Run to the Water

by Diabolical Pink Bunny

As Atlantis is suffering from the expectation of a huge baby-boom, SGA-1 is just too happy to get off-world. But on the other side they get captured by the state even as the gate refuses to shut-down. Next chapter in the 'I am Atlantis' series.

12. Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Desperation is the mother of desperate acts and finally he had reached that point where he had to act out of that desperation. Not that he acted hastily; not exactly. Even a desperate man could take a moment to consider his options. It was common knowledge that though the rich and affluent made the attempt of staying within the prescribed water rations, they had little problem finding extra water when needed. Even in his world money could buy you what you needed.

And he desperately needed water.

In an attempt not to act rashly, he had spent a few minutes crouched in a corner outside the large house, watching. The affluent citizens seldom wandered the street, instead sending those who worked for them to fetch the water allotted the household. These workers usually went in small groups. The reason for this was not so much for protection as that one man or woman could not possibly carry the amount of water on their own. Secure in the knowledge that the Ministry patrols protected them, these people took few precautions when fetching the water. Instead these workers would strut cockily through the streets with their loads of water, proud to be entrusted with such precious cargo. And true, on the roads leading to and from the big houses there were quite a number of alert troops.

But now, the prize of a single flask of water stolen from one of these groups under his arm, he found that even that small amount of prudence had not been enough to ensure his speedy and safe getaway. As he ran through the narrow streets, his old shoes hardly any help to protect his feet from the rough debris littering the alleys, he could hear the heavy boots of the patrol right behind him. He knew that should he not be able to losse them within the next few minutes, he would not have the energy to evade them. As it was his breath was coming fast and hard and his heart was pounding painfully in his chest. Yet he knew that should he be caught it would mean not only his death, but also the death of his daughter.

And this he could not let happen. Desperately he thought he knew of a place where he could lose the patrol steadily gaining on him.