War Photographer's Notebook

In the orchard filled with thick smoke, Wei Ran and Phil followed the teachers and opened the door of the wooden house. Then, everyone saw that Mrs. Barbara had put on a white wedding dress and was sitting on the sofa by the fireplace.

Around her, the furniture had been engulfed in flames, and at her feet stood an oil lamp with the lid unscrewed, and the German kettle from which she had drank all the brandy.

In her hand, she held the P38 pistol that belonged to Julian. Her lower abdomen was still pressed against the muzzle of the gun, and the blood had stained the white wedding dress red.

In her other hand, she was still clutching a finger that was already dehydrated but still had a wedding ring on it - Julian's finger.

"Please help me give the finger on the table and the ring on it to Attila."

As Barbara spoke, she fired a second bullet into her bulging belly. When the shell fell to the ground, she pointed to the table in front of her and continued, "When he becomes an adult, let him put that finger and the ring on it." Send it to the headquarters of the Luftwaffe, or...or just throw it into the Klinsmann family cemetery."

Seeing that everyone was about to rush over, Barbara had already put the muzzle of the gun to her chin, "Tell Attila to be an ordinary person. Don't join the war, let alone dream of becoming a noble. Just be an ordinary person." .”

"boom!"

After another gunshot, Barbara fell down on the sofa with a thud - just like the ending that Wei Ran had vaguely guessed.

"Quickly put out the fire!"

In the crowd, the thief Hans who appeared out of nowhere shouted, picked up a blanket and beat the flames all over the room. Phil, who was in tears, gently picked up Barbara's body and walked out of the room step by step. A very clean cabin.

Behind him, Wei Ran reached out and picked up the sugar bowl with another finger on the table, and also picked up a white envelope that was pressed underneath.

On the envelope, there was also written in beautiful floral German: "Dear Attila Klinsmann, this is a letter written to you when you are 18 years old. Please open it on your 18th birthday. "

Looking at the people around him who were busy putting out the fire, Wei Ran silently put the sugar bowl and envelope into his pocket, then picked up the paratrooper's knife on the table and picked up the one stained with blood again. P38 pistol and the German kettle that still smells of brandy.

When he walked out of the room with these relics, Phil had already placed Barbara's body on the bench, and he was sitting next to it, staring blankly at the apple tree not far away that was full of fruits.

Wei Ran secretly sighed and handed the things he brought out to Phil one by one. The latter seemed to have just noticed Wei Ran. He hurriedly wiped the corners of his eyes and stuffed the sugar bowl, envelope and water bottle. In his bag, he put the pistol in Barbara's hand again.

"Aren't we fighting a just war?"

Phil asked as if talking to himself, "Didn't we already defeat the evil Fasusi? Why? Why did we fail to prevent any tragedy in the end?"

"I do not know"

Wei Ran lit up another cigarette tremblingly. How could he know the answer, and how could he not know the answer?

They were unable to prevent the tragedies caused by the war. Just like he knew that Barbara would definitely choose to commit suicide after seeing Julian's last letter, but there was no way or reason to prevent her from committing suicide and persuade her to live a strong life. Same as going down.

strong? It would be better to live in humiliation. Her proud pilot will never be able to fly back.

Is it really possible to let the woman who lost her husband and suffered humiliation suffer in pain for the rest of her long life? That may be a tragedy more cruel than the tragedy itself.

In another silence, Hans the Thief and the teachers took less than ten minutes to put out the fire that had just started. However, when they came out of the wooden house again, they did not accuse them of bringing bad news. and unfortunate Phil and Victor.

"Gentlemen, I think it is necessary to discuss with you where Mrs. Barbara should be buried."

The oldest old man in the crowd came over and said, "Do you know where the Klinsmann family's cemetery is?"

Seeing Wei Ran and Phil looking at each other, the old man sighed and said, "In this case, let's bury her in this orchard. Gentlemen, do you have any objections?"

"We have no objection"

Wei Ran and Phil expressed their attitudes one after another, and they were not qualified to have opinions.

