Chapter 363 - 8: "We Are the People

Chapter 363: Chapter 8: "We Are the People

After the celebration, Werner attended a luncheon.

The banquet hall was lavishly decorated. Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, and the long tables were laden with high-end imported foods from the West—French red wine, Danish ham, and Swiss chocolate.

Looking at all this, Werner felt another pang of irony.

’The common folk outside can’t even buy bread, yet here they are, eating French foie gras.’

"Werner!" A familiar voice rang out.

Werner turned to see Matthias striding toward him.

Matthias was in his guard uniform. The young man who once stood sentry at a checkpoint was now captain of the guards.

"Come with me," Matthias said in a low voice. "We need to talk."

The two walked to a small meeting room outside the banquet hall. Matthias closed the door, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag.

"There’s trouble in Leipzig again," he said.

"What is it?"

"Demonstrations," Matthias said, exhaling a ring of smoke. "This afternoon, thousands of people took to the streets, shouting ’We are the people!’ and demanding reform. The area around Saint Nicholas’ Church is packed solid."

"What do the higher-ups say?"

"They told us to get ready." Matthias gave a bitter smile. "Anger ordered that if the demonstrations continue tomorrow, they are to be resolutely suppressed. He said it’s a counter-revolutionary riot that must be crushed with an iron fist."

Werner was silent for a few seconds. "Have your troops received their orders?"

"We have." Matthias walked to the window and looked out at East Berlin. "Werner, to be honest, I have a bad feeling about this. That’s seventy thousand people, not a few hundred or a few thousand. If we really make a move... a lot of people will die."

Werner walked over and stood beside him. "Matthias, how much longer do you think this regime can last?"

Matthias turned his head and stared at him. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Werner lowered his voice, "don’t do anything stupid. Don’t actually go and suppress those people."

"Are you crazy?" Matthias’s expression changed. "I’m the captain of the guards. You’re telling me to disobey a direct order?"

"I’m telling you to protect yourself." Werner looked him straight in the eye. "Matthias, we’ve known each other for so many years. I wouldn’t do anything to harm you. I was the one who advised you to go to the border checkpoint, and that’s how you got the position you have today. Now, let me warn you one more time—this regime is about to collapse."

Matthias was stunned. The two locked eyes for a few seconds. Finally, Matthias sighed and rubbed his forehead.

"You think... this is really the end of the line?"

"Yes," Werner said decisively. "Gorbachev has already made his position clear. The Soviet Union won’t send in troops again. Hungary and Poland are both reforming, and the Czech Republic will be soon. How long can East Germany hold on?"

Matthias didn’t speak, just drew hard on his cigarette.

Werner continued, "I know you have to obey orders. But Matthias, some orders should not be obeyed. If you give the order to fire today, you’ll face a military tribunal in the future."

"A military tribunal?" Matthias sneered. "I’m just a captain. Even if I do give the order to fire, I’ll just be carrying out a superior’s command. What can they do to me?"

"They can send you to prison," Werner said calmly. "Matthias, do you think a reunified Germany will spare those who suppressed civilians? Look at your superiors—the generals, the ministers—they’ll all be purged. And you, a low-level captain, if you have blood on your hands, you won’t escape either."

Matthias’s hand was trembling. Ash fell from his cigarette to the floor, but he didn’t notice. After a long time, he finally asked in a low voice, "Then... what should I do?"

"Stall," Werner said. "If your superiors order you to act, tell them you don’t have enough equipment, or that you need more detailed instructions. Just find a way to buy time."

"But if my superiors look into it..."

"They won’t," Werner interrupted. "Things are too chaotic right now. No one has the energy to investigate why one captain was slow to act. Besides, Matthias, listen to me. This regime doesn’t have much time left. As long as you get through this period without giving the order to fire, no one will hold you accountable in the future."

Matthias closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Finally, he nodded.

"Alright. I’ll listen to you." He opened his eyes and looked at Werner. "But Werner, if I really get removed from my post for this, you have to help me."

"Don’t worry." Werner patted his shoulder. "If it really comes to that, I’ll arrange for you to go to West Germany. I have a lot of connections there."

Matthias gave a bitter smile. "You really have thought of everything, haven’t you."

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

When he returned to the banquet hall, the atmosphere had become unsettling.

What should have been a scene of boisterous celebration had fallen quiet. Guests were gathered in small groups, conversing in hushed tones.

Werner noticed several Politburo members leaving in a hurry, their faces grim.

"What happened?" Werner asked Gunter, who was standing nearby.

Gunter lowered his voice. "I hear things have gotten really bad in Leipzig. And here in Berlin, there are demonstrations at Alexanderplatz, too."

"Now?"

"Yes, right now. A police chief just came to report that several thousand people are shouting ’We want freedom,’ and someone burned a party flag."

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

At seven in the evening, Werner finally returned to his apartment.

He took off his suit, changed into casual clothes, and sat down in his study. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

There was a radio on the desk. Werner tuned it to a West German station. The announcer was reporting on the situation in East Germany:

"...According to the latest news, large-scale demonstrations have broken out in several cities across East Germany today. Over seventy thousand people have joined the march in Leipzig, while several thousand have gathered in Alexanderplatz in East Berlin. Protesters are chanting slogans such as ’We are the people!’ and ’We want freedom!’. East German authorities have deployed a large number of police, but as of now, no major clashes have occurred..."

Werner turned off the radio and lit a cigarette. He walked to the window and gazed out at East Berlin under the night sky. The streets were still adorned with celebration flags and banners, but they were nearly empty. The sound of sirens drifted from a distance as police cars screamed past, one after another. He knew it would not be a quiet night.

Sure enough, at nine o’clock, the phone rang. It was Anna.

"Werner, are you home?" Anna’s voice was rushed.

"I am. What’s wrong?"

"The Stasi are making arrests," Anna said. "An action squad just went to Alexanderplatz and arrested over a hundred protesters. People are also saying that Anger has ordered them to open fire if the demonstrations continue tomorrow."

Werner’s heart tightened. ’Open fire? Has he gone mad?’

"He is mad," Anna said, lowering her voice. "Werner, listen to me. The situation is very dangerous right now; you need to be careful. If they really do open fire, many people will die, and someone will be held responsible later. You’ve done so much humanitarian work over the past few years. Don’t get implicated at the last minute."

"I know," Werner said. "Anna, what about you? Are you safe?"

"I’m fine. My current department is pretty marginal, so I won’t get caught up in it. Werner, you... you take care of yourself."

"You too."

After hanging up the phone, Werner sat in the darkness, motionless for a long time.

Outside the window, the faint sound of chanting drifted from a distance: "We are the people! We are the people!"