Beneath the upper metal lip, almost hidden by rust, was a narrow brass fitting.
It did not match the rest of the container.
The boy touched it.
His eyes widened.
A small latch.
Exactly where his grandfather had once told him to look.
He pulled gently.
Nothing happened.
He tried again.
The latch moved slightly.
A small metallic click came from inside the can.
The boy froze.
The auctioneer stopped laughing.
For a moment, he seemed to recognize the sound.
He leaned forward.
"What are you doing?"
The boy did not answer.
He examined the latch again.
Then called toward a nearby farmer.
"Sir, could you help me with the lid?"
The farmer was in his early fifties, broad-shouldered, with a weathered face and kind brown eyes.
He had been watching the boy since the auction began.
Unlike the others, he had not laughed.
He stepped forward.
"Sure, son."
The auctioneer raised one hand.
"Wait a minute."
The farmer looked toward him.
"What?"
The auctioneer's expression tightened.
"That lid's rusted. Could be dangerous."
The farmer nodded.
"Then we'll be careful."
He examined the enormous container.
The boy explained that he had purchased it.
The farmer asked the auction staff whether it was safe to inspect before loading.
After a brief discussion, two workers brought appropriate tools and helped stabilize the container.
The boy stepped back while the adults checked the heavy lid.
Then the farmer carefully released the remaining catches and helped lift it.
The old metal groaned.
Rust flakes fell.
A stale smell of dust and ancient oil drifted upward.
The crowd became quiet.
The boy stepped forward again.
Inside the enormous display can was a hollow metal chamber.
Dust coated the walls.
Cobwebs hung near the rim.
For a moment, it appeared empty.
Then the boy pointed.
"There."
The farmer leaned closer.
"What?"
The boy gestured toward a shallow seam beneath the inside wall.
A narrow metal panel curved around part of the chamber.
It was almost invisible beneath decades of corrosion.
The boy remembered his grandfather drawing a circle on a scrap of paper.
The can has two skins.
The words returned with startling clarity.
He looked at the farmer.
"There's something behind that."