“I wasn't there, sir. I was on recruiting duty downstate.” He thought to volunteer more. “The whole damned country is washed out, sir. A-bombs and disease everywhere. There can't be more than a couple of thousand people left.”
“That many? Are you certain?”
“Yes, sir. I've covered all the ground between Chicago and Florida in the last couple of years, sir. There was a lot more that first year, but I'd say there's only a few thousand this summer, Lieutenant.”
“Well, I'll be damned. They said—”
“Yes, sir?”
“Good work, Corporal, good work. We can't thank you enough. Now we'll have to repair that tire and move on.”
“Sir?”
“Yes?”
“I was sort of hoping you could take me with you.”
“Out of the question,” the lieutenant Snapped “You are contaminated. Was that why you opened fire on the enemy? I commend you, Corporal, but I can do no more.”