Back to Chapter 15
Chapter 16 � The Prime Minister�s Dilemma
The
Sunday evening before Criminal # 101025 was to be transferred;
Spokeswoman Kimberly Lee-Dolkivna sat alone in her office. She watched
the news, catching a glimpse of her former host-sister and future
nemesis as she attended a dedication ceremony with her husband, the
Grand Duke. Also present was the country�s Prime Minister, along with
the country�s first lady, as they celebrated the opening of an important
bridge in the northeastern part of Danubia. The ceremony marked an
important event for the country, because the new bridge would cross a
canyon and cut travel time between the eastern city of Rika Chorna and
the country�s northern border by more than an hour.
In spite of the importance of her husband and her father, it was Grand
Duchess Anyia who commanded the adoration among the local residents. The
crowds surged towards her as she passed out flowers to all of the
children within her reach. She did not hesitate to kiss any child who
came up to her. The flowers were significant for those receiving them,
because each had a ribbon tied to it that contained a Church blessing.
Yes� the lovely Grand Duchess� so young� smiling so kindly with her arms
full of flowers� surrounded by crowds of happy and well-behaved
children� while her husband and her father stood in the background
chatting with the bridge�s engineers. It was a pleasant event and a
flawless photo-op, a happy moment for a nation that was moving forward
in the world. And� as the news commentator noted, the bridge already was
paid for. No money needed to be borrowed to build it, so all tolls would
go directly to local schools and road repairs. A totally satisfying
moment for the country, epitomized by the country�s lovely young
Duchess.
Kim wondered how long the illusion could last, how long before Anyia�s
split existence caught up with her, and more importantly, with her
father�s government. There was no question that Anyia was good at what
she did; the act she presented to common citizens was perfect. There
were times it seemed she really did embody the soul of a nation obsessed
with tradition and yet confidently finding its proper place in the world
and among its neighbors in Europe. There were times even Kim felt
convinced� but she knew Anyia well enough to know that ultimately it
couldn�t last. Not with the direction she was moving.
Kim turned off the television and buried her face in her hands. The
Grand Duchess Anyia that the public knew was not the one the Spokeswoman
knew. Anyia smiled much less in private. The way she carried herself was
different. Her voice was different. The way she talked to people was
different. The kind expressions and tender kisses for cheering school
children were absent in the Royal Residence. The Anyia that Kim had to
deal with was not the pleasant girl passing out flowers on that bridge.
She was very different in private.
Kim picked up her desk phone, but then remembered she had forgotten
something important. Because she faced taking action against another
person, her faith required her to pray. She would seek the guidance of
the Ancients, of the ancestral spirits that watched over the ancient
land of Danubia. She understood that she was being forced to do
something that easily could expose her to false visions of The Destroyer
and the thought of that terrified her.
She got on her knees and closed her eyes:
�Oh Creator and the spirits of those who came before me� I wish to speak
the truth� let me speak with honesty� I ask of you to keep the
Destroyer�s visions from entering my thoughts and speech� to protect
those to whom I wish to speak� I ask of you� to let me speak with
humility� but to use my words to bear honest witness to the time in
which you have placed my life� If any evil from my actions should befall
anyone� please let it fall on me alone. That is what I ask of you� Oh,
Creator, and the spirits of those who came before me.�
Once she finished praying, Kim took a deep breath and dialed the private
line of the residence of Prime Minister Vladim Dukov. He picked up, on a
phone that was exclusively for family members and a few of his most
trusted advisors. With a shaky voice, the Spokeswoman told the nation�s
Prime Minister that she needed to talk to him and the first lady about
his daughter, and talk to them in private.
----------
Kim left the Central Police Station and crossed the Central Plaza. She
entered the National Parliament Building and a minute later was standing
in the reception area of the Prime Minister�s Office. Vladim and Maritza
arrived a few moments later, brought over in a police van. A pair of
cops escorted them, which was the only security they needed or wanted.
As demanded by protocol, Kim snapped to attention and saluted. The First
Couple saluted back before inviting the Spokeswoman into the back
office.
