How far ahead was the sick camp? I didn’t know, but it couldn’t be that far. Jordan had talked about how long the drive back took, but he’d been part of a bumper-to-bumper convoy. We were passing more farmland before the dense forest would close in, followed by fields and more forest. The camp would be set up in one of the clearings.

I zipped ahead in the right lane, occasionally passing more semis, pallets of boxes, crates, and forklifts that sat in the left lane. What they were doing there, I had no idea.

It was clear, though, that supplies from the outside world were coming in just fine. Materials apparently were being unloaded from commercial trucks and placed onto military trucks before they were brought into town—so outside truck drivers weren’t allowed to go in and out of Mount Hope, just the army.

I glanced to my right, and Jordan had removed the cloth from his face and was squinting out the windshield.

“How’re you doing, Jordan?” I asked.

“Tanned, rested, and ready,” he said. “What’s up with the road trip?”

I placed the backs of my fingers against his cheek—still warm but no longer blazing.

“I don’t believe them,” I said. “I don’t believe there’s any problem with this road. Now we’re going to find out.”

“Huh,” he said, rubbing his eyes. “I heard there are roadblocks.”

“Taken care of.”

Jordan gave me a look that straddled puzzled and impressed. “Okay, then,” he said.

I cruised along the open road for another few minutes with nothing but nature on either side of the road.

“It’s all because of the plant,” Jordan said. “They’re hiding whatever’s going on there.”

“Maybe,” I said.

“Well, I’m glad you acknowledge at least that.”

“Jordan, I acknowledge that a lot of funny business is going on. And I think it’s crazy that no one knows anything about it. Where are the reporters? We had TV crews and newspaper folks at the camp right after we got evacuated. Mom was on CNN. Eventually they moved on to other stories, but we got our fifteen minutes. Wouldn’t they want to swing back and see how we’re doing in the aftermath of our meltdown?”

“‘Explosive incident.’”

“Whatever. Isn’t what’s going on now newsworthy?”

“Maybe they tried and weren’t allowed in.”

“Right,” I said, and turned off the headlights, which were no longer needed. “I still don’t believe you about the crazed scientist with his sword arm, by the way.”

“Then why are you blowing past army roadblocks?”

“I do believe in those stab wounds and that infection and that fever. I care about you.”

Jordan smiled and leaned back. “I appreciate that,” he said, “though it’s kind of bitchy for you not to believe me. I’ve never lied to you.”

That word “bitchy” felt like a slap. “Dude, I’m all in with you right now, so don’t give me crap. Do you even believe everything you’ve told me? One hundred percent?”

He paused. “Well, I know what I experienced, but there might be some wiggle room. Like two percent.”