The torrential rain showed no sign of stopping. The truck shot back into the pitch-black rainy night like lightning.
"Where are you going?!" Jason asked anxiously.
"I'm getting you out of here! I'll find somewhere safe!" Bruce shouted as he turned the wheel.
"Stop!" Jason shouted back. As the rain outside grew louder and louder, they had to use all their strength and communicate by roaring so their voices would not be drowned out by the downpour.
"You're getting us killed. You're going to get all of us killed!" Jason's voice trembled without pause. He said, "You and I can escape these rules. We can leave whenever we want, but these kids can't!"
"Bruce, please, stop the truck!" Jason gripped the seatback tightly. Bruce could not tell whether he heard a hint of sobbing in his voice, but there was no doubt that Jason was extremely vulnerable right now.
"I never should have let you fix this truck!" His voice was filled with profound guilt. He said, "It'll get all of us killed..."
"We never should have had a truck, and we especially shouldn't have made it run. But the worst thing was letting it drive on Gotham's roads while everyone was hiding in it!"
"Why can't you drive on Gotham's roads?" Bruce shouted. "Anyone can drive, including you!"
"No, you don't understand. Bruce, the gangs go easy on us precisely because we have so little and pose no threat to them. Once we have enough, our time is up!"
Bruce was certain now that he could hear deep fear in Jason's voice. Jason's breathing became erratic as he said, "If we can steal a truck, that means one day we might steal guns, steal rocket launchers, and then fight them for territory..."
"All the Children's Gang are pitiful parasites