switchings were
assigned during sentencing, the first one always came at the end of the
trial.  A formal police switching consisted of 50 blows administered to the
criminal's bottom, upper thighs, and shoulders over a 30-60 minute period.
Following the switching, the punishment was certified by the trial judge,
and then the criminal had to be photographed.  Once that was taken care of,
the convict normally spent a couple of hours lying on a "recovery table" in
the Spokesperson's office until he could stop crying and walk home.

   "No matter what happens during your sentencing hearing, next Monday
you're gonna be switched and this is where you'll have to recover.  A week
from now this is gonna be you."

   Maria Elena looked at the man, studying the painful welts and blood
blisters that covered his backside.  She had known being flogged was going
to be part of her punishment, but to actually see it up close...

   "Your Spokeswoman had to go through this three times.  She told me that
it feels like you're being ripped apart, like it's gonna kill you, like
it's never gonna end.  When the cop is whipping you, it'll be the longest
hour of your life.  You'll want to scream, but you need to resist and stay
quiet because that's part of a criminal's honor.  You're gonna have to show
courage when you're on the switching table or else your fellow criminals
aren't gonna respect you.  That's the reality you're facing.  But it's the
same for everyone who gets convicted.  Everyone who wears a Ministry of
Justice collar goes through the same experience.  You'll go through it and
you'll survive, just like everyone else."

   Maria Elena stood in horrified silence as Cecilia continued:

   "In one way you're a lot luckier than most of the foreigners that come
through this office.  Most people go on trial the day after they're
arrested and really don't have a clue what's going on...  and you can
imagine how scary that would be.  You're lucky because the Ministry had to
wait to put you on trial.  You've had a chance to get used to things here.
You know what it's like to be a criminal, you know what to expect, and
there won't be any surprises.  Most prisoners don't have that opportunity."

   The two women passed into the back office, where Kim was organizing a
folder with her client's information.  As usual, Cecilia stood at attention
while Maria Elena knelt and put her head to the floor.  Kim told her client
in Danubian:

   "Please rise, Prisoner # 101025, and take a seat so we can fulfill our
Paths in Life."

   "Thank you, Spokeswoman Lee-Dolkivna."

   Tiffany, now in the final weeks of her pregnancy, struggled to move
about the office as she served glasses of blackberry punch and buttered
dinner rolls.  Maria Elena and Cecilia were grateful for the snack, because
the trip downtown would force them to miss lunch.  As the prisoner and her
translator ate, Kim laid out what was going to happen the following week:

   "I think you're going to be in luck next Monday.  The Inspector seems
concerned that he and his crew roughed you up too badly.  He doesn't want
the details of what they did to you coming out in the trial, for obvious
reasons.  So, your corporal punishments are going to be cut way back.  At
most they're gonna ask for only two switchings per year, and I'll argue it
should be less than that, at least later on in your sentence.  So, getting
whipped is not something that you're gonna have to worry about all that
often."

   Kim waited for Cecilia to translate and continued:

   "Anyhow I've got another piece of good news.  Because of the information
you gave us, the Germans arrested 'El Flaco'.  That's the first time they
were able to act on anything we gave them that we got from someone working
at your level.  For once we actually managed to mess up the bad guys' day."

   Maria Elena was less than elated, because her old fear of retaliation
came back to her full-force.  There was no question that "El Flaco" would
want to come after her.  Kim picked up on her nervous reaction.

   "El Flaco's not going anywhere.  He's got major problems right now.  You
know that he's not really a cocaine trafficker; he just did that on the
side.  His group was more focused on running a human trafficking operation.
What they've been doing is to get women to come into Europe as cocaine
couriers, then they take their documents away and sell them."

   "Sell the documents, Spokeswoman Lee Dolkivna?"

   "No, not the documents; the women.  They sell the women, you know...  to
brothels, strip joints, pimps, private individuals, that sort of thing. 
From what the Germans told us, El Flaco's specialty was moving Ecuadorians,
Colombians, and Peruvians into and out of Germany.  Their investigators
traced a couple of your fellow couriers to a brothel in Bucharest and some
others to a place in Istanbul.  Those are the only ones they found so far.
They don't know where the others are, but the Frankfurt police recovered 42
passports from his apartment.  That's at least 42 women that have gone
missing, because the records show them entering Germany but not leaving. 
Now they know who's responsible."

   "...  and they all flew out of Panama City...  to Frankfurt...  "

   "Yes, for some reason Alex and 'El Flaco' liked moving their women out
of Panama...  the Germans will have to figure out why that was.  From what
I know about these groups, I'm gonna guess 'El Flaco' had customs officials
paid off in both airports to let you guys through.  I suppose that's why it
was always Panama City-Frankfurt."

   As Cecilia translated, her expression clearly read: "I told you so...  "
Maria Elena's heart sank at hearing, for certain, what her translator
already suspected.  There was no way El Flaco would have simply paid her
off and allowed her to depart for Spain.  She now understood that it was
not the kilo of cocaine that she was transporting, but herself.  Had Maria
Elena's flight not been diverted to Danubia, she would have delivered
herself right into the control of a human trafficking ring.

