"These people have obviously not kept up on current events. The Cypriot government is keen to improve relations with Her Majesty's government and will gladly hand them over for justice. We just need to get out of here before our time is up."
Their plan required a three-pronged approach. Ruth was assigned the task of establishing contact with their neighbours and obtaining any intelligence possible. Graham's responsibility, assigned with Harry's grudging assent, was to test the boundaries of their confinement. Harry's job was to synthesize the intelligence gathered and come up with a plan.
Three days later, just before dark, Harry met Graham at the door to their cell, helping him find a comfortable position to lay his battered body on the bed. Ruth gingerly lifted the younger man's shirt, examining the ten crisscrossed welts across his back, determining that the skin was unbroken.
"Ruddy well hurts, Dad," Graham complained.
"I know, son," said Harry, his voice husky with emotion, setting his hand on his son's shoulder, maintaining contact and comfort.
"You were very brave, Graham," Ruth consoled, stroking his hair as a mother comforts her child. "Thank you for doing this."
He sighed happily despite the pain, excitement darting between his eyes. "I got what we wanted. The doors are guarded but the roof isn't. And—" He paused for effect. "There is a fire escape on the western edge of the building which reaches almost to the ground."
Harry squeezed Graham's shoulder firmly. "Well done, son!" Graham smiled against his arm. Harry continued, "Can you stay here and watch over Ruth? I'm going to pace the courtyard and think."
"The 'courtyard'? I like that. Yeah, I'll stay. Find us a way out of here, boss."
Harry smiled, walking outside and pacing the caged area. Graham's right, this does feel like a zoo. Perhaps that's what it is, an abandoned private zoo of some sort. Hmmm, where would that place us on the island? Harry paced the small space, analyzing, synthesizing, debating. Looking up one last time to study the stars, inspiration struck. Up. Roof. Of course!
Harry burst back into the cell. "Ruth, Graham, I've got it." He stopped, frozen in place at what he saw, Graham laying on his belly, sleeping on his arms, a faint smile on his face, and Ruth sleeping on her back, one hand on Graham's shoulder and one hand on her belly, protectively comforting her children. Moving over to the bed quietly, he curled against Ruth, slipping one arm beneath her head and his other hand on top of hers. This would definitely rank in the years to come as one of his happiest visual memories—he'd just need to forget the context.
Harry woke to Ruth's complaint that "his child" was sitting on her bladder. He smiled fondly, kissing her soundly and moving away to clear her path to the toilet. Once she returned, he woke Graham, cautioning him to allow his muscles time to stretch out slowly.
"Ugh. Have you found a solution, Dad," Graham inquired, grimacing at the ache in his muscles and the throb from his back.
"I have indeed," Harry replied. They moved to sit cross-legged on the bed, holding their heads very close so as not to risk being overheard. "Tonight, after dark, I will pick the lock on the top of our cage and you and Ruth will climb out, creep across the roof and down the fire escape. Head north using the stars and find the nearest village. Once there, Ruth will be able to communicate with the locals, discover your location and obtain secure transport to the British High Commission in Nicosia. Graham, I need you to keep Ruth safe. Can you do that?"
"Of course. But what about you?"
Harry snorted. "I won't fit, so I'll remain behind. Please, find the help we need and come back and get me out of here."
They spent the day fashioning a set of lockpicks from the mattress springs and reviewing everything Ruth knew about Cyprus. Finally, night fell.
Sometime around midnight, Harry stood on Graham's aching, burning back, his arms raised above his head, picking the lock on their hamster cage, feeling Ruth's grip on his hips, stabilizing him. The final click denoted success and Harry let Ruth help him down, insisting on checking Graham's back before moving to the next phase.
"I'm fine, Dad, I'm fine. Will be fine, anyway. Stop fussing," Graham insisted.
Ruth chuckled, "You two are so alike." Both men gave her an incredulous look.
Harry gave Graham a hug and a kiss and then pulled Ruth to him, resting one hand on their child and one on her cheek. "I love you."
"We love you, too."
Harry made a stirrup with his hands, boosting Graham up and out the trapdoor, ignoring the burning it set off in his broken rib, and then did the same for Ruth, Graham reaching down to pull her through. Harry waved them off, reminding Graham to relock the cage. He listened to their retreating steps, holding one hand to his heart and one to the throbbing pain in his side. Please protect them.
