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 11 – The trial of Maria Elena Rodriguez-Torres

While the student protestors continued to kneel outside, Spokeswoman Lee-
Dolkivna, Director Cecilia Sanchez, Prisoner # 101025, and the two officers 
escorting the prisoner passed through the main door of the Central Courthouse. 
They walked through an ornate entryway and passed through a second set of 
doors that led to the main courtroom chamber. The main trial room was large, 
with old wooden furnishings and huge windows on the left side. On the right 
side were benches where spectators sat. The judge sat at a large desk on an 
elevated platform at the end of the room opposite from where the prisoner 
entered, and the prosecution team had a table near the judge's platform. The 
most important detail for Maria Elena was a second wooden platform about 5 
meters in front of the judge's desk. It was round, about a meter and a half high, 
and had stairs going to the top. That second platform was where the prisoner 
would have to stand throughout the trial.

Spokeswoman Lee-Dolkivna took a deep breath as she looked at the prisoner's 
platform. Already she had spoken on behalf of more than 100 clients, all of 
whom had to stand during the proceedings. However, the memory burned into 
her mind was from the first time she saw that platform, now more than eight 
years ago. She had been only 18, just out of high school, and had entered the 
room as Prisoner # 98945. She was a terrified and bewildered foreigner, with 
no knowledge of the culture or language of Upper Danubia (as the country 
was called back then) facing a 20-year sentence for marijuana trafficking. 
How much things had changed since then, but one detail remained constant in 
the Spokeswoman's mind. Every time she saw that platform, her memory 
flashed back to her own trial. No matter how many times she escorted her own 
clients into the Courtroom, for a second Kim's imagination brought back to 
her, in vivid detail, everything she felt the first moment she saw the platform. 
It was only for an instant, but that instant never let her forget what it felt like 
to be going on trial herself.

The Spokeswoman blinked and brought herself back to the present. The cops 
were un-cuffing her client, who would not be able to escape now that the door 
was locked. Kim took out the key to Maria Elena's temporary collar and 
unlocked it. She handed the collar to a courtroom attendant to return to the 
Ministry, since it no longer would be needed. Maria Elena felt the cool air of 
the courtroom on her neck, knowing that within a short time she would be 
collared again, this time permanently.

The Spokeswoman pointed to a worn spot in the Courtroom's old carpeting 
and told her client to kneel. Then she issued the following instructions:

"Maria Elena, when the judge comes in everyone will stand and salute him, 
except you. You must kneel forward and put your forehead to the carpet. You 
will stay that way until the judge orders you to step forward. You will climb 
the platform and assume the prisoner's stance. That means you must stand 
with your legs spread and your hands behind your head. No matter who else is 
talking, you must remain in that position, facing the judge. Director Sanchez 
will translate anything you need to know or any answers you need to provide 
the court."

The prisoner sadly responded: "Dóc-doc, Advokátna Lee-Dolkivna." She 
remained kneeling, nervously looking at the numerous spectators and trial 
witnesses sitting in the benches to her right. She recognized almost everyone 
who had been with the Inspector in the airport interrogation chamber: all those 
cops who had fondled her and smiled while she was being paddled and 
humiliated. She saw that female medical assistant who had dishonored her. 
Unfortunately their eyes met and the woman gave her a cruel smile.

When the Inspector entered the courtroom to take his seat among the 
prosecutors, Kim signaled that she needed to talk to him privately. She told 
Cecilia to remain standing with the kneeling prisoner while she walked over to 
him. Her heart was pounding, because she had decided to force him to request 
that the prosecutor drop the charge of perjury against her client. With every bit 
of effort to control her voice and maintain a calm, confident appearance she 
quietly asked:

"Inspector, are you aware that there are 13 demonstrators outside this 
courthouse who are protesting on behalf of my client?"

"Yes, Spokeswoman, I saw them as I was entering."

"Well, Inspector. I believe that the fact there are demonstrators will mean that 
we will have to play the entire interrogation video of my client during the trial. 
The demonstrators are not going to accept that my client committed perjury 
unless the actual footage documenting that accusation is made part of my 
client's trial record. I am going to have to call you and the medical staff as 
witnesses to explain your method for proving that my client is guilty of the 
crime of perjury. When we do that, I will ask that the demonstrators be 
brought into the courtroom to witness that footage for themselves."

