This is only a segue, but I had some fun. I always have a good time with Branson; along with Jack Ketch, he's probably my favorite character in this series to write for.

Branson Missouri's office was known to his men as "the Book Mobile". The large, early 1980s-vintage fifth-wheel trailer was hitched to his D200 pickup. He kept a sizable collection of books, of many sorts. Currently, he was reading Achtung- Panzer! "...Tanks would never be able to produce their full effect until weapons on whose support they must inevitably rely were brought up to their standard of speed and of cross-country performance..."

The knock at the door had a decidedly urgent tone. "Come in," he said.

Enid Oklahoma entered. "Missouri... There's a problem with Tallahassee and the girl."

"I gave strict orders that they were to be left strictly alone," Branson said suspiciously. "Was there a problem?"

"It appears that an unaligned operation tried to attack them around Baker."

Branson scowled for a moment, then chuckled. "Were any of them hurt?"

"I gather they totalled a car."

"That will be punishment enough. So, where is the problem?"

"It appears that the Panhandler was... spooked. He changed his route."

Branson leaned forward. "North." Enid nodded. "Damn it. I didn't want to have to act against him. Or them, either. But we can't have Circus Circus getting word about Death Valley." Branson sighed. Enid remained standing, silent.

"Sir," the lieutenant said, "are you giving the order...?"

"Yes! Yes, that's my order. Execute the plans I have prepared. Get the tanks ready, and the Thing. We're going to take Death Valley!"

Little Rock drove as the Caddy cruised through the desolate yet spectacular landscape of Death Valley. "Stay to the dirt road," Tal warned. "It may not look much better than the desert, but there's mud pits that can trap a Humvee in Death Valley."

"It's a beautiful place," Little Rock said. "I'm glad we went this way. You said the main road will get us most of the way to Vegas?"

Tal nodded. "We'll come out a little to the west. On the way, we can make a stop at Furnace Creek. It's a little town with facilities for tourists. I hear they even have a golf course. I might stop for nine holes..."

"Wait... You mean somebody went to the bottom of Death Valley... looked around... and decided it needed a golf course?"

"I guess so." He looked out the window, and froze.

To the east, trailing the Caddy, was a low-flying attack helicopter.