Chapter Seventeen
Mother Lode, Torex
“I thought I was the irresponsible one,” Joel said as he and Cody scanned the market, trying to see through the crowd to pick out Reggie.
“You definitely are,” Cody agreed. “This isn’t like Reggie. Maybe he’s been kidnapped. Or stabbed. Or sold into slavery and he’s being forced to work the mines. He’ll get black lung, wither away, and die a painful, horrible death.”
Joel put a hand up to signal Cody to calm down. “He’s been gone two minutes. I don’t think he’s got black lung already. Jesus, and I thought Reggie was dramatic.”
They spun in circles, rooted in place and refusing to move for fear of Sam’s wrath. After a long three minutes of searching, they had all but given up hope of seeing their friend again.
Then Cody said, “There. By that booth