   Kim waited for her client to fully understand the significance of what
she had just said.  Judging by her sick expression, it was obvious that she
did understand.

   "Prisoner # 101025, I want to ask you something.  Knowing what you know
now, about what was waiting for you in Germany, do you still regret having
landed here last week?"

   "No, Spokeswoman, I don't regret it.  I'm sorry that I got on the plane
in Panama.  That I'm sorry about."

   "You getting on that plane was inevitable.  You were obsessed with a
dream, and nothing was going to stop you from chasing it.  Alex promised
you quick money and an escape, and you didn't have the common sense to see
that you were getting into a trap.  You had no way of knowing because you
were ignorant.  You didn't even bother to find out why they were giving you
so much money or why you were flying alone.  Nothing could have stopped
you."

   "I suppose that's true, Spokeswoman."

   "I want you to understand that is was not luck that saved you.  The
Creator chose to save you.  The Path of your Life led you here to Danubia
and the Path of your Life is to stay here and serve our country.  You need
to ask yourself, why you and not the others?  Why were you spared?  You
cheated slavery or Death, but why?"

   Maria Elena did not know how to respond to Kim's deeper question. 
However, her narrow escape from horrific enslavement and a likely early
death gave her the courage to comply with her duty to report her
relationship with Victor.  After a long silence she said:

   "Spokeswoman Lee-Dolkivna, last night I slept with Merchant Victor
Dukov. I slept with him because I love him."

   Kim glanced at Cecilia:

   "You were aware of this?"

   "Yes, Spokeswoman, I was.  But I thought it would be better for Criminal
# 101025 tell you herself."

   Kim pondered how to proceed.  She knew that both Cecilia and Maria Elena
were expecting her to simply say that the relationship needed to end
immediately.  However, because of her suspicion that her client had come to
Danubia for some special purpose, the Spokeswoman was reluctant to pass
judgment on what was going on between her and the man she used to work for.

   "You do understand that, by the standards of our society, what you two
are doing is not proper at all?"

   "Yes, Spokeswoman, I understand that."

   "Now for another question.  Why did you do it?  And why with him?  Why
Merchant Dukov?"

   "Because he needs me, Spokeswoman Lee-Dolkivna."

   "And what about you?  What are you getting out of it?"

   Maria Elena thought for a moment.  "I...  I guess it's because I'm tired
of being with people I'm afraid of.  I'm tired of living my life in fear.
When I'm with him I don't feel that way; I'm not scared.  When I'm with him
I feel different."

   Kim contemplated her client.  Maria Elena's expression was perfectly
calm: she was not ashamed of what she was doing with Victor, nor was she
proud or defiant.  It was clear that she saw the relationship as part of
her Path in Life, even if she didn't understand it in those terms yet.  As
improper as Maria Elena's behavior might have been, Kim did not feel that
she was in a position to simply prohibit her from spending time with
Victor.

   "Right now I can't tell you how I'm going to handle this, Prisoner #
101025.  I'm going to have to go to Merchant Dukov's office this afternoon,
talk to him, and see what he has to say about his feelings towards you.  If
he's as sure about you as you seem to be about him, then I will have both
of you submit written statements about your relationship and your
intentions to the Ministry.  Once I get them approved, they will go in your
criminal file.  Then I will have to grant you provisional permission to
continue seeing him.  But there is something that you'll always need to
remember."

   "What is that, Spokeswoman Lee-Dolkivna?"

   "As a criminal, the Path of Your Life is to serve the people of Danubia.
If the Ministry of Justice decides that it needs to move you to better
serve the Danubian public, then you will have to obey, and your feelings
for Victor won't matter.  That's the reality of being a criminal in this
country.  Your life belongs to the Ministry, not to Victor or anyone else.
I'm sure he understands that, but I need to make sure you understand as
well."

   "Yes, Spokeswoman Lee-Dolkivna."

   *****

   A few minutes later Cecilia and Maria Elena returned to the university.
Cecilia went to her office to make some phone calls to Chicago, while her
prisoner barely had time to make it to Danubian language class.

   Meanwhile, Spokeswoman Kimberly Lee-Dolkivna exited the Police
Headquarters and walked several blocks to Merchant Victor Dukov's office.
She had to confront the uncomfortable situation of trying to determine if
her former boss would receive permission to have a relationship with one of
her clients.

   In theory the Spokeswoman was legally above Victor Dukov, because he was
a private citizen, while she was a public official.  However, in no way did
she see herself as his superior, because she had worked for Merchant Dukov
when she was a criminal herself.  Kim always considered Victor as her
former boss and never would she see him in any other manner.  He had not
been particularly nice to work for, but she later understood that Victor's
personality and behavior did not reflect what he really thought of her.  As
her months working under him passed, she acquired more respect for him. 
The thought that he owed her any deference never entered her mind, no
matter what she might have said to her client.  Even the mere thought of
forcing him to justify his relationship with Maria Elena made the
Spokeswoman cringe.  However, because of her position and her client's
legal status, at the least she would have to go through the formality of
talking to both partners before filing a report about the relationship.

