Chapter 910Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjMguMDXFA
Saturday - 09.08 The Farmers' Meeting
The shock was still in our bones when we arrived back at the farm.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7glg3Ik7BE
Hassan was as white as a sheet and hadn't said a thing since he got off his horse. It made me sad to see him like that. I wanted him to laugh, to be his friendly self, the one I would trust blindly at any time.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6GWvCmPrY
Nila was also quite pale. She leaned against the window and watched the world go by. Her brown eyes gleamed suspiciously. She repeatedly pressed her lips together and only straightened up again when the truck turned onto the narrow alley.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpDVK2lM9G
Why? What had happened? Nobody had done anything to these people! Hassan hadn't done anything to anyone! Anger boiled up inside me. This was so unfair!10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTo2GBQl2Rt
David took one hand off the steering wheel and placed it comfortingly on my thigh, as if he could feel how much was churning inside me.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0RQM6SGOF
I immediately grabbed his hand, as if it were an anchor. His palms were rough, but warm and familiar. It was like a sign. No matter what happened out there, we two would stay together.
As soon as the truck pulled up in front of the stable and we started unloading, Oleg hurried out.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5ESh4BcjS
"Why are you back already?" His eyes flickered worriedly between us. With every face he looked at, his expression became more serious. Finally, he put his hands on his hips and stood in the middle of the stable door. "What happened?"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIA7zmt1Xk
Hassan shook his head and tried to push past him with his bay horse by the hand, but he hadn't reckoned with our stable master.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IRbi4wzYV
Oleg grabbed the lead chain and grabbed Hassan's shoulder with his other hand. "I want to know what's going on here first!"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7pS9bsn7I
David approached them. His shoulders were tense and his jaw was clenched. "There's been an incident. We'll talk about it later."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZCt47MjGA
Oleg looked at me, but I just nodded. I wouldn't tell him anymore. I couldn't without becoming abusive or simply bursting into tears.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORgXJsQkGM
Oleg stepped out the door slowly and reluctantly. Like a submissive Labrador who'd just been slapped, he lowered his head. "Bad?"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8McaRhvI7h
David nodded, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed hard. "Times have changed." He rolled his jaw and paused for a moment before turning around and helping me unload.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMa0t9xC558
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The atmosphere remained awkward. The horses were back in the pasture, and Oleg had pushed David and me into the house.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3spsUViHJ
We sat at the dining room table. Coffee was steaming in white ceramic cups. Pola had baked a cake, which sat untouched in the middle, and fresh flowers from the garden had found a place in a tall glass vase in the middle of the table.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPXz0l4b1e
It was quieter than it had been in a long time. David and I just stared at the tabletop, as if we were still trying to figure out what had just happened. Oleg and Pola looked at us. Like children hoping their parents wouldn't tell them any minute that Grandma had died.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ766LuEoFqV
I cleared my throat. "Hassan..." No. I couldn't do this!10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPQNmg4WMY
Pola grabbed my hand. "What? What about the boy?" Concern reflected in her eyes, and her lower lip trembled.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CugOwiclX
"He was racially abused and then eliminated from the rankings, despite a flawless round. He didn't do anything wrong." David turned his cup between his palms and exhaled heavily. "I don't like this!"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwDy495zpq
"Who does!" Pola let go of my hand. Her voice rose. "Who was that? Who do I have to bury in the woods?"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoyrRMsMHg
"It was the entire audience," I managed harshly. My throat tightened. With all due respect to Pola, she wasn't about to slaughter an entire crowd.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMplxhM53nd
She snorted. "Where is he?"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9NvJ265kx
"In his apartment. Pola, he needs time for himself. He really didn't look well!"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqwh6np9RC
But Pola didn't think about listening to David for even a second. She reached for the knife. Inevitably, I held my breath, but she merely cut the cake. With a serious expression, she awkwardly heaved a piece onto the plate in front of her, stuck a fork in the middle as if she were about to spear the piece, and strode off tensely.
We watched her in silence. Oleg stirred his coffee and then rose noisily. "Going to watch the horses," he murmured as he left, and so David and I were suddenly sitting there alone.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRvt6NgmFm
I searched for David's hand under the table and took a shaky breath. "What happens now?"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLmMMk8LMW
He shrugged, but didn't look at me. He should say something hopeful! Now! Something that made me think I'd just imagined it. But he remained silent.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9pRM7xcq8
Tears welled up in my eyes. If this was just the beginning, what would happen next? Professional bans? Deportations? Or were they already picking up the first people?10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2htqTP3WpP
My chest tightened. My throat burned, and I blinked hard to fight back the tears. Crying wasn't a solution!10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BH6kSS63i
Then Life came just inside David. Wordlessly, he pushed his chair back far enough so he could pull me into his arms. My cheek landed gently against his white tournament shirt. I would leave a makeup stain, but that didn't matter. He touchingly stroked my back, kissed my hairline, but seemed so distant that everything felt soulless.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtUkbqSEXs
I wanted that us against the world feeling! I wanted his calm, his passion! Not this! Not this mechanical thing.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0OpFOuI78
"We have to go to the farmers' meeting," he finally said, harshly and still distracted.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJWstdwFoO
"Why?" I wrinkled my nose. What were we doing there? It was really just a regulars' table. People were drinking, chatting, and cursing everything and everyone.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzI4EXZa1m
David lifted his shoulder and pushed me away. He looked me straight in the face. "If we don't go, then we'll duck. We have to go, and above all, I want to know what the hell that was today!"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7HjRmZYzT
And then he found the answer? He wouldn't even find that in an all-knowing crystal ball! I frowned and was about to protest, but he smiled at me so disarmingly that I shut up.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52incIq9M0
"Are you coming with me?"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFNVVbLkZJ
I nodded. I couldn't leave him alone at an event like this. Afterwards, we'd be banished from the village, or whatever seemed right, if David started. "Of course!"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtjfVI25A7
He placed a hand on my cheek. He gently ran his thumb over my cheekbone. "Please don't cry. We can't change it, and the fact that we went was already a strong sign."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0iAGmiCKY
"But it doesn't change anything. David, I feel so helpless!" Tears immediately welled up in my eyes again.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweJTqmJDp9
He nodded understandingly. "I know. Me too. We have to keep going, and that means figuring out who is friend and who is foe."