Kim noticed the Inspector's face going pale. She knew that the last thing he 
wanted was for footage of his unit's interrogation tactics played during a trial. 
The fact that there were demonstrators, who had Church approval no less, 
present outside the courtroom, would obligate him to show the film of Maria 
Elena being beaten and throwing up. There was no question that would cause 
a huge scandal and possibly cost him his position at the airport. He knew that 
the Spokeswoman had backed him into a corner. He would have to drop the 
charge of perjury. He was defeated, but outwardly maintained his calm.

"Spokeswoman, I would imagine, thinking about it, that perjury really is not 
relevant in the case of your client. I am convinced that she did not understand 
what we were asking of her. It will not be necessary to enter the interrogation 
tape into the trial because it simply shows something that we cannot be sure of 
anyway. If you wish, I will notify the prosecutor of our misgiving about the 
perjury charge."

"Very well, Inspector. I appreciate your understanding about the perjury issue. 
If that charge is not included in my client's hearing, I would agree that 
showing the interrogation video will not be necessary. There is something 
else."

"Yes, Spokeswoman?"

"Perhaps we might agree to minimize the number of switchings my client will 
face? I think that, given her sentence will still be 35 years; we could have her 
switched once a year? That would still be 34 switchings, which I think is 
enough."

"Yes, I would agree, Spokeswoman. That would be plenty. I will discuss our 
misgivings with the prosecutor."

"Thank you, Inspector."

As the Inspector turned to talk to the prosecutor, Kim struggled not to faint 
and not to scream with joy. She took a deep breath and returned to her client. 
She was trembling and trying to control her emotions. Maria Elena looked at 
her with concern, while Cecilia whispered:

"What happened?"

"I... I think I'm going to get the perjury charge dropped. If I do, I'll owe that to 
your students."

"My students?"

"Yes, your students. Because they're out there, I would’ve forced the Inspector 
to play the video where they were interrogating Maria Elena. He wants to 
keep that out, because he doesn't want a bunch of protestors to see what his 
crew did to her. So, without that video, there's no proof she committed 
perjury."

Kim and Cecilia watched as the Inspector and the prosecutor discussed the 
matter. They glanced at the Spokeswoman with worried expressions. The 
prosecutor then said something unpleasant to the Inspector, before crossing 
off several lines from his statement. He glanced up again at Kim, his 
expression full of resentment. It was obvious the perjury charge would indeed 
have to be dropped. Kim whispered to Cecilia:

"They're really pissed. Essentially I blackmailed them. But I couldn't have 
done it without your students. As soon as you can, I need you to get out there 
and let 'em know what they've accomplished."

The judge entered the chamber. The entire room shouted "Doc-doc Danube!" 
and everyone saluted, including Kim and Cecilia. As instructed, Kim's client 
knelt forward and placed her hands on the worn carpet, her forehead touching 
the ground. Maria Elena felt the cool air of the courtroom blowing against her 
exposed vagina and bottom. She realized how much she was on display, but 
after two weeks in Danubia, she understood that modesty was a privilege that 
no longer was part of her life.

The prosecutor read the charges, which included cocaine possession, cocaine 
trafficking, and violating the sanctity of her body. Kim signed with relief, 
because not included in the list was the perjury charge. She had scored a 
significant win against the Inspector. 

The trial judge asked Kim in Danubian: "Spokeswoman Lee-Dolkivna, is your 
client properly aware of the charges she is facing and that you are her 
representative in this court?"

"Yes, your honor, although with your permission, I'd like to clarify to her 
what charges she is, and is not facing."

The prosecutor tightened his lips, because it was obvious his opponent was 
referring to dropped perjury accusation.

"Very well, Spokeswoman. Please make that clarification so we can 
continue."

Kim told Cecilia to translate what had happened, that the perjury charge and 
its resulting 20-year sentence had been dropped. That detail only heartened 
Maria Elena slightly, because she still was facing 35 years of being collared 
and a bunch of judicial switchings. Still, Kim's pre-trial victory heightened the 
prisoner's confidence that her Spokeswoman really was determined to protect 
her as much as possible.

