Only one more challenge prevented me from escaping the accursed town. Soldiers guarded the perimeter with unceasing vigilance. An opportunity came when a neighbor was hired as a soldier. I invited him over and set about making him a close friend so when I felt I had gathered enough trust, I could take my supplies and attempt to escape unnoticed on my neighbor's watch. If discovered, I would plead for them to let me go, give the excuse of searching for a lost pet, and hope that my best efforts had not been in vain.
As soon as possible I set out across the town and approached the border. As I was about to leave the town behind, the guard shouted at me to come back. I turned around to excuse my actions and was stopped in my tracks. The guard that stood before me, gun casually at his side, was not my friend! Thinking quickly, I decided to go ahead with my plan. I gave the soldier my excuse; I was looking for an escaped pet. To my relief he turned away without noticing the backpack I carried. Nevertheless, I proceeded to the edge of the town with caution. For a long moment I looked out at the cracked Earth and blazing sun. I took one step and then another. Quickening my pace, I realized what I was about to do had not been achieved in living memory.
I set out across the desert.
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