The Russian Connection

Gold ingots jewels and coins. It was a small start on a horde. No worked pieces of any kind, those would be missed soonest. Any of it could be missed. Why any would understand. That is why it is kept locked up. But he had a theory that value draws value, as well as all the other things it calls too. And his firmly held conviction that treasure is for those who can hold on to it. It had been stolen in the first place and what followed was the history of its ‘acquisition’.

There was a hunting party going to America. He was going. He also held the conviction that treasure in proximity to its last owner was in greater jeopardy than was usually the case with treasure. Nikki was thinking back to the first expedition to the ‘West’. He had been fourteen and had reveled in the rigors of camp life. He gathered and chopped wood though it was not necessary for himself to do so. He went with the scouts fo locate the game, while the rest of his party stayed soft in camp. Soon enough the he had the respect of the scouts and the ‘Major’ for his ability to hike and ride and do so skillfully. His shooting and hunting ability rose steadily. He was tanned and sad when they broke the last camp and rode to the train. The end of the season returned them to blue winter and long nights.