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"The motor’s too cold You’ll need the hand crank," Evie said

"Jericho… crank," Will gasped out

"I’ you a new car; I swear I am," Evie vowed

Jericho raced around to the front of the car and placed one hand on the hood for balance With the other, he reached for the crank Another shot rang out

"Jericho! Keep your thuers in case the crank snaps back!" Evie called "You don’t want to break your arm!"

Jericho nodded He pushed the crank forward, once, twice The ain Torches winked in the shadowy trees just above them The fires on the crest of the hill paused, held their flicker to one space momentarily as if lost, unsure whether they should destroy or illuave one more push As Evie had warned, the metal bar snapped back quickly, and Jericho barely had tiine shuddered to life--ta-thacketa, thacketa, thacketa

Shouts caged down the slope, leaving angry tails of flaain

"No!" Evie shouted, as if her repririm deterht, hu into readiness The torches were close Evie could make out the full shape of the mob as Jericho came around the side of the old Ford

The rifle cracked Jericho recoiled, bu back into the car in an awful dance

"Jericho!" Evie shrieked

Jericho moaned and fell to his knees

"Will, I think he’s been hit!"

"Keep the !" Will said He ran to Jericho and Evie slid behind the wheel Her heart thudded in tiine and she cried reflexively, as if she could exorcise her fear through tears and shallow breath The ain