Andrea

Andrei drove the truck over to the broken factory where Andrea handled here operations . They stopped the truck in front of the door . The two of them waited for her to come , indeed they waited a long time . 30 minutes had passed and still there was no sign of her . What do we do ? asked Andrei . Let us wait for some more time and then we leave . Replied Plato . Ok , agreed Andrei . Andrei looked at his watch repeatedly unable to cover his nervousness . Have you met her before ? asked Plato . Yes , replied Andrei . Once , I came here with Sergey . A few months back . He was driving and I was here , where you are seated . She came and they exchanged a few words between them , Andrea and Sergey . I could not hear much . It was a very brief conversation . So that one time I met her . Said Andrei . Plato looked over to the other side of the window . Ok , here she comes . He alerted Andrei .

Andrea walked over to the truck , along with Antony . Hello , greeted Andrei . Andrei waited for a response and there was none . She looked at Plato and again without saying anything . Who loaded the stuff into the truck today , Romanov ? She asked . Yes , Romanov . Replied Andrea . Ok . Come again next week and we will do business , said Andrea and went into the building . That's it ? Andrei asked Plato . Plato raised his hands in a way that said he did know either what had happened . Andrei started the engine and went ahead

She does not trust us , said Andrei . That is why she told us go without taking anything . Maybe so , replied Plato . Plato did not care much about the handlings of the business . He just wanted to get the job done . And for this , this is something he was pushed into and he certainly was not going to put more effort into this . And why did she ask for old man Romanov ? what has he got to do with this ? asked Andrei . Although not expecting any answer from Plato as he was certain that he did not have one . Plato too did not bother to respond . Lets get the job done , said Plato to Andrei . Yeah , ok . Replied Andrei . Anyway she said us to come again next week . So , all is not lost . Said Andrei

Back at the Plant

The truck enters the plant , dropping Plato at the entrance and with Andrei taking it to the Garage for parking . Plato gets down from the truck and goes to the changing room to remove the protective clothes . After changing he comes to the entrance and he sees Andrei waiting for him with his mask hanging on his neck . You parked it already , asked Plato . Standing under the fading sun was Andrei with a shock on his face , seemingly clear to Plato as he got closer to him

Plato , Said Andrei , I was there in the parking and there was old man Romanov . He was waiting for me , he said . So I asked him , why was he waiting for me . He did not say anything . He just said get the other bloke who was with you and come and meet me .

Old man Romanov wants to meet me ? asked Plato in a surprised manner

Lets go , said Andrei .

Ok , replied Plato .

The two of them walked over to the backside of the huge main building . At the back of the main building was the garage . Capable of housing hundreds of trucks . But lately , there were not that many trucks around . Less than a hundred by the best estimates . Lesser drivers was the reason for the trucks to be reduced . And what happens to the waste ? that remains a mystery . The two of them taking long strides reach the garage and they see old man Romanov standing there , waiting for the two of them . His posture remained the same as they approached him . Andrei , said Romanov , and you . what is your name , he asked Plato

Plato , he replied .

Plato , that's a strange name for a person working in a nuclear plant .

Where are you from ? he asked Plato

Greece , replied Plato

Of course , replied Romanov . Where else , but Greece

Ok , I do not want to waste my time , nor yours . Andrea reached me . And there is nothing to worry about . The deal is still on . And you need not be too concerned by what happened today  . That's just the way they operate . So lets carry on with the job , next week . Amidst the conversation what Plato realized was that Romanov was the least bit concerned , whether any one would hear their conversation at all . He was just relaxed as you could be . Was he not worried about his job , or theirs ? wondered Plato .

Before Plato could voice his concern about the callous manner in which they were discussing illegalities in open air ,

Sergey was here Yesterday , Said Romanov .

Sergey ? he was here in Minsk , asked Plato

Yes , here in Minsk . Replied the old man

Why did he not meet us , me and Dimitri . Wondered Plato

He was here after dark . Truth be told . He did not meet me , heck . He did not even see me .

I saw him though , clearly . He arrived in a big vehicle . And he quickly stepped into the office and god knows where he went . All I could see clearly was that he had a suitcase with him. Shining , silver and shining . Said the old man . He went like an officer would . Not like us workers , not like a driver would . But , like an officer would . The old man . began to laugh . To think he was in one of those trucks , just a month ago . And now he is an officer . The old man could not control his laughter . Plato began to realize that he was not laughing at Sergey , but with Sergey . He was laughing at life itself . The way it works and the mysteriousness of it all .

Kids , he said . If you had asked Sergey . If he would be an officer a  few months back . He would have laughed at us too , the way I'm laughing . And he would ask , if we have gone mad .

What was in the suitcase , you reckon . Asked Andrei

I would not be talking to you lot , if I know such things . Would I ? asked Romanov

No , replied Andrei

Well , he is a traveler now . And he tells us what to do . And that's it . Let us follow the instructions . Said Andrei

Let us just stick to the job , show your faces to Andrea next week . The rest will be taken care of , said Romanov

I think it was money in the suitcase , said Plato

Money , in that suitcase . I do not think so . Said the old man , as he lit his cigarettes .

You want any , he offered the both of them

The both of them declined .

I think it was something far more valuable . Said Andrei . Something that even money cannot buy .

Even money cannot buy ? what is that asked Romanov

Money can buy anything in this world , in case you have not noticed

It could buy your loyalty , mine , his . Every ones

Not Mr. Peter's anyway , his integrity could not be bought . Said Plato

Well , there are a few exceptions . Said Romanov

I intend to be like him  , said Plato

Romanov stared at Plato . Then you are in the wrong business , maybe even in the wrong city . Minsk is no place for a man with morals . And can I tell you one thing , the old man for the first time during the conversation bent a little closer .

What ? asked Plato

I think they put Mr. Peter here in Minsk , with us to break him . To see if he will really crack and bend the rules like the rest of us . To see if an inch of corruption scrubs his brain . And that let me tell you , is enough to make a man insane . And that to a man like the boss .

And me personally , said Romanov in a whispering tone . I would not wish this on my worst enemy

Sergey and Andrei did not utter a word .

Romanov stubbed his cigarette and bid adieu to them and left

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