Summary

Chapter Eighteen begins as they arrive in a town and stop at a gas station, seeing a dirty crowd of homeless men in front of the town Mayor’s grocery store. Elsa looks for Rafe’s face, knowing Loreda is doing the same. The gas attendant tells them to stay in their car, as the mob attacks the store. Elsa thinks “Hunger riots. In America” (207). Later that day, Elsa pulls over to take a nap and wakes to see a mother pushing a carriage. She thinks about how mothers will do anything for their children - even walk through a desert. They have dinner then get back in the car to drive through the desert at night and Elsa pulls out the penny to wish for luck. As night falls, Elsa’s fears increase and she hears her father’s doubtful...