Document:

LEASE AGREEMENT
                                     BETWEEN
                       BOWLIN TRAVEL CENTERS INCORPORATED

                                       AND

            BOWLIN OUTDOOR ADVERTISING & TRAVEL CENTERS INCORPORATED

This lease, made and entered into on August 1, 2000 by and between Bowlin Travel
Centers Incorporated,  hereinafter referred to as the Lessor, and Bowlin Outdoor
Advertising & Travel Centers Incorporated hereinafter referred to as the Lessee.

Witnesseth That:

For and in  consideration  of the mutual  covenants and  agreements  hereinafter
mentioned and  contained,  and the rental to be paid, the Lessor have leased and
do hereby let,  demise and lease unto the Lessee those certain  premises and the
improvements being located as follows:

Approximately  5500 square feet of office space in the  building  located at 136
Louisiana NE,  Albuquerque,  New Mexico  87108,  at an annual rate of $12.00 per
square foot for a total annual rental sum due of $66,600.00.

Approximately  1000 square feet of office space in the building  located at 3415
South  Harrelson,  Las Cruces,  New Mexico 88005, at an annual rate of $6.00 per
square foot for a total annual rental sum due of $6,000.00.

Approximately  2000 square feet of warehouse  space in the  building  located at
3415 South Harrelson,  Las Cruces,  New Mexico 88005, at an annual rate of $3.00
per square foot for a total annual rental sum due of $6,000.00.

Approximately  12,000 square feet of outside  storage yard space on the premises
located at 3415 and 3418 South  Harrelson,  Las Cruces,  New Mexico 88005, at an
annual  rate of $.50  per  square  foot  for a total  annual  rental  sum due of
$6,000.00.

For the rental and under the conditions hereinafter specified to wit:

1. The term of this  lease  shall be for one (1) year,  commencing  on August 1,
2000 and terminating on July 31, 2001.

2. As  consideration  for this lease and the use and  occupancy  of the premises
during the term of said lease,  Lessee agrees and obligates the Lessee to pay to
the Lessor the sum of $84,600.00 which sum as a matter of convenience to Lessee,
shall be paid in equal  installments  of $7,050.00,  with the first month's rent
due August 1, 2000,  and an equal amount of  $7,050.00,  due on the first day of
the next  succeeding  11 months.  No  security  and  damage  deposit is due upon
signing  the lease.  It is  specifically  understood  and agreed by the  parties
hereto that the  consideration  for this lease is $84,600.00  and that amount is
payable in monthly  installments for the convenience of the Lessee only and that
should the  Lessee  default  in the  payment  of said sum in the agreed  monthly
installments or otherwise breach the terms of this lease as hereinafter provided
and fail to cure said breach in the time and manner  provided  for  hereinafter,
the Lessor at its option may accelerate said payments,  and the entire remaining
unpaid  portion  of the lease  consideration  shall  immediately  become due and
owing.  ALL SUCH  PAYMENTS  SHALL BE SENT TO THE  LESSOR  AT 150  Louisiana  NE,
Albuquerque,  New Mexico 87108,  or such other address as the Lessor may furnish
to the Lessee.

3. The Lessee agrees to pay the rental  installments  punctually and to save and
keep  harmless  the Lessor from any  liability on account of any such utility as
they may require and use, and further  agree that they will keep the interior of
the  building in repair at their own expense  throughout  the term of this lease
insofar as ordinary wear and tear is concerned,  and that at the end of the term
of the lease,  they will  promptly  surrender  the premises to the Lessor in the
same  condition as such premises were in at the time when it was received by the
Lessee,  reasonable  wear  and tear  and  other  hazards  beyond  their  control
excepted.
<PAGE>
4. The  Lessee  agrees  throughout  the  term of the  lease  to  provide  public
liability  insurance so as to protect  himself and the premises from any and all
claims of liability  arising out of or from the use or occupancy of the premises
and which may be claimed to be due to any acts, omissions,  negligence, or fault
of the  Lessee,  his  agents,  servants,  employees,  licensees,  customers,  or
invitees,  and that a copy of such  liability  policy will be  furnished  to the
Lessor. Said insurance policy shall name Lessor as additional insured.

