The journey was about to begin.  Each of the inmates had been checked out of his cell, put in prison fatigues, and marched out onto the tarmac, to where the van waited.  The driver was already behind the wheel.  He seemed disinterested in the goings-on.  A couple of times, he had given the inmates a disgusted look, like this was a shit-wagon and they were the load of excrement in the tank.<br/><br/>As the prisoners were marched out, handcuffed in front, with leg-shackles, they were assembled in a line.  Two prison guards stood about twenty feet away with rifles.  A female guard stepped out about eight feet in front of them.  "My name is Erica," she said, clearly and professionally.  "As you are no doubt aware, you are being transported to the Lone Tree Penitentiary, there to begin serving your respective sentences.  The trip is expected to take approximately two and one-half hours."<br/><br/>She paced in front of them.  "I have no information on your accommodations or cell assignments at the prison.  You'll learn those at orientation, at Lone Tree.  This trip can be as pleasant or as painful as you would like.  Respect me and I'll do likewise to you.  Give me a hard time, and I can more than return the favor."  She turned a bit to reveal pepper spray, Taser and shock baton in her belt.  "The State pays me just the same either way.  During the trip, you will remain handcuffed, and one of your leg-shackles will be chained to a metal bar running down the length of the back of the van.<br/><br/>"I understand that you probably really don't want to go where we're going.  I don't hold that against you.  You may have thought about pulling the old 'sick prisoner' trick to try and gain an opportunity to escape.  Sorry, no such luck.  Even if one of you gets sick, no matter how badly, the journey to Lone Tree goes on.  Under no circumstances will anyone be permitted to leave the van until we are in the secured new arrivals yard at Lone Tree.  The medtechs will check you out there.  The same goes for bathroom breaks--there are none.  You had the chance to use the toilet moments ago.  If you have to piss or shit, hold it.  If you can't hold it, you do it right there, in your clothes, in your seat.  I tell you this so you can avoid wasting everyone's time and energy.<br/><br/>"Any questions?"