19
Escape
The camp was arranged as Julian recalled: a clustering of small tents surrounding a larger tent in the center. A communal fire smoldered in its pit outside the entrance flaps to Geoff’s tent, the coals giving off a dull red glow as they cooled. The smell of woodsmoke and burned meat hung in the air, and soft snores issued from several of the tents.
It was a restful sight, as long as one did not know who the camp’s inhabitants were.
Julian slipped out of his tent and around the corner, crouching in the shadows between his tent and the next. And boy did that make his thighs scream in protest.
Ravi came close on his heels, still clutching his knife in a trembling hand.
Julian reached out his hand to the old man. “Let me take that.”
Ravi blinked, then after a second, nodded un
