Escape From Altera

[Note: This is not a "sexy story". It is a mix of WW II "The Great Escape" and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's "The Gulag Achipelago"... set in outer space)

Chapter 10: Escape from Altera, Again

We stood whispering behind a barracks shortly after sundown. The dim camp lights provided a little illumination. The War Captain was there, of course, as was Kerensky, Sasha, Korolev, Mr. Chekov, and another prisoner I didn't really know except by name, Baransky.

"I have called you all here to discuss our escape," said the War Captain. Simple, direct and to the point.

"I have no interest in escape," said Baransky. I was surprised; then what was he doing here?

The War Captain said, "I understand your feelings-"

"No, you don't," said Baransky. "I almost froze to death in the cold cell they put me in. But I'll bet your cell in Redcap headquarters was a lot warmer."

"It was," said the War Captain, and now his voice was getting chillier. "I also had the torture, the interrogations, and the beatings to keep me warm."

Baransky seemed put off. In a gentler tone, he said, "So why you want to do it again?"

"I'd rather fight for freedom than be stuck here, waiting for my next interrogation."

"But we are not called in for interrogation as you are," said Baransky.

"No," the War Captain admitted. "All you have to deal with is the bitter cold, the back breaking working conditions, and the starvation level diet. And, of course, no freedom, or hope of freedom, ever."

We all heard the sounds of the wind curling around the barracks.

"Well?" said the War Captain.

"I just don't want to get caught again," said Baransky.

"It's a risk we all take," said the War Captain. "But each of you have valuable skills which should help us escape. Your skill, Baransky, is as an outdoorsman; you can identify plants that are safe to eat and help us trap and kill animals for food. Sasha is stronger and can walk farther than all of us. Korolev is skilled at impersonations. Kerensky, I think we all agree, has a wide knowledge of Slurian society at large. And we all know what Mr. Chekov can do."

"And what of this one?" Baransky asked, pointing at me. "He went out, and got caught immediately."

"Lieutenant Took is very resourceful," said the War Captain.

"How?" Baransky persisted.

"Just look at him," said the War Captain. "Reasonably well fed, by Camp 94 standards. He has extra layers of fur that most prisoners don't. He's survived here for two years without outside assistance. I'd call that resourceful."

Baransky paused, then nodded grudgingly. "All right, what is the plan?"

"First we must gather some equipment. You should all hoard enough food for at least a week's travel. More specifically, Korolev, I would like you to obtain a circular pieces of glass, no more than three or four inches in diameter. Kerensky, I need a thin sliver of a magnetic material. Lieutenant Took, I need you to get a small cage, one with a swinging trap door that can trap an animal weighing approximately five pounds."

"Where am I going to get that from?" I asked.

"If you have to, make one," said the War Captain.

"Are you counting on bringing a pet with us?" I asked.

"Just do as I request," said the War Captain.

"What is our escape plan?" Kerensky asked.

"We will leave between eight and eleven days from now," said the War Captain.

"Why so long?" Korolev asked.

"In eight days the holiday of Worker's Celebration Day is observed. The guards, even those on duty, will be quite drunk."

"So we should leave on the eighth day, then," said Korolev.

"Although the holiday is officially one day long, in most quarters it is observed by several days of drinking, while supplies last," said the War Captain. "We are also looking for a day when snow looks likely."

"Why?" Kerensky asked.

"To cover our tracks," said the War Captain patiently.

"And what direction are we going?" Baransky asked.

"I will reveal that shortly after our departure," said the War Captain.

"Why not now?" Baransky frowned. "Do you not trust us?"

"Trust is always an issue," said the War Captain. "But not the prime one here. Consider the costs and benefits. If I tell you this information now, there is no way you can use it productively. So there is no benefit to telling you now. But if you are taken in and interrogated, the Redcaps could get this information from you. So there is a potential cost to telling you now."

"So you are just protecting us," said Baransky, with a slightly derisive tone.

"Let us meet again in 48 hours to discuss our progress," said the War Captain.

I tried to scavenge some materials to build the cage the War Captain wanted, but, truthfully, I was exhausted. Work in the mine was wearing me down, and I didn't have any extra gembles to buy more food. Once again I was slowly being starved and worked to death.