"The next step is Mrs. Barbara's funeral, Attila's whereabouts, and how to arrange the orchard."

The old man turned to look at his companions who had just put out the signs of the fire, "Gentlemen and ladies, I propose that Attila come to our school to study next spring. In addition, from now on, I will be the one to study." Take care of Attila.”

"But principal, there are already four orphans in your family."

"What does it matter if there is one more Attila?" the old man who stood up to take charge of the situation said nonchalantly.

"Mr. Principal"

Phil spoke at this time, "If. If you are willing to trust me, let me take Attila away."

"you?"

The man who first received Wei Ran and Phil asked with suppressed anger, "You still want to harm Attila?"

"Shut up!"

The old principal scolded the man who hadn't finished speaking, turned to Phil, and said politely, "Sir, we don't trust you, especially there is no way to believe that a drunken and unkempt British man can take care of you. A child of only five years old.”

"I'm really not suitable for taking care of children, but my brother has a farm in Brighton, England. Although the output is not much, it is still rich. Moreover, their child is about the same age as Attila, and he is also a boy."

Phil wiped his face vigorously and continued, "I am willing to adopt Attila and let him live in my brother's home. There he will get a good education, have enough food and clothing, and get the father's love that he lacks. and uncompromised maternal love, and having playmates of the same age.”

Seeing that the old principal was about to say something, Phil continued, "Every year, when the apples here are ripe, I will ask my brother to bring Attila back here to have a look.

He will not forget that he is a German, nor will he forget his mother and father. Everything that happened in that war, including Mrs. Barbara’s unfortunate experience, I will remember without reservation when he grows up. tell him.

There is also Mrs. Barbara's funeral, and I will bear all the expenses. And of course, there’s this orchard.

I will stay and take care of the orchard that Mrs. Barbara left behind. Until this time next year, my brother will bring Attila back to have a look. Then you can ask Attila how he is doing there. If you feel like it at that time My brother didn't take good care of Attila well enough. It doesn't matter even if you kill me. "

Having said this, Phil picked up the P38 pistol that was originally in Mrs. Barbara's hand and handed it to the old principal, "Just use this gun to kill me."

Having said this, the old principal sighed after a long silence, "Then take him away. If you or your brother can't take care of him, please send him back immediately. Look. For Julian's sake."

"I swear, I'll take good care of him."

Phil made a serious promise, "My brother will also take good care of him. I will send a telegram to my brother this afternoon and ask him to come and pick up Attila."

"In this case."

The old principal sighed, cheered up and said, "Friends, cover the mirrors and let's start preparing for Mrs. Barbara's funeral."

"Principal, do you really trust those two British people?" The man who first received Wei Ran and Phil asked in a low voice immediately as everyone began to prepare for the funeral.

"Believe them"

The old principal sighed, emptied the pistol stained with Mrs. Barbara's blood and put it in his arms, "Believe me, even if they are British, for them, sending Julian's legacy is The letter was actually a more cruel torture than Barbara's suicide. Look at the British man who took the photo. He might have expected this to happen, but he still came.

There is nothing more painful in this world than knowing that tragedy is about to happen but knowing that you are completely powerless to prevent it. "

Hearing this, the man looked at the silent Wei Ran, only to find that the latter was leaning against the fence not far away, drinking sips with Hans the thief he had just given him. That jug of cider.

"Why are you here?" Wei Ran took the kettle and asked the thief Hans.

"I went to pick up my brother and found you and Mr. Phil when I passed by."

After a moment of silence, the thief Hans took the initiative to add, "I know this orchard, I know Sister Barbara, and I know Julian even more."

"Do you know them?" Wei Ran looked at each other in astonishment.

"Hans von Basten"

Hans, the thief, retold his name in a self-deprecating manner and murmured to himself, "Before the war started, my grandfather was a real baron, with a title, a fief and servants, even someone like me Children in the collateral line can have their own private tutor.”

