Gan Guoyang firmly grabbed onto the rope ladder as the helicopter took off, and the FBI team pulled him up.
Once inside the cabin, Gan Guoyang realized that the person who pulled him up was a familiar face: Marvin Serland.
It was the federal bureau friend Stern had introduced to him, who had played an important role in the 1998 labor negotiation.
"Marvin, it's you, thank you so much."
"No need to thank me. The whole world is watching this game."
The helicopter quickly arrived above the Rose Garden Arena, and the rain had lessened significantly by then.
Gan Guoyang glanced down and discovered that the plaza and streets near the arena were filled with people.
Everywhere he looked were fans with umbrellas and raincoats, a colorful sight, but also completely gridlocked.
The rain couldn't dampen the fans' enthusiasm; everyone was already used to the rain. Today was Portland's basketball festival.
"How should I go down? Will you drop me?"
"Using the rope ladder would be too dangerous. We'll land at a nearby building, and then you can go down from there and walk to the arena."
The helicopter requested to land on the rooftop helipad of a building, and in a hurry, Gan Guoyang got off and arrived at the plaza below, which was also filled with people.
The closer he got to the arena, the more crowded it became, until people were shoulder to shoulder by the Willamette River.
It's hard to imagine, in America, that one day a city could have so many people in one area, crowded like ants, and it was still raining.
This was simply a spectacle.
Under the escort of FBI agents, Gan Guoyang walked toward the arena with an umbrella, but his pace kept slowing. There were too many people, too crowded, and more kept arriving.
Everyone was heading to the arena, no one planned to turn back, not realizing that Ah Gan was among them.
At this moment, Gan Guoyang tossed away his umbrella and looked up at the gray sky; the rain was lightening.
He saw a Dodge parked by the side of the road; it was tough and sturdy, and with two quick steps he climbed onto the car.
"Hey guys, guys, it's me! I'm Sonny! I'm here! Can you see me? I'm here!"
Gan Guoyang shouted from his high perch, noticing that near the Rose Garden Arena, the crowd had become innumerable.
Even though it was raining, Gan Guoyang's voice still drew the attention of those around him, and people were astonished to find that Ah Gan wasn't at the arena but here!
The fans were indescribably excited, with some even starting to climb onto the car, while the FBI rushed to protect Gan Guoyang.
"The road is too crowded, there are too many people. I need to get to the arena now, please make a path, make a path! Let me get to the arena, I have to finish this game and win my tenth championship! Maybe this will be my last game in Portland!"
A traffic cop brought over a loudspeaker, and Gan Guoyang used it to shout to the fans.
The sound pierced through the rain and seemed to pierce the clouds, making the rain become a gentle drizzle and lessen.
"Thank you, truly thank you all for coming to see my last game."
Actually, even if they lost, this would be Gan Guoyang's last battle in Portland; he wouldn't return.
Initially, Gan Guoyang just wanted everyone to clear a path, but suddenly he found he had more to say.
"You are the best fans I've ever met, and of course, I'm the best player you've ever met. I can't bear to leave any of you, can't bear to leave this city. But all things must come to an end. It's time to say goodbye, my dear friends. I love you all, just like I love the rain here, and the sunshine too."
The rain stopped completely, and the plaza, streets, and parking lots, estimated to have over ten thousand people, fell silent.
Some people silently shed tears, mixing with the rain, indistinguishable.
"Without your support, I couldn't have come this far. Truly, you are the best fans in the world, and Portland is the best basketball city. Let me give one last performance."
After speaking, Gan Guoyang jumped down from the car and headed toward the arena.
The crowd of fans parted like the Red Sea parted by Moses, automatically making a path.
Gan Guoyang walked through this narrow passage; some people started to clap, continuously clapping.
Gan Guoyang continued walking, then began to speed up, breaking into a jog, heading straight for the players' tunnel.
The rain stopped completely, the clouds rapidly scattered, and the sun came out, casting dazzling rays of light.