Kim�s hands shook, because she didn�t know how to begin. Indeed, even if
you are close to him, just how do you tell a Prime Minister that you
think the country�s Grand Duchess, who just happens to be his daughter,
is demented and should not be allowed a Royal courtesy that is an
800-year old tradition? Finally the Spokeswoman began with:
�Prime Minister, I� I need to ask if you remember my client, Criminal #
101025?�
�The Colombian girl?�
�Yes, Prime Minister. The Colombian girl.�
�Indeed, Kimberly, I do remember her. If I am not mistaken, she is the
criminal that you have chosen to keep at the house of my brother.�
�Yes, Prime Minister.�
�� and the one who, if I might add, you represented admirably during
trial. I was impressed when I reviewed that case, by how well you
defended her interests.�
�I suppose, Prime Minister� yes... thank you.�
�� and the one my brother has fallen in love with.�
Kim�s face went pale and her heart pounded.
�Yes, Prime Minister � the criminal that Merchant Victor Dukov has
fallen in love with.�
�Is that what you wish to discuss with me, Kimberly?�
�No, Prime Minister, I�ve got a different problem. I� the problem is
that... Anyia� the Grand Duchess� Grand Duchess Anyia� wants my client
to go to the Royal House� take her out of Victor�s house� transfer
custody� and take her tomorrow� and I� I don�t think she ought to go.�
The Prime Minister and his wife exchanged glances. Maritza tightened her
lips.
�She should not go... because of my brother, or because of Anyia?�
�Because of Anyia� and the whole Royal House. I don�t think that�s where
she ought to go.�
�� and the issue of my brother is of no concern to you?�
�Not at this time, Prime Minister� I�m not worried about that right
now.�
"You will understand, Kimberly, that I am indeed concerned about my
brother's behavior. What he is doing is not appropriate at all."
"I... I understand that, Prime Minister. If... I... if Merchant Dukov
were my only problem I'd be trying to address it right now... but... the
Grand Duchess is what I'm worried about. I don't want her to have
custody of Criminal # 101025. I really don't think she should have
custody of any criminals and I think the ones she already has� ought to
be taken out of her house and turned back over to the Ministry. She may
be your daughter, but I believe her soul is damaged and she's not suited
to hold custody over anyone, and I don't want my client to live under
her control."
Kim shook and went pale, because it had not been her intention to
express her opinion so forcefully.
Dukov exchanged glances with Maritza... but stayed silent for a moment
trying to think how to respond. Finally he sat back and tapped his
fingertips together as he answered:
"You will understand that I am indeed aware of the situation in my
daughter's house. One of the guards assigned to protect the Royal
Residence recently enlisted in the Secret Service of the National
Police. His new duties include reporting anything unbecoming in that
household. I have since heard many unpleasant things about my daughter
and my son-in-law. You will understand that I am distressed about my
daughter's behavior, and I feel that is an unfortunate reflection upon
myself."
Kim interrupted: "No Prime Minister, it's not a reflection on you,
really it isn't."
Dukov gave his guest a harsh look: "Kimberly, you must accept that if
Maritza and I brought Anyia into the world and nurtured her, ultimately
we are responsible for what she does."
The Prime Minister continued: "You will understand that my position, and
my ability to moderate Anyia's behavior, is compromised by a clause in
the Constitution of 1780. You will understand that the Grand Duke
reserves the right to adjourn Parliament. By tradition that is a mere
formality, never to be exercised. However, my daughter has threatened to
ask her husband to do just that, dismiss the government and rule by
decree. Such an action would precipitate a constitutional crisis. In
theory I would not be allowed to serve as Prime Minister until the
crisis is resolved, and if I do attempt to serve, my administration
would be illegal. You will understand to what extent this nation's
enemies would be pleased with such a development."
"But would the Grand Duke actually do such a thing? Dismiss your
government?"
"If Anyia tells him to, he would."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that, Kimberly. Just like that. I know her... I know both of
them, and I know she's capable of doing such a thing... on nothing more
than a whim...�
The Prime Minister paused for a moment, and continued:
"You are aware that my daughter's thinking is detached from reality. Her
Path in Life is to serve the nation, but her belief is that the nation's
Path in Life is to serve her. That includes all of us: Criminal #
101025, you, and even myself and my ministers. According to her thinking
the purpose of our existence is to serve her. She exercises emotional
control over the Grand Duke that I do not understand, but that control
is such that he will do her bidding."
"Even if it destroys the government��
"Yes. Even if it destroys the Danubian nation."