   Kim took a deep breath as one of Victor's employees escorted her to his
office.  As soon as she saw him, her doubts about interfering with his
relationship with Maria Elena were confirmed.  He looked better than he had
in years and his normally dour expression had softened considerably.  He
knew why she had come to his office, and also could tell that she was
uneasy about what she was doing.

   Kim began the interview by asking about some other clients who were
working for Victor's company and he responded with honest assessments about
their performance.  Following that, Kim asked him to tell her how Prisoner
# 101025 was doing in his house.  Victor replied:

   "Well, Spokeswoman Lee-Dolkivna, you must know what's happened between
us, or else you wouldn't have come to see me."

   "Yes, I do know, Merchant Dukov.  Prisoner # 101025 came to my office
and reported her relationship with you, which was her duty as a prisoner
and as my client."

   Victor tried to think of a response, or something he could say that
would somehow justify his behavior, but Kim continued:

   "The only question I have for you is this: do you love my client?"

   "I think so...  You know, it's been such a long time...  married so
long, and widowed...  I've loved one person over many years, but I've
forgotten what falling in love felt like...  and I saw her...  and she
loves me...  "

   "If you love a person, you will always want the best for her, is that
not so?"

   "Yes, Spokeswoman, I do want the best for her."

   "...  and you think you can do that for her?  Provide guidance to her
and do what you can to ensure that she properly fulfills her Path in Life?"

   "I can try.  I will seek the guidance of the Ancients and I will try."

   "Then, Merchant Dukov, there is something else I'd like to ask of you.
Prisoner # 101025 will go on trial next week on Monday.  I need you to take
that day off from work so you can be at my office to comfort her.  I don't
want you in the courtroom; but I want you in my office when I bring her up.
I want you to attend to whatever injuries she might have, and wipe her
tears and stay with her.  Can you do that?"

   "I would be honored, Spokeswoman."

   "Very well, Merchant Dukov.  I am not going to ask you about your
relationship because I know you are a man of honor.  But you do understand
I need you to fill out a report for the Ministry of Justice and I need to
put it in Prisoner # 101025's file.  You understand that?"

   "Yes, Spokeswoman."

   Kim stood up and Victor saluted her.  Out of respect for her former
boss, she saluted back.

   "May the Ancients protect you, Merchant Dukov."

   "and you, Spokeswoman...  may the Ancients protect you."

   With that Kim did a sharp about-face and left his office.  Undoubtedly
she would see him soon enough at a Dukov family get-together and she could
drop the formality and talk to him normally.  However, because the meeting
involved an official discussion over her client, both Victor and Kim felt
that it was necessary to exercise proper protocol, even though they were
alone in his office.  Anyhow, it was done.  Victor knew from Danubian
protocol that Kim would recommend approval of his relationship with Maria
Elena.  He was relieved about that, but at the same time he knew that she
fully expected him to be supportive of her.  He was taking on a
responsibility with the Ministry of Justice, because he was caring for a
person who was considered public property.

   *****

   Later that night, once Cecilia and her nephew were asleep, Maria Elena
entered Victor's room with a cup of tea and knelt.  He took her hand, asked
her to stand up, and kissed her.  With that the couple spent their third
night together.

   Both Victor and Maria Elena knew that there was no way they could know
how much time they would have.  Most people either live in the future,
thinking about their plans and what they are going to do, or they live in
the past, pondering what was or what might have been.  In life most people
either look forward or backward, but neglect where they are at the moment.
Victor and Maria Elena were different, because they had only the moment at
hand.  For each of them, the past was nothing but regret and missed
opportunities, while the future seemed bleak and ominous.  They knew that
the only choice they had was to live in the present and enjoy whatever time
the Creator would allow them to share.



   Chapter 10 - Solidarity

   Maria Elena spent the remainder of her second week in Danubia settling
into her daily routine.  In the mornings she gardened at the university,
then she met with Carmen and some of the other norteamericanos for lunch,
and later attended language class and physical fitness training. 
Afterwards she went home to fix dinner and clean, and finally, when Victor
came home, she spent her evenings with him.  She was busy from the moment
she got up until the moment she fell asleep, but in her case being
continuously occupied was what she needed.  Her activities varied enough
that each part of her day gave her something to look forward to.

   In spite of her initial resistance to the thought of being a gardener,
Maria Elena discovered that gardening really was not a bad job at all.  She
worked for people who were not particularly demanding and who left her
alone once it was clear she understood what needed to be done for the day.
The university grounds were attractive and peaceful, an excellent place to
enjoy the warm early autumn weather.

   She often felt erotic, being naked outdoors in that park-like setting.
When she got on her hands and knees to pull weeds and grass out of flower
beds, she thoroughly enjoyed the feel of the morning sun on her exposed
bottom.  When she spread her legs and leaned forward, the sunshine and
breezes caressed her bottom-hole and vulva, a sensation she never could
have experienced anywhere in Colombia.  Her modesty had faded and she
actually enjoyed the looks she got from men passing by the spot where she
was working.

