"Plato, lets go," said Dimitri. "You better be early," he said. "You do not want to be late and keep the driver waiting," he warned. I jumped out from my bed, got ready really quickly and left along with Dimitri for work. As i left i looked into into the other room, a man much bigger than me was sleeping covered under a blanket. Sergey! Me and Dimitri left the house and walked towards the plant. "You will need to pick up your identity card before you leave in the truck," he said. "You packed your suit," Dimitri asked to which I replied "yes,". "What about you Dimitri, why don't you have a suit?" i asked him. "I work in administration," Plato. "You do not need a suit for administrative work. That's in the office," I asked him. "Yes," he replied. "You know," Plato. "Between you and me, I would prefer to do outside work than sit all day at the office. Its just boring," he said. "Why don't you work outside then," asked Plato. "I'm just not cut out for i," Dimitri replied. "Ok," said Plato and two of them walked towards the office. They entered the electrified fences and Dimitri went to his office while Plato went and got his ID card from the old lay who was yet again sitting there. She never leaves the plac, thought Plato. The old lady handed over the ID card and said to Plato, "Go tot he dead end and take a left You will have the changing rooms, and please wear your mask," she said. "Once you are done, come and meet me here,"'she said. "Yes Madam," said Plato and went to the changing room. Plato changed into his hazmat suit and reached the desk of the lady. In a muffled voice, he said. "Is it going to be like this everyday," he asked the lady. "Yes," she replied. "You can take the mask off in the truck where it will be concealed, the other places I'm afraid not," she said. "Son," she said. "Be careful. You are dealing with nuclear waste here," she added. Plato nodded "Wait here, your partner will arrive anytime with the truck," the old lady said. "And son," she said. "Watch and learn." "Watch and learn," she repeated herself. "Yes Madam," Plato replied. "After a few good minutes," the truck finally arrives. "Bye," he said to the lady. He went and got onto the passenger seat. The driver was not wearing a mask. "Remove your mask," said the driver. Andrei exclaimed Plato. "Yes, fate would have it that we are partners on the first day itself," said Andrei. "This certainly makes me happy," said Plato. "Andrei, are we going to be permanent partners," asked Plato. "Do not think so far along, Plato," said Andrei. "Only for this month. Then they shuffle us again," he said with a blank face. "Ok," replied Plato. "I have loaded the waste on to the truck. Now its your job to make sure the last of it is dumped on the waste site," said Dimtri. "And Plato, do not forget to wear your mask," warned Andrei. " I won't," replied Plato. "Good," said Andrei and started his truck. The truck rode on in the damp and muddy roads, which clearly bothered Andrei. "These roads, I tell you," sighed Andrei. "Just like it was back at home," remarked Plato. "You are from Greece too," asked Dimitri. "Yes," replied Plato. "Greece, same like Russia," asked Andrei. "Somewhat, not as cold as Russia," replied Plato. "Is it hard to drive this truck," asked Plato. "Not that hard, you will learn it in no time," replied Andrei. "Will you teach me?" asked Plato. "Sorry Plato, I do not have the permission to teach you. A senior instructor will teach you. When they think you are ready," replied Andrei. "I'm ready," Said Plato. It made Andrei laughed. Plato laughed too. The truck drove through the roads, there was hardly any other vehicle on the roads. "Minsk is always like this?"?asked Plato. "Like what?" asked Andrei. "No one on the roads," said Plato. "Minsk is a strange town Plato," said Andrei. "It is a nuclear town. Not many towns like this in Russia. Not too many in the world," replied Andrei. "Only Scientists, Military officers and people who work for the government. Only these people live in Minsk," he added. "And people like us," said Plato who still did not have the Russian coldness rubbed off on him. He perhaps never would. "We work for the government," replied Andrei. The truck made its way out of the limits of the town. And there was large spaces now all over which were not occupied at all. And after a while, the truck entered an enclosed area. This place was again covered by electric fences. A vast area as big as a town itself. "We are early," said Andrei. "There is no one else here," he added. "Now Plato, we go to the yard at sector - 45, that is where we dispose the nuclear waste," "Sector - 45?" asked Plato. "Yes, that is the trucks number as well. Each truck has a number and is assigned a sector accordingly," replied Andrei. "What happens to the waste Andrei, is it dangerous?" asked Plato. "Do not ask questions whose answers you do not want to know Plato," replied Andrei. Plato Kept quiet. They crossed sector -1 , then 2 and then after a while 10 and what looked like an hour, they reached sector - 45. "This is the place Plato, where we dump the waste," said Andrei. "And Plato, since this is the first day, I will help you. From tomorrow onwards you are on your own,"'said Andrei. "Now put on your mask," Instructed Andrei. Plato at once put his mask on.