"Cry For Antar"

When he got off the aircraft the cold cut into him like a knife. Tav didn't know how his mother could have grown up here. The land was barren. The ground was covered in snow. The sky was painted a dull shade of gray that stretched as far as his eyes could see. In no time he started to shiver. It was never like this on Antar. The air was always warm and the sky was alive with splashes of orange, red, violet, and blue. The grass on the ground was always a lush purple.

"Rade." He looked up upon hearing his code name called. A man step forth wearing a long coat made of animal skins. The man was much better suited for the weather. Tav noticed the man had light hair. He followed him to a kurr vehicle. The kurr had larger wheels that any he had seen. Among other differences it was well suited for the environment. The man placed Tav's bags in the trunk of the kurr.

"Get in. My name is Rankin. I'll be your driver."

The rest of the ride was silent. Tav carefully observed his surroundings. Olar had many hills. So far he hadn't seen anything not covered with snow. After what seemed like hours Rankin pulled over to the side of the road.

"Okay kid, you get out here," Rankin told him. Tav looked around. They were in the middle of nowhere. Rankin sensed his confusion.

"You see that boulder over there? You hide behind it. Someone will come along."

With that said Rankin placed his bags behind the boulder and drove off. The boy sat beside his bags. Once again, he was back into the bitter cold. He thought of home to make himself feel warmer. It did not help. Suddenly he heard a vehicle approach.

"Rade." It was a women's voice. Slowly he came out from behind the boulder. She walked over and helped him with his bags. "Let's go," she said and they left.

"I'll turn the heater up. You must be freezing," she said.

"Thank you," he said in a low voice. They drove for a long time when they heard some sirens up ahead.

The woman frowned. “Damn patrollers. They’ve been stepping up security every since Kavar decided to regulate inter-province routes,” she said bitterly. She did not seem to care Tav was so young.

“Okay, the floor on your side has a trap door. Can you get it open?” she asked Tav. Tav nodded. “There’s space enough for you to fit. Hide in there until they let us through the checkpoint.”

Tav did as he was told. He heard a tap on the window.

“Do you have a travel pass for this route?” he heard an officer say. The man’s words were clipped and harsh.

“Yes. One moment please,” Tav heard the woman answer, followed by the sound of rustling papers.

“Where are you headed?” the officer asked after a few moments of silence.

“To visit relatives, sir,” she told him.

“At this time of night?” he questioned.

“I prefer to travel at night. The roads are clearer,” she responded a little defensive.

Tav held his breath. The officer seemed a skeptical of her story. He wished he was back home on Antar with his mom and dad. Night time was the best. After dinner the three of them would go outside to gaze at the sky. His dad knew every constellation. He would show them each one and tell the story behind it.