The War Captain looked me over with a critical eye at our next meeting. He really was like the War Admiral, in that he could take in a situation at a glance and arrive at the proper conclusion.

"You're exhausted," he said, breaking into my tortured explanation as to why I hadn't procured the cage. "You're the only one of us working in the mines, correct?"

I nodded.

"You're never going to make it for another week, certainly not in any shape to escape," said the War Captain, with a certain finality.

What did that mean? Was he going to leave me behind?

The War Captain turned to Kerensky. "How much do you have in the general fund?"

"Not much, considering the supplies you want us to get," said Kerensky.

"Do we have enough for another week in the hospital?"

Kerensky shook his head.

"How about four days?"

"Maybe," said Kersenky, sounding a bit uncertain.

"Then buy him four days worth, starting three days before our first projected departure date," said the War Captain. Then, as an afterthought, he added, "But don't buy four days all at once. Buy them one day at a time."

"Will be more expensive!" said Kerensky.

"I don't want anyone, even a fellow prisoner, to know the exact date that Lieutenant Took will be leaving the hospital. They are watching us and undoubtedly know he has joined our group."

"They are watching us?" I said.

The War Captain gave me an "of course" look, then said, "You'll have to spend two more days in the mines, but it should be easy after that, you'll have time to rest up. Can you last two more days there?"

"I think so," I said.

"Don't worry about the cage, I'll get that myself," said the War Captain. He turned to Korolev. "Now, have you procured my glass circles?"

"It wasn't easy," Korolev grumbled, rummaging in his pockets.

"I'm sure it wasn't," the War Captain agreed, watching as Korolev carefully unwrapped several small circles of glass.

"Only four?" said the War Captain, looking concerned.

"Best I could do. Will be enough?" Korolev asked.

"That depends on Mr. Chekov," said the War Captain. He took one of the glass circles, and handed it to Chekov.

Chekov nodded, and started concentrating.

"What is he doing?" I asked.

"He's making it better," said the War Captain cryptically.

What did that mean? I knew Chekov could make food taste better, somehow. What did that have to do with glass? What could he do with glass?

Chekov concentrated for a while. Then he gasped, and opened his palm.

The War Captain gingerly took the glass from his hand, and stared at it in the dim light. He shook his head, dropped the glass, and crushed it under his boot.

He handed the second one to Chekov.

Chekov concentrated again.

When the War Captain took the glass from him, he frowned again. "It's foggy again, like the first one," he said quietly. "Try to concentrate like we discussed."

"I try, Keptin," said Chekov. "But I have never done this before."

"You can do it," said the War Captain, putting a hand on his shoulder. "This is the last one, Mr. Chekov. Give it your best try."

The last one? I had been counting. There were four glass circles, and this was only number three.

Chekov, looking noticeably worn out, tried again on the third piece of glass.

This time when the War Captain took the glass and examined it, he gave a rare smile. "It works!"

"Resolution ok?" Chekov asked. "Can try to improve-"

"It's good enough," said the War Captain. "We can't risk adjusting it further." He picked up the last glass circle, and handed it to Chekov. "Now we have something easy for you. Just make this one clear."

Chekov concentrated, and in a moment handed it back to the War Captain, who nodded. "Thank you." He turned to the rest of us. "That's the show for today, gentlemen."

I served my two weary, difficult days in the mines. It was hard on me, but the knowledge that soon I would be free kept me going. And then starting on the evening of the second day I got to rest in the hospital. It was glorious! Whoever thought that sitting on a wooden shelf would be so enticing! Compared to hard labor in a mine it was wonderful. Slowly, my weary body started to recover. I knew I would be called to leave on the third or fourth day, so I slept as much as possible, to store up energy.

Kerensky visited me on the morning of the third day. "Is a problem," he whispered.

"What?" I said.

"Baransky has been taken."

"Taken?"

"For questioning."

"Do you think-"

"Not to think," said Kerensky sharply.

"What do we do?"

"Other Richman says you stay here," said Kerensky.

"I want to help," I said.

"Stay here," said Kerensky, and he left.

That night the War Captain snuck into the hospital. He tapped me, instantly waking me up. He silently motioned for me to follow him.