5. Lessee agrees that they will not permit any Mechanic's Lien or  Materialman's
lien or any other lien to become  attached or otherwise  affect the premises and
improvements demised herein.

6. The Lessor shall pay for  electricity,  gas,  water,  sewer and  garbage.  In
addition,  the Lessor shall provide and pay for basic  telephone  service to the
demised premises,  which shall include the use of telephone  equipment possessed
by the Lessor,  in an amount not to exceed $400.00 per month;  and further,  the
Lessor shall provide and pay for long distance  telephone service to the demised
premises  in an amount not to exceed  $400.00  per  month.  At the end of each 3
month period from the date first  stated  herein,  the Lessor shall  provide the
Lessee with a  reconciliation  of the actual  telephone  expense accruing to the
demised  premises and the difference  shall be added to, or subtracted from, the
monthly payment due for the month following each reconciliation.

7. It is expressly  agreed and  understood  between the parties  hereto that the
Lessee may not assign or sublet the premises  herein demised without the written
consent of the Lessor, such assignment shall not be unreasonably withheld.

8. The  Lessor  shall be  obligated  to keep in good  repair and  condition  the
exterior of the demised  premises  including  the roof,  but excluding any plate
glass doors and their locks, the maintenance of which shall be the obligation of
the Lessee.  The Lessor further agree to maintain in good order the condition of
any wiring for  electricity,  and any piping for gas and water both  outside and
inside the building during the term of this lease excepting only that the Lessee
shall be liable for the  repair of any  damage  for which they or their  agents,
servants or employees may be responsible.  The Lessee shall maintain and keep in
good order and repair the heating and cooling equipment, water faucet, all plate
glass,  including  doors and their locks.  Any  remodeling  that is needed after
initial occupancy will be the  responsibility of the tenant and must be approved
by Lessor, such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

9. The Lessor  shall  provide  such  insurance  as they may elect to provide for
their protection for any damage that may be done to the property through fire or
any other hazard which may be insured  against and the Lessee shall provide such
insurance  as they may elect to provide for an damage that may be done to any of
their furniture, furnishings,  equipment and fixtures which may be owned or kept
by them in the demised premises.

10.  The  Lessee is  responsible  for  living  up to all city and  state  codes,
including signage  requirements after initial  occupancy.  Lessor is responsible
for  delivering  the  premises  in a condition  which meets all city,  state and
county codes including requirements for the disabled. Lessor represents that the
current zoning is acceptable for the anticipated use.

11. It is agreed by and between the parties hereto that the Lessee will be using
the premises for office,  warehouse  and outside  materials  storage as provided
herein,  and such premises shall not be used for any other purpose other than as
previously stated unless prior written consent for such other use has first been
obtained from the Lessor such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

12. Should the building or demised premises be wholly or partially  destroyed by
fire or other  hazard  during  the term of this  lease so as to render  the same
unusable  or if such  damage  should  arise by reason of the  elements  or other
casualty, then the Lessor may, at their election,  declare the term hereof ended
or they may elect to repair such damage as may occur, in which event the repairs
shall  be made  with  due  diligence  so as to give  the  Lessee  the use of and
occupancy of the repaired  building as soon as repairs may be accomplished  with
all due  diligence  on the part of the Lessor and during the period of time that
the Lessee may be without the use of such premises, the rent shall be abated. It

                                       2
<PAGE>
is further  agreed that if the repairs  cannot be completed  within  ninety (90)
days of damage then Lessee may at its option terminate this lease and no further
rent shall be owed from the date that the building becomes unusable.

