Chapter 291 The Old Man and the Story

Company E set out from the town of Norville and wanted to go 160 miles east of Bastogne to the south of Alsace. However, because of the snow, the roadside gradually became very slippery, driving became dangerous, and the speed of the convoy became very slow. Gernelly's prediction came true, and they had to get out of the car and drain the water over and over again on the way. But it's nothing. Anyway, the speed is very slow, and even if the water is released, it will catch up with the truck. But being with Gonery will inevitably be laughed at by him.

The truck team passed Bastogne, and then passed through Bel Fontaine, Wildon, Adon, Thule, Nancy, Duringan and other places, but on the way to march, Lipp fell ill. High fever and trembling all over! But he insisted on refusing to go to the military hospitals he passed through. But when the convoy arrived in Nancy, Captain Winters ordered him to go to the hospital of the local garrison to see a doctor. He asked Lieutenant Compton to personally drive the jeep to take Li Pu to the military doctor.

"Sergeant, you have pneumonia and have to be transferred to a big hospital. I can only give you an injection now and then prescribe some medicine for you. If you still want to insist on marching, I'm afraid you will have to aggravate your condition!" The young doctor looked at Li Pu and shook his head.

"That won't work, doctor. I'm Sergeant-in-Mergeant of Company E. I don't want to go anywhere." Li Pu shook his head resolutely, and he was promoted to a sergeant in the company by Captain Parks. In any case, he didn't want to leave the team like this when he first took office.

"I think you have to listen to the doctor's advice!" Compton shook his head at Lip, "Don't worry, the brothers of E Company will be taken good care of. Don't let the brothers of E Company worry about you.

Li Pu looked at him and shook his head again. Then he turned his head to the doctor and said, "Give me more anti-inflammatory medicine, aspirin or something. Buck, don't say those words. I can't hear you. Either you carry me to the company, or you go back by yourself, and I walk back to the company. Li Pu looked at Compton with a firm expression.

Compton looked at him for a long time. Seeing that he had no intention of giving in at all, he had to shrug his shoulders and said, "Okay, you won!" I'll take you to the company. I hope Captain Winters can let you go, and your company commander, Captain Parks. You'd better pray!" With that, he waved to Li Pu and jumped into the cab.

When the company arrived at Du Lingan, it was already night, and the convoy stopped and camped in the local area. The first thing Captain Parks did was to find Li Pu. He didn't want this guy to fall down. He had never left the company because of this pneumonia.

"Come here, Li Pu. I found a good place for you!" Captain Parks said to Lip. Regardless of his reason, he was taken to a German family. There is only one elderly German couple in the room. They met Captain Parks and looked very enthusiastic. Obviously, Captain Parks had communicated with them in advance.

"It's good to see you! "Captain!" Although the old German is 70 years old, he looks as energetic as if she is in her fifties, while the old woman looks very haggard and deep in her eyes, but she can still see a faint smile on her face. The old man and Captain Parks hugged, and then hugged Li Pu.

The German old man spoke German, but Li Pu couldn't understand it. Parks translated with a smile, "They said, you are very welcome. You are a distinguished guest!" With that, he and Li Pu introduced the old German into the house one after the other. The fireplace in the living room is on fire. There is a rocking chair in front of the fireplace.

The old German couple treated them warmly and gave them a very good dinner. Then Lipp lay on the rocking chair next to the fireplace at Parks's request, and then covered with a thick blanket. The old German man came over with a smile. He brought more strong gin and apple rolls.

"Sergeant, have some!" The old German said, poured a glass of wine and handed it over, and then poured another glass to Captain Parks. "When I have typhoid fever, I usually drink and sweat all over. That's much better. Look, my body is great now!" With that, he specially showed his body to show that he was very strong.

Parks smiled and translated his words to Li Pu, which made Li Pu, who had no more afraid to drink spirits, couldn't help laughing. He had never drunk spirits, but this time, he took a sip, a sip. And I also ate a lot of apple rolls. Then he said this to Parks and the old German, and fell asleep in a daze.

"It's hard to imagine that Germans would be so kind to us!" Li Pu muttered before going to bed. But the old German man couldn't understand. He looked at Parks curiously, hoping to get a translator. Captain Parks told him truthfully.

"For you, are we intruders now?" Captain Parks followed Lip's words, "Now I can't believe that I will enter Germany in this form with a group of soldiers one day." He looked at the old man and felt that he was no different from all ordinary Europeans. He could not see the fanaticism brought by fascism or the blind spiritual pursuit of the German Nazis. He is just an ordinary European old man, regardless of national boundaries.

