105

Bjorn was completely caught up in his grand daydream when someone entered the living room behind him. He did not immediately turn to greet his colleague, engulfed as he was in visions of the future, but when he heard the sound of a key turning in the lock of the cabinet with the spare gun, Bjorn was suddenly shaken out of his dream.

Bjorn turned and looked around the side of his chair, immediately catching sight of Frank squatting in front of the cabinet, feverishly unpacking a gun and a gun belt. Then, still not aware of Bjorn's presence, he rose up, strapped the gun belt to his side and put the gun in its place before kicking the empty packaging back into the cupboard.

"So, what's up?" Bjorn asked as Frank finally locked the cabinet with his key.
"What? Me?" Frank asked, looking around bewildered.
"Yeah, what's with the gun?" Bjorn asked.
"Oh... Eh... This?" Frank asked, suddenly blushing while looking sheepishly over at Bjorn.
"Yeah? What happened to your gun?"
"My gun? Well... This is my gun," Frank said, pointing to the gun he had just strapped on.
"No, it's not. You just pulled that one out of the cabinet."
"Eh... I did, didn't I?" Frank answered, lost for words.
"So?"
"Well... It is not really any of your business, is it?" Frank countered.
"It kind of is... I'd like to know where your gun is. You didn't loose it, did you?"
"Eh... No, of course not."
"So where is it?"
"In Lundby," Frank admitted.
"In Lundby?"
"Yeah... I'll... I'll pick it up later... You know... I'm just going to wear this one until I get back down there to get my own."

Frank was about to explain himself further when Ante appeared, drawn to the living room by the sound of Frank's voice.

"So, what's in Lundby?" Ante asked.
"Frank's gun," Bjorn explained.
"You lost your gun in Lundby?" Ante asked, clearly finding this hard to believe.
"No! I know exactly where it is. I'll get it later," Frank protested.
"So, where is it?" Bjorn asked.
"At the casino. It's in a safe in the casino."
"Why?"

There was an awkward silence, with Frank unable to answer Bjorn's simple question. Ante started to chuckle and shake his head.

"You've been upstairs again haven't you?" Ante asked.
"Yeah... Well... And... You know... That's really none of your business."
"Upstairs?" Bjorn asked.
"Upstairs with the girls at the casino," Ante explained. "I knew it! We all knew it... But man... Loosing your gun. That's pretty brain dead... Even for you, Frank."
"Now, watch it, will you," Frank protested. "I'll sort this out."

Then, to everybody's surprise, Igor appeared in the living room, asking for Ante.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Frank asked, switching to English.
"I'm looking for Ante," Igor answered in his heavy Russian accent. "You just ordered a taxi ride, didn't you Ante?"
"Sure, but how did you get here so quickly?"
"I just delivered Frank... Picked him up at the casino."
"Oh... Well... I still have a few things to finish in the kitchen."
"Is it all right if I wait here while you finish whatever you're doing?" Igor asked. "There's no point in me driving down to Lundby just to return in an hour from now."

The three colleagues looked at each other.

"No, it's not all right," Frank said. "This is a military installation. You can sit in your car outside, but not in here with us."
"Come on," Ante protested. "I mean... This is Igor, he's practically part of the family."
"No! We can't have civilians roam around at our premises."
"Roam around? He's not going to roam around. What's the big deal?"
"It would be a security hazard," Frank insisted.
"Says the man who just left his gun at the casino," Ante added cynically.
"Well... Okay... I'll make an exception this once," Frank answered wearily. "Now, if you will excuse me, I'm off to bed."