Chương 2: Five Families
In 1943, amidst the throes of World War II, the Lower East Side of Manhattan was a hive of activity. Despite the global turmoil, the streets teemed with life.
Lorenzo, still coming to terms with his predicament, had just stepped out of the cramped tenement alongside a young man who had summoned him to work in a factory. As they navigated the narrow streets, Lorenzo couldn't help but notice the rows of tenement buildings, each in various stages of upkeep. It dawned on him that his own living quarters were much the same.
A synagogue stood out in the distance, its presence punctuated by a handful of men meandering through the streets, their yarmulkes a clear sign. This, Lorenzo realized, was a Jewish neighborhood.
Having been to New York before, Lorenzo found the language and the vibe unmistakably familiar, placing him squarely in the heart of New York. Yet, there was something peculiar about his surroundings that seemed to whisper tales from a bygone era.
Lorenzo was no stranger to New York, having visited a few times before. However, the version of the city unfolding before him now lacked the modern sheen he remembered. Everything around him carried an air of antiquity, from the architectural style to the very pulse of the streets.
He pondered whether he had stumbled upon an unexplored corner of New York, a hidden gem frozen in time. But as he continued his walk, even the cars that passed by had a distinctly vintage look, bolstering the feeling that he had somehow stepped into a different era.
"Don't tell me... I traveled back in time?" Lorenzo whispered to himself in disbelief.
Hearing the murmur, the young man accompanying him inquired, "Did you say something, Lorenzo?"
Jolted back to the present, Lorenzo waved off his concern with a quick shake of his head, "Nothing. Let's head to work."
With a quick glance at Lorenzo, the young man redirected his focus, stepping forward to join the queue. In a smooth exchange, he offered a handful of coins to the conductor for their tickets. Lorenzo, rummaging through his pockets, breathed a sigh of relief when he found exactly 5 cents. Handing the small coin over to the conductor, he then hurried to catch up with the young man, both of them boarding the train just as it began to pull away from the station. As the landscape outside the window blurred into motion, they remained on the train until it slowed to a halt at their destination. Lorenzo followed the young man down from the train and toward a factory, its silhouette casting a long shadow from its place by the city's railroad tracks. The proximity of the factory to the tracks seemed to Lorenzo like yet another sign that he had stepped into a different era entirely.
Before Lorenzo stood a formidable brick factory, its facade punctuated by large, rectangular windows and dominated by two towering smokestacks. Large freight doors hinted at the bustling activity within, as materials were continuously ushered inside.
The factory was a fortress in its own right, with guards stationed strategically and fences encircling the premises. Notices plastered around the area served as silent sentinels, further emphasizing the site's stringent security measures.
As Lorenzo and the young man, entered the factory, they were immediately greeted by the authoritative voice of a middle-aged man.
"Adam, Lorenzo! You two are here! Come on and do your work and assemble some guns!" he bellowed across the clamor of the factory floor.
Adam snapped to attention, his response crisp and disciplined, "Yes, sir!"
The man's gaze then shifted to Lorenzo, sizing him up with a swift glance. "What about you, young man?"
In a moment of imitation, Lorenzo mirrored Adam's earlier gesture and saluted, albeit awkwardly, "I'll do my job, sir."
As Lorenzo and Adam made their way to the assembly lines, Adam couldn't help but express his concern over Lorenzo's unusual demeanor. "What is wrong with you today, Lorenzo? Why are you acting so strange..."
Lorenzo, eyebrows knitting in confusion, replied, "What do you mean?"
Adam elaborated, a hint of worry in his voice, "You're usually the first one to jump at the boss's orders, but today you're off...your game." Without waiting for a further response, Adam turned and headed towards the designated workstation.
Lorenzo followed silently, his mind swirling with thoughts he dared not voice. The last thing he needed was to fuel further speculation about his odd behavior. Approaching the assembly line, he braced himself for the task ahead. The sight that greeted him, however, was both shocking and strangely familiar. They were tasked with assembling M1 Garand Rifles, a weapon Lorenzo knew all too well from his own experience.
Drawing on his extensive experience, Lorenzo set to work with a focus and skill. The components of the M1 Garand seemed to fit together effortlessly under his practiced hands, each movement precise and efficient.
The rhythmic clanking and clicking of parts being assembled soon drew the attention of his fellow workers. One by one, they paused their own tasks, their gazes drawn to the fluidity of Lorenzo's actions. Even Adam stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide with astonishment.
There, amidst the din and clatter of the factory, Lorenzo worked with the grace of a seasoned craftsman, assembling the M1 Garand Rifle with an expertise that left his coworkers in awe.
"Lorenzo!" Adam's voice cut through the noise, pulling Lorenzo's attention away from his work.
