6.
New York, December 9, 2017.
I had presented this story at yesterday’s editorial meeting where it garnered considerable interest. “Let’s run with this one ASAP, Jerry,” The Chief had said. “It’s a classic story-the young American girl in peril in a foreign land-and in this case we can use it to show the lack of any real foreign policy from Washington. And we certainly can’t chance those guys from the
Post beating us to the punch, right?”
Everyone looked at me. “No way, Howard,” I told him. “Moore is on this one like fleas on a dog.”
So when I heard the tones of the incoming video call that morning, I couldn’t wait to hear what Moore had for me. She was on the screen looking a bit tired, like she hadn’t slept well the night before, but jet lag and the adrenaline of chasing a big story will do that to you, as I knew from my own experience.
Barb shifted in her chair, adjusting the camera so she would be more centered. A momentary look of pain crossed her face. “You OK, Barb?” I asked.
She smiled. “Sure, Jerry. Just a touch of the stomach bug. Sanitary standards here are not quite what we’re used to.”
“Well, be careful, Barb. Don’t eat anything uncooked and drink bottled water only. The Chief likes this story and wants to run it as soon as tomorrow if you’ve got something and you can’t write it up from a hospital bed, right?”
Moore shook her head. “It’s OK, Jerry, I’m fine. It’s nothing.”
“Good,” I replied. “So you met with the prosecutor, right?” She nodded. “What did you find out?”
As Moore leaned forward to pick up her phone from the table in front of her, I could see her wincing again. There was something she wasn’t telling me and I was concerned, but my need to hear what she had took precedence over my concerns. “The prosecutor’s name is Fatou Masippa, and he seemed almost proud of what they’re doing to that poor girl. He let me record the whole interview; audio only, but everything is on the record. You wanna hear it?”
“What kind of a question is that, Barb? Is the Pope Catholic?” I’d never met the man, but I was pretty sure he was. “Of course, I want to hear it. Just a sec, I want to record it on this end so we can transcribe it.” I clicked on the record button on the video chat app and sat back in my chair. An edited transcript follows:
BM (Barbara Moore): I’m recording an interview in Molabayo on December 9, 2017 with State Prosecutor Fatou Masippa regarding the case against Meghan Shanahan. Mr. Masippa, what are the crimes you allege against Ms. Shanahan?
FM (Fatou Masippa): She has caused to be published in electronic form statements insulting to our President and our country in violation of our laws. We have more than sufficient evidence to convict her in court.
BM: She disputes the charges as you know. However, assuming she is found guilty, what sort of punishment is she facing?
FM: The law prescribes up to 20 years at hard labor in prison and corporal punishment of up to 40 lashes for these very serious crimes.
BM: Could you elaborate on what is involved with this corporal punishment? We don’t have that in the US and I want our readers to understand.
FM: It is something that we inherited from the British during the colonial days. The criminal is whipped on the back with a multi-tailed whip consisting of nine cords about three feet in length attached to a wooden handle. We find it to be most effective. Perhaps you Americans should consider using it, given what I have read about the general lawlessness in your country.
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BM: Perhaps, if you would be so kind as to explain the procedures. How is the person to be whipped handled? Are they lying down? Kneeling? Standing?
FM: Oh, standing, yes, they stand and their arms are taken over their head and attached to a wooden frame. Their ankles are also tied to the frame. It is very important that they cannot move so they cannot escape the lashes, which of course they will want very much to do.
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BM: I see. And they are dressed in a prison uniform?
FM: On the bottom part, yes, but above the waist they are naked of course. The lashes must be given on completely bare skin.
BM: But Meghan Shanahan is a woman. Surely you would not expose a woman’s breasts?
FM: Ms Moore, are you what they call in America a feminist?
BM: Well, I certainly believe that men and women are equal and should have the same rights.
FM: Then, does that not also imply that if they violate the law, they must suffer the same punishment?
BM: I suppose so.
FM: Well our laws prescribe whipping on the naked back for certain offenses and if we follow that for men should we not for women?
BM: But that is a very harsh punishment for simple speech. Meghan Shanahan is a foreigner, not familiar with the laws in your country.
FM: I am sure Ms. Moore that in America you have heard it said that ignorance of the law is no excuse. Here in Zilawe the same is true. Ms. Shanahan will get no special treatment, neither as an American nor as a woman. To do so would violate the simple principle of equal justice under the law, which I believe is on the building of your Supreme Court in Washington, is it not?