13.  Should the Lessee  hold over and  continue  in  possession  of the  demised
premises  without the expressed or implied consent of the Lessor  thereto,  such
holding  over shall be  construed  as  tenancy  from month to month and shall be
taken and  understood  to be in all  respects  and upon the same  conditions  as
herein provided during the term of this lease.

14. If during  the term of this  lease the  Lessee  does  anything  to cause the
property taxes to increase,  he shall be responsible  for the increased tax upon
demand.

15.  There shall be a 15% late charge on all  payments  not received in Lessor's
office by the 10th day of the month.

16. It is mutually  agreed by and  between the parties  hereto that in the event
that any  condemnation  proceeding shall be brought against the property demised
hereby,  in whole or in part,  any and all  proceeds  that may be recovered as a
consequence of such proceedings  shall inure to the benefit of the Lessor alone.
If any condemnation  proceeding  should render the demised premises  unusable by
tenant then this lease shall be terminated.

17. If, during the term of this lease,  Lessee shall breach any of the terms and
conditions   herein   imposed  upon  them,   including  the  payment  of  rental
installments  when due and shall remain in default or continue with the reach of
such terms,  conditions  or payments for a period of ten (10) days after written
notice has been given to the Lessee by the Lessor for such  default,  the Lessor
may, at their option, terminate this lease and retake possession of the premises
demised  or at their  option,  take such  legal  action as may be  necessary  to
enforce  the  provisions  of this lease in full.  The failure on the part of the
Lessor to terminate or otherwise  enforce any breach of the  provisions  of this
lease  shall not be deemed a consent by Lessor to any such  breach and shall not
stop them from  thereafter  terminating  or taking  such legal  action as may be
available to them, to enforce any and all provisions of this lease.  The various
rights and  remedies  contained  herein and  reserved to the Lessor shall not be
construed  cumulative  and shall be in  addition  to every  other  remedy now or
hereafter existing by law in equity or by statute. Any and all costs, attorney's
fees,  or other  expenses  incurred  by the  Lessor in  enforcing  this lease or
obtaining possession of the premises, shall be born by the Lessee.

18. The filing of a bankruptcy  proceeding by the Lessee, or in the event of the
involuntary  bankruptcy  of the Lessee,  or their  assignment  of assets for the
benefit of their creditors, shall terminate this lease.

19. Subject to the exception hereinabove  described,  this lease shall extend to
and is otherwise binding upon the heirs, successors, administrators, and assigns
of the parties hereto.

Executed in duplicate of the day and year first hereinabove written.

Bowlin Travel Centers Incorporated      Bowlin Outdoor Advertising & Travel
                                        Centers Incorporated

----------------------------------      ----------------------------------------
Lessor                                  LesseeMASTER SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
                                       AND
                                 MUTUAL RELEASE

                                   ----------

          This Master Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release (this "Agreement")
is entered  into this 25th day of  September  2000 by and  between  The  Network
Connection,  Inc., a Georgia corporation ("TNCi"),  and Carnival Corporation,  a
Panamanian corporation ("Carnival").

     WHEREAS,  TNCi and Carnival have had an ongoing  business  relationship for
the past  approximately  two  years,  which  has been  governed  by the  Turnkey
Agreement dated September 14, 1998 (the "Initial Agreement");

     WHEREAS,  various issues have arisen out of that business relationship that
have resulted in TNCi and Carnival  engaging in certain  negotiations  regarding
the continuation of their business relationship;

     WHEREAS,  both the Company and Carnival  desire to continue  their business
relationship  and  towards  that end have  agreed (i) to  terminate  the Initial
Agreement;  (ii) to enter  into this  Master  Settlement  Agreement  and  Mutual
Release  regarding  their business  relationship  prior to the date hereof,  the
Initial Agreement and termination thereof (this  "Agreement");  ; and (iii) that
the Company shall issue the Note to Carnival;

     WHEREAS,  TNCi and Carnival now wish to settle any and all disputed  claims
relating to their business  relationship  prior to the date hereof,  the Initial
Agreement and the termination  thereof  (collectively,  the "Disputed  Claims"),
without an admission of liability against each other; and

     WHEREAS,  capitalized  terms  used but not  defined  herein  shall have the
meanings  ascribed  thereto in the Convertible  Note  Subscription  Agreement or
Convertible Note issued in connection therewith, each of even date herewith.

