War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 43 Nikolai's Obsession
Walking on the boulevard under the oak tree, Wei Ran feels relaxed after letting go of the boulder, but at the same time, he can't help feeling a little regretful.

It is undoubtedly a good thing that Nicholas does not have himself in his experience. After all, he does not want to see his own photo in the historical records, which is definitely a scary thing.

On the other hand, the letters of Aleutian and others have been delivered to the recipients, and they have lived up to their trust, even if the sender is not themselves.

However, the ending of the crucial application report for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union is unavoidably embarrassing. After the soldiers who had stood firm on the 19th position were buried in the mud, all their hard work became something that a few people did not want to recall and the majority A war story that no one knows.

"Forget it, that's not bad." Wei Ran let out a long breath, skillfully replaced the old Leica hanging on his chest with a new film, and pressed the shutter facing the avenue behind him.

But before he could turn around, Nicholas chased after him on his old Harley.

"Young man, if you have enough time, how about having lunch together?" Nicholas, with half a cigarette in his mouth, put his motorcycle on Wei Ran's only way, with a trace of anticipation hidden in his casual tone.

Wei Ran happily agreed, "Of course, as long as it's not boiled potatoes in salt water or water mixed with vodka."

"Of course not! That's a good thing you can only eat before you kill the Germans. Come back by yourself! I'll wait for you at the door."

Before Nicholas finished speaking, he turned the accelerator and steered the old Harley to the two-story building, unaware that his back had been permanently fixed in the old Leica camera in Wei Ran's hand.

Strolling back to the back of the two-story building wrapped in Lingxiao flowers, Nicholas, who was originally shirtless, had already put on a worn sea soul shirt, and even the leather pants full of hippie elements , were replaced by a pair of Soviet-era camouflage trousers and matching large leather boots.

Silently followed the other party into the door again, this time Nicholas who led the way did not stop at all, took Wei Ran directly to the second floor, then took out a shiny key and opened the door installed on the side of the corridor. security door.

Following Nicholas to a spacious room where the blackboard still remains, Wei Ran sat on the old sofa and waited quietly under the sign of the former, while Nicholas brought him a can of beer from the refrigerator After that, he pushed the door again to leave, and got into a locked room at the end of the corridor.

Taking advantage of the waiting time, Wei Ran looked around secretly. Although this room is spacious enough, the furnishings are extremely simple, except for a desk, a few sofas placed against the wall, and an old refrigerator. Outside the dining table with two chairs by the window, the only remaining bookshelves are filled with kraft paper portfolios.

Before the can of beer in his hand was finished, Nicholas walked in with a large file bag.

"Come and see"

Nicholas greeted him, and waited for Wei Ran to sit down across the table before slowly opening the file bag and taking out a bulging brown paper bag from it.

As the brown paper used to wrap it was spread out, a well-preserved photo frame appeared between the two.

"Young man, are you here for it?" Nicholas asked, rubbing the photo frame.

On the other hand, Wei Ran's eyes widened at this time, and what was sealed in this wooden photo frame was precisely the application report for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union!
But in the upper right corner of this report, the dark red "not approved" was scrawled like a long red-hot needle, stinging everyone in the room, old and young.

"What about it?" Wei Ran picked up the photo frame and looked at it over and over again, hesitating to speak, not knowing whether to ask the doubts in his heart.

"Whether it is the 64th Army, or the Seventh Guards Army that was merged later, even after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the 127th Division, the only subordinate unit of the Seventh Army held by Russia, and the 102nd Military Division established on its basis I have personally visited the base with this application report, but because of the lack of evidence, no one is willing to confer the title of Hero of the Soviet Union on the 19th position.”

Nikolai said with a grim and painful face, "Otherwise, why do you think I hid in this ghost place? I am from Stalingrad, but I dare not even go back. I have no way to face Captain Aleutian and those who stick to it." The people at Position 19 are even more ineligible to return to Stalingrad they guarded."

"How have you been living these years?" Wei Ran frowned and asked.

Nicholas looked at Wei Ran meaningfully, and sighed after hesitating for a long time, "After graduating from Suvorov School, I was sent to work in a correctional camp for a period of time until all records were erased. Sent to East Berlin in 1953 to deal with American agents. So how the hell did you find me, young man?"

Wei Ran looked at the other party speechlessly, really not knowing how to explain.Fortunately, Nicholas didn't seem to mind, "Forget it, don't think of excuses, it's good that you can find this place, at least someone can chat with me.

Unlike those little bastards in the village, in their hearts, I have always been the director of a mental hospital, and even half a year ago those idiots sent me a mental patient. "

Wei Ran couldn't help but smile at this sudden cold humor, while Nicholas pushed open the window, calling for the punks downstairs to bring up the food.

Feeling at ease, he allowed them to fill the table with the food they brought. After they left, Wei Ran asked, "Mr. Nicholas, have you been living here by yourself?"

The latter threw Da Lieba, which was full of red cabbage soup, into his mouth, and sent in a big mouthful of creamy beef stew by the way. Then he evaded the seriousness and replied, "I have been working here since I came back from Germany in 84. It was not until the disintegration of the Soviet Union that I bought it and turned it into a school."

Having said that, Nicholas raised his head, "Young man, as an exchange of equivalent information, let's talk about your work!"

"I'm just helping my client trace the history." Wei Ran knew that the other party was changing the subject, so he simply didn't point it out, and introduced him and Professor Alexey's studio enthusiastically.

During the interrogation and answers between the old and the young, time passed by, and by the time the food on the table was eaten by the two, more than half of the sun outside the window had sunk into the horizon.

"It's been a long time since I've had such a good time chatting with someone." Nicholas pulled out a small vegetable leaf from between his teeth without any image at all, "Little Victor, if you don't rush back, take a rest here Come on late, there will be no car to take you back to the city at this time."

Wei Ran burped, and poured the last sip of wine from the beer can into his mouth, "Then I won't be polite."

　Thank you Sao Nian Xue Sunflower Collection for rewarding 1500 points

　　Thanks to Xianyu Xianyuxian, Feiwushou, warwolfkkk, and Zhao Feiyu for rewarding 100 points

　　
　
(End of this chapter)