The Courier
Copyright 2008 by EC
EC's Erotic Art & Fiction - http://www.ecgraphicarts.com/

(warnings: erotic discipline, sex between adults, medical fetish, 
forced public nudity, harsh police interrogation)


Chapter 11 – 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 
late summer weather.  

She often felt very 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 warm 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 and soon surpassed 
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 in years.

----------

Once 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 a lot of 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 faced 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 she had 
left 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 very 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 scrapped 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.  The Prime Minister and his 
family would not be present, because they had accepted an 
invitation from the Grand Duke to have a state dinner at the 
Royal Residence.  Cecilia commented:

“Be real glad we don’t have to go to that.  Having dinner with 
the Royals might sound exciting, but once you’ve done it a couple 
of times, it’s something you try to get out of if you can.  I 
don’t mind the Grand Duke; he’s actually fun to talk to.  But the 
Grand Duchess is someone you want to avoid like the plague.  
That’s especially true in the Royal Residence.  You do not want 
to be around Anyia when she’s at home bossing everyone around.  I 
can tell you something else, I kinda feel sorry for her parents.  
They’re both very decent people, and to have that person as their 
daughter must totally suck.”

“She’s really that bad?”

“Well, you saw her last week.  What’d you think of her?”

“I guess you’re right.  I didn’t like her.  She sort of scared 
me, to be honest.”

----------

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 
very 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 very 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 very 
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.  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 very 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 very 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 
very 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 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 13 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 very 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 friends 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.

