Outside Nellis AFB

Finally, after many days of dangerous travel Madeline saw in the distance what must have been her objective. Nellis Air **** Base. A vast open area, a landstrip, and towers surrounded by fences made the area look like a defensive network one wouldn't want to mess with.

A number of craters pocked the landscape at likely avenues of approach. As she focused she saw a solitary figure try to cross the moonscape to the fence. A sudden series of earth shattering booms and explosions rocked the area near the figure. The figure ran and dove into a crater, then began again.

A geyser of dirt made a dusty clowd and the figure disappeared into a mix of dirt, smoke, and gore.

"Boomers is right." Madeline said to herself "Jesus."

"You aren't wrong there." A voice said, startarling Madeline who spun and readied a weapon.

"Slow down there traveler." A Black man said with his hands held up. He was closer to middle age than a young man. Or maybe it was just the wastes had aged him.

"Who are you?" Madeline said, easing a bit as she saw his hands held no weapons.

"I'm George. I don't want trouble." the black man, George said.

"What do you want?" Madeline said her eyes warry.

"How about a bet?" George asked.

"What do you mean?" Madeline inquired skeptically.

"I know how the Boomers launch their ordnance. I know the pattern of explosions. That poor sap down there didn't want to pay for my knowledge. Looks like he won't get a chance to regret it." he shrugged nonchalantly.

"You know the sequence?" Madeline eyed him.

"Yup. I do." He slowly held up a ragged looking note and shook it. "It will get you close enough to where the Boomers either can't--or won't keep shooting. They probably don't want to hurt their own folks or buildings."

Madeline needed to get to the Boomers. She could risk it herself. George might be full of shit. Or she could make a deal with George.