One of the soldiers turned the key on the mutilated Escalade. The battery was weak. It seemed at first it wouldn’t start. But then the engine caught and roared to life. Lights came on inside the car. Headlights were painfully bright.

“Everyone in,” Caine ordered. “If Drake’s right and Sam is down—even temporarily—we’re done sneaking. It’s ten miles to the mine. Twenty minutes and we’re there.”

“Where’s my peppermint?” Jack asked.

Caine raised the fuel rod and held it poised in the air above their heads. Close enough that the heat was like a bright, noon sun.

Hunger, Chapter 40