I followed him outside the hospital building.

"What's going on?"

"We're leaving," said the War Captain.

"Did they release Baransky?"

"No," said the War Captain. As we talked, he carefully watched the pattern of searchlights, waiting for the right moment.

"You think he talked?"

"Unlikely, or we would all be in custody now," said the War Captain calmly.

"Then why are we leaving?"

"He is still in custody. He may break at some point," said the War Captain. "They knew enough to arrest him. We have to leave now. Move!" he whispered, running to another barracks as the searchlights came our way.

We linked up with Korolev, Kerensky, Sasha, and Mr. Chekov. Each were carrying little bundles; Korolev handed one to me. I discovered it contained my favorite food in the whole world, kem. I also noticed that Korolev carried a small, homemade cage, and something seemed to be squirming inside of it.

We made for the perimeter fence. Although we had to dodge the searchlights, it was little more difficult than the first time I had escaped with the thieves.

It felt good leaving the camp again. It gave me hope. Despite the odds, I felt optimistic being in the company of the War Captain. He was so like my War Admiral!

As we walked into the forest, I saw the War Captain looking at something in his hands as he took his bearings. Then he started us walking.

"Unless something unexpected happens, we have about six hours before our departure should be noticed. Perhaps the drunken state of the guards will buy us an extra hour or two, but no more," said the War Captain.

We started trudging in the snow. "Can you tell us now where we're going?" I asked.

"To the station," said the War Captain.

The station. That was the place where my escape group had headed the last time. Well, it made a certain amount of sense; that was the only area where we could obtain long range transport to get out of this area. But I worried how tightly it would be guarded.

I said as much to Kerensky.

"Not to worry," said Kerensky. "The man is genius."

"If he's anything like his uncle, I'm sure he is," I said.

The War Captain spun around. "I am not him."

We said nothing.

"If you are expecting

him,

his level of genius, you are sure to be disappointed," said the War Captain. "I'm just doing what makes sense." He spun around and started walking again.

Nobody said anything for a while.

We had only walked for two hours, when the War Captain turned and said, "All right, that's far enough."

He stopped, and fumbled with his jacket.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

The War Captain worked on ripping open a seam of his military jacket. "Something mildly atypical occurred during my last interrogation."

"What?" I asked.

"Whenever I left for interrogation I always wore my military jacket. But one time, the guards purposely stripped me of my jacket and threw it on the floor of the cell before my interrogation."

"Why did they do that?"

"That time they used electroshock on me, and I suppose the jacket would have gotten in the way," said the War Captain, matter of factly. "But when I got back to my cell, I noticed, even more curiously, that my jacket was in a different position than the guards had left it." He continued to work on a seam on his jacket.

"You noticed this minor detail after electroshock torture?" I said, wondering how he could have been so focused.

"Yes," said the War Captain simply. "I acted like I hadn't noticed anything, but when I got out of the cell and had a private moment-ah, here it is." The War Captain extracted a small metallic object from inside his jacket.

"A tracking device?" I said.

The War Captain nodded.

"So they've been able to track us for the past two hours," I said.

"Keep in mind that they do not yet know we've escaped," said the War Captain. "When they do, they will follow the immediate tracks we laid coming in this direction. But they may also rely on this," said the War Captain. "The cage, please," he said to Korolev.

Korolev handed him the cage. The War Captain very carefully opened it up and extracted the animal. It was a white rabbit!

My mouth watered. I had had some rabbit once, it had tasted very good.

The rabbit had some sort of homemade collar on it. The War Captain put the tracking device inside the collar, then dropped the rabbit to the ground.

The rabbit looked up at the War Captain.

"You may go now," said the War Captain.

The rabbit immediately scampered off.

"It will take them some time to track that," said the War Captain.

"But we've already started towards the transport station," I said.

"Which is why we must now change direction," said the War Captain.

As we started marching he explained. "The station is a trap. They are always notified long before any possible escapee can reach the station. The station is so small that it is easy to seal off the area. Therefore, we will not go to the station."

"But... where else can we go?"

"Tirasov."

"Tirasov?"

"It's a region of small villages to the west," said the War Captain. "From there we make our way to Tomsk, a medium sized city, and then we get transport to Smolensk, the closest spaceport."