"What about changing the Constitution and getting rid of that part about
the Grand Duke dismissing Parliament?"
Dukov smiled sadly.
"To
change the Constitution requires a unanimous vote in the Parliament,
approval by all of the nation's provincial governors, and a signature by
the Grand Duke. There is no possibility that such a thing could happen.
You will understand, at my daughter's urging, our monarch has expressed
a desire to reassert the role of the Royal House as the supreme secular
authority in Danubia, not see it diminished. Among other things, Anyia
has expressed that she wishes to have the country's name changed back to
"the Grand Duchy of Upper Danubia". I am convinced such an action would
defy reality and damage this country's reputation among its neighbors.
That is an example of what she wants that concerns me."
"But... so... you're just trapped? You can't do anything?"
"I did not say that, Kimberly. I did not say that I have no intention of
countering my daughter and her husband, and I do believe the Creator has
enlightened me concerning what I must do. My hope is that I can resolve
the conflict with my daughter with minimal harm to her, to my
son-in-law, and to the nation. But I also am aware that I must exercise
restraint, and I cannot counter her as quickly as I would like."
Noting that Kim was increasingly confused by what he was saying, Dukov
decided he needed to get to the point.
"Earlier today I was visited by a Priestess from the Temple of the
Ancients. I believe you know her; she is the custodian of your sister
and of your friend Jason Schmidt. She also recently became the spiritual
mentor of your client. She described to me the conversation she had with
Criminal # 101025. She also related to me a vision of enlightenment that
the Creator provided her last night. The Priestess explained that when
the moment comes for me to confront Anyia and my son-in-law, I will have
the backing of the Church. However, for the Clergy to take sides in such
a dispute, there must be clear evidence that one side is following the
will of the Creator and the other side is following the will of the
Destroyer. The Priestess must have such proof before she or her
superiors can take any action to assist me. But once I have their
support, no one, not even the Grand Duke, will be able to act against
orders issued by the Clergy.�
�You will understand that the Danubian Church normally refrains from
interference in the affairs of the government. The Clergy are fully
aware of the corrupting influence that politics invariably has on people
of authority, and they have no desire to sully their relationship with
the Realm of the Ancients by mixing with those of us who lust for power
and material wealth. And yet, in times of extreme moral crisis, the
Clergy can arbitrate. The Priestess expressed to me that she believes my
conflict with my daughter and my son in law presents such a crisis. When
the time is right, she and her superiors will confront the Grand Duke
and tell him that his household will no longer enjoy the blessing of the
Church unless he and my daughter desist from their ambitions. Should the
Grand Duke not comply, the Church has the authority to abrogate his
title. It is an authority the Church has used sparingly. The deposing of
a monarch has happened only three times in this nation�s history, but
those three incidences serve as an important reminder to the Royal
Family that they must be humble in their service to the nation. Anyia
has failed to uphold the burden the Creator has placed upon her, so the
Clergy will need to remind her.�
�Thus, the issue will be resolved... quietly and with minimal risk to
the nation. But to exercise such extreme authority, the Clergy must
first feel justified, and I understand their concern. They cannot act
unless they have firm proof concerning Anyia's troubles. So in my
confrontation with my daughter I must exercise restraint until the
proper moment arrives. I must leave that decision in the hands of the
Creator."
"You are concerned about your client's well-being. I am concerned about
your client's well-being as well. I wish I could allay the
unpleasantness that awaits her, but her Priestess believes it is her
Path in Life to serve the nation by living in the presence of my
daughter. The Priestess believes that even before she boarded the plane
in Panama, the Creator chose her for the task she is about to undertake.
Once the Creator is satisfied her task is completed, Criminal # 101025
will leave the Royal Residence. She will return to your custody and
re-enter the house of my brother."
Kim took a deep breath. "So... did she pray with you... the Priestess, I
mean?"
"Yes. She prayed with me, actually with both me and Maritza. She also
obligated us to be present at the Temple of the Ancients every Sunday
for the ringing of the Sunset bell. We are to assist with the ringing of
the bell, and then we will consult with her about the situation with my
daughter. We are obligated to do that every Sunday until our troubles
have been resolved."
Dukov paused, and his wife spoke next.
"Kimberly, we would be honored if you could come with us, every Sunday
when we go to the Temple. It is appropriate that you pray on behalf of
your client, just as we must pray on behalf of our daughter."
