Page 47 (2/2)

"At least there’s coffee" I caught the diner door as it was in the process of swinging closed, indicating the doorith a grandiose sweep of my free arm "Ladies first"

"What, assles second?" asked Becks--but she smiled as she stepped inside, and that hat I’d been shooting for I followed her into the surprisingly bright interior The s must have been tinted to make it harder to tell that people still used the place That ht as a sign of possible human habitation The police do

The last Denny’s in California closed years ago, when the new food service and hygiene laere still shaking out I was pretty sure this one had been heavily ine many "family diners" would have a areas A few booths were intact, cherry-red vinyl upholstery patched with strips of duct tape Most had been ripped out, replaced ire convenience store shelving About half the shelves were eed snack foods, first aid supplies, and the necessities of life: toilet paper, tainal counter was also intact Standing behind it was a tall African-Aht purple fabric wound around her dreadlocks and a suspicious expression on her face She had a pistol in either hand I was relieved to see that they were pointing doard, rather than aimed at us Somehow, I didn’t think she’d hesitate for a second before shooting us both

"Indy, these are the folks that our ca down the old post road," said Nathan "They say the Doc sent ’eot here"

"Hello," said Becks

Indy frowned, eyes narrowing "What’s the password?" she asked

Becks blinked "There isn’t one" Then she froze, tensing I did the sa for an excuse to shoot us, our not knowing the passould probably count

Hold on, cautioned George Look at her face

Indy was s that way "See, if you hadn’t been fro up Welcome to Shantytown"

"Is that the name of this place?" asked Becks

"Hell, no They’re all Shantytown That way, no one can ever really give away a location Nathan says you’ve co for fuel?"