Escape

Prisoner 13264 from barracks 15, sentenced to life imprisonment in the underground camps of Medena for desertion, exhausted his strength. The rest of his days prisoner 13264 will spend in cotton fields.

But help comes to let him escape…

— One, two, take him! One, two, take him!
A simple device—a board, two ropes—and now a heavy lump of rock is lowered into a cart.
— Go on!
The load isn’t more than usual, but a little man in striped clothing, leaning chest-first against the crossbar of the cart, cannot move it.
— Go on!
One of the prisoners tries to help with his shoulder. Too late! The overseer approaches.
— What happened?
— Nothing.
— Come on, go!
The little man tries again to shove the load with a sudden jerk. In vain. The strain becomes unbearable and he starts coughing. He covers his mouth with his hand.
The overseer silently waits until the attack passes…