He ate everything on his plate and gulped down the cup of water. Habib was there, reading, and didn’t say anything as Jack rose and tested the bars of the cage. “Reinforced steel,” Habib said, not looking up from his book. “With an electric charge. Were you to bend the steel, we would both be electrocuted to death. Quite inescapable.” “Has anyone tried?”“Everyone has tried.”Jack shook his head. “We’re entitled to a trial, due process…”Habib, for the first time, laughed. “You are dealing with national security. Anything labeled a national security issue is taken out from the system. There is no due process, no lawyers. They may do with us what they wish. Fear is a government’s greatest weapon. With it, they can convince a people that they need to abandon their freedom. In exchange, they get safety. Of course, you just trade one monster for another, but by the time the people realize this, it is too late.” “You sound like you’ve had experience.” “I am from Afghanistan.
