Epilogue (Covered As Prologue)

Exactly one year ago I wrote this fictionary novel about a crushed currency and the possible drastic consequences.

Twelve months later my personal estimations about the topic are more ambivalent than in the beginning. In fact the bottle's both half empty and half full. The threat of an economic collapse is pending more than ever like Damokles' sword over our heads but there's still optimism to switch the right buttons avoiding that disastrous scenario.

It's a bit like staying in the eye of a storm.

The future is unwritten. Long-term perspectives have always been notional but the actual currency crisis is showing us that quite plainly.

I hope that we all will learn the crucial lesson from the actual situation if we are able to handle all those difficulties: becoming more sensible for possible problems by not neglecting them only to defend our own position and view.

chapter 1: the east

"Fellows! Silence, please! We have no time for quarrels, it's important to remain within our topics. The word has now our first chairman, member of our cooperative society."

"First of all let me thank you all who are joining our movement and inspiring the executive board with their proposals and ideas. As the most of you know the final result of our poll showed with a considerable majority Leipzig as the common seat of the transitional government. Those who have vote for Dresden instead have to consider that the people of South Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt demanded a centrally located city and raised therefore concerns over a possible domination of the Saxon Free State. Any questions on that? .. No? .. Good, then we come to our first main topic, the negotiations with the State of Poland about the implementation of the Złoty as legal currency in our newly founded state union. According to Warsaw .. I see some hands rising into the air, let's start with you there, in the second row."

"Mr Chairman, wouldn't it be better to insert the U.S. Dollar as transitional currency?"

"That's-"

"Silence, please, silence!!"

"Thank you, Mr Spokesman .. that's not what we wanted and I thought we've had discussed it earlier but if it's necessary I will repeat it again: the introduction of the Dollar would mean we have nothing learned from the faults the imperialistic market economy has made. To be clear: most of you know that the German reunification was connected with the loss of important values as equality or righteous apportionment. Accepting the Dollar would endanger those values we're fighting for to regain. Other questions? .. Yes, you in the last row on the left?"

"Don't you fear a strong dependency on Poland?"

"Well, we had our concerns about that but it's definitely too early to start up with an own currency. As long as we have no constitutional fundament we're glad about the support from Warsaw. This morning I had a longer phone call with the Polish minister of finances who reassured me their strongest support. Our friends are very interested in the sustaining our economic branches, not only in their own interests. Any other questions about that? .. No? .. Good, let's figure out the next topic, our relations to the other German Federal Lands, especially the Northeast and the South. Let's begin with Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. According to our sources the New Nationalist Movement has taken the power in more than two dozen municipalities. We condemn their inhuman behavior and evince our solidarity to the transitional government in Rostock but we're afraid the officials are too weak to get the political power back in a sort-term period. Yes?"

"Do we have any reactions from Berlin about that?"

"Berlin's occupied with itself. Building up an own state, a bizarre combination of Monaco and Woodstock. They always knew how to handle the marketing and now they're selling themselves to the Americans and the Chinese. We're afraid that the north of Brandenburg has to take it's destiny into it's own hands. But there's still hope into a better future. More disturbing are the latest news about the south. Two of our delegates were detained to travel to Munich. We demanded immediately an official statement but we haven't heard anything until now. Has anybody here in the hall more precise informations about what's going on there? .. No? .. Anyway, fellows, we have to make the best of our situation, no matter what the other regions think about us. Due to our excellent relations with our neighbors in the east we soon will be able to reinstall a governmental and economic system which leads us out of the current unstableness into a future prosperity avoiding the fatal mistakes of the past .. The last important topic on our agenda today is the agreement with the farmers. The reasons for their protest actions last week around Magdeburg are the still missing supplies of urgently needed fertilizers and the scaling down of fuel. We told them that it was inevitable to shorten even the diesel to save our reserves. We assured them also that the rationing mainly concerns private car owners and not basic economic branches like the agriculture. To avoid in common such fatal misunderstandings we've agreed with their spokesmen that all gas stations and fuel suppliers are instructed to support the farmers with the needed amount of diesel. The delayed delivery of the fertilizers based upon the same problem. The local suppliers hadn't enough fuel and the lorries stood in front of the storage depots. Thanks to a noble donation of an Ukrainian businessman who wants to be anonymous the delivery can be carried forward. In return they've promised us the efficient delivery of wheat, rye and corn within the next days .. before we continue with the open dialogue about our topics and our next steps I like to thank everybody of you for your continuous and generous engagement. Dear fellows, we're stuck amidst a crisis we can only handle together, in unity and with the power of our hearts and our minds. Our parents and our older siblings went at that time on the streets chanting 'We are the people' and toppled the SED regime. Now it's our duty to fight again for our freedom and our independence. We have a lot of work to do and we will continue .."

