The Red Apples (part 57)

The Red Apples (part 57)
They looked over to the other side of the river. Near where the musical theatres and Helm company had their location and warehouses still a small passageway gave way to excess for small vessels the pier and offload their cargo mostly from bigger ships with freight too large for a container. In the far distance, they saw Airbus Industries and their latest extension into the Altes Land Germany's traditionally largest fruits-producing area now completely turned into biological farming with many family-owned plantations hosting young experts from South Africa for advice on what to do best.

The river Elbe was dragged out as deep as fifteen meters to accommodate the latest generation of sea-going vessels far below the twenty-eight meters Rotterdam had to offer the international shipping industry. Opposite the light tower of Blankenese was still the location of Hamburg Money as the place was called by the locals meaning families that had their share of trading and transportation of goods. Among them, the new rich money business owners of former start-ups enjoying their fortune and showing it off to anyone who had no self-esteem.

Oevelgoenne with its picturesque small handing gears and Ship Museum was just visible behind Neumuehlen and the famous Fishmarket attracting each Sunday morning tourists from around the world.

The waves of the River Elbe were calm. No strong wind from behind came where the Elbphilharmonie impressively marked the entrance to Harbour City.

Rolf Heinz said with sentimental feelings in his voice: „Ruth…my darling…when I stand here on the ponton of the Landungsbruecken I can’t help it…I must always remember my grandfather and his buddies for Luehrs Shipyard.“

„I know…I know Rolf,“ bit Ruth Willers into her fish roll of course not never fresh, but fish from the ocean and not a printer. She stayed away from anything that was not from nature. Sausages had to come from animal meat and not vegetables. No one could have ever changed her mind.

„These old folks worked hard in the shipyards. They left their lives there their future and their dreams. That was all they had wanted in life…I mean…that work was their life their meaning of life. Yes, it was Adolf Hitler in nineteen thirty-four who needed a harbor to take on countries in the Second World War but these buddies…for them it was the meaning of their lives the justification of what they were. And then one day one terrible terrible time the South Koreans came along out of nowhere out from a war on their territory and with cheap labor took a whole shipyard industry into their own hands. They lead off tens of qualified workers here in the Harbour of Hamburg. Many proud men…very good people…were sent home to do nothing but live from unemployment benefits. Can you imagine that? How sad…very inhuman.“

Ruth Willers knew what her ex-husband would say next and stepped before him:“ Now that Africa is ruling the waves…is the new world power…you see history in the making again. That history never stands still but always comes back to us. Is that what you want to say?“

Rolf Heinz is the last bite of his curry sausage with French fries. The sharp mustard with a touch of Dijon mustard pleased him. Of course, the prices there were made for tourists but as he did not come there daily it was okay for him. After all, why not take a good portion from foreigners, and foreigners for him was anyone not from Hamburg? His hometown was his pride. Not only was he a typical Virgo by the star sign but his DNA was typical Hanseatic.

„For centuries we white people exploited Africa. You recall the cocoa beans from Ghana to Europe first landed here in Hamburg. From here they after sorting were transported by trucks all over Europe to various processing companies. And then… the first shock hit us seriously here in Hamburg. When Ivory Coast and Ghana joined hands and made the decision no longer to export raw material semi-finished products only allowing cocoa to be fully processed in their nations here we had to lay off thousands of workers in Hamburg and the European chocolate industry. What a disaster it was. You remember?“

Ruth Willers looked at the tall and handsome man she once had met at her workplace in a restaurant. He was a cook she his assistant. Not wanting to stay alone she married him and they got three children two girls and one boy. She was never in love with him but less did she have wanted to be alone. In the end, his character came through. To save the children and herself from destruction she eventually filed for divorce.

„Yes, I remember it very well,“ responded Ruth Willers born in Neu-Schoenningstedt outside of Hamburg.

„The next unfairness came when the New African Union…these bastards…stopped demanding for aid support or other forms of cheap handouts. They gave our people and companies only a warning of five years. Social interventions like hospitals, schools, and orphanages had to be given to the nations to proceed to manage. I mean…like seriously…these bastards from the New African Union came up with a plan to solve their own problems. And…can you imagine that…then even came here to help us with our social divide and problems. They gave us money and expertise. Can you imagine? We lost so much to them. Our aid industry was a multi-dollar business…all gone…jobs lost. And…and the hundreds of thousands of professionals and volunteers in this sector…I mean this work was their life. They never wanted to give up helping people. They went to work…good and fine… but the meaning of their lives was in helping the poor and vulnerable in Africa. Now that all was lost. I still can’t believe our politicians allowed it to happen. Just like…“

Ruth Willers knew her ex-husband well enough to complete his statement:“…just like the shipyard industry we lost here…and in Kiel. Yes, my dear…I know. I guess this is called…“

„History!“ ended Rolf Heinz the sentence of his ex-wife. His right lower leg was hurting him even though it was of metal. The years of endlessly smoking had brought him into hospital for amputation