96

Bjorn was initially under the impression that Olga was running some sort of big enterprise, but it soon became clear to him that she had barely started her business, and it wouldn't surprise him if most of the stuff made by her partners over in Nikel was simply shipped to Lundby by regular mail. Her network of collaborators, as Igor called it, consisted of herself and a couple of friends, and the whole enterprise was barely able to produce enough stuffed animals for the vendors in Lundby, in addition to a few T-shirts and some underwear prototypes.

Igor and his wife were simply a desperate couple in search of work, and they had somehow ended up in Lundby for the simple reason that this was a place where there still was work to be found. However, there was definitely something to Olga's vision of a sewing collective, and she was clearly in the process of setting up something that might at some point grow into something big. Her biggest hope was at the moment centred around a pilot project for an up market lingerie company headquartered in Paris, but she was also busy looking into other ways to make money.

Not only did she sew a lot herself, she also provided courses for people wanting to learn. And many had evidently caught onto Olga's vision of semi independent living through her collective, at least if there was any hold in what Igor was describing. People were willing to part with as much as fifty MG for a single hour of one on one training with Igor's wife.

Bjorn listened with interest as Igor expanded on Olga's dream with hope and enthusiasm. He was clearly convinced that his wife was about to make it big, and Bjorn could not help sharing in his enthusiasm. The Russian couple might be poor and desperate, but they were full of hope for the future, and the feeling was contagious.

Then, as they approached the checkpoint, Igor stopped talking. He slowed down while rolling down his window, coming to a complete stop in front of the glass cage.

"I'm dropping off your colleague!" Igor said pointing with a thumb at Bjorn in the back seat.
"Okay," John replied, lifting the barrier as soon as he caught sight of Bjorn. "What about the others?"
"They are still at the casino," Bjorn explained, leaning forward to talk out of Igor's window.
"Okay... So they are coming up later?"
"Another few hours at least," Bjorn explained, leaning even more forward as Igor slowly set the car in motion.

Bjorn picked a fifty MG chip out of his pocket. Then, as Igor stopped the car squarely in front of the entrance to the barracks, he handed the chip over to him.

"Keep the change, and good luck to you both!" Bjorn said with heartfelt sincerity as he stepped out of the car.
"Thanks, and good night," Igor replied with a smile. "Give my regards to Ante, will you?"
"I will!" Bjorn answered, giving Igor a friendly wave of the hand as he set his car back in motion.