"How far away is Smolensk?" I asked.

"About 2000 Sluromiles," said the War Captain.

"That's the closest spaceport?"

"The only one in this hemisphere," said the War Captain.

"Wait," I said. "I thought the transport station was the only other location in the area around the camp. How long before we reach these small villages you mentioned?"

"They are about 200 Sluromiles to the west," said North.

"200 Sluromiles? Won't that take us weeks?"

"I estimate 12 to 13 days, given the snow and the difficulty of the terrain," said the Battle Major.

"It's so far..."

"That's why they will never think to look for us there," said the Battle Major. "Hopefully it will snow soon and cover our tracks."

"What about the food supply?" Korolev asked.

"We have enough for 7 days, which I think we can stretch to 10 days. If Baransky was here, he would be the one to tell us which fauna was edible and help us hunt for animals."

"And since he isn't?"

"We will have to do it ourselves," said the War Captain.

I looked at him in the dim light, and wondered if he were mad. And then I remembered what he had said. He wasn't Norman North. He wasn't nearly infallible.

And yet he had an air of confidence, as if he knew was he was doing.

But madmen sometimes acted this way too.

Had all those years of torture and interrogation affected his judgment? Were we going to perish in the snow?

Korolev jabbed me in the ribs and grinned. "I'll bet you sad we let the rabbit go now, eh?"

We didn't see any sign of pursuit the first day, or even the second. It did snow eventually, covering our tracks. The Redcaps were probably out hunting the rabbit. I could only imagine a platoon of Redcaps, holding a tracker, watching the signal move from tree to tree, but not seeing anyone there. I wondered what the expression would be on their faces when they discovered what they were really following.

But we did start to see signs of pursuit on the third day. An atmospheric fighter streaked across the sky. As luck would have it, we were in an open region, in an area between two forests.

As soon as the War Captain heard the supersonic boom he said, "Go to ground!"

We all plunged down into the snow. A moment later we heard the plane fly over us. In another moment it was gone.

The War Captain slowly got up. "The danger from fighters are minimal. They are going too fast to see very much. But if they send slower shuttles and transports, we'll have to be more careful."

Over the next few days we did see the occasional shuttle and transport, scanning the surrounding area. But none came close to us.

"They have a wide area to search," said the War Captain. "After all, they now have no idea where we have gone."

"Perhaps they will think we have perished in the snow if we don't appear soon," said Kerensky appropriately.

"Perhaps," said the War Captain, with a pained expression. "But the Redcaps don't give up easily."

The way he said it made me wonder if he was referring to some torture they had done to him.

Our situation started to deteriorate when we ran low on food. On the ninth day our limbs were sore and we ate the last of what we had. We had tried several times to hunt for small animals, but hadn't been successful.

"What will we eat tomorrow?" Kerensky asked.

"Leaves," said the War Captain.

"Are you joking?" said Kerensky.

"No," said the War Captain. "I estimate we are about four days out from the villages."

"Assuming we have been going in right direction," said Kerensky.

"Oh, I think so," said the War Captain. He took out a small device. I leaned over and looked at it. It was a homemade compass!

"Where did you get that from?" I asked.

"Actually, Kerensky procured it for me," said the War Captain. "He obtained some ore with magnetic properties. It was just a matter of thinning it down so I could get a needle sized chunk onto something small and flat like this," he said, holding up the compass. "It's not perfectly accurate, but I am confident that we have been going generally in the right direction."

"What if we starve before we get there?"

"Oh, I don't think we will," said the War Captain. "Snow is plentiful, therefore so is water. We can survive on water for four days, though we won't like it."

"We've been covering perhaps 15 Sluromiles a day; will we be able to keep up the pace without food?" I asked.

"That's the only concern I have," the War Captain admitted.

Two days later we were stumbling through the snow. Every hour or two someone would stumble and fall down, and we'd have to wait for him to get up. Kerensky and I were by far the weakest. I tried to keep going, but I didn't have the energy. After I collapsed one time and didn't get up immediately, the War Captain crouched down by me. He spoke a few words, and looked at me.

Slowly, I nodded. I got up, and didn't fall down again for some time. And when I did, I got up again almost immediately.