BM: Yes, it is. But still it seems excessive.
FM: I do not make the laws, Ms. Moore. That is done by our Parliament and our President. I only try to enforce them fairly.
BM: I understand. How hard do they hit the person? How painful are these lashes?
FM (laughing): Of course I have never experienced them myself, but I have seen prisoners flogged and they seem not to be enjoying themselves. They tend to scream and thrash about quite a bit. The flogger must give each one with full force and they are well-trained to do so. You see, the offenders must feel acute pain so that they will learn not to break the laws again and so that others will be deterred from doing so.
BM: And you would do that to a gentle young woman like Meghan Shanahan? I interviewed her yesterday and she hardly seems like a criminal.
FM: That is up to a judge to decide. I will present my case and we shall see. But what would you call someone who breaks the law, Ms. Moore?
BM (after a pause): Assuming Ms. Shanahan is sentenced to be whipped, where would it be done? In some public square?
FM: Certainly not. They do that in some Islamic countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia, but we are a good Christian country. It would be done in prison with only those on official business allowed to attend.
BM: Would you attend?
FM: I sometimes do attend punishment sessions to see that everything is carried out as intended by our laws. Given the special circumstances here and the serious nature of the crimes, yes, I would most likely attend in person.
BM: I wonder if it would be possible for me to witness it and report on it for our readers. I think they would be very interested in the subject and it might affect public policy back home. Imagine if your laws were to serve as a model for others.
FM: That is an interesting idea, Ms. Moore. Normally the press does not attend punishment sessions, but since you have travelled so far and represent a very influential news organization, it might be possible for me to arrange for you to be one of them. Of course, you would not be allowed to film it and I would want to review your article before you sent it to your editors in New York. But it might be possible. But first, of course, Ms. Shanahan must have her fair and impartial trial, is that not so?
Barb put the phone down, wincing again. I had listened, transfixed, to the interview. “Wow!” I said.
“Yeah, Jerry, ‘Wow!’ is right,” Barb replied.
“Barb, if she’s convicted and sentenced to a whipping, you have to be there. Whatever it takes, we need that story. And if you can talk him into letting you film it, so much the better. I don’t know that we can put it on our website, but it would be great to have in case the Zilaweans wanted to dispute our story.”
“My thoughts exactly, Jerry. I think I can get Masippa to let me cover it.”
I laughed. “Oh, I’ll bet you can, Barb. And I bet he was trying to look down your shirt the whole time, right? ”
“As a wise man once asked me, ‘Is the Pope Catholic?’ But filming might be a bit harder.”
“Undo another button or two, Barb,” I said. She looked a bit peeved. “Just kidding. Do what you can. Anyway, what are the chances Shanahan is convicted and gets sentenced to be whipped?”
“Her attorney didn’t seem that optimistic. He’s negotiating a deal and thinks she won’t get the maximum 20 years and 40 lashes, but some lashes and some time in prison are probably inevitable.” As I had before, I pictured Meghan Shanahan stripped to the waist, howling and writhing on a wooden frame.
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“One more thing, Jerry. I went to the Embassy to get their take on it. There’s no Ambassador in place yet, but I spoke with the Attaché.”
“And?” I asked expectantly.
“I got a bunch of bureaucratic double-talk. Bottom line is that this is their country and their laws and our government isn’t going to do shit. We’ll see if that changes when the story comes out, if they get pressure from Congress, but the trial is tomorrow and I suspect the Zilaweans won’t wait long after that to flog poor Meghan.”
“Oh, The Chief will like that Barb. He’s no fan of the current Administration and will be happy to show them doing nothing to protect an innocent American.”
“Masippa says she’s not innocent, Jerry.”
“Yeah, I heard him. Listen I want to run what you have so far in tomorrow’s edition, so write it up right away and email it to me.”
“You’ll have it by 4PM New York time, Jerry. And it will be good. I guarantee it.
“I know it will be, Barb. Stay on the story and we’ll talk same time tomorrow. I can’t wait to hear how Meghan’s trial goes.”
“Sure thing, Jerry.”
“And you be careful, Barb. I’d hate to see you in a fix like poor Meghan.” I imagined the lovely Barbara Moore, being led naked to the waist to the flogging frame and felt a stirring in my groin.
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“No worries, Jerry. I’m not a naïve hippie child like Meghan.”
“That you aren’t, Barb, that you aren’t. Tomorrow, then.” The screen faded to black.
Tree always means what he says ... for instance when he is 
