Trafford’s Trading Club

Nikita knew Anton for only a few days, but perhaps because they encountered danger together, and were now in the same boat— or because Anton gave him a feeling that he could pour out all his thoughts.

Who knows?

Perhaps he just wanted to speak out something hiding in his heart— Like such a time that happened 12 years ago.

“Oleg Is a very strong man and God’s favorite. He was clever, powerful, and he received love of the most beautiful Kamala… hey hey. “Nikita said with a smile, “Actually, like many people, I’m jealous of the most beautiful Kamala and Oleg secretly, but I’m different from other people, because I also wish happiness to both of them sincerely at the same time.”

Outside the door, Anton… Antonio seldom heard anything about her mother Kamala from Oleg. He was unusually quiet at this time.

As quiet as falling asleep while listening to the story told by their relatives in bed.

“Mum… why did Miss Kamala go for Mr. Oleg?” Anton asked softly.

Nikita thought for a while, “Probably because of his innate sense of justice. Trust me, the Oleg of that time was really a guy who made everyone feel ashamed. Once, our neighbors were harassed by some villains. When we were discussing how to avoid such calamity happened again, Oleg had beaten them up severely… The amount of the villagers that received Oleg’s help was really a big number when I think of it… However, the big number is also a joke.”

“Why?”

“When everyone you ever helped turns to go against you, will you be still proud of your assistance to them?” Nikita said in a cool and unkind voice, “When those who said thank you with smile turns to say sorry to you and then hurt you without hesitation… Oh, dear Anton, trust me, that must be the most disgusting and saddest situation in your imagination, and also the most helpless situation.”

Antonio frowned, he couldn’t really understand Nikita’s words. He asked, “What happened?”

Nikita heaved a sigh, “Our village was thriving on coal mine business…you know that there is a higher rate of unfair and terrible matters that happen in the mine. Lots which will be far more out of your imagination. All those are because of the oppression of the senior staffs and the dispute among workers. After so many years, a stable and balanced situation was formed— to people growing up there, they aren’t completely aware of what the outside world is like. The only thing we know is that, the most powerful one in the mine, will be the truth and dominator.”

Nikita shook his head, sighing, “Oleg may be a man born with a strong sense of justice. He resisted that kind of decadent lifestyle and hated the oppression from the upper level officers in the mine lot. An idea of protecting the public occurred in his mind. He even thought that as long as everyone joined hands, no one could bully us— so, he took actions.”

“From the very beginning, because of Oleg’s help and his reputation in people’s hearts, he gathered a lot of people who were willing to resist. We resisted unreasonable overtime, we asked for more days of vacations as well as improvement of food; we even started to go on strike. At last, Oleg even beat those taskmasters into serious injury.”

Nikita showed a slight hint of reminisce, “That time might be the brightest time for the village during these decades, and Oleg was also considered a hero to us— but he wasn’t satisfied; rather, he kept this hard-won hope more carefully… but… ”

Nikita’s voice turned sad suddenly, “Oleg forgot one thing, that not everyone was like him, who has a strong body, courage and the most important thing—sense of justice. You know, the darkness of the mine has never been dispelled, it just hid somewhere. Yeah, like a viper, hibernating cautiously in the darkness, and waiting for the opportunity to act.”

“I forgot who was the guy first. I just remember that day as we were preparing before going to work as usual, a miner was found collapsing in his home, and his left hand has been cut off. When we found him, his left hand had already stopped bleeding… Because the blood has been sealed, and the cut-off hand was thrown to the edge of the wall. And bloody words were found on the wall, ‘DON’T RESIST’.”

Nikita took a bitter smile, “Those people took revenge too fast, there was even no time left for us to react. You know? We are different from them— they are hooligans. Devils that could do any evil thing. There were always rumors that some family was harassed at night, and some house had been set on fire secretly, or perhaps somebody was beaten black and blue on the road.”

Nikita sighed, “No, we couldn’t continue. No matter how Oleg urged everyone, such fear was not able to be stopped. Even if some people were still insisting, but until that day…”

“Those people said only by handing over Oleg, and returning back to the previous life, would they stop the damage. They even promised to improve our work conditions as long as the leader, Oleg, was turned in— otherwise, troubles will be further intensified.”

“Ah!” Anton shouted. He felt hands and feet cold suddenly, “Then, what happened then…”

“Sorry, that was not our original thoughts, but I need to take care of the seniors and kids in my family.”

“I’m sorry… they said as long as, as long as I give in, they’d let us go.”

“I’m sorry… Oleg, I beg you please. You’re helping us all along. And this time, could you help us again? They said they can exempt my gambling debts, otherwise … Death will be the only way for me.”

“I’m sorry, Oleg, I’m really sorry… but we have no other ways.”

“We … We never asked you to do so much… This is just your own self-gratification!”

Nikita sneered, “That day was filled with the most apologies I’ve heard in my life— I even knew they understood what they were doing! If Oleg was a banner of hope, then they were cutting it down! When they did it, it meant they would like to continue being bullied, but they had to do it. Who’s not selfish? And who doesn’t want to protect their families? Those guys knew clearly about our weaknesses!”

“They…went too far!” Anton gnashed his teeth.

Nikita didn’t go right ahead the question, but said quickly, “Oleg was thoroughly enraged, he rushed out of the village from the besieging of the villagers, making a dive for that place. When he walked out, we only saw his bloody body… When he witnessed that the fully-equipped villagers were still blocking his way with different tools in hands, his heart might have probably died after the anger.”

Nikita opened the door, rolling up his pants, “Oleg took Kamala and left after that day. I felt it boring and meaningless as well, so I went out with Oleg to somewhere else to live, then I had several years of quiet life. And Oleg and Kamala also had a kid.”

“But Kamala died .” Nikita took a deep breath, “It seemed like she died of a car accident, but in fact she died in the path of vengence. Although we left the village, but those evil people of that year didn’t intend to let us go.”

Shaking his head, Nikita washed his face and sighed, “Since Kamala died, Oleg turned more decadent—He had to do so because he was afraid that if he started resisting some day, it would implicate the only child of him and Kamala. Just like those villagers who said sorry to him but went against him.”

Nikita said with a hint of hate, “After those people killed Kamala, they didn’t attack Oleg— I understand their thoughts! They want Oleg to live in pain in his life and avoid him from generating any thoughts of getting revenge. It’s very easy to kill a person, and the best way to get revenge is to kill one’s heart. ”

Looking back to Anton, who was sitting on the ground. He was curious but didn’t ask; instead, he heaved a sigh, “Anton, remember, no matter how powerful you are, but one person’s justice and power is still too weak and helpless. The helplessness and weakness can make a man as brave as a lion choose to grin and bear the repression for their children, like an ill cat. ”

“This is what I know about Oleg.” Nikita suddenly smiled, like self-mockery, “Probably, it’s also the story of many other people, isn’t it? We are all weak, so we could only choose to turn a blind eye to it. we hope the appearance of a hero, but we’ll destroy the hero by ourselves. We imagine to be a hero, fighting for justice, killing the evil and doing what common people cannot do… but we never thought to bear a hero’s woes. ”