Chapter 355 - 137: The Last Night of 1988, Part 2

Chapter 355: Chapter 137: The Last Night of 1988, Part 2

"It’s not for me. It’s a gift for someone else," Werner said. "I know some people who are making underground publications. They need equipment. If we help them now, they’ll remember us for it later."

Franz fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Sir, do you know something we don’t?"

"Don’t ask too many questions," Werner said. "Just do as I say. You won’t regret it."

*************

One July night, Werner went to Zion Church again.

There were even more people at the gathering this time, over twenty in total. Thomas stood in the center, holding a newly printed booklet.

"Everyone," Thomas said. "This is our latest issue of *The Truth*. Thanks to Mr. Betelich’s help, we now have better printing equipment. The quality is much better than before."

He held up the booklet. The font was clear and the layout was neat—nothing like the crude mimeographed copies they had before.

The crowd passed the booklet around, their eyes filled with pleasant surprise.

"This is great!"

"The print quality is so good, it’s almost like an official publication."

"We can print more of these and distribute them to more places."

Thomas looked at Werner, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Mr. Betelich, we couldn’t have done this without your help."

"Don’t mention it," Werner said. "I just provided the tools. You’re the ones who created the content."

"But this tool is very important," Thomas said. "It allows our voices to travel farther."

Halfway through the meeting, a young man suddenly stood up, looking emotional.

"I have news for everyone," the young man said. "Yesterday in Leipzig, a group of environmentalists organized a protest in a church against pollution from a local chemical plant. There were only a few dozen people, but it’s the first public environmental protest in East Germany in years."

A series of low gasps erupted in the room.

"Really?"

"How did the government react?"

"The Stasi showed up, but they didn’t arrest anyone," the young man said. "Because it was inside a church and the crowd was small, they just took down their names and warned them not to do it again."

"That’s a good sign," Thomas said. "It means people are starting to take action instead of just staying silent."

"But it’s also very dangerous," a middle-aged woman said. "The people who participated in the protest will definitely be marked."

"Of course it’s dangerous," Thomas said. "But if we give up just because it’s dangerous, then nothing will ever change."

Werner listened to their discussion, his mind already racing. ’The protest in Leipzig is just the beginning. He knew that in the coming years, more and more protests would erupt across East Germany. Environmental movements, peace movements, human rights movements... they would all rise one after another. Eventually, they would converge into an unstoppable force that would tear down the Berlin Wall.’

************

「December 31, 1988. The outskirts of East Berlin.」

The snow was falling heavily. Large, fluffy flakes drifted down through the night sky, blanketing the small courtyard in front of the villa and coating the bare tree branches.

Werner stood before the villa’s French windows, a glass of whiskey in hand, watching the snow fall outside.

"Papa, come quick!"

Felix was sitting on the rug, playing with a new set of building blocks.

It was a Christmas present Werner had brought back from West Germany—a LEGO castle set, something impossible to buy in East Germany.

"Coming." Werner set down his glass, walked over, and crouched beside his son. "How’s it coming along?"

"Almost done!" Felix said excitedly. "Look, Papa, this is the castle tower, and this is the drawbridge."

"That’s great." Werner ruffled his son’s hair.

Felix returned his focus to the blocks, his little face scrunched up in concentration.

Watching him, Werner felt a wave of complex emotions.

’This child, raised in East Germany, knows nothing about his country. He doesn’t know what his father does, or his mother’s true identity, or the monumental changes this country is about to face. He’s just a child who wants to finish building his LEGO castle.’

***************

As midnight approached, Felix was already asleep.

Werner carried his son to the bedroom, tucked him in, and planted a soft kiss on his forehead.

The little boy slept soundly, a smile playing on his lips, likely dreaming of something happy.

A wave of tenderness washed over Werner as he watched him.

When he came out of the bedroom, Anna had already prepared champagne in the living room.

"It’s almost twelve," she said.

Werner walked over and sat down beside her.

The two of them watched the flames in the fireplace in silence, waiting for the new year.

Outside, the snow continued to fall. The world was silent, save for the occasional gust of wind.

"Werner," Anna said suddenly. "No matter what happens in the future, I’ll be with you."

"I know." Werner squeezed her hand.

The clock on the wall ticked away.

Eleven fifty-five.

Fifty-six.

Fifty-seven.

Werner’s thoughts drifted far away.

’He remembered 1961, the first day he had crossed over into this world. He had nothing back then, standing on the streets of East Berlin, gazing at the bleak buildings, with no idea what the future held. He thought about the path he had walked all these years, the deals he had made, the people he’d met, and the dangers he’d faced. From a petty Black Market peddler to the deputy director of Koko, from a complete nobody to the king of East Berlin’s underworld. He remembered the Chernobyl disaster: the people marching in the rain, the mothers weeping after receiving iodine tablets, the citizens who had lost all faith in the government. He remembered the dissidents in the basement of Zion Church, the determined look in Thomas’s eyes, and the words they’d spoken: "We believe change will come."’

’Change will come.’

’Next year, 1989, change would arrive with the force of a thunderbolt. Hungary would open its borders, and East Germans would flee in a frenzy. Protests would erupt in Leipzig, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets. The Berlin Wall would fall. The wall that had stood for twenty-eight years would become history overnight. East Germany would collapse. The nation that called itself a "workers’ paradise" would vanish in a puff of smoke amid the cheers of its people.’

’When that happened, all East German officials would be held accountable—some would be jailed, some would go bankrupt, and some would kill themselves.’

’And what would happen to Werner?’

*************

Eleven fifty-nine.

Outside, the snow was still falling, coming down harder and harder.

Anna poured the champagne and handed a glass to Werner.

The clock’s second hand ticked away, one second at a time, nearing the stroke of midnight.

Werner held his glass, countless images flashing through his mind.

’1989. The turning point of history was at hand. He was ready. Amidst the great tides of history, he would stand in the right place, say the right things, and do the right things. He would survive. No, not just survive. He would win.’

DONG—DONG—

In the distance, a church bell rang twelve times, its tolls solemn and majestic.

had arrived.

Werner and Anna clinked glasses. The champagne bubbles danced, reflecting the firelight.

"Happy New Year, Anna."

"Happy New Year, Werner."

The two drank their champagne, then embraced.

Outside, snowflakes continued to fall, blanketing the country, blanketing all its secrets and lies.

But Werner knew the snow could not cover up the coming storm.

1989, the last year of East Germany.

The eve of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

History was about to write its most thrilling Chapter.

And he, in the midst of that epic change, would complete his own transformation.

[End of Volume Three]

[Preview of Volume Four]

Hungary opens its borders, and tens of thousands of East Germans pour into the West.

The Monday demonstrations in Leipzig grow from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of people.

The Berlin Wall comes crashing down on the night of November 9th.

East Germany dissolves amid cheers, and the Two Germanys reunite in tears.

In the midst of this great upheaval, how will Werner make his final leap?

How will the people he helped testify on his behalf?

And how will the people he crossed seek to settle their scores?

Will the dissidents become heroes of the new era, or will they be forgotten by history?

1989, the last year of East Germany.

The wheels of history roll ever onward.

No one can stop them.

Look forward to Volume Four.