The trial judge addressed Kim again:

"Spokeswoman, please tell your client to present herself to the court."

Kim tapped Maria Elena's shoulder and pointed at the platform. The prisoner 
approached it and climbed the steps, finding herself standing about a meter 
and a half above the ground. Reluctantly she spread her legs and put her hands 
behind her head. Four spotlights shined on her from different directions. She 
heard the murmurings of the spectators and saw the flashes of reporters' 
cameras.

The first portion of the trial was dedicated to presenting the evidence against 
Prisoner # 101025. The prosecutor stood before the judge with a metal cart 
containing the evidence. The most important item the official presented was a 
tray containing 100 grape-sized bluish-gray ovals, the "pellets" of cocaine that 
Maria Elena was carrying with her when she was arrested. The prosecutor 
called the dog handler to testify how his dog initially sniffed out the pellets 
Maria Elena had in her jacket, and then the head doctor to explain how Maria 
Elena had the other pellets concealed inside her body. That detail caused a stir 
in the courtroom, because to use one's own body for such a disgusting purpose 
was totally offensive to Danubian values.

Other evidence presented during the trial included Maria Elena's cell phone 
and the arrest record of El Flaco in Germany. Kim did not contest anything, 
because she already had eliminated the evidence that most would have 
mattered, the interrogation video. Anyhow, both she and the Inspector agreed 
that Maria Elena was much better off having been arrested in Danubia than 
she would have been had she continued on to Germany.

After two hours, Maria Elena's body was starting to cramp badly, and she 
wondered how much longer she could stay in her position. Just as the prisoner 
felt like she was going to faint, the judge stood up. Suddenly the 
Spokeswoman whispered desperately "Maria Elena! Quick! You must kneel!" 
The Colombian just made it to the platform on her knees when the entire room 
exploded with "Doc-doc Danube!"

Kim ordered her client to step off the platform and passed her a glass of water. 
Meanwhile, Cecilia went outside to tell Carmen and the other students what 
they had accomplished by demonstrating. They stood up along with the Priest, 
wincing as they stretched. Their knees ached and their muscles were horribly 
cramped from being immobile for such a long time. As for their initial unease 
of being naked in front of the Courthouse, that concern had passed a long time 
ago. The loss of their modesty was overshadowed by their ongoing physical 
discomfort.

"So far, just by being here, you've managed to cut 20 years off her sentence. 
In this country that's a big deal. You really helped Spokeswoman Lee-
Dolkivna and she wants me to tell you how grateful she is."

The Americans were relieved. They had accomplished something significant, 
so their efforts had not been wasted. Cecilia could tell that they were happy to 
be finished and thought they were about to leave. However, their commitment 
was far from over.

"Kim and I need you to get back on your knees for the rest of the trial. The 
next part is the defense, where the Spokeswoman’s gonna negotiate her 
sentence. Right now she's hoping she can get Maria Elena's switchings cut 
down to once a year. The Prosecutor wants her to get a switching every three 
months. So if you guys leave now, Maria Elena's still gonna get screwed. 
Keep at it, because you're making a difference for her. You really are."

Cecilia briefly summarized what had happened to the Priest in Danubian. He 
returned to his knees. Carmen immediately knelt and picked up her sign. 
Reluctantly the others followed, trying to ignore the mounting pain in their 
knees and the cramps in their legs and backs.

As soon as Cecilia returned to the courtroom to take her place next to the 
Spokeswoman, the judge stood up to resume the trial. There was a loud shout 
of "Doc-doc Danube!" 

Maria Elena scrambled to get into her kneeling position on top of her platform 
as the rest of the room saluted the judge. He read over some procedural issues 
and then ordered the prisoner to stand. Cecilia relayed the order in Spanish 
and she resumed her position on top of the platform, legs apart and hands 
behind her head. The judge then called the Spokesman of the Criminal to 
speak up on her behalf.

