Steven saw what Ted Shafer has become. That was when he realized he had to get out.
\nThe cage really wasn\u2019t all that difficult. There weren\u2019t any locks, only tie-downs, which weren\u2019t a problem if you just ignored the burning of the mud that he couldn\u2019t touch. He\u2019d driven seven loads of winter wheat to town with a temperature of a hundred and four, by god; if he really wanted to, he could get the damned cage open.
\nEventually, he proved himself right, although the sweat in his eyes burned almost as badly as his skin.
\nHe slipped past the smallest number of huts possible to get to the edge of the camp, not knowing where he was going except away.
\nJust past the last hut, it got difficult to walk.
\nTwenty paces later, the needles started to burn him like over-extended muscles. It felt as though he was trying to pull a truck with chains attached to his body.
\n\u201dSteven,\u201d came the phlegm voice. He was too focused to jump.
\n\u201dWhere are you going, Steven?\u201d The voice was right in his ear, it seemed.
\n\u201dThe hell… away…\u201d Steve didn\u2019t even know if that was an answer or a command.
\n\u201dWhat if there\u2019s no one waiting for you?\u201d
\nThe thought went right to the base of his brain and waited for him to give. He wasn\u2019t going to. He knew if he could just get a few more steps, he\u2019d be free.
\nBut what then?<\/i>
\nHe’d go home.
\nWhat if…<\/i>
\nWhen blunt fingers wrapped around his arms, he was already sitting on his knees, looking up at the sky.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Steven saw what Ted Shafer has become. That was when he realized he had to get out. The cage really wasn\u2019t all that difficult. There weren\u2019t any locks, only tie-downs, which weren\u2019t a problem if you just ignored the burning of the mud that he couldn\u2019t touch. He\u2019d driven seven loads of winter wheat to … <\/p>\n