He dug more carefully now, scraping gently around the shape. Inch by inch, more of the buried object revealed itself: rivets, seams, and a corroded hinge. The soil around it was packed tight, as though the earth had been clinging to the object for decades.
After widening the hole, Walter uncovered the full outline of a heavy chest. It was rectangular, reinforced, and unmistakably military in design. The paint, once green, had faded into mottled patches, and the metal was pitted with rust. Its latches were swollen, warped, and nearly fused shut.