"I would be happy to accompany you, Historian Orskt-Dukovna."
----------
Kim left the Parliament Building with a heavy heart, because the gravity
of what was going on with Anyia was far more serious than she could have
imagined. However, at least one of her fears was resolved; the worry
that the Prime Minister would not take her seriously. It was obvious he
took the threat from his daughter seriously indeed.
Kim struggled not to feel hatred towards Grand Duchess Anyia. Her
behavior was completely odious, but given the circumstances under which
she became Grand Duchess, it was not surprising that she would see
herself the way she did. If only she could have had the chance to train
for her job as the Crown Princess for several years under the old Grand
Duchess, probably she would have been alright. Sadly, she never had any
opportunity to prepare for the position into which she had married. Her
lack of maturity left her vulnerable to the false visions of the
Destroyer. Really... how much could she be blamed?
Compounding Anyia's delusional behavior was the obvious personal
weakness of the Grand Duke, who seemed to be an even more helpless
figurehead than his father. The Grand Duke was a handsome and dashing
man, but in reality he was nothing more than an amateur sportsman. If he
was not riding his horses or playing golf or mountain climbing or
playing soccer, he was restless and bored with life. He escaped to his
various activities, leaving Anyia in charge. He adored his wife, in part
because she was so supportive of his life of leisure. A deadly
combination... a malleable week-willed monarch and a megalomaniac
wife... how many times in history did such a combination wreck a
country?
Marie Antoinette... yes, thought Kim, that comparison is
appropriate... or worse yet, a better comparison would have been Czar
Nicolas II and Alexandra... and Rasputin�
The Spokeswoman shuddered at the thought of what could happen. Things in
Danubia could go terribly wrong, thanks to Anyia.
----------
The next morning Kim and Carmen passed by Merchant Victor Dukov's house
to take Criminal # 101025 to the Central Courthouse. Victor could not
bring himself to witness the official transfer ceremony, nor did he have
any desire to risk a confrontation with the Grand Duchess and her staff.
Therefore he and Maria Elena agreed that they should say goodbye at the
house and she would depart with her Spokeswoman alone. Cecilia Sanchez
also would go, to perform her duties as Maria Elena's translator one
last time.
Maria Elena and Victor Dukov gave each other one long last kiss while
the other three women nervously stood by. The couple no longer was
concerned about what the others thought, given that they were going to
be separated anyway. Victor squeezed Maria Elena's hand a final time and
she walked off his property without looking back. The others caught up
with her on the street and with that four women, two of them naked with
collars and two of them dressed in fine linen, walked to the trolley
stop.
When they arrived at the Central Courthouse, they noticed a minivan from
the Royal House parked in front. Seeing that van dashed Maria Elena�s
last hope, a vague thought that maybe the Royal Family would simply not
bother to send anyone to pick her up.
There was to be a brief ceremony to celebrate the transition of custody.
In the past such a transition was an important event in a criminal's
life; the abandonment of a harsh sentence of heavy physical labor and
periodic switchings in exchange for one that was clean, relatively easy,
and for a criminal, honorable. Maria Elena and her companions saw her
transfer as precisely the opposite, a productive life forsaken for a
much harsher one under an abusive Mistress. It certainly was nothing to
celebrate.
Lord Horskti and Lord Vidmarkt were present, still wearing their
ridiculous hats with those huge feathers. Accompanying them was a doctor
from the Royal House. One of the Lords was holding a Royal House collar
while the other was holding a chain and shackles. The thought of being
shackled terrified Maria Elena, but tradition mandated that a criminal
being transferred to the Royal House had to be restrained while en route
to her new life.
With Cecilia standing and Carmen kneeling off to the side of the room,
Kim led her client before the judge. She motioned with her fingertips
for Maria Elena to kneel and place her head on the floor. She ordered
her client to arch her back and spread her legs to fully display her
genitalia, which unfortunately was part of protocol for a criminal being
transferred.
The judge entered the courtroom. Immediately everyone saluted and
shouted "Doc-doc Danube!" Maria Elena trembled slightly, but otherwise
remained silent. The judge addressed Kim:
"Spokeswoman Lee-Dolkivna. This court understands that you wish to honor
Criminal # 101025 by nominating her to serve in the house of the Grand
Duke of Danubia?"