   She enjoyed Carmen's company during lunch and hearing about her life in
Los Angeles.  Carmen was curious about Maria Elena's life in Colombia as
well, but unlike many of her classmates, she had enough tact not to ask
anything about the prisoner's legal situation or the circumstances that
brought her to Danubia.  Carmen also had enough tact never to stare at her
companion's collar or uncovered body.  She put her at ease and always
treated her as just another classmate.  There were times that Maria Elena
wished she had some free time so she could hang out with Carmen, but her
schedule only allowed her a few minutes around lunchtime.  She hoped that
after she was convicted that she might have some more time to spend with
new friend.

   She pushed herself hard during language class.  She hoped she would
eventually surpass many of the norteamericanos with her ability to speak
and communicate in her new home.  Speaking and understanding the Danubian
language was vital to her future, because Kim had told her that she needed
to be prepared to take another job by the end of September, one that would
allow her to work indoors once the weather got cold.  The law required that
criminals had work in places where as many ordinary citizens as possible
could see their nakedness and their public shame, so the only indoor
positions suitable for criminals were customer service jobs.  Already Kim
was thinking ahead to what her client could do after September, but the
range of options depended on how well she could speak and understand
Danubian.

   By the end of her second week, Maria Elena's body was beginning to show
the benefits of her physical fitness training and physical labor.  The runs
continued to be a challenge, but each day she experienced improvement.  She
was eating healthy, sleeping well, and felt better than she had felt in
years.

   *****

   After language class had ended on her second Saturday in Danubia, Maria
Elena visited Spokeswoman Kimberly Lee-Dolkivna at the Central Police
Station, accompanied by her translator.  The official informed her client
that she wanted to give her a final update on her legal status before she
went to trial.  To have such a discussion during the weekly hair-braiding
ritual would have been inappropriate, because it involved Kim talking to
Maria Elena as a superior, something that was never done when women had
their hair unbraided.

   The most important update was that German investigators, after
interrogating El Flaco, had located a few more of Maria Elena's fellow
couriers and already had rescued several of them.  "For better or for
worse, they'll be going home.  I don't know to what, but I'd guess they'll
eventually get deported back to their own countries."

   Kim also explained that, under ordinary circumstances, she already would
have insisted that Maria Elena call her mother to explain where she was and
what had happened to her.  However, she understood that in her client's
case to do so might put Senora Torres in danger from Alex or someone else
in the smuggling group.  To that Maria Elena had no response, because in
her current situation she had no desire at all that her mother know what
she was doing or where she had ended up.  Noting her silence, the
Spokeswoman commented:

   "You'll have to tell her eventually.  Don't think that I will let you
avoid that responsibility, because I won't.  When I feel that it would pose
no danger to your mother or anyone else in your family, I will pick up this
phone, hand it to you, and in front of me you will tell your mother, in
detail, why you are here."

   Finally Kim explained what was going to happen Monday morning.  Cecilia
would bring her to the Spokeswoman's office at 8:00 in the morning.  Upon
entering the office she would kneel and be prohibited from speaking.  A
police officer, most likely the dog handler who had arrested her, would
arrive, handcuff her, and then escort her across the plaza to the Central
Courthouse for trial.  Kim and Cecilia would accompany her, but she would
have to make the trip across the plaza handcuffed.

   "Couldn't I just go straight to the courthouse, Spokeswoman?"

   "No.  There's ritual with a criminal trial, and the walk across the
plaza is part of that ritual.  Anyhow, I wouldn't worry about the trip
over. The trip back will be a lot more difficult, after you've taken your
punishment, but that too is part of the ritual of trial."

   Kim explained something that Cecilia already had mentioned, that during
the switching it was extremely important that she try not to scream or cry
for as long as possible.

   "You'll find out that criminals have their own unwritten code for what
was considered honorable behavior.  There's a reason for that.  Your honor,
along with everything else in your life, has been taken away from you.  It
is your duty, to yourself and to those around you, to regain that honor
through your actions.  How you face the difficulties of your Path in Life
as a convicted criminal is vital to your redemption.  An important part of
that redemption is to always display courage and stoicism, especially
during times of pain or danger.  The switching is your first chance to show
the world, and yourself, that in spite of your situation, you are
determined to regain your honor."

   Once Cecilia translated, Kim continued:

   "It's not likely you'll make it through your punishment without crying,
but you need to do the best you can.  You'll have to remember that cops
have their own measurement of honor, and for that officer punishing you,
it's as important for him to make you cry as it is for you to resist.  The
point is for you to do your best.  That's all anyone can expect from you."

   There was a final detail about criminal protocol that Kim needed to tell
Maria Elena.  Normally criminals shaved their pubic hair 24 hours before
trial or before a scheduled punishment.  The purpose of shaving was to show
everyone around them that their Path in Life was to suffer as a result of
their actions, and that they had accepted that as an obligation the Creator
had imposed upon them.  Shaving was the ultimate act of humility, because
it completely exposed the criminal's genitalia to the rest of the world;
the acknowledgement and acceptance of a life in which modesty and hiding
oneself from public scrutiny was not allowed.

