The sky was covered in a thin morning mist, and the roar of cars echoed through the fog on the highway.
From a faint, insect-like hum, the sound gradually swelled into a tremendous rumble.
The highway trembled slightly.
A long line of trucks emerged from the mist, becoming clearer and clearer on the road, like a long snake crawling along the winding highway.
The brothers of Easy Company would arrive at their designated area, the Ruhr mining region of Germany, this afternoon.
The 101st Airborne Division would be stationed on the west bank of the Rhine River, facing the Düsseldorf area.
The Second Battalion would hold the defensive line from Stürzelberg in the north to Worringen in the south.
To their right was the 82nd Airborne Division, facing Cologne.
Captain Heiliger arranged for each platoon to set up outposts along the Rhine River, while the officers and men of the entire Second Battalion were dispersed among the private homes in nearby small villages.
This was a requirement from Division HQ; in fact, the entire U.S. Army had been operating this way since entering German territory.
They would often notify German residents just ten minutes before, stating their intention to requisition their houses.
And these German residents were often caught off guard.
In these private homes, they invariably found hot and cold running water, electric lights, comfortable restrooms with toilet paper, and coal for stoves.
Webster once recorded life during this period: "It was an exciting thing to return home to your own house after standing guard in the U.S. Army.
We opened the door, leaving the hostile darkness behind.
The house was covered with blackout curtains, and the lights flickered.
We hung our rifles on the coat rack and shook the water from our raincoats.
Leisurely chatter came from the kitchen, bringing warmth and security.
A pot of coffee was brewing on the stove, available for anyone who wanted some.
Reese was talking about his mistress in London, while Jannoweck, Hickman, Collett, and Shorty were playing blackjack.
You could wash your hands in the sink; this was home, and we belonged here.
A few congenial friends, a clean, bright house, a cup of coffee—this was simply heaven."
The reason it was heaven was simple: in Germany, they enjoyed material treatment they hadn't experienced in other countries, which greatly changed their impression of the Germans.
Webster even wondered if the brutal acts of Germans massacring and mistreating Jewish people, as propagated, were perhaps deliberately exaggerated by the conquerors to incite people's anger.
However, when he later discovered the concentration camps, this impression was completely shattered; the stark contrast was almost unbearable for him.
As Easy Company moved into its defensive position, an order was issued from higher command prohibiting fraternization with enemy nationals.
Except for official duties, soldiers were not allowed to talk to any German, including children.
This clearly absurd order, which violated human nature, could not possibly be supported.
And Luz and Patrick Christenson were among those who harbored great resentment towards this order.
They always tried to find ways to get eggs and chickens from German villages, then return to the German houses where they were stationed and cook delicious meals, which was Patrick Christenson's strength.
So he valued eggs more, while Luz was not good at cooking; he preferred to chat with the girls in the German villages.
However, to avoid being seen by the officers violating the anti-fraternization policy, they often went about a mile away from the defensive area, then found ways to exchange goods with them, or even took their eggs and valuable-looking items from unoccupied houses.
The Germans did not show hatred towards these American occupying soldiers; they displayed their politeness and upbringing, always speaking kindly to Luz and his companions.
This also allowed most exchanges to proceed smoothly.
"Hey, come over here, chick, we've got a big haul, and we don't even have to trade!" In a farmhouse shed, where there were chickens and eggs, Patrick Christenson took off his helmet, then continuously pulled eggs from the chicken coop and put them in, grinning at Luz, "You catch the chickens, I'll get the eggs, we're making a big deal now!"
"Alright, Frank!" Saying that, he reached out to hold a hen, but the hen struggled so much that he had to extend his arm far out and pinch the hen's neck, "If it struggles again, I promise I'll shoot it!"
As the two were talking, the door to the shed suddenly opened, and in the light that streamed in, a young German girl could be seen, eyes wide, looking at them with some fear.
"Hi, hello!" Luz grinned and greeted the girl, then released his hand, and the hen fell to the ground, flapping its wings and disappearing from sight.
"Damn it, you lost our dinner!" Patrick Christenson looked at Luz in annoyance.
The German girl looked flustered; she was clearly scared by the two American soldiers, slowly backing away to the doorway, then turned and ran out!
"Wait, wait!" Luz, too late to show off his broken German, quickly ran towards the girl.
But the German girl turned in fright and ran out of the house.
Luz, however, refused to give up and also ran out of the shed, leaving only Patrick Christenson, who had a helmet full of eggs.
He shouted at Luz: "George, where are you going? Damn it!" Saying that, he also came out, holding the helmet full of eggs, and followed the direction Luz had run.
