The boat bobbed gently at the bottom of stone steps slick with seaweed. This was not the way she wanted to travel, but it was all she had. Sensing her trepidation, Eliana placed a hand on her back, "it will be OK. Just think how you will feel if you don't go."

"It's just...smaller than I expected," Kira replied, "and it doesn't have a motor." The battered wooden two man craft was far from luxury. Blue paint had chipped off its hull to reveal the wood underneath, wood that did not look like it would support her for long. Though the oars had been chained to the boat, Kira was unsure if she had enough strength in her arms to get over the choppy channel and into Sector 15, or as they told her it had been previously known, France.

Eliana looked nervously behind her, they were waiting for Luka to appear with supplies for the trip. At any point they could be spotted, questioned about what they were doing. The sooner Kira was in the boat rowing away the better. Two hazy shapes were coming their way. "Down," Eliana uttered, pulling Kira onto a step below the top of the wall, almost making her slip down toward the sea below.

"What?"

"Two people heading this way."

That was enough to keep Kira quiet. She tried not to squirm as cold from the wall ran through her body, meeting with the damp that now rose from her bottom as she sat on a step. She told herself it was a sensation she would need to get used to. That seemed to satisfy her need to stand and let out a groan of disgust.

All they could do was wait, listen to the footsteps come closer and hope they were not discovered. They prayed Luka would see the pair and distract them, leading them away from their makeshift hiding place. Kira almost lost her nerve, with the sound vibrating through the wall she went to make a move, starting down the steps towards the boat, she could survive without the supplies. Eliana's arm across her chest was enough to stay her. The older Russian felt her African friend's heart beating faster and faster, she wonder if her arm was the only thing keeping Kira's heart in her chest. The beating sounded loud in their ears, as did every noise. Something a simple as breathing becoming a brass band playing in a small room.

The feet appeared at the top of the steps, game over. Then the voice calmed them, Luka, "what are you two hiding down there for?"

They stood in unison, the relief only momentary. Behind their friend stood Du Puteron in his trademark hessian suit and trilby. "You weren't going to leave without saying goodbye were you?" There was not anger in his voice as they expected, instead sorrow.

Despite not being verbally attacked, Kira fought back, "I can't leave my mother out there, I need to get her, keep her safe."

"I am not here to stop you if that is what you think."

Before anyone else said a word, Eliana launched into a tirade, "how could you do this? We trusted you." She moved up the stairs towards her new boyfriend, fists swinging. But she did not catch him, Du Puteron had stepped in the way. He was surprisingly muscular for a man of his age, the strike bouncing off easily.

Eliana looked into his eyes in horror. She had just hit the leader of the resistance. But, once more, Du Puteron personified calm, "do not be annoyed with Luka. I know you two are romantically entangled," Kira felt betrayed, she knew they were close, but why had Eliana kept it from her? Du Puteron continued, "but he is one of my generals, he tells me everything that is of importance to the resistance." Du Puteron's gaze moved to Kira, "now, as I said, I am not here to stop you. I do hope you will reconsider though."

"I can't, I have to go," even Kira was taken aback by the venom in her voice.

"Then so be it, but understand this, outside of this island I cannot protect you. If you are captured and Princips ask questions I will tell them you escaped, I will deny all knowledge of this encounter. As far as they will be concerned you are a runaway slave." Kira nodded her understanding. Du Puteron produced a small device from one of the pockets in his jacket. "Take this though," he handed it to Kira. It was a small black torch; confusion painted itself across Kira's face. He had given it to her as if it were the most important thing he could offer. "Press the button."

Kira located the soft plastic button near the head of the torch and pressed it down once. The light came on, nothing strange there. "Thanks," she replied, overly sarcastic.

"I am glad you like it, I am more glad that you think it is a torch. I would have thought by now that you would realise that, on this island, appearances are deceiving." Du Puteron liked to speak in riddles, a habit that annoyed Kira. "Now press it three times quickly." Kira did as instructed, there was a beeping sound. Not coming from the torch but from Du Puteron's watch. He pulled his hessian sleeved back to reveal a map showing the location of the torch. Kira's confused grin turned to a smile. "We will always be with you, but there is more," his flair for the dramatic coming to the fore. "Now hold down the button, twist the cap that secures the bulb then let go of the button." With a little fiddling, Kira completed the manoeuvre. This time Du Puteron's watch started to ring. He pressed the screen and spoke into it, "hello, hello." The voice came out of a hidden speaker within the torch. Kira's grin widened. After a few seconds Du Puteron said, "well aren't you going to reply?"

Kira held the torch to her ear, "hello?" Her voice streamed from Du Puteron's watch.

"You see, we will always be in contact, you are no slave here, you are one of the resistance." Kira beamed with pride. "Now, is there still no way I can convince you to stay?"

Kira shook her head, saying calmly, "no, she's my mother, I have to help her."

"Then good luck to you, if the situation changes let us know, but only contact us with the torch, it is not monitored by any of Princips' systems. Oh yes, if you find yourself in slum S15-R5, look for a man named Clarence Debrosse, he may be able to help you."

"I will."

"Good, now Luka, you can give her the supplies." He turned back to Kira, "there is a watch in there that you stole before you left," he winked as he said this, "one that might have some apps that are quite useful. Luka will show you what you need to know before you go." With that Du Puteron turned and left, not waiting to hear the thank you Kira gave him.

With hugs and tears, Kira bid Luka and Eliana farewell, entering the boat with no knowledge of how she would get to her mother, but at least she now had a map, the name of someone who would help and some other apps, which she did not entirely understand how to use.

~

Kira sat bolt upright, she was soaked. It must have rained in the night, but she had rowed straight through. The light was blinding, causing her to squint. When did it become morning? Realisation dawned, she had fallen asleep. Kira looked to her watch, checking her destination. She cursed. The boat had drifted off course, adding a few more miles to the journey.

She started to row again, instantly wishing she had not. The pain in her arms was stronger than ever. She breathed out heavily, she could do this, just one last stint and she would be on the shores of France. Her stomach made a strange rumbling sound. Kira told herself she would eat when she touched solid land. She was used to being hungry, so that was one hardship she could endure.

The row took most of the day, despite not wanting to be seen she got as close to the coast as she was able, the water being less rough here. Every time her oars dipped into the sea she felt a renewed burn in her upper arms, but Kira only focused on the task ahead. That she could see the brown and green of the coast only strengthened her resolve. When the sun rose to its highest in the sky, she could go no more, taking an hour to rest and eat something small. She wanted longer but told herself she would rest more on land, at least there she would not drift in the wrong direction.

The last few weeks of training has built her muscles enough to allow her to move again. She checked her watch once more then, through gritted teeth, started to row.

The sun almost touched the horizon as Kira pulled the boat up on to the beach, abandoning it where it lay. She stumbled towards the cliffs, losing momentum about half way up. Kira collapsed onto the sand, not caring that it covered her body and pasted itself onto the only clothes she owned. Once more she was unable to keep her eyes open. This was only the first part of the journey, already it had been a monumental effort. She told herself she needed to find somewhere more secure, somewhere out of the glare of prying eyes. But before she could muster the energy to move, she succumbed to sleep.