Chapter 72
The old clunker of a lorry bounced and clattered its way along the highway from Chernobyl down to Odessa, the driver paying no heed to the sensitivity of his cargo. There were boxes upon boxes of Chernobylite slivers and air pistols stacked inside the back of the truck. Unfortunately, the men hired by Vladimir were not particularly experienced or diligent package handlers, so the integrity of the boxes in the back of the truck was soon breached by the constant jolting and banging of the crates in the back. An old, frayed hold-down strap succumbed to the strain and snapped under the load of one highway bounce too many.
A large box containing 64 packs of Chernobylite slivers, finally free from its bindings, shimmied its way along the top of the packing crate. Another bounce sent