"Hey, wait, I just want to talk to you!" Luz had already chased her out and followed the girl to a cowshed.
He saw the girl looking at him with some fear, pulled out a chocolate bar from his pocket with a big smile, "Chocolate, do you like it?"
"Alright, George, leave her alone, let's go!" Patrick Christenson looked at Luz reaching out to him, expressing his dissatisfaction.
"Hey, Frank, don't mind me, just wait for me outside, I'll come out! Got it?" Luz held up a finger to Patrick Christenson, then made a gesture to go out!
Then he slowly walked towards the German girl, who was nervously backing away, "Don't like it? How about cigarettes? Do you like cigarettes?" The German girl cautiously reached behind her and took Luz's chocolate.
This immediately energized him even more, and he couldn't help but pull out more things from his pocket, including his allotted pen and chewing gum, almost handing over a grenade and a pistol.
"You idiot, don't even think I'll share an egg with you!" Patrick Christenson looked at Luz, shrugged helplessly, and then walked out.
In his opinion, this was utterly foolish.
Because it wasn't the first time Luz had done this; ever since entering Germany, he had been flirting with every girl he met, whether young girls or middle-aged women, as long as it was a woman, regardless of beauty, ugliness, fatness, or thinness, he would actively strike up a conversation, but he had never succeeded, instead constantly giving away his allocated food and supplies.
Clearly, in Patrick Christenson's eyes, this was a foolish act.
Patrick Christenson slowly walked back alone, counting the eggs in his helmet, and muttering discontentedly.
This time, there was no real gain.
And he looked at the cowshed again, shaking his head and saying, "Just wait, in five minutes, that idiot will come out!"
He was right; in less than five minutes, Luz came out of the cowshed in annoyance, with faint red marks of five fingers on his face, which made him look very dejected.
He touched his cheek and said to Patrick Christenson, "Let's go back, today is enough, German girls are really fiery!"
"You brought this on yourself!" Patrick Christenson glanced at him, somewhat gloating.
"No, no, didn't you see? She's really good-looking." Luz chuckled, then couldn't help but touch his cheek again, saying, "Hey, buddy, she's really a treasure.
Precisely because of that, she can't be won over with just a chocolate bar and a pack of chewing gum."
"Are you planning to come back for her tomorrow?" Patrick Christenson looked at Luz in surprise.
Luz chuckled: "Since she's hard to get, why don't I switch targets? Buddy, she's not the only German girl here? We'll go to other villages tomorrow, maybe we'll have some luck!"
"Don't even dream about it!" Patrick Christenson looked at Luz disdainfully, and the two walked towards their billet.
In fact, there were many soldiers like them; many were doing this, collecting various materials from villages when no owners were home, including eggs and chickens.
And the officers in the Town often occupied the houses of some well-off Germans, then plundered all the valuable things they didn't have time to take with them.
Captain Speirs was one of them; his hobby was collecting all shiny-looking items.
Then he would pack them and mail them back home.
This included silverware and handicrafts.
Even Major Winters and Captain Welsh were not exempt; this was the prevailing atmosphere in the U.S. Army.
As long as they didn't burn, kill, or loot, no one would hold them accountable.
However, their collecting appeared much more refined; generally, if they liked something, they would have their orderlies retrieve it, rarely doing it themselves.
"This is for you, a silver knife, it seems Germans know how to live well." Captain Welsh walked into the very elegant and beautiful house designated as Battalion HQ.
In the upstairs living room, Major Parks was playing blackjack with Captain Nixon, Captain Heiliger, and Lieutenant Compton.
Welsh was carrying a package, and in his hand, he held a silver knife, which he threw to Parks.
"Oh, God, do you want to kill me?" Parks caught it, then looked at the knife and couldn't help but smile at Welsh, who was busy opening the package, "It seems your haul is not small?"
"Yes, do you know where I went today? A German colonel's house!
I saw his photos, even though the woman wanted to hide them, hehe, so she gave me a set of silver tableware, honestly, it's really beautiful, I was stunned by these beautiful treasures!" As he spoke, the package loosened, and with a clatter, a crisp sound attracted the attention of the people at the gambling table, who all looked at him.
The package was full of shiny silver tableware, some with exquisite patterns, truly very beautiful.
This made Captain Speirs smack his lips and look at Captain Welsh, saying, "Whose house was it? Tell us where it is?
Those German Nazis have plundered who knows how many such things; we can't let them off, Harry, tell us!"
Welsh chuckled: "Don't even think about it, whoever finds it, it's theirs.
I found that house first.