Kim made no attempt refute any of the evidence or allege Maria Elena's 
innocence, because that was not her job. There was no question her client had 
entered Danubia while transporting a kilogram of cocaine on behalf of a drug 
trafficking organization. Her job instead was to point out mitigating factors. In 
Maria Elena's case there were several significant details that Kim was able to 
present to the court, the most important of which was the fact that, thanks to 
the prisoner's cooperation with the Inspector, her handler had been arrested in 
Germany. 

As she translated, Cecilia noted that neither Kim nor the Inspector had any 
desire to tell the court the real reason Maria Elena had cooperated. The 
Inspector was worried about his unit's abuse of the detainee becoming public 
record, while the Spokeswoman wanted to portray her client in a way that 
would make the court sympathize with her. How ironic that the opposing sides 
shared the same goal, but for totally different reasons. 

Cecilia was able to appreciate how difficult and complicated her friend's job 
truly was, because she had to use guile and tact to outwit prosecutors and 
police officials whose only goal in life was to treat all criminals as ruthlessly 
as the law would allow. Kim's job forced her to be cunning and opportunistic, 
to look for whatever opportunities she could find that would help a client 
avoid the maximum punishment. What made her position more difficult was 
that she had to be scrupulously honest about whether or not she believed that 
her clients actually did commit the crimes of which they were accused. Cecilia 
knew that if Kim ever attempted to declare a client innocent of a crime while 
knowing that person was in fact guilty, she could be put on trial herself for 
perjury and possibly executed.

The defense portion of the trial went quickly, since there was no conflict 
between how the Inspector and how the Spokeswoman wanted to treat the 
prisoner. Finally the judge looked directly at Maria Elena and asked her a 
question in Danubian. Cecilia translated:

"They are about to pronounce the sentence. He wants to know if you have 
anything to say to the court. If you do, get on your knees before you speak."

Maria Elena thought for a moment before sinking to her knees. She was 
neither educated nor introspective, but she felt that she did have something to 
say. Haltingly she tried to express herself in Spanish, while Cecilia translated 
and tried to put what she was saying into a more coherent format. The court 
heard the following:

"I don't really have a good explanation for what I did or why I did it. I know it 
was wrong... and when I was doing it I knew it was wrong. I guess I'm going 
to get what I deserved. But I am lucky. I realize I am lucky, because I didn't 
know what was really gonna happen to me. I didn't know that... I wasn't gonna 
be allowed to leave... that they were gonna keep me. And my Spokeswoman 
said to me that I have to ask myself, why did all those other women end up 
as... prostitutes... and why didn't that happen to me... why I was spared... and I 
don't really know. I mean... maybe it was so that you could stop them from 
what they were doing. But I'm sorry for what I did... I'm sorry for everyone I 
disappointed... everyone in my life...”

Cecilia gently cut off Maria Elena's rambling so the trial could end. She 
ordered the prisoner to remain kneeling during the reading of the verdict and 
sentencing:

"This court finds the Colombian Maria Elena Rodriguez-Torres guilty of the 
crimes of cocaine trafficking through the King Vladik International Airport, 
possession of one kilogram of pure cocaine in the form of powder, and 
violation of the sanctity of her body, an offense against the gift that the 
Creator gave to her soul. The conditions of the Colombian Maria Elena 
Rodriguez-Torres' sentence are as follows:"

"Item One: The Colombian Maria Elena Rodriguez-Torres will wear the 
criminal's collar for thirty five years. Twenty of those years will be for 
bringing a kilogram of cocaine to the King Vladik International Airport while 
transporting that drug on behalf of an international criminal organization. For 
insulting the sanctity of her body the Colombian Maria Elena Rodriguez-
Torres will wear the criminal's collar an additional ten years. Finally, for the 
possession of 1000 grams of powdered cocaine the Colombian Maria Elena 
Rodriguez-Torres will wear the criminal's collar an additional five years. The 
collar will identify her as a criminal, monitor her movements, and alert the 
police should she try to leave this city. For the next ten years the Colombian 
Maria Elena Rodriguez-Torres is prohibited from traveling more than 10 
kilometers from this courthouse. At no point during her sentence will the 
Colombian Maria Elena Rodriguez-Torres be allowed to travel outside the 
Danúbikt Móskt collar zone, unless such moment is deemed necessary by the 
government of the Republic of Danubia."