     NOW  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises  and mutual  covenants
contained herein, and for other good and valuable  consideration the receipt and
sufficiency  of which are hereby  acknowledged,  intending  to be legally  bound
hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:
<PAGE>
              1.  NON-ADMISSION  OF  LIABILITY.   This  Agreement  represents  a
compromise of disputed  claims.  No act carried out by either party  pursuant to
this Agreement,  including, without limitation,  issuance of the Note by TNCi to
Carnival,  is to be construed as an  admission  of  liability or  wrongdoing  by
either party hereto. Any liability or wrongdoing is specifically  denied by each
party.

              1A.  TERMINATION OF INITIAL  AGREEMENT.  TNCi and Carnival  hereby
agree that the Initial  Agreement shall be terminated and of no further force or
effect as of the execution and delivery hereof.

              2. COVENANTS.

                   (a) ENTRY INTO NEW AGREEMENT.  TNCi and Carnival hereby agree
that they shall  negotiate  in good faith and use their best  efforts to achieve
within the 60-day  period  following  the date hereof the  objective of entering
into a new agreement to govern a business relationship between the parties after
the execution and delivery hereof (the "New Agreement").  In connection with the
execution  and delivery of this  Agreement , TNCi shall retain  ownership of any
and all  equipment  (other than wiring and  switching  equipment  installed  for
networking  purposes which  Carnival  purchased and has paid in full pursuant to
the original Agreement) installed on any Carnival ship in connection with TNCi's
provision of its systems and services to Carnival  under the Initial  Agreement.
Unless used in connection with systems and services to be provided under any New
Agreement,  TNCi shall remove any of such  equipment  from any Carnival ship, at
its sole expense.

                   (b) ISSUANCE OF NOTE.  TNCi shall issue the Note to Carnival,
pursuant to a Convertible  Note  Subscription  Agreement.  The Convertible  Note
Subscription  Agreement  and Note shall be in  substantially  the form  attached
hereto as Exhibit "A" (the Note is attached to the Convertible Note Subscription
Agreement as Exhibit "A" thereto).

                   (c) CARNIVAL  OBLIGATIONS.  Carnival represents that Carnival
is  responsible  for payment to ABB Marine for wiring of ship and for payment to
TNCi of $48,673.02,  which  represents the full and complete  payment for TNCi's
share of net  profits  pursuant  to  Schedule A of the  Initial  Agreement , and
Carnival covenants that it shall make such payments.

              3. CLOSING.  Closing of the  transactions set forth in paragraph 2
above shall take place at  Carnival's  offices in Miami,  or such other place as
the parties mutually agree, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on September 25,
2000, or at such other time as the parties  mutually agree (the "Closing Date").
The  Closing  may also take  place,  if so desired  and  mutually  agreed by the
parties,  by  facsimile  signature  on the  Closing  Date with hard copies to be
delivered by overnight courier immediately thereafter.

                                       2
<PAGE>
              4.  CONDITIONS  TO  CLOSING.  It  shall  be  a  condition  to  the
effectiveness of this Agreement that each of the Convertible  Note  Subscription
Agreement and Note (collectively, the "Transaction Documents") shall be executed
and  delivered  together  with the  execution  and  delivery of this  Agreement.
Neither this Agreement nor any of the Transaction Documents shall be of force or
effect  until such time as all three of such  documents  have been  executed and
delivered.

