Chương 41: The situation must not escalate.

Just as the dockworkers were about to rush into the building, a loud voice came from behind the crowd.

"Stop it, all of you!"

The crowd stirred and turned to look.

A tall, robust middle-aged man squeezed through the crowd.

"It's Patrick!"

"Patrick O'Reilly!"

A gasp of surprise rang out from the crowd.

Patrick O'Reilly had worked at the Brooklyn docks for over thirty years and was a veteran dockworker. He was an honest man and highly respected among the workers.

Scapen's expression changed slightly when he saw Patrick, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Patrick, you've come at the right time. Together with the brothers, let's teach those bastards at the New York Daily a lesson!"

Patrick ignored Scapen and walked directly to the center of the crowd, looking around.

"Brothers, I'm asking you, do you know what you're doing?"

"You think this is fighting for the dignity of dockworkers? You're wrong! You're being used!"

Scapen's face darkened completely:

"Patrick, what do you mean by that?"

"Scarpen, you think I don't know what you're up to?"

Patrick sneered, then turned to the crowd:

"Brothers, think about it. Who was the New York Daily News article mainly attacking? Arthur Kennedy! Although it mentioned us dockworkers in passing, it was just a few words."

"We could simply issue a statement clarifying that those photos were staged and the news was fake. That would have been the end of it."

"But what about Scapen? He insisted on making a scene, insisted on bringing us here to wreck the New York Daily News. Why?"

The crowd began to whisper among themselves.

Scapen's expression grew increasingly grim.

"Patrick, don't talk nonsense! I'm just upholding the dignity of dockworkers!"

"To uphold dignity?" Patrick's voice rose.

"You want to use us to do what you want!"

"You think I don't know? The brothers on the docks all know about your dealings with the Gambino family and those gangs! We usually turn a blind eye because everyone needs to eat. But today, you want to drag us all down with you? I can't allow that!"

The commotion among the crowd intensified.

Scapon knew he couldn't let Patrick continue. He jumped off the crate, walked up to Patrick, and lowered his voice to say:

"Patrick, you'd better think this through. By doing this, you're going against the entire Gambino family."

Patrick did not back down:

"I'm not going against the Gambino family. I'm protecting these brothers. They're honest dockworkers, not your pawns!"

"You brought them here today hoping to cause a big incident. But have you considered what will happen to these brothers if someone actually dies? They'll be thrown in jail, and what will happen to their families?"

His words made many workers waver. Yes, they just wanted an explanation, not to go to jail.

Seeing the situation was turning against him, Scapon immediately turned to the crowd and shouted:

"Brothers, don't listen to Patrick's nonsense! I'm doing this for your own good! The New York Daily News is slandering us, and we can't let this go! We need to show them that dockworkers aren't to be trifled with!"

But this time, his words did not receive the expected response.

Some people in the crowd began to question:

"Scarpen, is what Patrick said true? Are you using us?"

"Yes, we just want an explanation, we don't want to go to jail!"

"I have a wife and children to support; I can't afford for anything to happen to me!"

Scapen's face turned ashen. He suddenly pointed at Patrick and said sharply:

"Patrick O'Reilly, did you take money from The New York Daily News? Were you bribed by them?"

This was a vicious accusation. The crowd stirred again, and everyone looked at Patrick.

Patrick looked at the workers, his voice sincere:

"Brothers, I know Kennedy. He came to our dock a few months ago. He was wearing the same work clothes as us, standing in the scorching sun for hours on end."

"He chatted with us, listened to our stories about the work at the docks, and heard us complain about the low wages and dangerous work. He wrote down every word, and later spoke up for us in the newspaper."

He paused, prompting the workers to recall the young reporter.

"Right now, someone wants to bring him down, to shut him up. Brothers, think about it, if we actually storm in today, what will the newspapers say tomorrow?"

"They'll say the dockworkers are a bunch of thugs, and that Kennedy instigated us! What do we become then? Aren't we exactly the kind of people described in the New York Daily News article?"

Many workers showed expressions of realization.

"We can't fall for it!" Patrick said firmly.

"There are many ways to seek justice. We can sign petitions, we can hire lawyers. But using fists and stones will only turn us into criminals, which will only help those who want to harm Kennedy and smear us!"

A young worker shouted:

"Uncle Patrick is right! We can't let ourselves be used as pawns!"

"Yes! We're here to demand an explanation, not to vandalize or loot!"

The crowd's mood began to shift. More and more people sided with Patrick.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Scapon's face turned ferocious. He suddenly pulled a pistol from his waist and pointed it at Patrick.

"Patrick O'Reilly, are you really determined to go against me today?"

The crowd erupted in uproar and retreated.

Patrick did not back down. He looked directly at Scapen and said calmly:

"Scapon, go ahead and shoot. Shoot me in front of all these brothers. Then everyone will know what kind of person you are."

"You're not fighting for the dignity of dockworkers; you're just fighting for yourself and the interests of the gangs behind you."

Just then, the sound of police sirens rang out in the distance. Several police cars sped over and stopped at the edge of the square.

A group of police officers jumped out of the car, and the lead officer raised a loudspeaker and shouted:

"Listen up, everyone! Disperse immediately! Otherwise you will be arrested for unlawful assembly!"

The crowd began to panic.

When Scapon saw the police arrive, he knew his plan had completely failed. He glared at Patrick fiercely, put away his gun, and turned to disappear into the crowd.

Patrick breathed a sigh of relief and turned to the workers, saying loudly:

"Brothers, go back. Go back and work hard to support your families. Don't be taken advantage of, don't do anything foolish. Remember, we are dockworkers, we earn our living with our own hands, we owe no one anything!"

The workers nodded and began to leave the square in an orderly fashion. The police maintained order and did not give them any trouble. Soon, the square returned to calm.

Patrick stood there, watching the workers' departing figures, a tired smile on his face.

Just then, Arthur Kennedy walked over from the side. He had been observing the situation outside from inside the building.

An hour earlier, after meeting with Samuel, Arthur realized Scapon's plot. He immediately found Patrick and told him the truth.

Arthur looked at Patrick and said sincerely:

"Uncle Patrick, what you did today not only saved those workers, but also saved me."

Patrick waved his hand: "You speak up for us, so we should stand up for you. That's only right."

Arthur added, "You might be in trouble now. Scapon won't let this go."

Patrick laughed.

"I know. But I'm not afraid. I've been working at the docks for so many years, what storms haven't I weathered? Besides, I'm not alone. There are many old brothers like me at the docks."

Arthur nodded: "If you need help, feel free to contact me anytime."

"Okay." Patrick patted Arthur on the shoulder.

"You be careful too. Those people won't let you get away with this."

"I will."

The two chatted for a few more minutes before parting ways.