There were quite a few people in the audience at my first court hearing, but there were only a couple of them at the last two. A journalist of renown in these parts, Mirjan Rimanić reports on the hearings for the most popular local newspaper. And Riko Benazić used to be an enthusiastic member of Motovun – Eco Town, an association dealing with sustainable development of the town and its surroundings, which I founded a few years back. Just like me, he returned to Croatia after many years in the States. We are about the same age, too. After this morning’s hearing, we stopped by the courtroom door for a few quick words. “You know,” he raised his eyebrows, “I’m a bit surprised by the speed with which your case is going through the court.” As it turns out, he is involved in two court cases in Poreč, where he now lives, but both of these cases are into their fifth year already. Nothing ever happens. No hearings are ever scheduled. No pushing on anyone’s part helps, either. “You know,” I raised my eyebrows before we said goodbye to each other, “I’m thinking quite seriously about leaving this place.” “Me, too,” Riko nodded with a big grin, “me, too.”