Don't even think about it!" Saying that, Welsh re-wrapped the package and walked towards the bedroom inside.
Captain Speirs couldn't help but look at Major Parks.
Parks shrugged, then played with the silver dinner knife, saying, "Don't look at me like that, Speirs, I can't help you; this is the rule, I can't break it!" As he spoke, the dinner knife in his hand reflected the light streaming in from outside the window, emitting a cool, clear gleam.
Officers and soldiers in war are beyond their control; there is no right or wrong.
The difference between winners and losers is that winners can enjoy the obedience of the losers and possess their resources, enjoying all the wealth they have created.
This is war.
And now, Parks and his companions were stepping onto German soil as victors!
----
On the night of April 10, 1945, a friendly fire incident occurred. Major William Leaky, an officer who had just been promoted to chief of the intelligence section, led four brothers from the battalion headquarters intelligence section in an attempt to cross the Rhine River for patrol and reconnaissance.
However, they did not notify the American defense forces in advance, and as a result, they were discovered while crossing the river and were gunned down by machine guns.
Their bodies were found a few days later downstream of the Rhine River.
This was just one of several friendly fire incidents, but it made the brothers of Easy Company more cautious.
They now knew that the end of the war was very near, and their only mission was not to prove how extraordinary they were, but to find ways to preserve their lives so they could go home.
On April 11, logistics delivered everyone's mail.
This was the happiest time for the brothers, and they were usually happy to share their letters with others.
This was a rule among soldiers, especially letters from girls.
Parks also received two letters.
One was from his retired cheap old dad, with not many words, just saying that Parks' mother missed him very much and hoped he would write a reply to give her some comfort.
Parks' impression of his parents was very vague; basically, after inheriting his original memories, he had never gone back, so their impression was already very blurry.
But within this blur, there were some elusive emotions, and he didn't go back simply because he didn't know how to get along with them or what to say.
Perhaps it was time to take some time to go back, which would also be an explanation to them, no matter what the outcome would be or how he would feel.
The second letter was from Virginia.
Her letter made Parks fall silent again.
Virginia, as always, expressed her longing for him in the letter, as well as her current situation.
After she returned to America, her father's health was not good, and she was gradually taking over the business affairs, which made her very busy.
She wrote in the letter: "Whenever I finish a day's work, I lie on the bed and recall our moments.
It's strange that the time we spent together from meeting to being together wasn't long, but we seem so reluctant to part from each other, just like a couple who have been together for many years, and now the separation is just the husband going on a business trip to a faraway place, and the wife waiting for her husband to come home and cook delicious food."
All of this touched Parks somewhat.
Regarding this woman, he knew her desires: the desire for power and the desire for Parks.
And besides Parks' outstanding and unique talent, another important reason was that Parks was a national hero, and this halo was enough to intoxicate any woman.
But what saddened Parks was that Virginia mentioned one thing at the end: Jennifer, after returning to America with Virginia, soon resigned from the job Virginia had arranged for her, and then disappeared without a trace, never to be found again.
But she had said something to Virginia when she came back, and it was also mentioned in the letter: "I just want equality.
When one day the status of the three of us can be equal, I will come back.
Reese is mine!"
When Virginia heard Jennifer's words, she was very surprised; she thought she could reach a compromise with Jennifer, but now it seemed that Jennifer's personality was not one to compromise.
Perhaps she had already planned it, treating this three-person gathering as the final compromise and feast, and then withdrawing, waiting until she had enough advantage one day to come back and take her food, enjoying it alone.
This was also what Virginia was worried about; she had already seen her strength in Wall Street.
As long as there was an opportunity, she might succeed.
Parks could only smile bitterly now; he knew that Jennifer's personality was much stronger than Virginia's, which he had known from his first interaction with Jennifer.
He even remembered the way she shouted at him, "If you dare to forget me, I'll kill you!" Her eyes were burning with flames, which shocked his heart.
"What's wrong?" Major Winters' voice interrupted Parks' thoughts.
"Is it about the letters? Is there anything I can help you with?" Winters smiled as he looked at him.
"No, no, I have to handle this myself!
You can't help with this!" Parks quickly waved his hand, saying, "You know, those two girls who came that day, I think three people will always have conflicts.
The key is that I don't have a clear attitude yet.
This is my fault, and I think I have to find an opportunity to compensate!"
Winters nodded in agreement, saying, "You're right, Reese.
I'm not good at dealing with women; this really depends on you.
But I think you're not the worst.
Nick's situation is not optimistic.
He's drinking at the dining table in the living room; you'd better not disturb him.
He's full of resentment."
