Two whole days passed but Bryant did not sense the presence of the Desert Bug at all.
The skies above the mountain range were all filled with ash from the volcano. Searing lava flowed over the rocks, making them glow with a deep red color. This dismal scene looked like the end of the world.
On the third day, Carl and Bryant were about to give up when the volcano suddenly quietened down and the lava stopped churning. The thick cloud of ash above the volcano thinned out and a beam of sunlight could shine through, like a glimmer of hope in the apocalyptic times.
Carl sighed sadly. "Do we have to give up?"
Before Bryant could answer, Carl noticed dust flying on the horizon in the distance. He looked carefully and saw that thousands of armed soldiers were riding confidently toward them on a