"No, young man, in fact, I used to be a soldier. I know what war is. The old man smiled slightly, "My son loves this country very much, so he joined the SS and was promoted to the rank of captain like you. But in Normandy, he died. But for me, there is nothing to regret. I won't dissuade him from joining the army. This is his choice, just like I chose World War I. It's just that I'm lucky not to die."

Parks nodded. He didn't say anything, but sat quietly in the chair, holding a wine glass in his hand, looking at Li Pu, and then at the beating flame in the fireplace.

"You are the first German to say such a thing to me!" Parks was stunned for a long time. He couldn't help but raise his head and smile at the old man. Then he raised his glass and gently took a sip of wine. "I've heard a lot about this war, and there are other reasons. It's a war that kills people. But my task is to ensure that my company's people will not die for this war! This is my task!"

The old man couldn't help looking at Captain Parks and said with a smile, "This is also the most beautiful topic I've heard about war. I remember that an officer once said such a thing to me, and he was also an American. I really don't know if he is still alive. On Christmas Day, both we and our enemies revel on the ground and drink. No one shot, and we enjoyed the peace and joy of Christmas. No cannonballs, no whistles of attack, no screams and blood. We all drank too much, and then an American officer hugged my shoulder and said the same thing you are saying now!"

Captain Parks couldn't help laughing when he heard it. He nodded and said, "I'm afraid many people would think so at that time. I'm just one of them. What's the name of the American officer? I still keep a little curiosity about this.

"Orick? Ben? Parks." The old man said the full name of the U.S. officer, which showed his respect for the U.S. officer. In fact, the U.S. officer was also a legend in the two armies at that time. Because of one thing he did in the subsequent war, "An excellent soldier, often a kind-hearted officer."

He didn't notice the expression of the captain officer beside him at all. Parks's expression at this time looked very strange. Yes, he heard his father's name from the old German. Is this a coincidence or something? Maybe it's someone with the same name? Parks didn't ask. He felt very faint about this father. He had never been very interested in this cheap father because of the memory in the body itself. He was rude and even abused his wife, and he didn't look good at the original Parks.

"He saved a German little girl in an offensive battle, but he was injured by the little girl's father. But he still insisted on sending the little girl to a safe place. I was right next to him, and I aimed at him, but I didn't shoot. Originally, this was a common thing in the war, but when I saw the little girl's face, I was deeply ashamed of my behavior. The old man sighed deeply, "I saved him, bandaged him, took out the warhead, and sent him to a safe place. In fact, it's just because I drank with him that night and what he said!"

Parks was speechless for a long time. He couldn't digest the old man's words. He didn't expect that his father, a father who saved a little girl in the war, would be a tyrannical person and a man who tortured his wife and son. He felt a little complicated.

"What are you talking about?" The old woman didn't know when she came out of the other room. She smiled at Parks and said, "Captain, the room has been cleaned up for you, but it's a little simple!"

Captain Parks nodded suddenly and said, "Thank you very much, madam!" With that, he stood up, nodded and smiled at the old man, "The very touching story left a deep impression on me. I think the officer you mentioned is admirable, but your behavior is also admirable, which is a valuable asset for me!" With that, he stretched out his hand and shook it with the old man.

The old man let go of his hand and then rubbed his smile and said, "I have told this story to many people, but you are the first American I say. Good luck, Captain! Don't take it to heart, just take it as a kind fairy tale!"

Captain Parks nodded. Then he turned around and followed the old woman into the room, a simple room with a single bed. But it's very neat. Parks looked at Li Pu, who was sleeping by the fireplace, again through the crack of the door, and then lay down.

The next morning, Parks was awakened by a knock on the door. It was Li Pu waiting outside the door. He shouted at Parks, "Sar, we're leaving!" Listening to the voice, he is in good spirits. In fact, it was the same. When Parks saw him, he looked refreshed. Although his eye sockets still seemed to be a little stuck, he didn't have a fever. As long as he took the medicine a few more times, he would probably be fine.

After saying goodbye to the German couple, Li Pu said proudly, "It must be because of those spirits. I didn't expect that the first time I cured my pneumonia with spirits, it's a miracle!"

Parks said to him angrily, "Yes, it's a miracle. Next time, just don't use needles and medicine. Just ask the doctor to give you a bottle of whisky!"

But anyway, Li Pu was able to act with E. And the team will soon enter their predetermined destination - Alsace. When approaching here little by little, everyone's mood is very complicated!

(to be continued)