E’volvo’lution Chapter 8

On the Monday, I took Anders and Bjorn out to the airport site in the SUV. It was huge and flat and had a good road running past it. Anders spread out a site map with the suggested buildings and we tweaked it a little with my driver’s eye regarding the entry and exit roads and the general movement of trucks.

He had decided that it would be a large span roof with access from both ends. You drove out and around to the back, through the truck wash that Anders had already pencilled in, or through the fuelling point where it was planned to have big overhead tanks, and into the building.

The exit was straight out and onto the road. It would have a service bay along one side and offices on the other, with windows to the outside. Operations would be on the ground level and administration on the upper. On one side of the site was room for a large drive-through warehouse.

There was a huge amount of concrete to be poured and Anders said that he would sign a contract for site work and concrete laying tomorrow.

Tomorrow would be fun for me as well. I had the army girls to talk to. I wondered what they would think about Captain Antonia when they met me.

On Tuesday, I wore my new uniform. The jacket had Captain Berg on the name tag and had Transport Division flashes on the arms. Unlike the NCO pants, this one had a straight skirt.

On the way I called in on the CB to tell Berget that I would be ‘off-the-air’ while on the base. I asked Berget to talk to the bosses to see if I could bring my interviewees around the site tomorrow, and into their workshops.

She got back to me ten minutes later and said that Bjorn would be there but Greger would be out talking to the Volvo agents. He had told her that he would leave a picture of the proposed truck on his workbench.

When I arrived at the base gates a trooper gave me a salute when I handed him my ID. As I was seated I didn’t have to give him one back.

He took my ID into the gatehouse and then came back with a base map with my route marked on it, made sure I had my CB and phone turned off and told me that General Quill will be waiting for me at the Admin building.

I followed the map and drove deep into a huge place, past rows of trucks, tractors, trailers and smaller vehicles.

As I pulled up by the destination Q was there and pointed me to a parking area. When I got out I gave him a salute which he returned.

“That’s enough of that, Captain Berg; we have some girls waiting for us inside.”

I followed him with my briefcase in hand and we went into the building to a large meeting room. As we walked in the chatter stopped and all the girls there snapped to attention.

Q told them to stand easy and then sit.

“Ladies, I thank you for being here today. You will all be wondering what this is about. The best thing I can tell you is that you will all be driving trucks all over Europe if you qualify.” There were a few smiles at that.

“I’m General Quill and beside me is Captain Berg. We are here to find some drivers for a very important operation which we hope will run for years.”

“You all have been asked if you’re happy to be in civvies and if you have ties that will keep you from travelling. Now, are there any questions or problems? I want to get those out of the way first because everything else that is said here today will be classified and I don’t want to have someone pulling out knowing too much.”

One girl asked if they would be still part of the Transport Division and there was a ripple of shock when Q told them that they would have their uniform with them, but they would only be putting it on if they are overnighting in a base.

He then told them that if they can keep the operation running they would only be back at this base if they were picking up or delivering. He continued that, if they came on board they would all be promoted to a Non-Commissioned Officer rank.

No-one wanted to leave when that one hit them.

“Right” he said, “From this moment you are all part of an operation that’s designed to let us move sensitive loads around the country in secret, as an everyday business. You’ll all be picking up and delivering non-military supplies as a normal job.”

“You will work for a transport company that has no links to the military and, effectively, be living as a civilian while still being paid by the army at your new rate. All of you have driven the heaviest equipment we have, and all of you qualify in one other aspect that Captain Berg will explain to you.”

“Thank you for your attention and for your willingness to help your country and the free world. I’ll leave you with Captain Berg.” At that he stood and we all stood as well and saluted him as he left us.

I told them to stand easy and went to sit with them. As they watched I pulled off my uniform cap and let my hair flow free.

“That’s better” I said. “Once you leave this room you will be referring to me as Antonia when we meet again.”

One of them asked, “That Antonia from the magazine last week?” I nodded.

Another said that my centrefold was in both the male and female mess halls. I pulled the magazine from my briefcase and opened it up at the report about the show.

“One thing that you may not have noticed is that you eight are all very good looking girls. Some of you will be expected to attend this kind of truck show. Possibly in cities across Europe, and the idea is that you’re noticeable as sexy babes. This is part of the operation that will allow you to appear totally civilian.”

I then pulled out the drawing that Greger had done and I told them “You will be known as Thor’s Maidens and will be in charge of a truck with a civilian co-driver, who will also have an army uniform and ID when you are on a base.”

I sat back and let them take it all in. One asked “We’re not expected to put it out to stay in the role, are we?”

I smiled, “Certainly not, you can do so if you feel like it but it will only be your decision as a civilian, I will make sure that we all have proper protection.”

I then went to the article about the company and opened it at the overhead picture. “This is the company you will be working with. That’s me.” I pointed out the speck of red among the crowd.