   Maria Elena was grateful for the explanation.  She quietly responded
that she understood and that she would be properly shaved when she
presented herself for trial.

   *****

   Upon finishing Prisoner # 101025's final pre-trial interview, the three
women took a trolley to Victor Dukov's house for the weekly ritual of hair
washing and re-braiding.  Maria Elena reflected that the majority of the
women she was with had been convicted criminals, the only exceptions being
Cecilia Sanchez and Cynthia Lee.  They had endured the switching table and
tried to face the public shame of being collared with courage and dignity.
Maria Elena understood that her Path in Life was to live up to the high
standard that her companions had set for her.  She needed the women around
her to accept her and view her as an honorable person; the only way she
could achieve that goal was to understand and always fulfill the demands
that criminal protocol placed upon her.

   After two weeks in her new home, her frame of mind was one of
acceptance. As much as she dreaded the horrific experience that awaited her
on Monday, she understood that it was the inevitable result of her own
misguided decisions.  The only choice remaining was to live as honorably as
possible within her circumstances.  She was determined that she would do
her best, and not only because she was worried about what other criminals
or cops might think.  As important as what opinion others might have of
her, what mattered most was Victor.  What her lover thought of her mattered
much.

   That night Cecilia went with her fiance to the Socrates Club, but Maria
Elena did not accompany them.  She wanted to spend her evening with Victor.
She would make love to him as usual, but before they made love, she had an
important favor to ask of him.  While he prayed, Maria Elena rummaged
through the bathroom of the master bedroom and took out his shaving
supplies.  She put a fresh blade in his razor, filled a bowl with hot
water, and put a towel over a small piano bench that she felt would support
her weight.  Once she had everything set up, she returned downstairs and
knelt with his tea.

   When Victor and Maria Elena went upstairs, she handed him the razor and
pointed at her own pelvis.  She still was not able to express what she was
feeling with Danubian vocabulary, but with her expression she made it clear
that it was important that he be the one who shaved her.  He took her hand
and nodded.

   "Doc-doc."

   Maria Elena lay on her back on the bench and spread her legs.  Victor
dipped a washcloth in the hot water and soaked the area around his lover's
vulva, before covering her with shaving cream.  Slowly and gently he
scraped off the black hair from her body, exposing more and more of her
vulnerable womanhood.  He was careful to get all of it, making sure there
was no stubble left around the creases of her labia.  Finally he instructed
her to lift up her legs so he could shave around her bottom-hole as well.
When he finished, he dropped the razor in the water, then took the wet
washrag and cleaned off the remaining shaving cream.  He gently dried her
and ran his fingers over her exposed skin to make sure she was completely
devoid of hair.

   Victor gave Maria Elena his hand and helped her stand up.  He led her to
the large mirror he had in his room so she could see herself.  As a child
she had never looked at her body in the mirror, so seeing herself stripped
of her hair was totally new to her.  How strange...  to be so completely
exposed.

   Maria Elena took Victor's hand and placed it over her stripped vulva. 
As she felt his fingers touching her bare skin she commented:

   "Ya kriminalika...  ya kriminalika...  "

   Victor gently continued exploring her smooth skin.  His only reply was:

   "Doc."

   Yes, she was indeed a criminal, but he fully understood what she really
was trying to tell him.  She had accepted who she was and what she had
become.  He had helped her make that journey in her mind, which was why it
was so important that he should shave her.  She lacked the vocabulary to
express her feelings, but still she was able to convey to him what was
going on in her mind.  He understood perfectly, and only needed a single
word to respond.

   *****

   The following day was Sunday, the traditional day for family dinners and
get-togethers.  Victor had invited his sons and their families to have
dinner at his house.  Cecilia took charge of cooking dinner while Maria
Elena helped set up and cleaned pans that no longer were needed.  Finally
Victor's sons and their families showed up, along with Jason Schmidt. 
Cecilia immediately ordered her fiance into the kitchen to help serve,
while she changed into a formal dress.  She returned to the dining room and
took her place at the table next to Victor and her nephew.

   Because they wore collars, it was the duty of Jason and Maria Elena to
serve the rest of the household.  They would be allowed to sit at the table
and eat, but if anyone needed anything, they were expected to get up and
attend to that request.  However, the fact Jason and Maria Elena were
allowed to have plates at the table at all indicated that Victor held them
in high esteem, in spite of their collars.  Ordinarily it was customary
that a collared member of the household should kneel during a dinner while
waiting to attend to the others' needs and would be allowed to eat only
leftovers once the meal had ended.

   The dinner distracted Maria Elena from her impending trial, but she
noticed the guests glancing at her shaved vulva.  She did not really feel
any shame, because she simply was trying to comply with protocol, through a
gesture of humility that announced her upcoming ordeal in the courtroom.