"Why?" Parks looked at Major Winters in surprise.
"Women! Just like you.
But the result is obviously much worse than yours; at least you're not an alcoholic and not cursing."
Major Winters shrugged.
"I can't stop him, and I don't know how to persuade him.
Perhaps you two can talk; you're both dealing with women's issues, so—you have a common topic!" Winters looked at Parks, expressing his hope that he would go and see him.
"Alright, hopefully, two disheartened people can comfort each other." Parks nodded helplessly, then walked towards the dining room.
From afar, he could see Nixon sitting sideways, leaning on the dining table.
There were already two empty bottles on the table, and one bottle had already poured out a little less than half, while Nixon was tilting his head back, pouring the wine in the glass down.
"Give me a drink, Nick!" Parks said, sitting down opposite Nixon.
"Because of a woman?" He took the glass of wine Nixon handed him and drank half of it in one gulp.
"Kathy wants to divorce me!" Nixon said angrily.
Parks nodded, saying, "I understand.
I'm sorry, Nick!"
"She wants to take everything, she wants to take the house, take the kids, and even take the dog!" Nixon said, spreading his hands and shouting angrily, "That's not her dog, that's my dog.
She wants to take my dog.
Damn it, God, what should I do?" He covered his face with both hands, then took a deep breath.
"I'm so sorry, Nick!" He said, raising his glass, "For the women God created!" Nixon also reluctantly picked up his glass, and they clinked them together.
Parks drained his wine in one gulp, then poured another half glass, and said to Nixon, "I don't know what to say.
Dick just told me you're also having woman problems, so he said we two have a common topic."
"Woman problems? You?" Nixon glanced at him noncommittally.
"Now, from officers to privates in the 2nd Battalion, which brother doesn't envy you?
Don't talk to me about woman problems, Reese; you'll just provoke me again."
Parks shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Nick, at least your woman is just divorced, but she's still there.
But my woman has disappeared.
Heaven, to escape, she actually played missing.
I don't even know where to find her, or whether to think this is just an absurd dream.
Don't overthink it; look on the bright side, Nick.
When a woman says goodbye to you, that's when we're free! Isn't it?"
"Yes, freedom!" Nixon raised his glass and said to Parks, "Reese, this is the best comforting words I've ever heard, for freedom!" Then they clinked their glasses again and drank it all.
"You're not like Dick; he can't say anything so philosophical, and Harry, that bastard knew I was getting divorced and disappeared from here long ago.
Heaven knows if the wedding he now yearns for with Betty is his prison.
And damn Buck, he was a heartthrob in college; he naturally doesn't know that some people actually worry about women.
It seems only we two can talk!"
"Of course, we have a common topic!" Parks shook his head, then raised his glass again.
Originally, he wanted to console Nixon, but now Parks also just wanted to drink a little more.
Jennifer's disappearance, although regrettable for him, was also a kind of relief.
If the three of them were to live together long-term in the future, conflicts would be inevitable, and the media would not let them go, because Parks was now a national hero, and his image issues would make them have to be careful.
But if one day Jennifer succeeded and returned to wage a war with Virginia, what then?
Parks got a headache just thinking about it, but fortunately, that was still far off.
He could only take it one step at a time.
That night, Parks and Nixon both got drunk because of women's problems.
However, Nixon seemed more depressed than Parks.
The failure of his marriage made him lose everything, while Parks at least still had one, so he wasn't left with nothing.
On the night of April 12, people at battalion headquarters received news that President Roosevelt had passed away.
Those gambling, drinking, or shaving in the room were stunned.
They watched in shock as an officer from the battalion headquarters finished delivering the news and left.
Actually, Roosevelt's death could have been known from the radio, but they hadn't bothered to listen to those things.
At this moment, Parks suddenly realized that Roosevelt's death was no different from what happened in his original world.
History had not changed, but what did he count for here then?
Since nothing had changed?
At least he had changed many things in Easy Company's original history; he saved the lives of many brothers, reducing their casualties, especially those veterans who had trained with him in Taccoa; they were such a lovely group of people.
Because of his arrival, the brothers who would have died or been injured were all alive and well.
That was enough; nothing was more valuable than saving these respectable lives—this was the meaning of his rebirth.
Parks sat there quietly, telling himself with certainty!
On April 14, 1945, General Eisenhower requested all troops to hold a brief memorial service for President Roosevelt. Major Winters decided to conduct it by platoon. Each platoon leader would arrange the ceremony and agree on a common time. Then, Battalion HQ sent personnel to inspect the companies and select any platoon to participate in the ceremony. Major Winters went to D Company, Captain Nixon went to F Company, and Major Parks went to Easy Company; this was Major Winters's deliberate arrangement. Captain Welsh had nothing to do, so he and Lieutenant Compton agreed to go with Major Parks to Easy Company, due to their affection for Easy Company.