I carried on, “You’ll be driving Volvo D16 extra heavy duty trucks and I have a contact that will put you through a special test so that you will all be totally able to go anywhere.”

One of the girls said that she had heard of a special track on a base in Germany. No-one seemed to know very much about it but all the drivers wanted to try it out. I then picked up the first folder on the desk and did a quick interview with the girl named, followed by the others in turn.

They were all keen, and I told them that we would be getting back together in a few weeks as the project goes forward. I warned them about telling anyone else about this session but asked them to keep an eye out for any others who could be part of it in the future.

I finished by telling them that the future base of operations will be near the airport at Tallinn so it would be best if they were living close by, but to get back to me if they had any problems.

After they had left the room I put my hair back up under my cap, packed the files into my briefcase, left the room, and went back to my car to drive out of the base.

I got back on the CB and told Berget that I was back on air but would go home to change before I came in. She said that my sample outfits were ready so I went via that business and picked them up.

At home I stripped off the uniform and hung it away and then tried on the new outfits. I was happy with them and carried them into the office after I had dressed in a skirt and top.

Berget had a new bunch of applications for me to work through which was now a good thing. I reported to Greger that I had spoken to eight girls this morning and all looked good as long as they were good enough drivers.

As I left him Anders caught up with me and stayed with me to my office. We sat down and he smiled, “It’s all starting to come together, then?”

“We look like being oversubscribed for drivers, but this is a good thing if we got more trucks.”

“Yes, on that I’ve been back to the factory and upped the order to fifteen in lots of three at a time. I want you, Gustav and Greger to go to the factory next week to talk through the final specs. You’ll leave Sunday and come back Thursday, with three days in the factory.”

I asked, “Have you organised transport?” He shook his head.

“My father has a friend with a mini-bus and he’s well-known at the factory. How about getting him to drive us about, I know he’s home at the moment.”

He nodded, “OK, let’s give him a call.”

So we called my home and my mother answered. I said hello and told her that my employer wanted to know if my father could organise a mini-bus to transport three of us to and from the Volvo factory next week, from Monday to Wednesday. She said she would get him in from the garage.

While we waited Anders said, “What if we book rooms in the hotel for your folks as well, then you could all get together. I can tell Greger that all meals are on us.” Then he smiled, “No, on the government.”

I pointed out that my sister was home as well so he said, “She must join you as well; you have to be missing all of them.”

When my father came on the line they discussed the situation and came to an agreement where we would pay all fuel and accommodation if he drove for us. My father was told that the invitation was for my whole family so we could have a get-together.

Before we finished, I told my father that we would be flying in on Sunday afternoon.

His last comment to me was, “I’ve just seen the truck magazine. We’re all so proud of you, Antonia, I love you.”

“I love you too, thank you. I’ll see you soon.”

While we were still sitting there and as I had him all to myself, I said, “Anders, with the way this is going I think that we should do something more showbiz than trucking. The army wants us to be out there. I wondered if it would be the right thing to build one or two trailer units purely for shows.”

“It wouldn’t matter what tractor we use because they would all be the same but we don’t have to take working trailers out of circulation to be sat at shows. We could take the best six of the girls to be the ‘Show Team’ and have their pictures on the trailer unit.”

“They could fly in and fly out after the show. I got these uniforms today and I think we can sell them at shows as well. We can have a one trailer set out as a lounge come shop and the other can be a transport for a vehicle that we can use to get about in.”

I showed him the uniforms and then carried on, “You do realise that now that ‘Answer’ has been a Truck of the Show we’re expected to take it to other shows around Europe and if ‘Maidens’ becomes popular it would be the same expectation.”

“I never thought that far forward but you’re right, that way we can have a small group doing the show circuit while the rest are making money. We don’t even have to use the military spec. tractors; we could repaint one of the ones we have.”

He told me to bring along the samples and we picked Berget up on the way to Gregers’ office. There I showed them the samples, and Berget loved them.

Anders then asked Greger if he had any problem doing show perfection jobs on two double units that would be for shows only, doing a quicker job on the working units.

Greger thought that it would be a great help.

I said that I saw two trailers that have nothing to mar the driver side but with big doors in the other side which would allow people to walk in and buy at the shop we would build in or else have a rest in the lounge area. The second trailer could transport a people-mover, spares, wheels, bags and sale stock.

Berget was the same size as me so she took the dress sample and went off to change. We chatted about the factory trip until she came back.

Anders said “Let’s see what effect it has on normal guys,” and dragged her out to the garage where the reception was so good I thought we may have hit the button.

Going back Anders said,” It looks like you’re going to be our entertainment managers. It will give you an interesting life once you’ve put the teams together. It will actually be much easier for Gustav to organise the business side if you have the show stuff running separately.”