At this point, Hans the Thief raised his chin towards Mrs. Barbara's body, "Sister Barbara is our vocal teacher. Her father was my grandfather's coachman when he was alive. If she can go to college, she will have the opportunity to learn Music is all because of my grandfather’s sponsorship and letters of recommendation. Otherwise, let alone studying music, she might not even be able to afford a decent musical instrument.

And Julian, he was our swordsmanship teacher. As far as I know, he left honorary scars on the faces of six people when he was in college. No one in the entire university had ever defeated him in swordsmanship. "

"Are you missing the aristocratic life?" Wei Ran took another sip of fruit wine noncommittally.

"Of course I miss it. Even if my parents are as disdainful as Julian for everything about the nobility, at least at that time I wouldn't be a thief for a few marks, let alone be a guide for you. "

The thief Hans took the kettle from Wei Ran and gave the boss a sip of fruit wine. "I didn't even look down on Sister Barbara at that time." "I thought your relationship was very good."

“Quite the opposite”

The thief Hans returned the kettle to Wei Ran, "At least I have a very bad relationship with Julian. Although he is considered a noble, he despises all nobles, including my grandfather, and all nobles like an emperor. Everything I'm proud of, and everything I've always wanted but never got.

Frankly speaking, if he hadn't fallen in love with Sister Barbara, if Sister Barbara hadn't opened her mouth, people like me might never have had the opportunity to learn swordsmanship from him.

But I hate his condescending look, his contempt for us, his disgusting eyes, as if we are just a few lowly civilians in front of him. "

After saying this, Hans the Thief took a long breath and said, "Okay, now Germany is finally what Julian and my parents wanted. There are no more ridiculous and unnecessary aristocrats. I hope that now The ghostly Germany is the Germany they want to see."

"Julian is a special man, and I suspect your parents must be too."

As Wei Ran spoke, he handed the kettle to Phil, who came over and sat down next to them, but looked at the teachers who were starting to prepare for the funeral.

"yes"

Hans the Thief's tone at this time was mature and vicissitudes befitting his age. "In order to be with that commoner girl, he very strongly rejected my grandfather's marriage proposal and rejected my wife who could inherit all my grandfather's inheritance. He was so admired by his cousin that he even broke off relations with the Klinsmann family."

Taking the kettle passed from Phil's hand with a natural look, Hans the Thief took another sip of fruit wine, "After the war, when my brother and I were about to starve to death, it was Sister Barbara who saved us. , I obviously mocked her rudely at her wedding to Julian."

"So your parents are not translators and proofreaders, right?" Phil asked, taking the kettle returned by the other party.

“They are indeed the publisher’s translators and proofreaders”

The thief Hans replied calmly, "As I said, I can only be considered a descendant of a nobleman at best, and the only thing I inherited from the nobleman was the letters in my name.

My parents are similar. Like Julian, they disdain everything about the nobility. The only difference is that they are not as arrogant or brave as him, and they can show it without scruples regardless of the occasion.

But even so, this war neither spared the arrogant Julian and his Barbara, nor my parents. "

"What was left from that war was one tragedy after another."

After speaking, Phil took another sip of wine, and while passing the kettle to Wei Ran, he asked, "Hans, where is your brother?"

"On the roadside outside the orchard," Hans pointed to the fence he was leaning against, "he is holding our dog on a leash. It can easily bite people if it comes in."

"It's better to stay"

Phil said abruptly, "Hans, you and your brother can stay here. I will be responsible for taking care of this orchard next. I need help from people."

"Aren't you afraid that I will kill you?" Hans asked seriously, "You might have killed my grandfather, my parents, and my younger siblings."

"It's up to you," Phil said nonchalantly, "Do you want to stay?"

"As long as you pay me my salary"

Thief Hans said happily, "There is still a place to live. Only half of the house left by my grandparents is still habitable."

"certainly"

Phil saw the old principal looking at him and said calmly, "Hans, go and call your brother in, and his dog."

On this weekend filled with fruity fragrance and bright sunshine, Attila, who had just been sent to Rothenburg Castle not long ago, was also picked up by the thief Hans. Accompanied by his younger brother, Attila was unprepared but seemed to As if he had already accepted it, he quietly attended the funeral of his mother, Mrs. Barbara.

