The darkness was thick and suffocating, like a heavy blanket had been thrown on the world. He had to get over the wall, had to get across the border before daylight, otherwise it would be too late. Already They were eying his home, tracking his every move on the computer. He knew that he was taking an enormous risk, sneaking over. If he was caught, it would mean death. No mercy or leniency was given to any Citizen that tried to leave.
Sam shouldered his backpack, quickly scanning the length of the wall for any sentries. No one moved, and he darted across the open plain as fast as he could. A siren blared, and he threw himself flat on the hard-packed dirt, hardly daring to breathe. A minute passed, then another, and Sam's heart thudded loud in his ears. Light speared the dessert twenty yards to his right, and he could hear steady, faint popping sounds. Someone else had tried to cross and been caught. Sam stayed prone, not even moving when a rattlesnake came up to investigate. He clung to the dirt, praying.
After a small eternity, the sirens stopped blaring and the spotlight switched off. Sam released a breath, and the snake stuck out its forked tongue and slithered away, not a care in the world. Sam stood up, worked the kinks out of his neck and back, and set off at a steady lope towards the Wall and freedom.
When he reached the Wall, the cold light of false dawn was just beginning to break. Sam pressed himself against the cold concrete and steel structure. In the months he had spent planning his escape, he had memorized the moves and locations of the sentries. He checked his watch. Four thirty. No sentries due on this length until five o clock. One sentry posted fifty yards down. If he was quick and quiet, he could get over the Wall, where Henry would be waiting.
Sam unzipped his backpack and pulled out a coiled length of rope with a small hand rake tied tightly to one end. He uncoiled about three feet, then stepped back and whirled the makeshift lasso. It fell short, and Sam cursed, letting out more rope. He swung again, and this time the rake bit into the top of the Wall. A few experimental tugs confirmed that it was lodged in tightly. Sam wrapped the rope around his wrists and began climbing as fast as he could.
He reached the top, and rapidly pulled the rope up. Now came the hardest part of all-crossing the four foot length of Wall without being seen. He scanned to the left and right. No movement. He took a deep breath, then darted across, slammed the hand rake into the Wall top, tossed the rope over and swung out.
His rapid descent left him panting. His hands had been burned by the friction of the rope, and they throbbed painfully. He gave the rope a mighty yank, and it fell. He had to jump out of the way to avoid being brained by the rake.
A light flashed about ten feet to his right, then flashed again in a steady rhythm. Sam pulled a small penlight out of his pocket and flashed back. Another flash, and Sam ran towards the light. It came from a small sedan. Sam could see Henry sitting behind the wheel, looking tense and nervous.
He opened the back door and dove in, and Henry threw the car into reverse and peeled out, leaving a cloud of dust.
Sam leaned back in the seat, crying in relief.