The Great Escape

A few nights later, in a province a few hours from the city, there is a barren expanse of dirt that stretches for miles atop a hill. The hill used to be rich in greens and life until a mining company discovered that it was also rich in cobalt, a chemical element used in rechargeable batteries of smartphones, computers, and electric vehicles. Decades later, there are no greens to be seen except for endless dirt. There were also no signs of life except for occasional cargo ship containers that served as bunkers for the miners and higher rank employees of the mining company.