Lieutenant Colonel Compton went to the Third Platoon he once led, Captain Welsh was in the Second Platoon, and Major Parks was in the First Platoon. These were all platoons they had previously led, so they naturally felt a strong sense of familiarity. Moreover, when Major Parks arrived at the location of E Platoon, the brothers warmly came over to greet him, and their conversations seemed much more casual and intimate.
"Boss, they thought you'd abandon us! I told them, no matter if Boss is a company commander or a deputy battalion commander, he'll never leave his brothers!" White came up and hugged Parks, then smiled, pointing at the guys who had gathered around. "Look at you all, nothing to say now, huh? Boss has been with us since the First Platoon."
His words drew a burst of laughter from the crowd. Major Parks patted his shoulder and said, "You're right, we're always together!" With that, he walked over to the current First Platoon leader, Lieutenant Foley, and nodded to him, indicating, "Alright, Lieutenant, you can begin!" When Heliger was promoted to company commander, Lieutenant Foley was transferred to become the First Platoon's leader, which was Parks's idea. The brothers in the First Platoon were the best in Easy Company, and their veterans were also the most difficult to manage. Currently, among the officers at the platoon level, only Lieutenant Foley was qualified to control them. Lieutenant Speirs was not yet capable; he lacked much combat experience with the brothers, especially in France and Netherlands. The guys in the First Platoon had a sense of distrust toward him. Lieutenant Foley's Second Platoon was led by an additional officer, Lieutenant Fischer.
Lieutenant Foley took out a St. Joseph's prayer book and found a prayer to read to the brothers. There was nothing new about it. He didn't say more, and Parks also said nothing and left. He knew that if you didn't admire President Roosevelt, there was no need to say anything at the memorial service. Lieutenant Foley was such a person. And even if you did admire him, there was no need to vocalize it, because your admiration was in your heart, not on your lips.
Major Parks did not wait for Captain Welsh and Lieutenant Compton to return to Battalion HQ with him; he walked back alone. His heart was turbulent. Regarding President Roosevelt's death, he felt not sorrow but a sense of regret. After all, President Roosevelt had personally pinned the Medal of Honor on him and praised him greatly on national radio. He was the first soldier President Roosevelt had personally kept behind for a private lunch; there was too much involved in that. Despite the benefits, there was also respect and care.
Now this person was gone, and what remained, whether praise or criticism, was no longer important. Regardless, he had always made outstanding contributions to humanity's anti-fascist war, and this was undeniable. And for himself, a person who had received President Roosevelt's favor, would President Truman, his successor, cause the war's progress to change differently from his previous life?
Parks felt his mind was a bit chaotic, so he simply stopped thinking about these issues. He was currently just a deputy battalion commander in the Airborne Division, and all major decisions were not yet his to dictate. What he needed to do now was ensure that in the final stages of the European war, the brothers would no longer suffer casualties.
After the memorial service, Major Winters and Nixon all returned to battalion headquarters, but Nixon found his liquor was running low. He decided to ask Wei Si Te in logistics; he had previously instructed Wei Si Te to find him a brand of liquor called 'Emerald 69.' Perhaps he would find something there. To be honest, both Nixon and Winters admired Roosevelt, and President Roosevelt's death had also made them feel a bit down.
"Captain Nixon!" Wei Si Te was sorting mail and smiled as he walked over to Nixon. "Good to see you, sir!"
Nixon nodded, then walked up to him and said, "Buddy, I told you, I can't find any whiskey. Yes, that special brand of liquor. I hope you haven't disappointed me; you haven't forgotten my request, have you?"
Wei Si Te licked his lips and smiled, "Of course. To be honest, sir, this brand is hard to find in Germany. There aren't many choices here."
"Yes, I know!" Nixon nodded.
"Also, sir, if I can really find a few bottles, I'm afraid they won't be cheap." Wei Si Te said, turning to a cabinet door, then opening it and taking out four bottles of the exact brand Nixon wanted. "You know, I went through a lot of trouble and spent a lot of money to get these few bottles!"
"Money's not an issue, Wei Si Te!" Nixon's eyes were already gleaming. "Do you need marks or dollars? Or other currency?" As he spoke, he reached out and took the bottles into his hands.
"Dollars, sir. I need to keep dollars. The war is almost over, isn't it? We won't be here much longer, in Europe!" Wei Si Te licked his lips, then watched Nixon's hand reach into his pocket.
