War Photographer's Notebook

In the forest, Wei Ran hid behind the pine tree and waited for a long time, then slowly stood up, imitating Sophie's example, and hung a wooden box from the pine tree in the dark.

Opening the metal buckle on the outside of the wooden box, Wei Ran looked around, then took out the flashlight, covered the lamp head with his hand and pressed the switch.

Although the light was a little dim, Wei Ran could still see clearly. There were a few spare dry batteries and an old-fashioned hand-cranked magnet phone in this wooden box. There was also a phone line extending from the main body of the phone.

After thinking for a while, Wei Ran refastened the box and dragged it back into the canopy with a rope, and then walked to the stone that was the size of a millstone.

Without much effort, he found two shallow buried wires under a moss-covered stone.

It is at least two or three hundred meters from here to the mill, right?

Wei Ran muttered to himself, this distance is just a drizzle for this kind of magnet phone, but it is by no means a small project to bury such a long telephone line in the forest.

However, considering that the waterway is not far away, all this seems to make sense again.After all, he had walked back and forth in that waterway several times before. Although there was no lighting equipment in it, there were wires above his head.

And he remembered clearly that, except for the entrance and exit of this waterway, which was reinforced with cement, the inside was all made of regular stones.In other words, the history of that waterway is probably as old as that of the castle, so it is much easier to hide a telephone line.

After some thought, Wei Ran hid the phone line again, cleaned up the traces left by himself, then put away the flashlight, went back the same way in the dark, and quietly got into the room in the collapsed church.

Locking the door behind him, Wei Ran guarded the buzzing heater, secretly pondering the important information he just heard—Hürtgen Village was occupied by the Americans.

According to the content I checked before entering this period of history, today happens to be November 11th.In other words, on the 28th after dawn, the U.S. military will take down the towns of Klein Howe and Grosso in one go.

After these two small towns are captured, the fortress where Captain Wrights is located may soon be conquered as well.

As for how much it will be soon, according to the historical records that Wei Ran has learned, it is only less than 7 days.If Captain Letts can get away and come over within 7 days, maybe their father and daughter can meet again, if
Secretly looking away to end another possible guess, Wei Ran put away the cloak he was wearing, took off his clothes and shoes and lay down on the bed again.

There was nothing to say all night. When he was woken up by Dominic who got up early the next day, although the sky outside the room was not bright yet, it was already shrouded in thick fog.

This is undoubtedly good news for everyone. At the very least, with the cover of these fogs, even Wei Ran, who lives on the surface, can take advantage of this short period of time to ignite in the fireplace unscrupulously. firewood and coal, and by the way, you can even cook some food and drink that suits your own taste and start a small stove.

Sure enough, when they left the room, they immediately saw figures busily shuttling through the mist. These furry children also had undisguised smiles on their faces—except for those sitting on the steps. Sophie smoking and Qiqi sitting next to her also smoking. …

What's wrong with you two?Wei Ran signaled Dominic to go in first, then sat next to Sophie, and also lit a cigarette.

Yesterday the village of Hürtgen was occupied by the Americans.

Sophie explained in a low voice, maybe the war here will end soon, but Dominique's parents and his brother haven't come yet, and neither has my father.

My family members in Hürtgen Village Qiqi also said with great concern, I don't know if they are still alive, I...I want to find them.

No!

Wei Ran and Sophie rejected each other's idea with one voice. Going out at this time would not only put Qiqi in unpredictable danger, but even the children in the ruins of the castle might also be in danger.

i know no
Qiqi muttered pitifully, lowered her head and took a big drag on the cigarette.

Accompanied by the two girls who were worried about their families, after smoking a cigarette, Sophie first gathered her short hair, breathed out a mouthful of white mist and said, "Okay, let's go to eat, thanks to the heavy fog for making me happy." We can fire unscrupulously, so today we made a lot of delicious things.

After finishing speaking, the girl pulled her spirits up, pulled up Qiqi who was depressed, and ran in hand in hand.

Just like what she said, today's breakfast is indeed a lot richer. At least the oatmeal has been replaced with vegetable soup, and in each person's lunch box, there is an extra rainbow trout fried in butter and creamed mashed potatoes.

We had a lively breakfast together. At Sophie's call, all the children each took a small tin bucket, and went to the sluice in groups to fetch cold water from the river. Sophie and With the help of Wei Ran, Qiqi also cleaned the 200-liter cooking pot of the cooking cart, which was specially used to boil bath water.

When all the water in the pot boiled, the children were ready to take a bath. Two oil barrels filled with cold water were added to the two cells used as bathrooms, and a line was drawn between the cells. Thick canvas curtains.

As the bathtubs in the two cells were filled with boiling water, these children entered the bathrooms under the leadership of Horst and Heike, each holding a tin bucket, half filled with cold water, and then the elders Help each other scoop up some hot water and mix it in. When the temperature is right, they will use various tools including lunch boxes to pour some water on their heads and bodies, and then help each other, talking and laughing Lather up.

