Kapitel 136: Chapter 136: Responsibility - Part 1
Oakland is located on the east coast of the San Francisco Bay, across the sea from the city of San Francisco.
Due to the California Gold Rush, Oakland, with its excellent geographical location, has been an important transportation hub in the Bay Area since the nineteenth century.
In the 1850s, the port transportation here was already very developed. By 1869, a railway terminal spanning the entire United States was built here, making it the most important railway center in California. As a result, immigrants and laborers came in countless numbers. With their efforts, Oakland transformed from a simple fishing village into a city full of modernization and industrialization.
Although diversity can bring economic prosperity, incompatible ideologies can lead to countless conflicts. Movements regarding African American civil rights, anti-war hippie movements, and even the globally renowned Black Panther Party were all born and popularized in this city.
In such a situation, the security of Oakland can be said to be the worst in the Bay Area.
And a few years ago, with the outbreak of the energy crisis, the exodus of countless factories, the skyrocketing oil prices, the exacerbation of inflation, and the skyrocketing unemployment rate, the living environment here became even more harsh.
If it weren't necessary, Ethan would absolutely not set foot here, but today...
Under Thomas's driving, a Ford pickup truck carrying twenty boxes of fresh oranges slowly drove into the largest and most diverse area of Oakland, the Fruitvale district in East Oakland.
After twisting and turning, a dilapidated community of houses appeared in front of Ethan.
Although the houses here are still detached buildings, there are no lush and refreshing lawns in front or behind the houses. Instead, there is only bare land and various debris piled up.
The wooden fences used to demarcate the territory have been dilapidated for years, and their swaying figures and cracked surfaces can even give people the illusion that they will collapse at a touch.
Some doorways of the families still have various flags hanging on them. Maybe because Ethan's knowledge is insufficient, he cannot accurately distinguish the countries represented by the flags. However, he is also aware that these national flags represent the homeowners' oaths and narratives, swearing their identities and narrating their roots.
"Get off." Thomas stopped in front of a two-story wooden house.
Ethan complied.
But when he wanted to uncover the rain cloth on the back of the car and unload the oranges, Thomas waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to hurry, and then walked to the front door of the wooden house and knocked a few times.
"Who?"
After a moment, a deep voice sounded from inside.
"It's me, Thomas Johnson." Thomas cleared his throat. "I'm Jimmy Jones's brother. His sister Linda Jones is my wife."
Perhaps because Thomas mentioned three names in one sentence, there was a pensive silence inside as soon as the voice fell. But it might also be that the name Jimmy Jones stimulated the person inside, so after the silence, the sound of footsteps suddenly rang out.
Then, with a creak, the door opened.
A figure whose age could not be discerned emerged from the house. His face was dry, his cheeks were flushed, and he was wearing a faded camouflage suit. The cuffs and knees were already colorless, and the high-top boots on his feet should have been his most valuable possessions, but even so, they were covered with stains and creases.
When this guy saw Thomas, endless joy burst out of his murky eyes. He opened his arms and embraced him, laughing loudly, "Oh, Thomas, it's so good to see you! Haven't seen you in a long time, right? The last time we met was last Christmas? If I remember correctly, you brought me a lot of gifts back then!"
"Oh, Michael, you have a good memory." Thomas smiled in response. "I'm sorry I haven't been here for so long. Because the family is busy, and the orchard can't do without people."
"But after this batch of oranges ripens, I'll be able to take a break again. When the time comes, I'll definitely come to play with you guys. Oh, by the way, when I came over today, I brought you oranges. The first batch of fruit this year, I've tasted it, it's very sweet..."
"Oh, Thomas, you don't have to do this. I'm already very happy that you came to see me!"
Thomas didn't speak, but smiled at Michael.
The guy named Michael opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but after a while, he still turned his thoughts into the simplest word.
"Oh, thank you, thank you, Thomas."
Thomas patted him and accepted the gratitude.
And as they parted, the gray-haired Michael also cast his gaze on Ethan.
At first, he thought Ethan was Thomas's employee, because of the afternoon help picking oranges, Ethan was wearing a large leather apron and arm sleeves, but when Michael looked closely, he couldn't take his eyes off Ethan's weathered eyes.
"Is this—" He raised his finger to point at Ethan, wanting to get an answer from Thomas.
But before Thomas could speak, he had already voiced his guess.
"Is this Jimmy's son?"
"Yeah." Thomas nodded. "He is Ethan, Ethan Jones."
Before Thomas's voice fell, Michael took a step forward.
The sound of his feet on the ground told of his excitement; and his stopped figure explained his inner tension; he tremblingly raised his arms, wanting to grab Ethan's shoulders, but halfway up, he couldn't take another step forward; at this moment, it seemed that an invisible wall appeared in front of them, delineating two worlds in the narrow space, creating an illusion of collapse with every sway.
Seeing this situation, Ethan quietly took a step forward.
Opened his arms and embraced the other party.
When the tightly closed warmth appeared, Michael's body stiffened.
And the next moment, Ethan said, "Hi, Michael, nice to meet you."
"..."
As the words fell silent, everything returned to silence.
Michael tremblingly raised his hands and mechanically patted Ethan's back.
A hoarse voice appeared after a few mechanical pats, "Oh, Ethan
, you're finally here. Finally, you're back..."
"Yeah, Michael, I'm back." Ethan smiled as he released the other party from his embrace. "I heard that you are my dad's old friend, right? Thanks for always taking care of him."
"It's...it's my duty." Michael wiped the corners of his eyes, seemingly suppressing something. "Since your dad left, I've been...I've been thinking about how to help him, how to help him get out of the quagmire, but, but now...it's good that you're back, really good..."
Hearing this, Ethan's heart was slightly moved.
When he wanted to say something, Thomas, who had been watching silently on the side, suddenly interrupted.
"Michael, actually, we are here today to ask you for help."
"Help?" Michael's expression changed slightly. "Thomas, what's the matter? You know that as long as I can do it, I will definitely help you. Just tell me what you need me to do."
Thomas took a deep breath, then nodded and said, "Michael, we want to know...is there any clue left by Jimmy? Or did he ever tell you about any secrets?"
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein