The Courier
Copyright 2008 by EC
EC's Erotic Fiction - /~caligula97030/

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


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 
late summer 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 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 would 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 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 Señora 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 fiancé 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 kriminálika… ya kriminálika…”

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 fiancé 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 fiancé. 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 fiancé, 
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 kriminálika.”

“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. 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 “Zék 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.