I keep driving straight into the forest, dodging trees without stopping. The vehicle shakes as we run over rocks and thick underbrush. Thin trees get snapped by the force of our momentum and the weight of the truck. But I realize we can’t keep going. The forest is getting too thick. “Watch out!” Gadya yells at me, as I narrowly avoid a huge tree trunk. We slam against another tree and the impact jars us sideways. I’m going to have to stop driving soon. There are larger trees ahead, and the armored vehicle can’t handle the terrain. There’s no way to continue. I bring the vehicle to a juddering halt. “We have to get out!” I yell. Gadya is already swinging open her door. I grab the keys, and open mine. “Help me with Liam,” I tell her. Together, we get him out of the car. “You need a weapon,” I tell him. He seems like a shell of himself. He’s still not recovering. I hand him my knife. He takes it and stares at it for a moment. “Thanks . . . ,” he mumbles. Then he looks at me blankly.