              5. MUTUAL RELEASE.  TNCi and Carnival do hereby  mutually  remise,
release and forever discharge each other, their directors,  officers, employees,
shareholders,  affiliates, agents, predecessors, successors, if any, and each of
them,  from any and all manner of  claims,  causes of  action,  actions,  suits,
debts, dues, accounts,  bonds, covenants,  contracts,  agreements and demands of
every  nature,  on  account  of any  grounds  whatsoever,  in law or in  equity,
asserted or unasserted,  known or unknown,  arising  directly or indirectly as a
result of, in connection with or relating to the Disputed  Claims,  by reason of
any cause,  matter or thing  whatsoever,  from the beginning of the world to the
date of these  presents.  The  foregoing  releases  shall not apply to any claim
arising from a breach of this Agreement.

              6.  SEVERABILITY.  In the event that any  provision  or portion of
this  Agreement  shall  be  determined  by a Court  to be  invalid,  illegal  or
unenforceable,  the  remaining  provisions or portions of this  Agreement  shall
continue in full force and effect,  unless such  severability  would  thwart the
purpose of this Agreement.

              7.  INTEGRATION.   Except  for  the  Transaction  Documents,  this
Agreement  represents  the only  agreement  between the parties in regard to the
settlement of the Disputed Claims, and any amendment or modification hereof must
be in writing and signed by the parties  hereto.  This Agreement is binding upon
the parties, their successors and assigns.

              8. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement  shall be construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Florida.  The  federal  and state court  courts in
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania and Miami, Florida shall have exclusive jurisdiction
over this instrument and the enforcement hereof.

              9.  CONFIDENTIALITY.   The  negotiations,   covenants,  terms  and
substance of this Agreement are confidential. No party shall publicize, disclose
or  communicate  in  any  manner,  directly  or  indirectly,  the  negotiations,
covenants,  terms or substance of this Agreement to any person or entity,  other
than their directors, officers, employees, shareholders,  affiliates, agents and
successors,  if any, on a  need-to-know  basis,  and  provided  that any of such
persons to whom such disclosure is made is informed of the  confidential  nature
of such information and instructed to maintain such confidentiality.

                                        3
<PAGE>
              10. NO WAIVER.  The waiver by any party  hereto of a breach of any
provision of this Agreement by the other party shall not operate or be construed
as a waiver of any subsequent breach.

              11.  COUNTERPARTS.  This  Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts,  each of  which  shall be  deemed  an  original,  but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                                       4
<PAGE>
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this
Agreement, effective as of the date first above written.

                                   THE NETWORK CONNECTION, INC.

                                   By:
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                   CARNIVAL CORPORATION

                                   By: /s/ Brendan Corrigan
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name: Brendan Corrigan
                                       Title: Sr. Vice President Operations

                                       5
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT A

                     CONVERTIBLE NOTE SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

     Convertible  Note  Subscription  Agreement,  dated as of September 25, 2000
(this  "Agreement"),  by and  between The Network  Connection,  Inc.,  a Georgia
corporation (the "Company"),  and Carnival Corporation, a Panamanian corporation
(the "Subscriber").

     WHEREAS, this Agreement is entered into as a condition to the effectiveness
of, and  pursuant  to, a Master  Settlement  Agreement  and Mutual  Release (the
"Master Agreement") of even date herewith; and

     WHEREAS,  capitalized  terms  used but not  defined  herein  shall have the
meanings  ascribed thereto in the Master Agreement or Convertible Note issued in
connection herewith.