   Finally dinner ended, with Maria Elena and Jason tasked to clean up. 
Cecilia accompanied them to "help out", but the prisoner fully understood
that in reality she was watching over her fiance.  She was bothered by the
fact the Dominican still did not trust her, but she knew that with Jason
there was no way Cecilia was about to take any chances.  She watched over
him constantly, especially if he was in the presence of other women.  She
only felt confident allowing him out of her sight if he was performing
services for the Danubian Church.  Later Maria Elena would realize that
Cecilia's behavior was not so much a lack in confidence in herself or
distrust of Jason, but instead a result of her controlling personality and
desire not to have anything in her life out of order.

   Much later, when Victor's sons left the house along with Cecilia's
fiance, Maria Elena lay on his bed so that he could enjoy her body one
final time before her trial.  For a long time the prisoner lay on her
stomach as her lover gently caressed and massaged her bottom.  She enjoyed
his tender touches on her soft skin, knowing that within just a few hours
her entire backside would be brutally marked up, covered with welts and
blood blisters.  She would spend the next day injured, dispirited, and
exhausted.  It would take her days to recover, both psychologically and
physically.  She knew that, as she unsuccessfully tried to ignore the fear
building up within her soul.

   She was unable to relax.  Finally she sat up.  Victor sat up as well. 
She took his hand and touched his fingers to her collar.

   "Ya kriminalika."

   "Doc"

   With that he put his hand over her heart, which was beating rapidly. 
For a long time he simply held her as he tried to comfort her.

   *****

   A few hours later Cecilia and Maria Elena walked to the university and
boarded a crowded commuter trolley heading downtown.  The Dominican
explained the arrangement that Victor had made with the Spokeswoman; that
he was to go to her office during the trial and wait for her to be brought
up.  She explained that he would not witness her trial or punishment
because of Danubian protocol.  It was considered inappropriate for family
members or lovers to be present during a judicial punishment.  There was a
concern that family members might attempt to disrupt the proceedings.  More
important was the tradition that even a dishonored criminal should not have
to endure the humiliation of having family members witness a switching.

   Normally family members and lovers were prohibited from being present at
the recovery table as well, but Cecilia explained that in Maria Elena's
case Kim had decided to make an exception.  When she was brought back from
the courthouse, Victor would be in the office waiting for her.

   When the two women arrived at the entrance of the Central Police
Station, they saw a small group of US exchange students, led by Carmen,
waiting for them.  Maria Elena's friend explained that they wanted to "bear
witness" to the inhumane treatment that she was about to endure.  They had
come fully prepared with protest banners and an inflammatory statement they
had written up in both Danubian and English that they planned to read to
reporters.  It was apparent they wanted to stage a public demonstration and
expected to be arrested.

   Cecilia sighed, because the spectacle that Carmen was planning was
absolutely the last thing that either Maria Elena or the exchange program
needed.  Protesting with banners and shouting slogans was not the Danubian
way of handling situations like the one facing Maria Elena.  Yes, the
Americans would undoubtedly get arrested if they tried to disrupt the trial
of Prisoner # 101025, but it was unlikely anything would happen other than
the cancellation of their visas and expulsion from the exchange program. 
Cecilia knew that she would have to try to reason with her students, but
she also knew that they were still unfamiliar with Danubian culture and
would not understand why protesting Maria Elena's trial would not do any
good.  Desperate for some advice, she dialed Spokeswoman Lee-Dolkivna on
her cell phone.

   "Kim, you need to get down here.  We've got a problem on our hands." As
soon as Cecilia started explaining what was going on, the Spokeswoman
immediately hung up and rushed down three flights of stairs to the main
entrance of the police station.  Cecilia expected Kim to tell the students
that they needed to disperse immediately and that the idea of protesting a
trial was idiotic.  She also expected that the students would argue and
there would be an unpleasant scene.  However what the Spokeswoman did
totally surprised her.  Kim called the students to attention with a loud
whistle.  She explained who she was and gave a brief summary of what was
about to happen to their Colombian classmate.  Then she added:

   "If you don't like what's happening to Prisoner # 101025, I can
understand, because there're some details about her case that I don't like
either.  Don't think I don't understand your objections to what's going on,
because I understand perfectly.  I'd also imagine that you think I'm going
to tell you not to protest.  I'm not going to do that.  I'm not going to
tell you not to protest, because in this case protesting is perfectly
legitimate.  The problem I have is with the way you're planning to go about
it.  To have a bunch of foreigners shouting slogans is not going to do your
classmate any good, people are not going to understand what you're trying
to accomplish, and all it's going to do to you is make you look like crazy
foreigners.  If you're really serious about showing solidarity with Maria
Elena, you need to protest the way Danubians would protest.  If you protest
in a way that people here would understand, you'll have a lot more impact,
not mess up your own futures, and make people understand that as Americans,
you're willing to respect the culture here.  There's a way to do all that."

   As the students calmed down, Kim continued:

   "I'll tell you what protesting will accomplish, and what it won't. 
You're not going to stop Maria Elena's trial.  Won't happen, no matter what
you do.  You're not going to stop her from getting punished today.  She's
going to get her butt whipped, because that's part of the trial.  Everyone
who gets convicted gets their butt whipped.  But if you're out there
protesting, and protesting the right way, you might have an impact on her
sentence.  I say might.  I don't know for sure, but I would appreciate the
support when I'm negotiating her sentence.  But if you really want to help
my client, you're going to have to protest like Danubians.  This crap
you're planning, with the banners, and chanting, and disrupting the trial
and getting yourselves arrested won't help her, nor will it help me argue
her case in court."

