IPN

Quite gingerly Red rose from the mat on the floor and stood for the first time that day. Sore and stiff still he moved as softly as he could to avoid disturbing the others. As he reached the doorway to the out side world a noise caught his attention. He turned back to see one of them sitting cross legged and scowling. Red did not like this. But what could he do? He was weak from the three month of confinement. He wished, not for the first or last time, that he hadn't woken. To survive was a hard thing.

He turned again to the doorway and stepped out. Immediately he was struck in the shoulder by something. He stepped back into the hut. Seriously? All he wanted to do was take a piss. These people were twisted.

Why had Li left?

Red was determined to leave the hut. He stood still and listed. The blow had been on his left but he didn't know what had hit him so he stood waiting. He knew they were preparing something behind him he could hear it. Though this concerned him he did not turn. If they attack, he thought, there's noting for it but to run directly into the sea. He couldn't think farther than that.

He had a vague idea that a ship would be there and would take him aboard and away. He happened to look down at about this point and saw something that made him smile. Without looking to the right or left he stooped down and picked it up as he walked out. The blow missed him this time. He felt the rush of it pass but didn't bother to look back for the source. No one followed him. True, they were very quiet but he was cretin they had let him go. As long as he didn't look back they would remain out of sight, they would let him go.