( The day before…Archer's end of the story)
Archer waited patiently for night to wrap around the pack like a heavy blanket.
He waited till no windows glowed.
No voices murmured.
Even the forest seemed to be holding its breath.
Except for the patrol guards far off in the distance…the world was asleep.
Perfect.
Archer kept to the shadows as he moved, each footstep controlled, each breath measured.
His hood was pulled low, obscuring his eyes, but even then he paused at every shift of wind, every rustle of leaves.
He waited…
Counted…
Timed the patrol's turn…
And slipped past the border just as two guards crossed paths with their backs turned.
Slow steps along with a very strong masking Cologne.That did the trick.
The post gleamed faintly in the moonlight.
Archer stopped beneath the old lamp post…its bulb flickering dull yellow, buzzing faintly in the emptiness.
Under that unflattering light, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a single folded paper.