chapter 2: the north

The harbor of Hamburg is completely overcrowded. People are sitting on the docks, clinging on their bags and suitcases, waiting. Relief organizations are distributing the most essential needs mainly to mothers with little children and older women. According to the harbor master the number of emigrants grew in the last fourty-eight hours to more than twenty thousand. Army soldiers and volunteers are building up tents and latrines to prevent a humanitarian crisis. An interview with a young family illustrates the dramatical situation.

"Where exactly you come from?"

"Mecklenburg, nearby Schwerin."

"Why you've decided to flee?"

"Before the Euro crashes my husband was long-time unemployed but we always trusted on the solidarity in between the residents. Suddenly we became displeasing visits of young men in bomber jackets. They told us unmistakably that it would be the best for us to leave. From one moment to the other we were not wanted anymore."

"But you were not the only one threatened in this way?"

"No, many jobless in our neighborhood who refused to collaborate with the National Militia were told to leave as soon as possible. It's a shame. First those vigilantes made sure all foreigners had to get out and now they're hunting their own fellows. It's disgusting."

"For what else did they blame you?"

"They told my husband parasites and gypsies would be no longer accepted. I still cannot believe it. What have we did to them? It was not our fault that the infrastructure in our region balanced on the lower levels. We are blamed for the faults and the dullness of the politicians. Tell me, please, what happened to all the money they boasted always putting it into the economical reconstruction? Where is it? We haven't seen it at all!"

"You actually know what's with the other menaced people in your village?"

"Not really, sadly. After the second visit we became from those sinister thugs my husband and I packed up the most necessary and left the rest in our old apartment. We had to act, protecting our both little children."

"Where do you want to go now?"

"If it's someway possible we like to travel to South America. My husbands grandaunt lives in Paraguay. Unfortunately we haven't had the chance to contact her."

"When do you think you could enter a ship?"

"We're waiting now since one week for a free place on a refugee boat. The authorities have put us on their list but they couldn't tell us when exactly the passage is going to start. All we want is to leave as soon as possible. All we want is to get out of this land. I never thought I would say something like that but this is no longer our home. Look around, everybody here wants to go away, there's no future anymore for people like us. We need a place where our children can grow up and have some perspectives. I hope deeply this nightmare gonna end soon .."

Fates like these are disturbing and the helpers seem to be more and more overextended. Voluntarily practicing doctors look after the chronically ill and weak, but the donated medics are often not enough to cure the disorders of everyone. The city which has had in its history more than one tragedy to bear faces now a new and never expected dimension. A spokesman of the aid coordinators shares his fears about the whole situation.

"We're very concerned about the growing masses of refugees. The most positive aspect we can mention is the patient temper of all those people. Despite of their fear and anger no violent actions are to be reported. The citizens of Hamburg are supporting us with all they can do. Nevertheless it becomes more and more crucial. Donations we receive are not enough to accord everybody the urgently needed help. Since two days no ship has entered the harbor and we can't say when the next one is to be expected. Our volunteers are non-stop busy with calming down and sharing moral support. The international community has to help us immediately. We're estimating that in the next days another five thousand people will arrive here. At the moment negotiations will be conducted about a second refugee camp nearby the city. There's no more space here on and around the docks as long as the first ships haven't picked up at least a few thousand emigrants."

