119

Ante and Bjorn were finishing their breakfast, eagerly anticipating their Sunday outing, when Frank appeared in the kitchen.

He looked unusually relaxed and pleased with himself as he sat down for breakfast.

"So, what are you two up to today?" Frank asked, sensing their eagerness to leave.
"We're going down to the village," Ante answered.
"And why not?" Frank asked rhetorically. "It looks like it will be a nice day."
"It does indeed."
"Any special plans?"
"No, not really. I'll show Bjorn around, and we plan to have lunch at Peppe's."
"So you're planning to leave us here alone to take care of our own lunch?"
"No, no... There's a lasagne in the fridge, ready to go into the oven. I've told Thomas all about it. He'll get it baked."
"Well, that's awfully good of you, Ante. You really know how to take care of us, don't you?"
"You guys are always on my mind, you know," Ante answered with a big smile.

The men chuckled and Bjorn took the opportunity to gather his things, casually mentioning the incident with the private jet as he did so.

"Is that so?" Frank asked. "That's certainly interesting."
"The airport isn't opened, is it?"
"No it isn't, and we don't have anyone down there to check what they are bringing in or taking out of the colony."
"Is there any plans to open it, though?"
"I believe there are. But it will of course have to be properly regulated when it happens. Can't have people flying in and out of the colony without any control, can we?"
"No, of course not."

Frank ate quietly, watching Ante and Bjorn put their plates and cutlery into the dishwasher.

"I'll inform Oslo about what you saw, Bjorn," Frank said as the two headed for the exit. "Are you back before dinner?"
"Yes, we'll be back after lunch," Ante confirmed.

Then, turning around in the doorway, Ante asked Frank about the dress code for going to Lundby.

"Is it all right if we go like this?" he asked. "In uniform, I mean."
"Sure," Frank replied. "And keep the guns on you too. We need to be more visible to the villagers, show them that we're watching them. That kind of thing, you  know."

Ante looked over at Bjorn who had followed the exchange of words.

"Is that all right with you too, Bjorn?" he asked.
"Sure, why not?"

Bjorn had been thinking that he and Ante would have to change into civilian clothes since this was a non-official outing. But he had no strong feelings either way, and simply grabbing the jacket hanging on the rack by the exit was certainly more convenient than having to change in and out of civilian clothes.

The two men put on their coats and stepped out in the cool crispness of the arctic spring weather, loudly pronouncing a final goodbye to Frank in the kitchen as they did so.