The last time Donny had argued in the Fifth Circuit was three years earlier, when the city had been occupied by the troops of the prior regime, and the appellate courthouse was used for the federal tribunals that adjudicated the internments of rebel fighters in the Superdome. Those were hard fights, and he had won more than most. Some of his clients from those days were now on the Council that ran the city. Its leaders, not that they used that term. When he called Lou to offer to help, to go back to what they now called the Free City but everyone outside worried was something very different than that, Donny had convinced himself those relationships would at least earn him safe passage. That they would give him a hard time, but they would talk to him, and work out a deal. But when they walked into the square and he saw the scene in front of the courthouse, he could feel that confidence drop while the butterflies in his stomach started knifing their way out.

“What the fuck?” said Donny.

In the middle of the muddy lawn that used to be called Camp Street, three human-sized cages hung from steel armatures. Two were occupied, by a man and a woman. The middle cage was open. Donny looked more closely. The guy stood. He was young, wearing chinos and a white Izod shirt. No shoes. The woman was slumped, in shadow, eyes closed. Hard to see. But it had to be her.

“Heather!” he yelled.

She didn’t respond.

“Help me!” said the dude.

“Quiet,” said Old Boy.

“HEATHER!” yelled Donny.

She opened her eyes. She looked out of it.

Izod dude started rattling his cage.

“Get me out of here, you freaks! I want to leave with that guy.”

“You need to let that woman go,” said Donny.

“What if she doesn’t want to go?” said Beret Girl.

“Let me talk with her,” said Donny. “She’s my client.”

“That is not your client,” said Beret Girl.

“What do you mean?”

“Lawyers are forbidden here.”

“Then how will these people be defended?”

“By the People’s Defender.”

“I want to talk to her.”

“She doesn’t want to talk to you. Not until it is your turn in the box.”

“I want to talk to someone on the Council.”

“You will only talk to them when it is time for judgment.”

Izod guy started shaking his cage again. The whole thing was swinging.

“Careful!” yelled Beret Girl.

The cage door popped open as he shook it, and Izod guy fell to the ground, which was mostly pavement. He hit hard, and stopped screaming. Stopped moving.

“Jesus,” said Donny.

“Take him to the infirmary!” yelled Beret Girl to the other guards standing closer to the courthouse.

“Come on, son,” said Old Boy, pushing Donny toward the middle cage. “You can lose the coat and tie if you want. It’s gonna be hot today.”