Later that night, we are suddenly called out of the room and into the warehouse behind the garage.
I find a car is parking there, Silo and I, and a dozen other guys are told to start working.
This is a red Mustang, the license plate is no longer available, I see several bullet holes in the windshield of the car. And the car doors, as well as the tires, are stained with some blood!
Looking at this and remembering the news, I almost understand something immediately!
A dozen of people with various tools, spot welding guns, cutters, open the front cover of the car engine, and then quickly dismantle all the mechanical parts inside. Tires, spindles, and all the other parts of the car have been removed. There are also people waiting behind. With the tools, it is easy to erase the number and the mark on the engine, then put a new one on, and do some renovation processing.
After everything is done, the car has only left one shell, no tires, and the seat cushions are removed too.
Then we pick up the spray gun and begin to move on the car’s casing. First, we spray the paint on the car again, then we continue to disassemble it. An original complete car, just one night, is dismembered into numerous pieces and parts.
I know that these engine, spark plug, oil pipeline and other parts will be used if they are replaceable when repairing cars for other customers in the future.
We’ve been busy all night until dawn! In the morning, I can say with certainty: that Mustang is no longer existing! It is split into countless parts and assembled into various cars.
I know it’s necessary to do so. The police usually go to the black car market to search the lost vehicles, but now the car has become countless spare parts, how to find it out?
We have been busy all night. Everyone’s eyes are red with fatigue. Then we are allowed to go back to rest without working during the day.
I just wash my hands to clean the oil from my hands. As soon as I am about to return to my room with Silo, I’m stopped.
“Little 5!” I look back and see a Papa 8’s subordinate is calling me, “Come with me. Papa 8 wants to see you.” Last time I saw him once in Papa 8’s room.
I look at Silo subconsciously. His eyes are envious, but he does not speak anything, just smiling at me and leaves alone.
I follow the man out to another warehouse. I see a lot of workers are busy on working. They seem to be refitting the cars. The welding glare let me subconsciously avoid my eyes.
Walking from the stairs to the second floor, I stand on the railing and look down. I find two men standing besides, all in simple coats. They don’t wear the uniforms here, which surprise me. Because I’ve been here for a week, unless the own person here, no any outsider can come inside!
But I don’t say anything, just follow that man to a door.
“Get in.” He glances at me and says.
I push the door in and see Papa 8 is sitting in a chair with his chin in one hand, as if reflecting on something.
“Papa 8…” I step up and call him in a low voice.
He earths to himself, takes a look at me, pointing to a couch beside the wall and says: “Sit down.”
I sit down, behind me is the window. Outside the window, downstairs, the workers are busy refitting cars.
Papa 8 hands me a cigarette first, then smiling: “How are you feeling after a week here?”
“Very good.” I answer him calmly, “It’s good here, and everyone is good to me.”
“Well.” He’s smiling, then casually taking a brown envelope from the table and throwing it to me, “This is yours.”
I’m a bit confused, open the envelope to see. There are some documents inside it. I can’t help looking up at him.
“Your legal identity.” Papa 8 keeps smiling. His smile has a kind of unique charm, very peaceful and affinity.
“You have the ID and passport now. You do have to be afraid of immigration officers or the police on the street. But your visa is temporary and only valid for three months. After three months, I’ll help you get permanent identity.”
“Thank you, Papa 8!” I look at him seriously.
“You were arranged here by Ocean. I need to take care of you anyway.” He says softly, “I hear you seem to have some emotional problems yesterday afternoon?”
I’m stunned, but then I realize that must the gym manager have told him.
I hesitate just a moment and decide it would be better to be frankly.
“I’m in a bad mood.” I look at Papa 8 unavoidably, “Papa 8. I sneaked here from the sea path. There was a slim chance to survive. But I really made it. I want to do something, no matter how! At least I just don’t want to be a car washer all my life! This week, I’ve been working here and I feel like…”
“Hopeless?” He’s smiling, with a deep meaning in his smile, “Do you think life here is boring?”
I don’t say anything, but being acquiescent.
“Young man.” He’s rubbing his temple and staring at me deeply. Suddenly, he is standing up and goes to the window.
He turns his back to me and looking at the busy workers outside the window and says: “Have you seen them?”
“Yes, I see.”
“They are all my men! Many of them also have good skills and willing to fight! Some of they are all like you, came here by stowaway, and they are all full of blood. They also want to do big things! They are all eating by me and working for me now. Why can I stand in Canada? Because I have so many brothers! My brothers really believe me! Every one of them is willing to go out to fight for me!”
He is suddenly turning around; the original gentle face is unexpectedly showing a slight expression: “Big things! Everyone wants to do something big! But where in the world are there so many big things to do for you? Everyone wants to go to the top! But opportunities are always very few! Do you think we are the American government? Are we looking for places to fight all over the whole world every day? Finished Afghanistan, then finish Iraq, then Iran? Where are so many big things to do?”
Suddenly he is sighing and shaking his head: “I’m old… I do not know how many people come in and out here. Many of them are the same young and ambitious people like you, with extraordinary skills, one by one excpected higher than the sky, came to want to do great things to make a difference. But how many survived in the end? I’ve seen too much and sent too many of them into the coffin. They are all good boys! Everyone wants me to give a chance, but do I really like to send you to death?”
He changes his tone and looking at me: “You are new here! After all, a new comer! Don’t forget that. I have a lot of brothers to look after. Some people have been waiting for two years or maybe three years. There’s still no chance to go out to do things! How long have you been here? One week! Are you already in a hurry? Can’t help it? Nobody is worse than others! Brothers here are all equal! I’m not going to value you differently because you’re arranged here by Ocean! What would my other brothers think of me if you are allowed to have the priority? What would they think of you? I help you to make the legal identity done, it’s the favor. But we can’t always pay the favors when we are doing all the things!”
I’m silent. I understand that what he said makes sense, and it’s not wrong to do so.
Yes, other people have been waiting here for so long. Why should I get ahead when I just come?
Looking at my disappointed expression, he’s suddenly smiling again, patting me on the shoulder, comforting me for a while and says: “But you do have the talent, I understand. You’re very good, I will not turn a blind eye. As I said, we can’t always pay the favors in doing things. I only value the ability and capability! You really have the ability, and I won’t waste it! Hmm, I ask you to come today, there are two main things. The first one is to give your legal identity certificate. The second one is…”
He is smiling mysteriously, looking at me and saying gently: “I’ll give you an oppotunity now.”
I’m refreshed!
…
In the early morning, I get into a car. The car is the one those workers were refitting under Papa 8’s office.
I sit in the front seat of the co-driver. The driver is that Papa 8’s man. There are two men sitting in the back, whom I have seen in the garage yesterday.
These two people are very cold. One is expressionless, the other one has always been with the smile, but I still feel that he is cold. Because even when he is smiling, his eyes are still fierce!
Both of them are out of forty. After get into the car, they put their hands in pockets and begin to sleep without saying a word. The car soon leaves Vancouver and heading north.