Chapter 36: Goodbye, Miss
After the exercises, Easy Company, along with the rest of the 506th, transferred to Camp Breckinridge in Kentucky. There were comfortable barracks and hot showers. Most importantly, the men of Easy Company were given a ten-day leave. Rhys knew that after this leave, Easy Company would enter its final assembly phase in preparation for deployment to Europe.
Rhys decided to use this leave to go to New York. Although he knew he would eventually board a ship in New York to get to Europe, he didn't have time to stay, not even for a single dinner with Virginia.
On the first day of his leave, Rhys boarded a train with White and the others. He didn't want to see Virginia out of any deep sense of longing. In his view, it was unlikely she had any truly deep feelings for him. The two of them had something in common: they were both trying to see if they could gain some benefit from the other. Of course, this was just his own perspective; as for what Virginia was truly thinking, Rhys wasn't sure.
He met Virginia in a coffee shop. She was wearing a tasteful long dress of silk satin that perfectly showcased her figure, making her look noble and elegant, yet approachable.
"I can't believe it's been so long since we last met," Virginia said, elegantly stirring her cup with a spoon. Her eyes flickered between the cup and Rhys, a small smile playing on her lips.
Rhys smiled and nodded. "Yes, it's been several months. But I'm here now, aren't I?"
Virginia covered her mouth and giggled, then looked at him, her eyes full of apology. "I'm sorry."
Rhys knew what she was talking about and smiled. "It's nothing. It was just a gun, that's all. Actually, there's something else I came to talk to you about."
"Alright, go ahead," Virginia said, as if she were a little helpless.
Rhys nodded. "If there was a semi-automatic rifle that was compatible with the M1's current ammunition but had a large-capacity, 20-round magazine, would the military be interested in adopting it?" He wanted to hear her opinion. If it were possible, he would bring out a modified version of the Type 56 semi-automatic rifle.
Virginia looked at him, surprised. She was silent for a moment, then shook her head. "I don't know, Parks. But I don't think the prospects are good. I know you're a firearms expert." She then gave a bitter smile. "But is this all we have to talk about?"
"I'm sorry," Rhys said, seeing the helpless look in her eyes. He couldn't help but smile apologetically. "Alright, let's not talk about this for now. I'll be here for three days."
***
For those three days, Rhys and Virginia were inseparable. During this time, Rhys began to understand Virginia's feelings for him, but he was still worried. At the very least, he couldn't give her anything right now.
"Today is the last day," Rhys said. He was lying naked on his stomach. Virginia, also naked, was sitting on his back, her rounded bottom resting on his legs. Her fingers were following his constant instructions, giving him a massage. There was a smile on her lips, a look of deep satisfaction.
After letting out a groan, Rhys said, "There's something I have to tell you. It concerns you and me, you understand?"
"Go on. I'm listening," Virginia said, tossing her long hair back. She wiggled her soft bottom on his, then placed her hands on his shoulders and leaned down. The two soft mounds of her chest pressed against his back as she laid her upper body against his, her face so close he could feel the fragrant scent of her breath and the slight tickle of it on his skin. It was an incredibly intimate position.
"In a little while, I'm going to design a semi-automatic rifle. Of course, whether it can be manufactured or promoted in the Army, that will be up to you. Don't force it. If it doesn't work out, then forget it. As for the automatic rifle from before, I hope you won't give up on it. Even if we don't need it now, it might be useful later. If we can improve it further, maybe we can sell it to countries other than the United States." Rhys rolled over, pinning Virginia beneath him. He held her tempting body, feeling another surge of desire. His voice grew urgent. "Maybe… maybe it could have a very good future?"
"Let's not talk about that anymore. Right now, I'm only interested in one type of 'gun'!" Virginia's hand slid down and grasped his gun. At this point, no more words were needed. Passion consumed everything. All that remained was the sound of bodies colliding, gasps of breath, and the creaking of the bed.
Rhys spent his last day mostly in bed with Virginia. Her demands seemed endless, and even he had trouble keeping up. They never spoke of firearms again.