   "So what do we have to do?"

   Kim glanced across the street at the entrance to the Cathedral.  The
main door already was open for penitents to report for their daily duties.
She addressed the group.

   "Which one of you speaks the best Danubian?"

   One of the men raised his hand.  "I guess I do." The others seemed to
agree.

   "OK.  Then take everyone over to that Priest and tell him what you're
planning on doing; that you want to protest the treatment of your
classmate. While you're doing that, I'll have to take her upstairs to my
office.  I'll call the trial judge to ask him to start the hearing an hour
late, to give you guys time to get ready.  I'm warning you though, if I'm
going to delay the trial, I expect you to protest the way people here would
protest.  That means, to show solidarity with my client, you'll have to
make a major sacrifice in your own lives."

   The students looked at each other.  Finally Carmen raised her hand.

   "What's the sacrifice, Spokeswoman?"

   "You'll have to wear Temple collars.  If you're serious about showing
solidarity with a criminal in this country, that's how you do it.  You put
on a collar.  And to let people know you're serious about how you feel,
you'd be expected to stay collared up through the Day of the Dead.  That's
a month from now."

   The students gasped and looked dismayed.  No one said anything.  Kim
became impatient.

   "What's the problem?  You're OK with making a spectacle out of
yourselves and getting arrested and getting kicked out of the country, but
you can't wear Temple collars?"

   "But...  we'd...  like...  have to be naked?"

   "That's the rule.  You can't wear clothing if you're collared."

   The man who had volunteered to speak for the group asked: "...  and what
else are we gonna have to do?"

   "The Priest will tell you.  There's a protocol for protesting, and
they'll let you know when you're over there."

   The Americans suddenly were quiet.  Now that they knew the extent to
which they would have to commit their lives to protest a sentence in
Danubia, it was obvious none of them wanted to go through with it.  Kim
snapped:

   "Do you care about helping Maria Elena, or don't you?  If you do, then
get over to the Cathedral!  If you don't, then get yourselves, and your
banners, and the rest of your shit out of my sight!"

   Carmen was the first out of the group to move.  She was Maria Elena's
best friend and the organizer of the protest, thus she was the one who was
most committed to continuing.  She wondered why the idea of being collared
frightened her more than the prospect of being arrested.  However, she had
started the day expecting to sacrifice for the benefit of her friend and
would stay true to her promise.

   The guy who volunteered to translate was next.  Of all the students he
was the one who knew the most about Danubian culture.  He reflected that he
shouldn't have been surprised that, when he got himself mixed up with
Carmen's protest, things would take an unexpected turn.  Had he known were
Carmen's adventure would lead, he would not have gotten involved, but now
he felt committed.  It was dishonorable for a Danubian to start something
and then abandon it, especially if it entailed supporting another person.
So, with Carmen signaling that she was ready to go to the Cathedral, he
knew that he would need to join her.

   Under the harsh gaze of Spokeswoman Kimberly Lee-Dolkivna, the others
fell in behind Carmen.  None of them actually wanted to wear a collar, and
certainly not for a month, but none of them had the nerve to back out.

   "Interesting," commented Kim as she exchanged glances with Cecilia.  "To
be honest, I didn't think they'd have the guts to go through with it."

   With that she turned to her client.

   "You're lucky, to have classmates who'd make that sacrifice.  I hope you
prove yourself worthy of what they're doing for you."

   Maria Elena stared with dismay and guilt at the Americans as they
entered the Cathedral.  She felt terrible about dragging them into her
situation, but also grateful, especially to Carmen, for caring so much
about her.

   Kim didn't give her client much time to think about what the exchange
students were doing.  She ordered Prisoner # 101025 to accompany her to the
office on the third floor, where the dog handler who had arrested her
already was waiting with his female partner.  The criminal's mood
immediately changed, as the horrific memories of her arrest came back to
her in full detail.  She trembled as she knelt, eager to put her face to
the floor so she wouldn't have to look at her tormentors.  However, the
cop, noting her discomfort, ordered her to kneel upright and to look at
him. He addressed her in Danubian.

   "I'm pleased to see you again, Prisoner # 101025."

   "Yes, Officer."

   "Ah...  so you speak Danubian now.  How good.  I'm sure the Inspector
would love to have another conversation with you.  Wouldn't that be
pleasant?"

   Before Maria Elena had a chance to answer, the Spokeswoman snapped:

   "Officer, it'd be a good idea to skip the sarcasm with my client.  If
you'd really like to push that point, I think I could have a pleasant
conversation with the Inspector; and maybe with the rest of you as well. 
We can have all kinds of pleasant conversations, Officer."

   Maria Elena only understood a portion of what her Spokeswoman had said,
but she noticed the cop's demeanor suddenly become more subdued. 
Apparently Kim had said something that put him in his place.  That small
detail gave her some courage and a small account of confidence that she
could endure what lay ahead.

