【】ethediylit,barelivingrookariockedthefrontdoor,pulledthetatteredsheetsthatpassedforcurtains.theookadeepbreathandgaveusthebadnews:

hisbrothertooruldnttakeustopeshaedhistruginehadbloheillingforparts.

ioventoutoftheerofeye.thenablurofsothingzippinga,athingisaslaedagainstthedanglingtabovethefloor.kwerebabashands.

“illtellyouakinggutturaltheerofhisuth.

“puthio,”ohepassengerssaid.

“itskiltheyouheoherussianoffiied,beggedhiostop.

karilapsedonthefloorandrolledaroundfightingforairfellsilehantanhedidntevenknoostah,ean.

sothingthueddoor.no,door,below.

“eoneasked.

“theothers,”kariaent.”

“ho.

“twoweeks.”

“ithoughtyousaidthetruckbrokedoweek.”

kariubbedhisthroat.“itghthavebeentheroaked.

“howlong”

“”

“hoflisaidnothing.iurderouslookonbabasface.

thestehingdank,likeldeynostrilsthentkaripehedoorthatleddoent.ps.alourrbuzzedthroughthebasehitthesouhingelse,ascratgsound.

babasighedbehindanddroppedthebags.

karioldusitshouldbeatterofaupleofshortdaysbeforethetrutosafety.

thebasehehethirdnight,idisveredthesourratgsounds.rats.

o.”

babasnortedapinatterofgod.

italandhisfather.thatalsittinginthebasentjustafe.buteovertooursideoftheroondisaalsface,reallysa...

hehadplynoothereahollo.hisshouldershunal.igoalone...ale,youkno...triedtofight...god...tookhi..bleedingdoore...juststares...

theretoldusafterent.thetruckwasbeyondrepair.

“thereisaion,”kariaid,hisvoicerisingadthegroans.hisusinouggledpeoplees.heusall.

everyoneexceptanelderlyupledecidedtogo.

alandhisfather,theothers.karindhisusin,asquarefabedtherearaberbabacliedhalfhe

ladder,hoppedbaptiedtheboxandpitheddleoftheunpavedroad.hekissedthedirt.poureditintothebox.stoheboxinhisbreastpocket,ohisheart.

panic.

youopenyouruth.openitsoouthanageisastrangledcroak.yourhandsehaskedopenandafloodoflds.you.

panic.

thebasenthadbeendark.thefueltankyhandsbeforeeyes,didntseesoovent.iblinked,blinkedagain.nothingatall.theairostsolid.airyhands,doythefus,likesoonehadpeeledlidsba.nosecaughtfireing.ing,ing...

andthenasllracle.babatuggedatsleeveandsothinggloyeyesgluedtothosefluorestgreenhands.i,ididntdareblink.

sloeaysurroundings.iheardgroansandtteredprayers.iheardababyutedsoothing.sooched.sooneelsecursedtheshoraruedsidetoside,upand

...