That was probably the main reason we were going to this meeting.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqestHki6v7
It was already dark. Most of the farmers had been in their fields until an hour ago. Harvest time, after all.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ulWAuzkov
A few street lamps illuminated the alleys, and the cobblestones shimmered as if they were damp, even though they were worn.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrXZHMNYSR
People were already standing in front of the village pub, smoking. Their eyes burned on me. David greeted them with a nod. Uncomfortably, I shrugged my shoulders and grabbed David's arm to cling to him.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTg1AwEMa5E
We climbed the wide stone steps. The air became warmer and stuffier. Loud chatter penetrated the night air through the open door.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHh9T5lhVc
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A warm light burned in the pub. Udo stood behind the bar. In his mid-60s, with a beer belly and as chubby as a smoking man.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDniSjZFNzj
"Farmers' meeting?" he barked at us. "Front left."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5eU8r1o8t
David just nodded and pulled me into the adjoining room.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasBfhR78DS
Rows of chairs stood in front of a small screen. It wasn't very crowded yet, and the few people present didn't look up when we arrived. It smelled of beer and stale cigarette smoke. The floor was slightly sticky under our shoes.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23gQzZAF86
We sat on the left, in the third row. I hadn't let go of David. He didn't seem to mind at all.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3ZPVeD7ox
It must have had something to do with going to the pub in his home village with a blonde clinging to his arm. Not many men would complain, I'm sure.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tPgxRbEuF
More and more people arrived. I only knew a few people here and there. Sabse's father was the only one who greeted us warmly, and you could see that he would have liked to sit with us, but then other older farmers beckoned him over.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7ZpTgq0re
I closed my eyes. What was I doing here? I didn't belong here, did I? I earned my money with the horses, not with the farming that fed us and them.
Someone tapped on the microphone. I opened my eyes again and sat up straighter. Bodo Greifwälder stood at the microphone and smiled worldly at the group. His checked shirt didn't fit well, and his jeans were a bit too tight on the thighs. He stood hunched over the microphone and cleared his throat. "Now, if everyone could just calm down."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnXRg0pSW5
A presentation was projected onto the screen behind him. "It's great that so many of you are here today. I saw that even David Behrend made himself comfortable for once."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQ2ZTV65a8
Laughter and glances in our direction.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwEk36gYct
David just rolled his eyes, but a blush rose in my cheeks and I wanted to duck away.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkANNaEusnO
"Today we want to talk about the future of the village and village agriculture."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPruGumLmF
Oh dear. I sensed something bad!10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZKfO9HRKk
"I've prepared a little presentation. Well, actually, it was Moni, but she's at home with the children now."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljuQXCEZyx
More laughter.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZOv33I2Zd
"So, yes... we already have the overview. Item one today is the harvest forecast, item two, and we really need to talk about that, our seasonal workers, and item three, the upcoming village festival and what we as farmers can offer there."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlFFLd3JJt
Seasonal workers. Did this start the same way as at the tournament?10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDF7b9zFk7R
David had also tensed up at the word.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEooviZGPH
"Yes, so the forecast is good. So far, this year has been really good. The wheat yield has always been very good, but this year," Bodo made a dismissive gesture. "We don't know what to do with the stuff anymore. I spoke to the cooperative and they're not accepting anything anymore. So we have to find a solution."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSCAiHU6wu
I sighed quietly and let my gaze wander. Why did I care about yields?10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDE3H4BwxkS
Men, men, men, and then a young woman who... stared at me? Yes. She was staring at me, and not in a particularly friendly way. Oops. When had I offended her? I don't think I'd ever seen her before. I would have remembered that long brown hair and that cute heart-shaped face.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3Z0Tg9dTA
She didn't look away either. Okay, so I now had something like an arch enemy without doing anything?10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IN5FkOqgd
David nudged me. "Can they get to the point for once?" he whispered.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWmmYHqqzk
"Hmh?" I looked away from the woman and looked at him. "Yes, that would be nice!"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0F9vrhZly
"What are you staring at?" He leaned forward slightly and now also looked in the direction of the young woman. Immediately, he inhaled sharply and looked away again. "Great. Käthe is here too."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4p5Gtg3i7
Oh, that was Käthe? No wonder she was staring at me like that! I would also stare at my ex's new girlfriend like that if I were her! "She hates me!"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDW80B88L2
David shook his head. "She hates you n..." He looked in her direction again. "Yes, she hates you!"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OMU96Uxzn
Was this something I could ignore, or should I expect a vendetta? She shouldn't be acting like that! She and David hadn't been a couple for three years when we met.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmGnSub24C
"Good, we've settled that!" Bodo again drew everyone's attention. "Let's talk about the guest... er, seasonal workers." He paused. The microphone crackled. “Unfortunately, that’s where the trouble starts.”