No one could predict the way out of this crisis, if it's going to be unloaded in the next days or weeks or if it escalates. In an atmosphere between hope and despair it takes a lot of strength and resilience for all parties, refugees, helpers and the harbor officials.

chapter 3: the west

"Can anyone help me?" - Metin opened the trunk of the aged green Mercedes his father Sadik had bought thirty years ago. The car was still in a good condition even though the diesel engine had some dropouts. Paul and Thomas came out of the front door and supported Metin carrying some boxes with fresh vegetables into the house. The solidarity between the domestics and the Turkish community here in the quarter was almost exemplary and without the financial aid from Metin's two uncles who ran a successful food storage business in Ankara the whole situation would have been more critical. After they'd brought all the groceries in Metin scratched his bold head: - "Where do we start now, guys?" - Thomas fetched a handwritten list out of his pocket. - "Let me see .. the Halbachers and the Kleins need some food for the next days .. and, oh yes, Misses Rothausen has no flour and no milk anymore .." - Sadik appeared in the open door leaned on the black wooden walking stick he was needing since his second hip replacement. With a concerned expression he looked around and wanted to start saying something, but in that moment Metin laid his arm around his shoulder. - "It's ok, Baba, I've managed all. You don't need to worry. Have a seat in the kitchen, I will make some tea .." - Sadik nodded with a slight touch of a smile in his face and he turned slowly around. - "Could you ..?" - Paul lifted his right thumb. - "We'll handle that, take care of your Baba." - They knew how Metin loved his father, he admired him for all what he had done for him and his little sister Dünya even after the early death of their mother eight years ago. It has been not always simple to manage the grocer's shop and to raise two kids born here in Cologne in between two different cultures with all its contradictions but Sadik has never complained about the circumstances, he was grateful about the support of Metin's aunt Hürise who always came in the right moment when he had felt overextended what he never ever had admitted, his pride forbade him that. Thomas took some plastic bags out of the rack behind him and began to pack according to the list. He handed every readymade one over to Paul who labeled it with a blue marker. After a while half a dozen well-stocked bags with the names of the addressees on it stood on the floor. Dünya came in with a cup of tea in her hands. - "Looks good, boys, let's go." - She drank out and handed out Thomas the empty cup. - "It's good, Paul and I will take over the delivery. Why don't you accompany my brother and my father in the kitchen? They sit on the table without saying anything in the last minutes. Please, .." - She forced him carefully to the door. - ".. break up the silence and talk to them, you know I don't like it when they are so depressed." - Thomas watched Dünya and Paul getting each of them three bags and leaving the store. - "Back in an hour, see you .." - He went to the kitchen where Sadik and Metin were sitting both with their elbows on the table staring at an imaginary spot. He poured some hot tea into the cup Dünya handed him and had a seat on the free chair to the left. - "Everything fine?" - He could hear Sadik's massive breathing before Metin broke the silence. - "You know, Thomas, in moments like these Baba misses our beloved mother-" - "And I'm glad in the Name of Allah that she doesn't witness this all," - interrupted him Sadik, - "shame over those who had let it come so far, shame over them!" - Thomas and Metin flashed at each other a glance. - "We know, Baba, we know, it's frustrating, but you do all the best that you can, as everyone of us, and I'm very proud of you, me and my sister we learned so much of you and we love you and we miss our Ane as well as you miss her." - Since the school times they'd spent together both complemented one another, Metin's reticence inherited from his father has always broken up immediately in the presence of Thomas. He was some kind of unintentional catalyzer, from one moment to the other Metin could talk openminded about his thoughts and feelings. Sadik was glad over the intimate friendship his son shared with this atypical German whose social orientated intellect he'd always admired although he'd not always agreed with Thomas' left-progressive visions. - "Things will get better, Baba, trust me, I've got a good feeling about that." - Sadik raised his head. - "You believe oğlum?" - "Of course I do, Baba, people like you taught us not to surrender, no matter what happened. We will get through this, Baba, I swear, in the name of Allah and his prophet Mohammed!" - He hugged his father and kissed him on his forehead. - "Any news from outside?" - Thomas wanted to distract both from becoming too pathetic. Metin settled back with an official look. - "Only rumors. Nothing what is to be confirmed. The local councils up the Rhine are still in negotiations about forming a superior crisis board. Some cities in the Ruhr Basin try to stable their economy with own currencies, but that's only a transitional solution. Spooky informations concerning the southern regions, they seem to extend the state of emergency, some people mentioned the possible declaration of martial law. Internet connections are still interrupted, since one week now." - "Seems they're getting serious about forming a new state," - Thomas considered. Metin shook his head. - "Separating would be no good idea, this would only enforce the believes about their lack of team spirit. And it could damage the federal principles our nation's based on." - "But they were always known for their stubbornness." - "Don't mention. I've never got the fact that they passed the foundation of the Federal Republic of Germany maintaining their own constitution .. what's up, Baba? Everything alright with you?" - Sadik smiled teary-eyed at his son. - "You remember when I was really upset after you told me you want to study political science together with Thomas?" - Metin looked slightly confused. - "Yes, Baba, I remember, but what-" - "Shhh oğlum, just listen to your old father: you know I always wanted you to become my follower to run the store I've built up and I'm proud of possessing. But when I hear both of you now arguing in such a brilliant manner I'm enlightened with the spark of hope that the future can be build upon such smart young men like you are. I'm proud of both of you and I'm extremely happy that you're gone your own way. I want you to now that." - "Thanks, Baba. I appreciate that very much." - "So I do, Sadik, thank you." - While both father and son were holding each other by the hands Thomas stood up to refill his cup with some fresh tea. Those emotional parts were not really his business, he was more the rational type of character, even in his younger years he was known for his reason and his responsibility. In the moment he sat down again Paul appeared back from delivering the care bags in the neighborhood. -"Finished. What's next?"