With a 'slap,' Nixon slapped a thick roll of dollars onto the counter and started to leave, then suddenly turned back to Wei Si Te and said, "Keep collecting this liquor for me!"
Wei Si Te picked up the thick roll of banknotes, estimated its value, and realized it was far more than expected. He nodded joyfully, "I will, sir. You've never been disappointed with me before!" Then, watching Captain Nixon step out the door, he chuckled to himself and muttered, "And he's never disappointed me either!"
When Nixon entered Battalion HQ, he heard Captain Welsh shouting, "Hey, look, our rich playboy is back! He always spends a fortune on that liquor he's so fond of. Looks like I wasn't wrong this time either!"
"None for you, Harry!" Nixon glanced at Captain Welsh, shaking his head. "I paid a lot for this. Don't even think about sharing it with me. Maybe I should do what they do in bars: you should buy a glass or two with cash or something."
"Because of President Roosevelt?" Captain Welsh looked at Nixon, somewhat disheartened.
"No, to make you shut up!" Captain Nixon sat down, opened one of the bottles, poured himself a glass, took a sip, then looked at the people around him. "And for him!" Everyone knew who 'him' was. A president whom the entire nation once revered was gone; there would always be people who mourned and felt sad.
Winters nodded, but he said nothing. Just like Parks, he said nothing and left the platoon he was with. He could see that most officers were saddened by President Roosevelt's passing, but among the ordinary soldiers, not everyone felt the same; at least half of the soldiers showed an indifferent attitude. This wasn't disrespect towards President Roosevelt, but rather that they had come to Europe and endured much hardship in the war. Some soldiers even thought that if President Roosevelt hadn't made them cross the Atlantic to fight here, they might have been enjoying themselves at home!
April 18th, this day felt very special. From morning, birds were chirping endlessly, which made Captain Welsh, who had requested to sleep in the same room as Parks, somewhat unbearable. He loudly exclaimed "Damn it, hell" and other words, then covered his ears with a pillow.
"Harry, maybe something happy is happening today. The birds don't know you've covered your ears; they won't stop. Since you can't escape it, why not just bring the pillow over and enjoy it? Imagine their chirping as beautiful music." Major Parks was sleeping on another bed and was shaving in the room's washroom.
"Well, everything you say is true!" Captain Welsh jumped up. "Anyway, my sweet dream has already been disturbed. It's just damn it, I could have slept in a bit longer today."
"You'll have your chance!" Parks wiped his face, covered in soap suds, with a towel, then walked out. "Let's go, Dick is waiting for us. He sent an orderly early this morning; I think it must be something important! Hurry up, let's go, or we'll be late!"
"Wait, I need to get ready first, five minutes!" Captain Welsh leapt out of bed and rushed into the washroom.
"Three minutes, Harry! Otherwise, you can walk there yourself; it's not far anyway!" Parks's voice came from outside the door, making Welsh grimace. Because he was in too much of a hurry, he hurt his lip while brushing his teeth.
At Battalion HQ, the company commanders and platoon leaders saw Major Parks and Captain Welsh hurrying in. Major Winters motioned for them to sit beside him, then stood up and said, "I have an important announcement to make." He looked around, then continued, "The German resistance in the Ruhr area has ended. Over 320,000 German soldiers have surrendered."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Battalion HQ immediately erupted. The officers' faces were full of smiles. They slapped each other's hands, then laughed and embraced. Clearly, this was the most exhilarating news recently. It was also the best news among all the good news since the start of the major war! This meant they would advance deeper into Germany, and then the war would end. This was what everyone was hoping for.
"So we have two hours to prepare; we're departing." With that, Major Winters walked to the map in Battalion HQ, pointed to a place on it, and said, "This place is called Doornmagen. We will advance there and then be stationed there. We've been told to search the area and report whatever we find. As for what we might find, that's up to us!" He clapped his hands and said, "Everyone, go prepare! We only have two hours!"
What would they find? Parks already had a slight idea of what the outcome would be. They would discover a huge concentration camp in Doornmagen. And that scene would shock all the brothers of the Second Battalion.
The refugee camp in Doornmagen was not a refugee camp in the true sense; it was simply comprised of Polish, Czech, Belgian, Dutch, French, Russian, and other citizens from European countries occupied by the Nazis.
When Winters and his men arrived, the refugees were spread throughout the small town, occupying makeshift shelters, and watched joyfully as the soldiers leaped one by one from the trucks.
Some immediately began to sing, their voices slowly converging into a magnificent chorus, even more enthusiastic than the welcome they received upon liberating France.
