Chapter 17

                                    

                                              
Wind whipped up dust, bouncing it against the tall city walls. The rhythmic drumming of tiny grains against metal tried to outplay the screaming of the wind but failed. The smokescreen created gave Johanna a modicum of comfort but still her body shook and her heart tried its best to escape. Few people ventured out of the city on foot, more propaganda from Princips insinuating the slums to be nothing more than a savage jungle. Eyes would be on her, checking every movement to make sure she belonged. She tried to stand tall, walk with pride, but she felt uncomfortable in these clothes. They were too tight, even for her small frame, restricting her movement. How she longed for her worn t-shirt and jogging bottoms, although she had to admit that the bright floral patterns were beautiful. Her toes felt confined in the sleek black boots, they had been free since the time she was born, only battered flip flops as protection against the weather and hard earth.
                          
She kept the man in sight, his presence relaxing her, if she could just copy the way he walked, mimic his mannerisms, then she might get through without any trouble. She gained on him, her nerves pumping the muscles in her legs. Maybe it would be wise to enter the city at the same time, if the guards were alerted they may be distracted by him, distracted enough to give her a chance to slip away. Best that the only two people walking stuck together.
                          
Debris struck, a two ton truck flying toward the city. The sound deafened her for a moment, the cloud it created removing all vision. She cursed him, but only in her head, did they use swear words in the city? The biggest annoyance that the only vehicle on the road since her drop off was the size of a large house. Johanna brushed the dirt off, blinking as she walked through the grimy mist. She had fallen behind slightly, but he was not moving fast. He walked with a confident swagger, his whole body swaying from side to side whilst arms swung hard. Everything about the walk said he was in charge. The tight white t-shirt under bunched muscles and lose dark green trousers were like a blank canvas, he gave nothing away.

                          
The walls loomed large now, but her speed from nervous energy meant they would cross the threshold at the same time. Johanna prayed the chip would work, that the information they planted in the citizen's database would get her in. Her head itched, right where it sat, in the hair bunched on top. She wanted to scratch but was worried she would dislodge it, without that chip wound into her tangled roots there would be no way of getting in.
                          
She did not stop stride as she observed the two guards looking to the truck; it was through the gate, stopped behind a red and white striped barrier. One guard cradled a double handed gun loosely whilst the other viewed details on a tablet, his gun secured to his back. These guards gave no sign of emotion in their look; dark black boots, dark blue trousers and top, bullet proof vest, round helmet with dark visor. Seeing behind the masks told you more, their body language was of two bored people whose jobs did not pay well enough for them to be fully alert. This gave her a chance, the one chink in Princips armour.
                          
The tablet guard pressed the screen a few times then the barrier swung up, and the truck was on its way once more. 'Probably taking vital resources from the slums to be wasted on the rich,' Johanna thought, using all her power to stop a scowl appearing on her face. Still she came though, like a runner who held back till the final straight, waiting to overtake the leader and claim victory. She was obsessed with her goal, doing everything she could to keep her face forward, to not make eye contact with the guards. Had she looked she would have noticed they were not paying her any attention.
                          
Sirens wailed, lights flashed, lights she did not notice on her way in. They were inside the city walls now, her plan had failed, she had fallen at the first hurdle. The tablet guard secured the small device to his belt, quickly pulling the gun from his back, pointing it toward Johanna. She had two choices; run and hope not to be shot or stay and face the consequences. In a split second her mind told her she had nowhere to go, at least being alive she still had hope. Slowly, as not to give reason to shoot, she raised her arms. It was hard to keep them still, Johanna had done nothing like this before. She has turned a blind eye to her husband's line of work, always feigning ignorance when asked. She had, up to this point, stayed on the right side of the law. But here she was, caught out, the one time she crossed to the dark side, all for her daughter.