     NOW, THEREFORE,  in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this
Agreement  and for  other  good  and  valuable  consideration  the  receipt  and
sufficiency of which are hereby  acknowledged,  the Company and the  Subscriber,
intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

1.   PURCHASE OF UNITS. At the Closing, the Company will issue to the Subscriber
     a convertible  note (the "Note") in the principal amount of $550,000 in the
     form attached as Exhibit "A" hereto that shall be  convertible  at any time
     and from time to time at the option of the  Subscriber  into that number of
     shares  of  common  stock  of the  Company  ("Common  Stock")  equal to the
     dividend obtained by dividing the outstanding  principal amount of the Note
     that the  Subscriber  then  desires to  convert  by the  product of (A) the
     average of the  closing  prices per share of Common  Stock as  reported  by
     Nasdaq  for each of the five  consecutive  trading  days  ending on the day
     prior to the date on which  the  conversion  is to take  place and (B) 0.8.
     Subscriber  may not convert  less than  $100,000 of  outstanding  principal
     balance in connection with any conversion.  The mechanics of effectuating a
     conversion are set forth in the Note.  The Note and the shares  issuable on
     any conversion  thereof are hereinafter  sometimes referred to collectively
     as the "Securities."

2.   SUBSCRIBER'S  REPRESENTATIONS.  Subscriber  represents  and warrants to the
     Company as follows:

     (a)  Subscriber is acquiring the Securities  solely for investment,  solely
          for  its own  account  and not  with a view  to or for the  resale  or
          distribution  thereof.  Subscriber is acquiring the  Securities in the
          ordinary  course of its  business  and does not have any  agreement or
          understanding,  directly or  indirectly,  with any person or entity to
          distribute any of such securities.
<PAGE>
     (b)  Subscriber  understands  that it may sell or  otherwise  transfer  the
          Securities  only if such  transaction  is duly  registered  under  the
          Securities  Act  of  1933,  as  amended  (the  "Securities  Act"),  or
          otherwise  only if  Subscriber  shall have  received and  delivered to
          Company the  favorable  opinion of counsel to  Subscriber  (which such
          opinion  must be  reasonably  acceptable  to  Company  as to its form,
          substance and the giver thereof) to the effect that such sale or other
          transfer  may be  made  in  the  absence  of  registration  under  the
          Securities Act and  registration or  qualification in every applicable
          state.

     (c)  Subscriber is an "accredited investor" as such term is defined in Rule
          501 of Regulation D of the Securities Act.

     (d)  Subscriber has the full right,  power and authority to enter into this
          Agreement  and will at all times have the full power and  authority to
          perform its obligations under this Agreement.  This Agreement has been
          duly  authorized,  executed  and  delivered  by the  Subscriber.  This
          Agreement  constitutes the Subscriber's valid and binding  obligation,
          enforceable in accordance with its terms,  except as may be limited by
          bankruptcy,  insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors'
          rights  generally,  or  equitable  principles,  whether  applied  in a
          proceeding in equity or law.

3.   This Agreement may not be changed, terminated or otherwise modified, except
     by written agreement of the parties. This Agreement shall not be assignable
     by either party  without the express  prior  written  consent of the other,
     and,  subject to this  restriction,  shall be binding upon and inure to the
     benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted
     assigns.  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding
     of the  parties  hereto  with  respect  to the  subject  matter  hereof and
     supersedes  all  prior  or  contemporaneous   agreements,   understandings,
     inducements or conditions,  oral or written, express or implied, except for
     the Master Agreement. This Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws
     of  the  State  of  Florida.   The  federal  and  state  court   courts  in
     Philadelphia,   Pennsylvania  and  Miami,   Florida  shall  have  exclusive
     jurisdiction  over  this  instrument  and  the  enforcement   hereof.  This
     Agreement may be executed in any number of  counterparts,  each of which as
     so executed and  delivered  shall be an original and all of which  together
     shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                                       2
<PAGE>
         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have caused this  Convertible
Note Subscription  Agreement to be duly executed by their respective  authorized
signatories as of the date first indicated above.

                                   THE NETWORK CONNECTION, INC.

                                   By: /s/ Robert Pringle
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name: Robert Pringle
                                       Title: President and
                                              Chief Operating Officer

                                   CARNIVAL CORPORATION

                                   By: /s/ Brendan Corrigan
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name: Brendan Corrigan
                                       Title: Sr. Vice President Operations

                                       3
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT A

                                CONVERTIBLE NOTE

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