The Alexander the Greater Affair, Part 1

Suddenly, Illya was back in Kiev.

His first escape from the orphanage was to his family's bombed-out home, where he would wait for his older brother to return from his service.

But they caught him, brought him back.

The second time was to find his gypsy family, most of whom the Germans had slaughtered.

But they caught him, brought him back.

The third time was to go anywhere but the orphanage; even the streets in the cold would be better.

But they caught him, brought him back, tied a thick, coarse rope around his ankle, effectively strangling hope from him.

Back in the present, he pushed between Napoleon and Tracey and said, "Oh, come on. Let's get those chains off first."

[121 words]