"Item Two: For the duration of her sentence the Colombian Maria Elena 
Rodriguez-Torres is prohibited from covering any part of her body with any 
article of clothing. That prohibition will remain in effect for the full 35 years, 
regardless of any other changes to the conditions of her sentence. She has 
disgraced herself and our nation with her actions, and the Colombian Maria 
Elena Rodriguez-Torres' disgrace will be shown to the world as a result of this 
conviction."

"Item Three: the Colombian Maria Elena Rodriguez-Torres will receive 34 
vigorous punishments on the naked buttocks with a standard leather switch. 
One of the punishments will be given in this chamber immediately at the 
closing of this hearing, the others on the anniversary of this sentencing in the 
Central Police Station each year for the duration of her sentence. The arresting 
officer or his assigned partner will administer all punishments."

"Item Four: Finally, Spokeswoman Kimberly Lee-Dolkivna will be awarded 
full legal custody of the Colombian Maria Elena Rodriguez-Torres for the 
duration of her sentence. Spokeswoman Kimberly Lee-Dolkivna will act on 
behalf of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Danubia, and as her 
custodian will be held personally responsible for any violations of this 
sentence that might be committed by the Colombian Maria Elena Rodriguez-
Torres."

Kim looked up at her client.

"Maria Elena, you are now convicted and sentenced. You need to come down 
and kneel at the judge's table."

Once Maria Elena was kneeling on the floor the judge issued another 
command. The collar technician walked up to her and put a measuring tape 
around her neck. He checked the pulse of her jugular vein and wrote down the 
measurement from the tape. He left and shortly returned with the collar-fitting 
device, which looked like an enormous pair of salad tongs. Maria Elena 
glanced at it in terror.

"That's what they use to put the Ministry collar on you," explained Cecilia. "It 
won't hurt."

The technician slipped the imposing tong-device over Maria Elena's head and 
closed it around her neck. He checked to make sure it would not pinch her 
skin, and then clamped it shut. There was a faint hiss and a dull click. When 
the man opened the device and moved it away, Criminal # 101025 had a metal 
collar around her neck. Maria Elena now was marked as a convicted criminal 
by a collar that was virtually indestructible. Like every other person who had 
been collared, Maria Elena's hands went involuntarily to her neck to feel the 
device that permanently set her apart from the world of free citizens.

The court attendants were collapsing the prisoner's stand to reveal the 
switching table. Maria Elena glanced at it not so much in fear, but in sad 
resignation. Over the past two weeks, Kim and Cecilia had told her how to 
behave in court and what to expect, so there was no need to explain now. Kim 
would release custody of her client to the airport dog handler, he would punish 
her and present her to the judge, she would thank him, and she then would 
return to the police station to spend a painful afternoon on the recovery table 
in Kim's office.

Kim and Cecilia, with Maria Elena kneeling at their side, saluted the airport 
officer and his partner. There was the tap of the switch on Maria Elena's 
shoulder, which was the cop's recognition that Criminal # 101025 had been 
handed over to his custody for the duration of her punishment. The dog 
handler's partner tapped the criminal on the shoulder, pointed at the switching 
table and touched one of the straps, indicating that she needed to position her 
hands so she could be immobilized. Maria Elena reluctantly complied. The 
female officer tightened the leather around the criminal's right wrist, then took 
her left hand and immobilized her other arm. She tightened a thick strap 
around Maria Elena's waist before tapping the insides of her thighs to force 
her to spread her legs. The criminal felt the cuffs tighten around her ankles, 
forcing her legs to remain spread and completely exposing her bottom. The 
cop placed the switch in front of Maria Elena's face to let her see, close up, the 
implement with which she would be punished. That small taunt had the effect 
he wanted; the criminal began trembling with fright.

Cecilia whispered in Spanish:

"Maria Elena, a lot of people have sacrificed for you. You need to be brave 
and show everyone you have guts and honor. It's gonna be hard, but you've 
got to do it."

Maria Elena took a deep breath and nodded, but she couldn't stop from 
trembling.

