“Alan, you must remain quiet, else we will all land in trouble”, the father whispered.
“But I am hungry, and its dark and suffocating here”, little Alan tried to argue.
The truck carrying them outside the country came to a screeching halt in the middle of the desert. Alan was trying to say more, but his father closed his mouth with a hand. Sounds of boots neared.
Six year old Alan does not understand war. He was promised by his father if he behaves well they will soon reach a new land where they will have food for each meal and won’t have to stay in burrows, where they shifted after the bomb took away their house and his mother. He still does not understand why mother was not returning from the visit to God.
A heated argument reached the travellers. The truck was opened. The inmates were pulled outside one by one. Everyone was shivering in fear of the inevitable. Only Alan was happy. Fresh air after two days. Ah, freedom, he thought.
Bang, bang!!
Sounds of bullets shattered the silence of the night. Alan never knew freedom comes with a heavy price.