Even, separated by a thick stone wall, the boys and girls on both sides would chat with each other, or make some young jokes.

Amidst the splashing water, the warm basement gradually became filled with the aroma of mist and soap, and the bath water poured down from the head also flowed out of the castle along the drain pipe in the corner, flowing into the already frozen In the moat of thin ice.

Before the mist cleared, everyone including Wei Ran took a hot bath comfortably.

When he returned to the room in the church, the burning coals in the fireplace had already made this small room extraordinarily warm.It's just that it wasn't just Dominic who came back to enjoy the warmth one step earlier than him, but also the little blond girl named Nadia who was hugging him. …

Victor!Why don't you knock on the door!While Dominic was speaking, he hastily withdrew his hand.

I'll go, I'll go right away!
Wei Ran, who was holding a bag of ingredients in his arms, made the assurance that Dominic most wanted to hear before Dominic spoke again, and then picked up the wooden box with the American oil stove and Dutch pot on the table with one hand, and warmed the The little nest was given over to the two young men and women.

It's nice to be young
Standing at the door, Wei Ran blatantly muttered something in Chinese they didn't understand, put down the things in his hands, and while helping the other party close the door, reminded him in German, remember to lock the door first next time.

After speaking, he didn't care whether Dominic in the room heard it, picked up the wooden box at his feet again, and left the church in a hurry.

Finally, he wanted to take advantage of the good weather to secretly cook a small stove for himself, but the room was occupied by the furry boy Dominique, and now he didn't know where to go.

While Wei Ran was thinking about whether to go to the basement to share food with the children, the girl named Qiqi came over from the thick fog.

What are you doing?Qiqi looked at Wei Ran puzzled and asked.The nest was occupied, Wei Ran explained with a grim expression, what about you?I was going to find Sophie
Qiqi looked at the bag of ingredients in Wei Ran's arms, rolled her eyes and said, what do you want to do delicious, share with Sophie and me, how about I take you to find a place?
Wei Ran agreed without thinking about the deal.wait for me across the bridge

After Qiqi finished speaking, she tiptoed to the door of Sophie's room and knocked on the door lightly. After the door opened, she poked her head
He said something tentatively, then grabbed Sophie who was going to knock on the door next door, and dragged her all the way to find Wei Ran who was still waiting outside the church.

Didn't it make you optimistic about Dominic?Sophie said angrily.

Are you sure you need me to watch him by the side?Wei Ran asked helplessly, while letting Qiqi take away the bag of ingredients she was holding in her arms.

it will be . ok sophie
Qiqi snatched the topic without waiting for Sophie to finish speaking, and while beckoning the two of them to follow, she said, who can guarantee that she can live until tomorrow?As long as they are happy right now.

Ugh..
Sophie sighed heavily, scratched her tomboy-like short hair irritably, and said lying flat, forget it, pretend I don't know anything.

Victor, what are you going to make delicious?Qiqi immediately changed the subject, making it clear that it was the young couple who were in the room together.

You'll find out later
Wei Ran said in advance, but the time may be longer, I hope it will not be ok

Qiqi immediately said that lunch has been cooked, and Heike and Horst will organize them to cook when the time comes.

That's good, where are we going now?Wei Ran turned his head and asked.Seeing Qiqi looking at her, Sophie spread her hands helplessly, come with me.

Under the leadership of this girl, the three of them crossed the stone bridge across the moat, and then passed through a dense reed. Then, Wei Ran saw that there was a hole hidden here, and Wei Ran was sure that the The hole sealed by the iron fence door is definitely something he has never seen in later generations. …

On the other hand, although the hole is not big, the inside is not too small, and the water in the moat is connected to it.

This is the spillway of the moat
Sophie took out a key, opened the iron gate and walked in while saying that when the water level exceeds the entrance of the cave, the water in the moat will flow in and then drain out from here.

Where does this hole lead to?Wei Ran asked curiously.opposite the swamp

Sophie turned around and re-locked the iron fence door casually, and then said as she walked in, but that was a thing in the Weimar era, and now the innermost part of the cave has already collapsed, and the inside is full of mud , and even if the sluice gate is opened to the maximum and complains for several days in a row, the water level will not rise here, and all go along the dark river in the river bed.

Speaking of which, Sophie had already turned on the flashlight, and at the same time, the three of them also turned a corner along the cave.

To Wei Ran's surprise, after turning this corner, not only is there an iron fence directly in front of him, but on the other side of the iron fence, there is a carriage that looks very old!
My father said that this place used to be a prison cell, and many criminals would be imprisoned here and soaked in water.

