It was a long way home. Evran had thought that, thousands and thousands of miles away, back in Tajikistan, before things had hit the wall. Home was nearer for Evran now, though. San Iadras was a big city, but not as big as a country. It was a long walk to the Vista Quays, but that wasn't nearly as far as the march over the Gissar mountains into Uzbekistan, freezing every step, afraid of patrols and locals and rain.

Like this short story? You can read more about Scartho, Enzweiler and Evran's brothers in 'War Dog & Marginalized Populations', a story bundle available on kindle and other e-readers.