chapter 4: the south

The sunset behind the brick-covered roofs let us forget for some minutes the lost freedom. The curfew imposed 48 hours ago seemed to be the newest highlight the so-called Northern Alpine Interim Government had established to defend the well-situated areas from possible rioters and looters out of the poorer neighborhood. Crap. As if they couldn't defend themselves. After the collapse of the Euro and the revolutionary takeovers in France, Poland and The Benelux the upperclass technocrats bristled themselves with weapons which are now in the hands of dollar-paid militias to shoot immediately at everyone who looks like a stranger. The dollar is now the only currency to pay all your needs with: bread, water, the candles we're lightning at that moment .. but how you're gonna get some dollars when all the banks are shut down? How you're gonna get some food for your starving children or the urgently needed medics for your grandmother whose state of health is going downwards from day to day? How you're gonna survive when the officials you would have never in your life voted for declared you as criminal elements forcing counterrevolutionary ideas? In those moments I regret not having fled in the northeastern parts of my country where now the Post-Capitalistic Liberation Council took over. Those guys had a fresher experience with people's uprising, their parents fought unarmed, only with the power of their voices and their physical presence .. the old lady in the apartment upstairs moans again, like every evening when the pain she's suffering is anew becoming unbearable. My girlfriend stands up and walks to the door to have a look at her, fortunately she's got the keys and some analgesic in her pockets. Through the curtains I can see some armed police officers under the weak shiny lights of the street lantern. Power cuts belong nowadays to normality in problem districts like our's - gosh, I even used that unworthy term this regime labeled our quarter! The officers are checking every corner and every balcony with their flashlights, it's better for me to step back from the window, they don't need a reason to come along here, you never know if they are policemen with a codex or simple thugs in uniform. Two days ago a friend of mine had a tragic rendezvous with a handful of mercenaries, the last thing I've seen before I ran like hell for my life was his bloodshed jeans while he laid down on the street quivering. I fear that was the last time I've seen him alive .. I'd never expected in my darkest dreams that it had come so far. The old governments bearing the responsibility for the piling of such enormous debts disappeared from one day to the other, nobody exactly knows where they're hiding now, possibly somewhere outside the former Union, together with those financial experts who've driven us into the ruin we're facing now. Instead of chasing them the new rulers are chasing now us, the people who are definitely not to blame for the financial crash. I remember well laughing out loud when my former colleague, a passionate analyst, raised his concerns over the disturbing progression on the markets and stock exchanges according to all the downgrades which concerned in the meantime the apparently more prosperous nations like mine. And now? Certainly he's sitting somewhere in the suburbs of London or elsewhere in the United Kingdom having dinner together with other refugees who'd left early enough the sinking ship. But now it's too late. The British Prime Minister has closed the borders, and the EuroStar's no longer shuttling. Denmark has sent army brigades to prevent the Scandinavian countries against a possible tide of economic fugitives. Hah! As if we would be some kind of economic fugitives! We're hunted for all but economic reasons, we're hunted for being criminals, we're hunted for being