183

Bjorn found Frank talking to Gus and his two helpers by the entrance to the barracks.

"Did you tell Geir to use my PC?" Bjorn asked, breaking into the conversation.
"Yeah, I did," Frank replied, glancing briefly over at Bjorn before continuing talking to Gus.

Bjorn put his thermos by the entrance. Then he picked a cigarette out of his pocket and lit it. He started puffing it, standing by the door, at a discrete distance from Frank and the men from the village. The sun was just about to turn the corner of the building, but its rays were still beating down on the south wall, and Bjorn enjoyed the heat that they generated. There was still plenty of snow everywhere, but it was melting, and in another few weeks, it would probably all be gone.

Bjorn listened in on the conversation taking place without paying much attention. But from the accents, he figured that Gus must be an American and that his two helpers were Eastern Europeans, maybe Russians. They were talking about the signs, and where and how to set them up.

"What do you think, Bjorn?" Frank asked a little unexpectedly, lifting up a metal plate with the word "Customs" printed on it. "Looks professional, don't you think?"
"It sure does," Bjorn agreed.
"They made some bigger ones too, with instructions for people entering and leaving the colony. Come have a look!"

Bjorn walked over to where the men were standing. Looking into the back of Gus' truck, he could see several more metal plates with text on them, and a number of metal rods. There was also a big chest of tools and a small generator next to the plates.

"You got all this done this morning?" Bjorn asked, more out of politeness than genuine curiosity.
"Yes we did," Gus replied with a smile. "I'm Gus, by the way," he added, extending his hand for a handshake. "We promise, and we deliver. That's our motto."

Bjorn introduced himself briefly, and the two men shook hands. Gus' handshake was firm and assertive without being unpleasant.

"And this is Aleksander and Martyn," Gus continued. "They are from Ukraine."
"Pleased to meet you," Bjorn said politely, giving the two Ukrainians a friendly nod.