American Peanuts

Chapter 42 Reservations and “Captive” People

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At eight o'clock the next morning, Charlie got dressed and went out.

Instead of driving Danielle’s car, I chose to take a taxi.

Claire sent him a text message last night. It was not signed, but it was sent from an online virtual number with more than 20 digits.

"It's pretty fast, so good luck to you."

It seems to be caring, but it also means showing off skills.

The subtext is, we all know your every move, so don't mess around.

"Driver, go to Window Rock, Cherokee Reservation."

After about 50 minutes of driving, Charlie saw a huge wooden sign at the fork.

"Cherokee Nation, welcome friends."

I just don’t know that I was transformed by that troublesome person. I welcome you with a big “No” painted in red paint in front of you!

In the late 19th century, an American writer named Hamlin Garland wrote about the situation of the Indians at that time: "The original owners of this continent have been detained by the white people (like livestock). .”

Through the car window, Charlie actually saw a rusty fence more than two meters high, extending directly to the end of the line of sight.

This fence is like a dividing line, isolating two worlds. On one side is a wide asphalt road, with bushes on both sides of the road, and inside the fence are tall red maple trees. Winter has just passed, and there are still thick piles of red maples on the ground. Thick fallen leaves, new shoots sprouting from the branches.The road turned into a muddy dirt road.

Charlie, who was sitting in the back row, was shocked. Along the way, he saw a huge sheep skull hanging on a column, wearing a distinctive eagle feather crown.

"It rained the day before yesterday, so I can only drive as far as here, sir. If we walk further ahead for about ten minutes, we can reach Chuangyan Town." The driver turned around and said.

After getting out of the car, Charlie swam down the muddy road. Before he had gone far, his trousers were covered in mud.After walking around a forest, a building appeared in front of me.

Charlie was stunned and saw at least 200 people standing at the entrance of the town.

Brown skin, amber pupils, black hair, many of them have long hair, and dry and chapped lips.

The one standing at the front is the old shark. To be precise, Mike is his nickname. His name means "basking shark" in the Aboriginal language.

Seeing Charlie, the basking sharks who had been waiting all morning immediately came over eagerly.

"Boss, everyone has been found for you. Even the chief has arrived in person. They are all experienced hunters who can use guns. As you know, there are many wild beasts around. We hunt deer in exchange for money. Some of them used to be nearby. I have worked in mines and can also make explosive devices.”

Yesterday, Charlie said that he wanted him to find some people, but he didn't expect so many people to come at once.

It's not like we're really going to fight...

Don’t any of these people have jobs?Charlie noticed that there were many young and middle-aged people in the crowd, and their clothes were a little dirty.

"There is no way. Winter has just passed, and the migratory animals have not returned yet. As for the mine, it was closed last year due to depletion. More than half of the people in the indigenous communities composed of five surrounding towns are unemployed." Basking Shark He explained with some embarrassment.

"Why don't you go out and find a job?"

"Of course we are looking for them, but most of them have never graduated from high school, and many places don't want them. Moreover... this land has also been spotted by a developer from New York. He has been trying his best to get us to move away. , so that this area can be turned into a golf course, he has caused us a lot of trouble." The basking shark pointed not far away with some embarrassment.

"Look, even the chiefs of our lineage are here."

Charlie looked in the direction he pointed, and saw a short-haired black-haired aborigine with a square face raised his hand and greeted him.

According to legal principles, they are the owners of this land. It is precisely because of this status that they are deliberately avoided and downplayed.The dropout rate is even far higher than that of black people at the bottom of the class, and there are even fewer aborigines who can become lawyers or doctors.Even if a few elites appear, they will be absorbed by intermarriage and leave the tribe.

Over time, this place became a forgotten corner, and the people living here became "invisible people."

"Approximately how many people are there in the five surrounding reservations in total?" Charlie turned around and asked.

"About 2000 or so."

This means that nearly 1000 people are unemployed.

"I can't ask for so many people, 50 at most. I want you to pick the best batch." Charlie said directly.

"I'll give you some money by the way. When the time comes, you can work it out with the chief and use the money to buy some clothes and daily necessities for those who are living in poverty." Charlie looked at those expectant eyes.

Firstly, Charlie was indeed a little bit intolerant, and secondly, he really wanted to gain some prestige in the local area and make plans for the next step in advance, which he did not deny.

Teaching a man to fish is worse than giving him a fish, and he is about to get involved in the production of derivatives, which requires a lot of workers, why not use work instead?


"Bang!" The brown beer bottle on the wooden shelf shattered and the pieces scattered.

The basking shark was armed with a Colt Python revolver, the muzzle of which moved sideways as he continued to pull the trigger.

"Bang, bang, bang" all five glass bottles on the wooden shelf shattered.

The walnut grip, 102mm barrel, clockwise rotating honeycomb, and standard L-shaped barrel have become a classic design since it was launched on the market in [-].It is now even more valuable for collection and is known as the Cadillac among revolvers.

The basking shark looked at the unattractive appearance, but what he casually pulled out was a good gun.

Look at the remaining more than 20 aborigines, painted tactical vests, triple magazine bags, quick-draw holsters, Bailiwei on the feet, super technician tactical gloves on the hands, and Pulsar handheld thermal imaging and A one-person radio station like Big Brother.

"Do you need a quick-draw holster for hunting? A three-magazine bag?" Charlie always felt something was wrong.

Facing Charlie's question, the chief smiled:

"Hunting must keep up with the times. At that time, more than 20 young people in this town participated in the Vietnam War, but only 15 came back. Now there are only [-] left alive, and they are all here."

He pointed to a group of middle-aged people not far away.

The number of people who came this time exceeded Charlie's expectations. He asked the basking shark to select a group of 35 people, a small half of whom were experienced old hunters, and the rest were all strong young people.

"We are not hunting animals this time, but fighting with criminal groups." Charlie reminded.

"Human beings have evolved outstanding endurance, but have given up explosive power. In order to stand up, they have chosen the pain of childbirth, and have given up upper limb strength for flexible hands. From an animal point of view, humans are not outstanding." But the chief said this. said.

Charlie turned his head and saw the ferocious jungle branches reflected in his dark brown pupils.

"The Cherokee can be considered one of the five remaining tribes today. Our tribe is a very small one. We did not go down from the south and embark on the Trail of Blood and Tears to Oklahoma, but went north to Tennessee. Settled in the dense forests of the state."

"It's ironic that it was the Jeep that made the Cherokee famous. It's like naming a butcher's knife after an executioner's corpse."

(End of this chapter)