I sat my office for the next day and made sure I had all my files in order. I then finished the day by going through the new batch of applications. I would have to hold off until Thursday to follow these up and, you never know, there could be more by then.

It had been an odd, but mainly successful day. That evening I made sure that one of my business suits was all right to wear and then checked what I would need for four nights back in Sweden. That’s when I found that I didn’t have a case so went and asked Astrid and she sorted one out for me.

Wednesday, I was in my office and had asked Berget to call me so I could go out and greet our applicants. The first girl was a bit plain and dumpy but her CV of driving was first class.

We had a good talk and I told her that we would be in touch. I had the idea that she could be a good one to shuttle the show truck around.

The second and third girls were well within the looks department and had enough driving to be trained. I took them for a walk around the yard. When we got to Gregers’ paint shop I showed them the picture of the proposed truck scheme and spoke about show duties but didn’t say anything about the odder trips that may occur.

After the third girl had left the next one was a no-show. I went back to the paint shop and looked at a sketch book that I’d noticed. I leafed through it and near the front was a picture that made me gasp.

It was a preliminary drawing of ‘Answer’ and was different because it must have been a true picture of the original Antonia.

She was a lot plainer than the painting but the thing I noticed that she was wearing a high-necked dress that looked like it may have been a knit, and there was a scarf around her neck. It was like a light bulb went off in my mind so I pulled my phone out of my bag and rang my mother.

When she answered I said, “Mum, I think Dad has told you he’ll be driving us about next week. Can you please get Halina to wear a red jersey or knit dress with a scarf at her neck when you meet us at the airport?”

“Also, make sure you’re the one with the bubs so she’s walking solo. Trust me, I think just doing this will change her life if we’re lucky. Just suggest it and you’d better look nice as well; you’ll be meeting ‘the hunk’ in person.” We chatted some more and then I went to have lunch so I had the strength to get through the afternoon.

By early afternoon I had another three possibles so six for the day wasn’t bad.

Thursday I was in my office and going through the new letters. By the time I had finished I had another three possibles so I added them to the other pile left over from earlier in the week and then picked up the phone and started ringing around. I only ended up with two possibles and asked them to come in this afternoon.

At lunch I told Berget to expect them and, when they arrived, both were so close to what we wanted I took some extra time with them so that filled the day out.

I went to see Anders and asked him if I could take Friday off to look for a place to live and he told me it wasn’t a problem. He even gave me a business card for an agent that was part of the Swedish circle.

I rang the guy before I left for the night and made an appointment for the next morning. I dressed the next day in a pant suit and found the place. We had a discussion and I told him that I would be working out of the new facility that Anders will be building near the airport so would like to be within a reasonable range.

“Ahh, yes” he said, “Anders has the property in Soodevahe so you should be north or south of there to be away from the direct flights overhead. I have a few places on my books in Lagedi but they are all apartments in tower blocks. They would certainly be in your price range and some come with underground parking."

So we took my car and he directed me to the different properties. There was one which really attracted me. It was on an upper level with a good view to the south so was protected from the aircraft noise by the building itself. It had three bedrooms, an open plan kitchen/dining/lounge and a small utility room.

The best of all it had two car parks, as well as a fenced storage area where we could put the bikes. He gave me a brochure and I told him I would speak to my partner then let him know. I had the feeling that it wasn’t the most desirable location but we would be out and away a lot so it was more secure than a detached house in that regard.

Saturday I met up with Berget and we went out for dinner and took in a movie. I showed her the brochure and told her the price. She said that it looked good and we could look at it together in a couple of weeks.

That reminded me so Sunday morning I asked Astrid to tell Agnetha about my trip and that I would only be available on the Friday, as long as I can get a day off.

“Don’t you worry; you’ve been putting in so much time no-one will worry about you taking another day. I’ll let my father know next week while you’re away.”

She drove me to the airport so she could wave us off and we met up with Greger and Gustav to go through the sitting and waiting that’s the process of getting on a plane. On the way I was sitting next to Greger and, once we had levelled off and had our drinks served he turned to me.

“When you asked for that Aussie as Thor it made me think and I looked at the pictures of him from his films. I sent an email that I got one of our English speakers to translate for me. I asked if we could use his likeness and sent a copy of my latest drawing of the truck. I got an answer which said that they were interested as it may link in with a new film they have in the system. They will get back to me again in a week or two.” I was lady-like enough not to shriek.

He carried on after I had settled again. “I also had a call from Volvo Friday afternoon. They’ve become a little shy of us wandering around the factory because of the type of truck we’re after so have asked us to meet with their people at one of their big showrooms just on the outskirts of Stockholm. It will make things a bit quicker without the need to get to the factory so we may even have a day off for sightseeing.”

I frowned, “It’ll be a little difficult not seeing one but I hope their people have good pictures of the differences.” Whenever you think a plan is coming together the hand of fate can often deal you an unwanted card.

Marianne Gregory © 2022