Anyone remember the SciFi short story about two guys stealing a statue, seemingly made of alabaster, which they were transporting in the back of a lorry with a canvas top? The statue was of a young woman, vaguely Mediterranean or Semitic in appearance, who was looking back over her left shoulder in apprehension & sorrow. As they drove on through the rain that night they discussed who the sculptor might be, what the status was worth and the best way to “fence” it.
When they stopped the next morning and cheeked the back of the lorry, the statue was completely gone. The tailgate was still latched. All that was left was about 6 inches of water sloshing in the truck bed, having leaked through the ragged canvas tarp. For some unknown reason, the driver stuck his finger in the water and then into his mouth....SALTY!
I remember reading that story but don’t have a clue WHERE I read it or even when.
I just remember thinking that it was a great twist to the story.