Major Parks looked at these refugees and realized his mistake; this was not a concentration camp, but merely a group of refugees rounded up by the Nazis for forced labor.
Yet, even as refugees, they were confined to the most rudimentary shelters, constantly hungry from arduous physical labor, and received only meager rations.
Now, they could finally rest.
They cheered, sang, and danced around the American soldiers, expressing their joy with every excited gesture, word, and expression they could muster.
Meanwhile, the officers and men of Easy Company enjoyed comfortable barracks, which were actually German civilian homes.
They had evicted the original inhabitants and seized the houses under the pretext of requisition.
Once liberated, these refugees were more than willing to follow the American soldiers' commands, which made them endearing to the brothers of Easy Company.
These refugees helped the American soldiers peel potatoes, clean rooms, and wash their dishes.
In return, the American soldiers paid them some compensation, which the refugees found to be very generous, making them excited by the American soldiers' liberality and even more willing to work for them.
Fine wine, delicious food, and a comfortable environment defined Easy Company's life in Doornmagen.
Moreover, these refugees had practically become their attendants, making the brothers so comfortable they almost forgot about returning home.
"This is simply paradise!" Luz exclaimed, lying comfortably on a soft bed after drinking some wine.
During the day, there was little to do, so they would scavenge for money in German houses and then generously distribute it to the liberated refugees.
This compensation was a repayment for their years of hard labor, paid for by the German people and generously disbursed by the Americans.
"Honestly, I can't believe we've entered German territory.
We're invaders, buddy, yet we've met no resistance.
Have the German people collapsed?
Where are their armies?" White found a bottle of wine in the house, tilted his head back, and took a swig.
"Honestly, if it's all like this, I'll really enjoy this European trip in the days to come."
"Hey, Malarkey, I want a child!" Luz suddenly turned to look at Malarkey on the opposite bunk, who was cleaning his spoils.
Over the past two days, he had scavenged a lot of items from various houses, including many Marks, silverware, and rum.
He was more enthusiastic about scavenging these items than anyone else.
The Germans' wealth was unbelievable.
Many large cities in Germany had become ruins, but the countryside remained largely untouched, with their affluence evident in the decorations and furnishings of their homes.
"You want a child?" Malarkey chuckled without turning his head, looking up at a silver dining knife.
"With a girl from here?
Is she German, Dutch, or Czech?
Honestly, I don't think you'll succeed.
These girls are not like French or English women; they won't compromise."
"No, no, Malarkey, it's a child from the refugee camp, named Muchi Ke.
Honestly, the first time I saw him, I was moved.
Look at his eyes, full of cleverness and vitality.
Honestly, these past two days he's constantly helped me with chores, even shining my shoes.
I guess he has no choice; his parents died in the refugee camp!" Luz suddenly sighed, then looked out the window.
"I advise you not to think about it.
Winters won't agree.
Think about it, from now on you'd have to take him everywhere with you, even when you're out with girls.
I wouldn't do that; it's too much trouble.
If he really moved you, I think you should give him more Marks and clothes or something.
It's better than him following you; we're still on the front lines.
We're fighting a war, Luz, don't be naive!" Malarkey scoffed at Luz's suggestion.
Luz's wish ultimately could not be realized; the 101st Airborne Division HQ had issued an order specifically addressing these situations, prohibiting any refugees from accompanying the troops.
This somewhat disappointed Luz, but he still found a military uniform for the child named Muchi Ke to wear.
And whenever Muchi Ke finished cleaning his room, tidied his belongings, and looked at Luz with his big, dark, flashing eyes, Luz couldn't help but soften and give him as many Marks as possible.
Some soldiers shared Luz's feelings; there were many orphans in the refugee camp whose parents had died from the torment, and they could only survive with the care of others.
In these days, German soldiers marched toward the American lines in one company after another, not to fight, but to surrender.
The once invincible elite army that had struck fear throughout Europe was now dramatically defeated.
Their soldiers appeared calm, with no complaints about the outcome, but the dejected faces of their officers spoke volumes; they had collapsed.
On the fourth day, it was Cobb and Patrick Christenson's turn for duty.
They were to patrol around the refugee camp, and about five hundred meters from the camp was a makeshift road, which they patrolled along.
Bored, there seemed to be no one around.
Cobb yawned and motioned for Patrick Christenson to sit down.
Although many in Easy Company didn't think highly of Cobb, Patrick Christenson and Cobb found common ground.