The dog handler exchanged glances with his partner, and then with the 
Spokeswoman. He picked up the switch and tapped the implement to Maria 
Elena's bottom to let her know where the first stroke was going to land. He 
repositioned himself slightly, drew back, and struck hard at the base of her 
buttocks. A reddish line appeared and quickly began to darken as Maria Elena 
winced and clenched her fists. The pain continued to mount... and that was 
just one stroke... the first out of 50. Tears welled up in her eyes and she 
continued to tremble, but managed not to make any noise. Honor... stay silent 
and defend your honor, she thought to herself.

The dog handler slashed the switch through the air several times before 
tapping Maria Elena's bottom again and striking another vicious blow. A 
second line of solid pain marked her exposed bottom, soon to be joined by a 
third, a fourth, a fifth. The criminal bit hard on her lip. She couldn't believe 
how much the blows hurt, but she managed to stay silent. For a while she 
pressed her forehead against the table as she involuntarily pulled hard against 
her cuffs. She understood that there was no way the officer would show her 
any mercy and no way that either her Spokeswoman or anyone else could help 
her. However, as hard as it might be, she knew that she had to show Kim and 
Cecilia, as well as her two tormentors, the courtroom, and most importantly 
herself, that she could take a severe punishment would courage and dignity. It 
had to be that way, a vital step in her path to personal redemption and to the 
beginning of the rest of her life.

The dog handler punished Maria Elena in the normal methodical manner that 
was taught at the National Police Academy. He tapped the victim's bottom to 
let her know where the next stroke would land, drew back, and then delivered 
a fearful blow. He waited for his subject to fully appreciate the pain from the 
stroke. After about 40 seconds he tapped his target and struck again. He 
slowly worked his way up towards the top of her bottom leaving it covered 
with 20 welts. Starting with the 21st stroke he slowly worked his way back 
down, trying as best he could to aim at the unmarked skin between the reddish 
lines on Maria Elena's agonized backside. He wanted to leave her bottom a 
solid mass of evenly placed welts before moving on to her thighs and 
shoulders.

Sweat and tears poured down Maria Elena's face as she gasped through her 
clenched teeth. Her knees were shaking and her body jerked each time the 
switch landed. The punishment was a real judicial whipping, far more severe 
than the paddling she had faced in the interrogation room. As the pain 
intensified, it forced her mind off of everything else that had occupied her 
thoughts over the last several weeks. Her old life had completely ended. Even 
as everything else faded in her mind: the blows drove that point home. Her old 
life was gone and all she had left was her future as a Danubian criminal.

The cop continued striking viciously. He carefully laid a series of hard strokes 
at the base of Maria Elena's bottom cheeks and then continued down her 
thighs. As the painful area extended beyond her bottom, Maria Elena couldn't 
resist any longer. At the 28th stroke she let out a cry and began sobbing, 
totally humiliated that she had not been able to stay silent after-all. Kim and 
Cecilia exchanged looks. She still had 22 strokes and 30 minutes of 
punishment to go. As the cop continued to land blows on the criminal's legs 
she sobbed, but managed to avoid screaming.

As the welts swelled and darkened, the Spokeswoman carefully watched the 
final portion of the punishment. It was her duty to make sure the cop did not 
come close to breaking her client's skin, and if she felt that the criminal was in 
any danger she could order him to strike another part of her body. At the 43rd 
stoke Kim raised her hand and pointed at the Colombian's exposed back. The 
cop would have to finish by laying blows across his victim's shoulders to 
spare her badly swollen bottom. She screamed pitifully as each of the final 
blows landed. 

Nearly an hour after the punishment began, the cop struck for the 50th time 
and Kim was able to raise her hand. It was the Spokesperson's job, not the 
cop's job, to make sure the switching did not go beyond 50 strokes. Maria 
Elena's body was jerking with sobs and her bottom was deep red, with a series 
of dark purple lines punctuating where the dog handler had landed his final 
blows before moving on to her shoulders. Seven solid reddish stripes crossed 
her upper back.