Rhys had brought it up several times, but Virginia's reactions had been unenthusiastic. Perhaps the earlier failure had discouraged her, or perhaps she had run into obstacles with her father. So, in the end, Rhys said nothing more.
In the evening, Virginia left. That night, Rhys's mind was filled with thoughts, and he even thought of Jennifer back in Georgia. When he woke up the next morning, he quickly cleaned up and prepared to head to the station. Just then, he heard a car horn from downstairs. He looked out the window and saw Virginia standing in front of a car, looking up.
"Virginia!" Rhys called out, sticking his head out the window. He then saw her walk gracefully into the building and come upstairs.
"Parks!" The moment Virginia entered the room, she kissed him fiercely, her entire body pressing against his. They held each other for a long time before finally separating.
"Parks, I thought about it all night," Virginia said, letting him go and looking at him with deep affection. "I've decided to wait for you. I hope that after the war is over, you will come back to New York, and we can be together."
Rhys was deeply moved. He cupped her face in his hands and smiled. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, yes! I think I'm falling for you," Virginia said, her voice filled with emotion.
"Alright then. I promise you, as soon as the war is over, I will come find you," Rhys said with a nod. He then looked at his watch. "But I have to go now."
Virginia nodded. They got into the car together. "To the train station," Rhys said. Their hands were clasped tightly together and never let go.
"Goodbye, babe," Rhys said, pulling Virginia into an embrace and kissing her lips—sexy, slightly cool. Her lingering gaze made his heart ache with reluctance.
Just as Rhys turned to board the train, Virginia suddenly said, "Rhys, I remember what you said."
"What?" he asked, turning back to look at her, confused.
"I talked with my father for a long time last night. He has decided to take your advice. If the domestic military won't adopt it, we will perfect your automatic rifle and try to sell it on the international market," Virginia said, a fervent light shining in her eyes. "I want you to be able to see with your own eyes how amazing your design is, and how well it sells!"
Rhys couldn't help himself. He strode forward, pulled Virginia into a tight embrace, and kissed her fiercely. Now he understood. The reason she had insisted on going home last night was to convince her father before he left. He knew how difficult it must have been to persuade a businessman to continue perfecting the design of an automatic rifle that had no future in the United States.
Watching the familiar face outside the window recede, then disappear under the vast sky, Rhys's turbulent emotions gradually calmed. The future of the AK-47 was uncertain, and Virginia was full of deep affection. He opened the train window, and the wind blowing in gradually swept away his worries.
***
Rhys didn't get back to camp early. More than half of the brothers had already returned. Ever since the incident with Doe's humiliation, no one dared to be late.
"Parks, were you on a date with a beautiful woman? The one you met in New York?" White, who had also returned early, asked with a grin when he saw him. "Don't look at me like that. You smell like a woman."
"Hey, White, when did you get so perceptive?" Tipper interjected. "Actually, I knew because Parks looks so smug. Only a woman can make a man look like that."
Rhys shook his head and laughed. "Alright, brothers, don't say I didn't warn you. The leave is over, and we'll be moving out. Get ready. This might be our last carnival in the United States of America."
"Are we shipping out?" Cobb, who had been dozing on the side, suddenly seemed to wake up.
"I can't say for sure, but I'm certain our departure is imminent. There's no doubt about it," Rhys nodded. "Get ready, fellas."
No one spoke. Their hearts were filled with both tension and excitement. After more than a year of training, wasn't this the moment they had been waiting for? Lost in their own thoughts, the men lost their interest in talking.
And things turned out just as Rhys had said. After the leave ended, the entire company moved out. They took a train to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Fort Bragg was the final assembly and transit point for troops before shipping out.
Brand new barracks, hot showers, and newly issued clothes, weapons, and equipment. All of it indicated that these were the final preparations for leaving America and heading to Europe.
"I hope this is a new beginning," Rhys wrote in his diary the day before leaving Fort Bragg for New York.
*****
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