This was also because Cobb had saved Patrick Christenson's life during the Battle of Foy, and from that point on, Patrick Christenson realized that Cobb was actually like the other brothers in Easy Company, just a bit of a chatterbox, so he felt good about Cobb.
It was an overcast day, somewhat cold and windy.
Cobb and Patrick Christenson sat on the grass by the roadside.
Cobb pulled out a pack of cigarettes, offered one to Patrick Christenson, then casually lit his own, exhaling a puff of smoke.
These past few days had truly spoiled the brothers of Easy Company.
Even with such comfort, Cobb was still complaining that he had only had one patrol duty.
"Hey, Patrick Christenson, is something wrong?" Cobb lay on the grass, exhaling smoke, then suddenly turned his head to look at Patrick Christenson, who was also puffing away beside him.
"How come I hear something?
Hey, hurry up and get up." Cobb scrambled to his feet, then looked ahead along the road, and suddenly gasped, "Damn it, we've run into a large company of German soldiers!"
This startled Patrick Christenson as well.
He quickly got up, then he and Cobb lay on the grass by the roadside, looking ahead, where German soldiers were already visible.
They were marching four abreast along the road, and behind them was a vast, dark, long line.
"God, we're being ambushed!
Let's get back quickly!
Tell Captain Heliger that we've encountered a large company of German soldiers!" With that, the two got up and were about to run.
Suddenly, several German motorcycles sped up from the rear of the column, and one of the men shouted loudly into a megaphone in broken English to the two: "Surrender, surrender!"
"Damn it, they want us to surrender!" Cobb slowly turned.
The German motorcycles were almost upon them; if they ran, they would surely be riddled with bullets by the German soldiers.
"Should we surrender?" Cobb asked Patrick Christenson beside him, feeling very uncertain.
Neither of them dared to run anymore, one holding a rifle horizontally, the other gripping a submachine gun, looking at the approaching German soldiers, at a loss.
"Screech—" The motorcycles stopped, and a dozen German soldiers jumped off the motorcycles!
They lined up neatly in front of Cobb, and among them was even a Colonel officer.
He walked towards Cobb, then snapped a salute to him.
Clearly, this action startled Cobb and Patrick Christenson, making them instinctively want to raise their weapons, but they dared not.
Cobb's hands trembled slightly, but Patrick Christenson steadied himself and stammered, "Can I help you, Colonel, sir?"
Clearly, as soon as he said this, Patrick Christenson wished he could slap himself.
What kind of question was that?
How could he ask such a foolish question?
"Surrender!" The German Major stood rigidly and said to the two of them.
His pronunciation wasn't very standard, but Patrick Christenson and Cobb still heard him clearly; it had reached an irreversible point.
Who knew that the first time they went on patrol, they would encounter such bad luck?
So, he threw down his rifle, and Cobb also quickly dropped his submachine gun.
The German Colonel looked at them, somewhat anxious, then picked up the rifle and handed it to Patrick Christenson, saying, "Surrender—we—surrender!"
Patrick Christenson hesitantly took the rifle, then cautiously asked the Colonel, "You—surrender—to us?"
The German officer listened carefully and then nodded.
To convince Patrick Christenson and Cobb, he turned and gave orders to the German soldiers, and then Patrick Christenson and Cobb witnessed a scene that left them dumbfounded: these German soldiers placed their rifles horizontally on their backs, then squatted down with their hands clasped over their heads.
This time, Cobb and Patrick Christenson believed it; these German soldiers had truly surrendered.
Then he looked at the company, secretly feeling fortunate; there were approximately two to three thousand German soldiers here.
Not long after, everyone in Doornmagen witnessed a strange sight: two American soldiers escorting two to three thousand dark-clad German soldiers, still carrying rifles, entered the town.
Upon entering the village, these German soldiers, under the supervision of the two American soldiers, placed their weapons together.
Captain Winters, hearing the news, quickly organized three companies and rushed over.
Everyone in Second Battalion saw Cobb and Patrick Christenson's triumphant faces.
They were showing off their achievement to the surrounding residents.
Two men had captured two to three thousand German soldiers, which inflated their self-confidence to the extreme.
It also left everyone in Second Battalion dumbfounded and disbelieving.
But Major Parks believed it; he knew that the German soldiers had collapsed.
They just wanted to end this battle and lay down their arms.
"Unbelievable!" Major Winters couldn't help but exclaim.
It had been so difficult fighting these German soldiers, and now they were actively surrendering to the Allied forces.
"This is just the beginning!" Major Parks exclaimed.
"We'll encounter more such things in the future.
This war, we are about to achieve final victory, Dick."
Yes, the war was finally heading towards its expected conclusion!