Kim and the cop saluted each other as the man's partner began unbuckling the 
broken prisoner. In spite of what she thought about her own resistance, Maria 
Elena had held up fairly well. She wasn't the bravest criminal Kim had ever 
defended, but at least she had not dishonored herself either. Once the straps 
were completely unbuckled, she struggled to get off the table. The pain 
seemed to be getting worse, not better, even though the punishment was 
completed. In spite of what everyone had warned her, she couldn't believe 
how much the switching actually hurt. Her legs trembled and barely supported 
her weight as she struggled to get up. She was unsteady while standing, but 
the dog handler and his partner grabbed her arms, walked her over to the 
judge, and turned her around. The judge counted the strokes to make sure she 
had been struck 50 times before signing the punishment certificate. Once he 
stamped that document, the two cops led the still-crying criminal to 
Spokeswoman Lee-Dolkivna. Cecilia translated:

"OK, that's it. All you gotta do is get on your knees and thank the officer. Just 
kiss his shoes and say 'thank you for correcting my evil behavior'."

Maria Elena clumsily got on her knees and between sobs repeated the required 
sentence in Spanish, which Cecilia translated for the court. The cop touched 
Maria Elena on the shoulder with his switch and saluted Kim. The 
Spokeswoman saluted back, and with that formal custody of Criminal # 
101025 was transferred back to her. 

With her client slumped on her knees at her feet, the Spokeswoman saluted 
the judge. He asked if Criminal # 101025 had gainful employment that 
exposed her body to public view. Kim responded that she did, explaining 
about the gardening position at the university. The judge was satisfied and 
stamped another document verifying that Maria Elena already was working.

There was one final indignity waiting for Maria Elena at the Courthouse, one 
that was a final ritual of her trial and conviction. Immediately following her 
switching, Criminal # 101025 had to pose for a series of photos for her official 
sentencing certificate. The certificate included two photos of her teary face, 
now complete with her permanent collar, and three shots of her body, with the 
evidence of her switching on prominent display. Sadly she turned around for 
the camera, knowing that the welts on her body would be forever part of her 
official criminal record.

----------

A few minutes later Criminal # 101025 exited the Central Courthouse with her 
Spokeswoman and translator. Kim held her arm as she struggled to get down 
the stairs, but informed her that she would need to walk across the plaza 
unassisted.

She passed 13 naked kneeling classmates, who looked at her injured backside 
in horror. The Americans were not allowed to say anything, because they had 
been instructed that to maintain the dignity of their solidarity they needed to 
remain silent. As soon as she crossed the plaza they would be allowed to stand 
up, after nearly four hours of kneeling. However, they would have to 
accompany the Priest to the Temple of the Ancients and go through the 
purification ritual to begin formal Public Penance. The physical agony of 
kneeling in silence had ended, but their commitment to Criminal # 101025 
had only begun.

Maria Elena made her way across the plaza towards the Central Police Station, 
a journey made by every criminal following trial and conviction. It was a long, 
agonizing trip that exposed her punished body to hundreds of ordinary people 
running about. A recently convicted and punished criminal always drew a lot 
of attention, so most of the people in the plaza stood still to watch as the 
injured woman made her way to the police station. Kim and Cecilia gave their 
assistance to help Maria Elena get up the steps to the entrance, and again 
assisted her as she made her way up the steps leading to the third floor and the 
Spokeswoman's office.

Merchant Victor Dukov was waiting for Criminal # 101025. Exhausted and 
traumatized she fell into his arms. She began crying again, as he did what he 
needed to do, hold her and not say anything. He gently helped her get on a 
recovery table and continued holding her hand as she lay on her stomach. 
Victor continued massaging his lover's hand as she quietly cried on the table. 
After a long time she finally fell asleep, happy that he was with her.

As they waited for Maria Elena to go to sleep, Kim and Cecilia stood in 
silence, enormously relieved that the trial and punishment had ended. Finally 
Kim commented:

"Go check on your students. And make sure they know that I am grateful for 
what they did for her. Because of what they did, I got 20 years cut off her 
sentence and her switchings reduced by two thirds, if not more. Make sure 
they realize they made a difference, and that I am honored to have them in this 
country."

Cecilia nodded and left the police station. As she entered the Central Plaza, 
she realized that in one day 13 of her students had learned more about what it 
meant to have honor in Danubia than she could have taught them in an entire 
semester.