I decide I have to say something, even if it means he takes a swing at me. “Um, I sure hope you’re right. I really do. But they don’t have any idea we were on the Crazy River, or survived the flood from the broken dam. So like Mia said, maybe they’re not looking here. Montana is a big state, right? Lots of wilderness to get lost in.”

I can’t see Deke’s face, but no doubt he’s sneering. “You don’t know Byron James. I do. My parents work for the guy, remember? He’s like a genius on a bunch of levels. The most important inventor since Edison, they say. He’ll be checking every little detail, and he’ll hire the best, most well-equipped search parties. By now they’ve figured out we weren’t on that first river. They’ll be looking at every white-water river in a hundred miles.”

“I hope so.”

“Guaranteed! They’ll find us tomorrow, the next day at the latest. So there’s no reason to starve. One last time, Mia. Give me the backpack. I don’t care how dark it is, we’ll scrounge up some wood and make a fire and eat until we’re not hungry. Hand it over now.”

Her answer is a whisper. “No.”

“Fine! Be that way. I’m calling for a vote. Who leads the group, Mia or me?”

“What about Daniel?” Imani says. “Maybe he should be leader.”

Deke laughs. The idea of me as leader is that funny. “Danny boy? Want to throw your hat in the ring?”

“No way.”

“That’s what I thought. Two choices, me or Little Miss Know-It-All. Ready? Mia, turn on the flashlight.”

“We need to save the batteries.”

“Turn it on! We can’t have a show of hands in the dark.”

She turns it on. And screams at what she sees.

15. The War Begins

It’s Tony, making a scary face, right in the beam of the flashlight.

“Gotcha!” he crows, pleased with himself.

We all laugh nervously, even Mia.

“That was awesome,” Deke says, clapping Tony on the back. “I jumped a foot.”

At first, I’m thinking Tony’s prank has lightened the mood, that letting off steam is a good thing. At least Deke is no longer ranting. But it turns out he’s still intent on taking over the backpack, or at least the food distribution, and he’s determined that we should vote on it.

He props the flashlight on the ground so that we can see each other. Shadowed and distorted, but visible.

“This will be a leadership vote. You must choose, and we all agree to accept the result. Mia, do you agree?”

She looks around, trying to make eye contact with all of us. “Yes. I agree.”

Deke says, “Raise your hand if you want Mia to be in charge.”