Lorenzo was so engrossed in assembling the weapons that it took Adam calling his name three times to snap him back to reality.
"What?" Lorenzo turned towards Adam, only to find not just him, but also the other workers staring in admiration.
The crowd around him consisted of women and young men, all seemingly around 15 years old, like Lorenzo and Adam. Yet, the harshness of life had aged them beyond their years, evident in their weary eyes and somber expressions.
"What's everyone staring at?" Lorenzo asked, his gaze sweeping over the group.
"Lorenzo, you're quite something! I had no idea you could put together a weapon so quickly!" Adam exclaimed.
Echoes of praise followed from the others, "How did you do that? You're incredibly skilled!"
"I never knew you were this good!"
Lorenzo, caught off guard by the admiration, scrambled for an explanation, "What's so surprising? I've been here for a while now; I've had time to pick up a few things..."
Adam stared at him, dumbfounded, "Lorenzo, we've only been working here for a week, and you weren't exactly an expert from the start."
Unwavering, Lorenzo clung to his story, "Well, it's been a week, and I'm a quick learner."
The chatter and awe among the workers came to an abrupt halt as a stern voice cut through their admiration. "What are you guys being so idle around? Get back to work!"
A menacing-looking man in his twenties stepped into view, prompting the assembly line workers—including Adam and Lorenzo—to hastily return to their tasks.
With a hawk-like vigilance, the man scanned the room. His sharp gaze briefly lingered on Lorenzo, who was adeptly assembling weapons, before he continued on his way, leaving the workspace.
A collective sigh of relief was almost audible as he departed.
"Damn that guy. All he does is stroll around while we break our backs here," one young man grumbled under his breath.
"That loaf's nothing but a layabout," another chimed in.
An older woman among them quickly warned, "You guys better keep it down. If he hears you, you'll be in for it."
"I'm not scared of that no-good slacker," another young man retorted defiantly.
Lorenzo, observing the unanimous disdain for the supervisor, curiously inquired, "Why does everyone have such a grudge against him?"
Adam looked over at Lorenzo, puzzled, as he worked on a weapon. "Why are you asking? Don't you despise him as well?"
Lorenzo's response was nonchalant, yet tinged with genuine confusion. "Uh... I guess I forgot why I'm supposed to hate him. Someone better remind me—"
His words sparked laughter among the workers.
A woman, her chuckle breaking through her focus on the task at hand, shot Lorenzo a playful look. "Funny joke, young man."
Others joined in, their laughter mingling with the sounds of the factory. "You really know how to lighten the mood, Lorenzo."
As the laughter echoed around him, Lorenzo found himself at the center of a moment of levity he hadn't intended to create. Everyone around him assumed he was making a joke, but in reality, he was earnest in his inquiry. He genuinely wanted to understand the source of their collective disdain for the imposing figure who had just left the room.
Fortunately, a young man next to Lorenzo provided some insight. "That guy earlier was Antonio. He's supposed to be on the line with us, assembling weapons."
Curious, Lorenzo pressed on, "So why isn't Antonio working? How come he has the nerve to boss us around?"
The worker to Lorenzo's left chimed in with a tidbit that seemed to hold significant weight. "That Antonio is an underling of the Barzini family!"
"Barzini family?" Lorenzo echoed, his confusion evident in his furrowed brows.
The question seemed to startle the workers around him. "What's wrong with you? You don't know about the Barzini family?" one of them asked, incredulity lacing his words.
This mention of the Barzini family seemed to imply a deeper web of connections and influences at play, far beyond the mundane hierarchy of the factory floor.
Observing Lorenzo's bewilderment, the young man tried to explain with a sense of resignation, "The Barzini family is one of the powerful five families in New York. Without the Barzini family backing that jerk Antonio, I swear I'd have dealt with him myself."
"Yeah, me too," another voice piped up, echoing the sentiment.
As the conversation unfolded, Lorenzo's interest in the so-called "Five Families" of New York deepened. Seeking to understand more, he asked, "Which family do you guys think is the most powerful among the five?"
One of the young men laughed before confidently stating, "Is that even a question? Obviously, the Corleone family tops them all."
"Absolutely agreed!"
"They're not just powerful; I've heard the Corleone family is led by a kind-hearted Don."
This prompted a woman among them to speak up, her voice laced with skepticism, "A kind Don? I highly doubt that. They're all criminals at the end of the day. They're mafia."
Her perspective seemed to resonate with many of the workers, sparking nods and murmurs of agreement.
Lorenzo was taken aback upon hearing the name "Corleone" family—it rang all too familiar in his ears.
Similarly, the mention of the "Barzini" family struck a chord with him. From what he remembered, these were the names of the families featured in his favorite series, "The Godfather"!
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