terrorists, we're displaying a threat for the new totalitarian leaders who fear nothing more than dissidents and truth lovers like us. In this brave new world they're building up now is no place anymore for the freedom of speech or the freedom of expression. Sounds hard but they have to get rid of us if we won't cooperate and agree to the emergency acts they declared due to the security of all the people in Northern Alpine Coalition. All the people except us. All the people except the poor, the sick, the older ones .. Shots are to be heard, I cannot say from where exactly, but it might be up in the north, they're chasing suspects, no, sorry, that is official language, disgusting, they're demonstrating their power by intimidating starving civilians. I do not have the heart to take a look through the window, a searchlight could spot me and then I'm tracked and definitely lost, I know that, because I do not live here regularly, it's my girlfriend's place. She comes back from the old lady, I look at her, demanding, she nods with a sad expression on her face, we need no words to know what's going on with the other. Torn between hope and resignation I take her in my arms. We're holding each other for a long time, it feels quite like eternity, and I deeply wish the times back when we were strolling through the park under the clear sky at night or lying on the meadow counting the stars. Past. Only memories left. The only chance is to leave this place, immediately, but how? We have no car, even if we would have one, the fuel prices are so increasingly high, and we need dollars instead we don't have. The few busses and trains are permanently controlled by armed forces and I don't want to spend the rest of my life in one of the prisons here. How I loved this city before all went down, nobody can imagine that. But the signs of change were to be seen for everybody equipped with a rational mind. The worst decision Brussels ever made was to hold on tight to the currency and to constrain Spain and Greece to the redistribution of loss. It was no miracle that both administrations decided after a referendum the new democratic movement forced organizing huge demonstrations and nationwide strikes to leave the Eurozone and to return to an inflation-adjusted currency. The pessimists in Paris and Berlin were scoffing that it takes not even a year the renegades would return remorseful begging for a resumption. Far from it! While both nations began to blossom into a new cultural and economic attraction and the investors stood in a long line the Euro crashed first slowly, then, after the exit of Portugal, Ireland - joining the British Pound - and finally Italy, at a furious rate downwards accelerated through the growing number of ventures and bets against the formerly strong currency which became as soft as melted vanilla ice. And the guarantors? All they did was reassuring the populace and sugarcoating the statistics. Bullshitters! Left us here alone with an outlook saying: goodbye prosperity, hello struggle for survival. Farewell democracy, let's welcome restrictive authorities. My girlfriend grabs my hand, we're looking each other deep in the eyes. I notice the shimmer of reliance on her face. Taking a deep breath I try to smile. We talked about it earlier the day. It won't be easy and we need therefore the help of a facilitator and we don't know how to pay him but heading direction south would be the only real chance we would have. After the democratization of the Maghreb and the Arabian world the whole Mediterranean area was booming and growing continuously. If we're gonna make it the few hundred kilometers to Venice or Genova and get a ship which brings us to Morocco or the Lebanon we could start anew, in a world we have not to fear of our lives, in a place we could again count the stars under a clear sky at night ..