When the temporarily purchased coffin was buried in the orchard, Wei Ran also drank the last sip of cider in the kettle in the rising white light.

Is this the end?

As he murmured to himself, the white light gradually faded, and then he discovered that there was a soft and wet beach in his sight. Not far away, there is a rescue buoy that has lost its mast antenna.

At this time, Phil and another man who looked somewhat similar to him were standing on the deck of the buoy, each holding a cigar. Wei Ran, on the other hand, was hiding behind a stone on the shore.

The stone just blocked the sight of the two people on the deck, but it couldn't block the conversation floating down the wind at all.

As Wei Ran listened patiently, Phil told everything about the buoy. The former also learned from his story that it seemed to be a year later in September 1946.

At this time, Phil had completely entrusted the apple orchard left by Mrs. Barbara to the care of the thief Hans. Mrs. Barbara's former colleagues were finally relieved to let William on the deck continue to raise Attila. .

Not only that, but from what Phil said, it seemed that even the little guy named Louis, the brother of Hans the Thief, had followed Phil to England not long ago, and was planning to "board" on William's farm.

It could be heard that William obviously liked children, and there was only happiness and expectation in his tone.

"William, from now on, whether it's Attila or Vanessa who was born to Heidi, or Hans's brother Louis, I'll leave them all under your care."

On the deck, Phil took a puff of his cigar and said, "I don't plan to start a family, and I have no way or energy to take care of my children, so..."

"No need to say anything Phil"

William, who seemed to be Phil's brother, also took a puff of his cigar, "We will take good care of these poor little guys, but it's you. Where are you going to go next? Are you going to go to Germany to grow apples?"

"I'm probably going to travel to Africa for a while, maybe a long time."

After speaking, Phil looked in the direction of Wei Ran, "Victor, how long do you plan to hide? I've already seen your windbreaker."

After hearing this, Wei Ran, who was still preparing to eavesdrop, walked out from behind the rock where he was hiding, walked under the buoy, and climbed up the ladder skillfully.

"Hello, Mr. William." Wei Ran took the initiative to say hello to William, and then looked at Phil.

However, what he didn't expect was that after not seeing each other for "a year", not only did Phil's thin cheekbones protrude, but his hair had also turned gray, and he even had more hair in his hands. A walking stick.

"Hello, Victor."

William, who looked much younger, shook hands with Wei Ran enthusiastically, "I often hear Phil mention you."

"Brother, how about you let me and Victor have a chat first?" Phil asked before Wei Ran could speak, "You go buy the boat ticket first."

"Of course." William smiled easily, "You guys talk first."

Watching William leave the deck, Phil stroked the railing and said, "This year, I have experienced more suffering than the previous five years."

"I can tell" Wei Ran sighed, but didn't know how to comfort him.

"Perhaps I should have simply killed Julian, or not agreed with him about his wife's email address."

Phil sighed, as if he remembered something, took out an extra thick envelope from his pocket and said, "Victor, do me a favor, quickly send this to my brother William, my joint The pain started last winter and I can no longer walk fast.”

"wait for me"

Wei Ran said that he had already taken the envelope, and then shouted at the top of his lungs, "William! Mr. William! Wait a minute!"

When he successfully stopped William, who had reached the roadside sixty or seventy meters away, Wei Ran immediately climbed off the deck and ran over with the envelope.

However, he did not notice that just when he was about to hand the extra thick envelope to William, he was on the deck of the buoy behind him. Phil took a sip of his cigar with satisfaction, then threw away his cane, opened the hatch of the buoy watchtower with a look of relief, and skillfully climbed the ladder and slid down.

"Mr. William, Phil asked me to give this to you."

"boom!"

Just when William was about to take over the thick envelope, behind Wei Ran, in the stranded buoy, there was an unprepared gunshot.

"Phil!"

Wei Ran felt a chill in his heart. Before the thick envelope in his hand could fall to the ground, he turned around and ran towards the buoy, running into the dazzling white light.