   The cop calmly cuffed Maria Elena and ordered her to stand up.  Cecilia
told her what was about to happen:

   "You're gonna get marched in cuffs across the plaza to the courthouse.
It's what everyone has to do before trial.  Your Spokeswoman and I will be
coming with you, but until you get into the courthouse, you'll be under the
control of the cop.  Once he gets you inside, he'll un-cuff you and then
I'll be telling you what's going on and what they want you to do. 
Basically, as soon as you get over there, your trial's gonna start."

   *****

   While Prisoner # 101025 was in her Spokeswoman's office, Carmen and the
other US exchange students were receiving a crash course in Danubian
culture.  Out of the 60 students in the program, a total of 13 had decided
to demonstrate against what they considered a judicial system that violated
the human rights of prisoners such as their classmate.  Carmen had
organized the protest with the idea of trying to disrupt her friend's
trial, while the others were hoping to protest against the Danubian justice
system in general.  They had just found out that the public disruption they
had planned would not be possible, because if their goal was to change
public opinion towards the treatment of their classmate, disrupting the
trial would only achieve the opposite.

   The only option available to the Americans was to perform a public
display of solidarity with their classmate.  The Priest explained how that
was to be done.  The demonstrators would have to be collared and perform
Public Penance.  Normally they would have gone first to the Temple of the
Ancients to undergo a formal induction ritual, but the Priest understood
that would have to wait.  He ordered the Americans to undress and kneel. 
They exchanged nervous expressions as they reluctantly took off their
clothing and stuffed it into a cloth bag.  Once they all were naked, the
Priest produced 13 large collars.  He commented:

   "We're not supposed to do it this way, and when your friend's trial is
over with I will expect you to go to the Temple and properly submit
yourselves for Public Penance.  However, I understand that the point of
what you are doing is to support your friend in her time of difficulty. 
Time is important, and I will not delay you."

   Carmen asked the question that the others wanted to know:

   "Priest, we still don't know what we're supposed to do.  Spokeswoman
Lee-Dolkivna told us that we had to come here if we were gonna protest the
way we're supposed to protest.  Well, we're here.  We did what we were
told, but we're still gonna protest.  So what is it that we need to do?"

   The Priest passed out 13 legal-sized sheets of paper and a couple of
very thick magic markers.

   "Each of you...  write the prisoner number of your friend on the paper I
gave you.  Write it well, so it can be seen from a distance.  Write nothing
but the number, so the world knows who your friend is."

   The protesters complied, each writing "Zek nom.  101025" on their
papers, making sure the letters were bold and clearly visible.  The Priest
then took back the markers.

   "You will go to the entrance of the courthouse, you will kneel with
these signs and in doing so, you will bear witness."

   "That's it?"

   "That's all that is needed.  Your classmate needs you to demonstrate
your solidarity.  That's all you can do for her, and that's all you need to
do.  Your sacrifice will be noticed, and you will be heard.  I will go with
you, and if your efforts are sincere, the Creator will bless you."

   A few minutes later, 13 embarrassed, nervous, and naked US college
students filed out of the Cathedral behind the Priest.  They approached the
entrance of the Central Courthouse and listened to a short prayer given by
their spiritual guide.  Then they knelt in a row, each holding a sign with
Maria Elena's legal name clearly written.  The Priest knelt as well.  The
group remained silent as two cops, two women dressed in white linen, and
one naked cuffed prisoner made their way across the Central Plaza and
towards the steps of the courthouse.

   Maria Elena looked at her classmates with dismay, but also with deep
gratitude.  Never in her life had anyone done such a thing for her.  She
had always been alone, with no one to give her any support.  She now knew
that in Danubia she had people willing to sacrifice their own honor for her
benefit.  Kim gave the group an approving nod, because they had listened to
her advice and were protesting properly.  The arresting cops seemed to be
uneasy about the latest development: the fact that thirteen foreign
exchange students thought that the prisoner was important enough to
demonstrate on her behalf.  Maybe to the police she was nothing but a
dishonored liar, but to her classmates she clearly was much more than that.

   Maria Elena and her escort went up the stairs and disappeared through
the main court door, while the Americans remained kneeling in silence. 
After several minutes, press photographers descended the stairs to take
pictures of the protesters.  A television crew was next.  A large crowd
gathered around and quietly commented among themselves, but it was obvious
that no one thought the Americans were out of line or doing anything
disrespectful.

   To make their point, the Americans would have to remain kneeling
throughout the trial.  The Priest remained with the group, to show the
nation that the protesters had Church approval for what they were doing. 
He knew that the exchange students' resolve would be sorely tested, but
they had to learn that to protest in Danubia meant sacrificing one's own
comfort, especially in a situation that involved objecting to something the
government was doing.  As for the exchange students, each of them was
asking; how in the hell did I get myself into this?  However, none of them
wanted to be the first to break ranks with the others, so they continued to
kneel in silence throughout the duration of Prisoner # 101025's trial.