Bristling with resentment that the judge was implying that she was the
one who had suggested the transfer, Kim struggled to respond: "Yes, Your
Honor. I wish to nominate my client for service in the house of the
Grand Duke."
"Lord Horskti and Lord Vidmarkt! Please step forward!"
The two Lords stepped forward.
"Do you accept the nomination of Criminal # 101025 to serve in the house
of the Grand Duke?
"Yes, Your Honor! The Royal House gladly accepts this criminal into the
midst of those privileged to serve the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess!"
"Very well. Lords, you will examine the criminal, and if she suits the
needs of the Royal Household, you may take custody of her."
The Lords and the doctor approached Maria Elena and ordered her to stand
up. The doctor gave her a quick examination, making sure that no teeth
were missing, no bones were broken, that her sight and hearing were
normal, and that her heart rate was healthy. The doctor ordered her to
bend over and gave her a quick rectal exam, in full view of the trial
judge and everyone else in the courtroom. Finally the medical examiner
spread her vagina and looked inside to ensure that she was free from
venereal disease and infection. Later Maria Elena would learn that the
medical inspection simply was part of the transfer ceremony protocol,
because much more thorough exam would be conducted at the clinic in the
Royal Residence. The courtroom examination used to be much more
important for choosing a healthy servant, but now was nothing more than
yet another public humiliation to endure. The doctor turned to his
companions:
"Criminal # 101025 appears to be in suitable physical condition to serve
the Grand Duchess, Lords."
"Excellent. Your Honor, please inform Spokeswoman Lee-Dolkivna that the
Royal House will accept transfer of the criminal."
The judge then asked the Spokeswoman for the documents that Lord Horskti
and Lord Vidmarkthad forced her to sign a few days before, along with
Maria Elena's criminal record. He removed the papers from their Ministry
of Justice folder and put them into a leather case marked with the Royal
Family logo. He handed the paperwork to the Lord who was holding the
shackles.
The next step in the transfer was changing Maria Elena's collar. She was
wearing a Ministry of Justice collar, which no longer was valid because
no longer did she belong to the Ministry of Justice. The collar had to
be taken off and replaced with a collar marking her as property of the
Royal Family.
Cecilia was called forward to instruct the criminal what she needed to
do to have the Ministry of Justice collar taken off without risking
injury. The collar was a sturdy device that had a permanent latch. The
collar was designed to last indefinitely and be impossible to take off
without a special collar extractor. The extractor was a scary-looking
piece of equipment that looked like an enormous pair of pliers with a
multitude of clamps and levers. Once the extractor was attached to the
collar, it first shot a firing pin into the latch to break it, and then
gripped around the collar's edges to force it open. The criminal had to
kneel facing a meter-high metal post and hold onto hand grips while the
collar technician mounted the extractor. The key moment was when the
firing pin was launched; because the criminal had to stay perfectly
still to ensure a direct hit and a clean break of the latch. Most
criminals had no problem carefully following instructions and staying
still during the firing, because to remove the collar meant the end of
their sentence.
As Criminal # 101025 knelt to have her Ministry of Justice collar
removed, there was no joy felt by either her or her Spokeswoman. As much
as she hated the drab metal device, she knew that she would grow to hate
its successor much more. She closed her eyes and held her breath as she
waited for the firing pin to snap the latch. A second later she felt the
cool air of the courtroom on her neck as her collar was taken off, but
she knew that feeling would only be momentary. She remained kneeling
with her hands gripping the post while the collar technician placed a
decorated brass and silver collar around her neck and latched it in
place. It was much more attractive than the Ministry collar, but Maria
Elena would have given anything not to be wearing it.
With tears running down her cheeks, the Colombian stood up and knelt in
front of the Lords. Now it was official. Criminal # 101025 was property
of the Royal House. The Lords ordered her to stand up and assume the
prisoner's stance while they put metal cuffs on her wrists and ankles.
They latched her hands behind her back and attached a short chain to her
leg cuffs that forced her to walk with short steps. Finally, a Lord
attached a metal chain to the loop in her new collar. He gave it a sharp
tug to let the criminal know that she needed to follow him out of the
building and into the waiting minivan.
Thus, naked, collared, shackled, and leashed, Maria Elena
Rodriguez-Torres was ready to be delivered to her new custodian.