Sophie said casually while unlocking the door, oh, I forgot to tell you, my family is barely a nobleman.It's just that now the only thing that can prove that my family is still a nobleman, apart from the ruins of the castle outside, is this carriage, which is the most precious thing of my father besides my mother and me.

This carriage is really beautiful. Wei Ran sincerely praised that although he had seen this carriage in later generations, it didn't affect its luxury in the slightest—even though it was very old.

It is said that it was the reward my grandfather received when he participated in the Franco-Prussian War with Prime Minister Bismarck, and it was snatched from the hands of the French.

While Sophie was speaking, she took out a lighter and lit the oil lamp hanging on the corner of the carriage.

As the dim light came on, Wei Ran also found that there were several wooden boxes on the other side of the carriage. These wooden boxes were suspended and fixed on the stone wall, and there were also placed one by one at an angle. A long barrel wrapped in canvas.Under the wooden box, there are some marble or bronze statues, two folding beds, and a small table covered with a tablecloth.

Those were picked up by my dad
The returned oil paintings and statues should have been placed in museums or churches in Aachen.

There was a trace of sarcasm in Sophie's tone. According to Mr. Adolf's regulations, these depraved works of art should be burned and smashed, but my father secretly picked them up.

shit
Wei Ran was stunned, although there are not many boxes and statues here, but no matter what, there must be dozens of canvas rolls in each box, if all the canvas rolls are filled with oil paintings.
It has to be Captain Wrights. Wei Ran swallowed involuntarily. As for the things hidden in this cave, after the war is over, they only need to operate a little bit.
and many more!Wei Ran's eyes widened instantly, he finally knew how Dominic got rich! …

Victor, what on earth would you like to cook?Seeing Wei Ran's dumbfounded look, Qiqi couldn't help stretching out her hand and shaking it in front of him.

Um, are you sure you want to start a fire and cook here?

Wei Ran pointed to the carriage, and then pointed to the boxes and statues. If this was accidentally set on fire, the hamster-like Captain Letts might swallow him alive.

Rest assured, we come here often to sneak in some goodies.

While Sophie was speaking, she also opened the door of the carriage, took out a roll of canvas, and together with Qiqi, hung it on the iron fence familiarly.

Seeing that Qiqi couldn't wait to sit on the folding bed and light the cigarette in her mouth, Wei Ran could only nod and took out the ingredients one by one.

What are you going to do?Sophie asked curiously while helping to light the gasoline stove for heating.

you'll find out later

While Wei Ran was speaking, he took out a glass jar full of sauerkraut from his pocket, and then took out a small packet of flour and a piece of German bacon, plus all kinds of seasonings he could find material.

Sophie and Qiqi looked at each other, but only saw doubts in each other's eyes. In the eyes of these two native Germans, they really couldn't see how these things should be matched together.

But this is not the case for Wei Ran. Speaking of it, this Germany is simply the northeast of Europe. Apart from drinking coffee, these Hans also love sour food.

Especially the sauerkraut, there is not much difference in taste from the winter must-haves in Northeast China, at most it is crisper in taste.

So ever since he discovered the bottles of sauerkraut stored in the basement and the bacon frozen outside in oil drums yesterday, Wei Ran has been thinking about making a sauerkraut pork for himself—anyway, he is idle He always wanted to find something for himself to do.

As for the flour, of course I made a few pancakes. For a fake cook who is better at braised everything, these two are also one of the few meals he knows that doesn't need braised.

Under the watchful eyes of the two girls, Wei Ran first mixed the dough in a Dutch oven that had been cleaned in advance, and then put the onions in the pan, and when the aroma rose, he immediately put the chopped bacon and a few slices of American Spa Throwing the can of Hummus into it, by the way, I didn't forget to take off the coconut jug on my waist, and poured some of the red wine I poured in last night into it.

Is that red wine?Qiqi, who had been watching the excitement, licked her lips and asked, can you pour me a glass?
As long as Sophie has no objections, it's fine. Before Wei Ran finished speaking, he handed over the kettle.

Taking the flagon first, Sophie poured out a glass of red wine and took a big gulp, then handed the glass to Qiqi.

We used to hide in the attic like this and secretly drink the wine made by my father. After Qiqi finished speaking, he took a sip from the glass.

Once we drank too much and slept in the attic for a whole day, and my mother and your mother also found us for a day.Sophie put her hands on the bed and recalled with a smile that my mother locked me in the room for a week and was not allowed to go out.

Me too, I don't know if the attic of my house is still there Qiqi let out a sigh of relief, and said with regret that the necklace that Mark from Lynch Street gave me is still hidden in the attic, and I should have taken it back then. …

Is Mark still alive?Sophie asked, taking the cup.do not know
Qiqi shook her head regretfully. The last time I saw him was this time last year. He was sent to the Soviet Union to fight in the war. Later, I was also wanted, so I lost contact with him.

So there is no possibility for you and him?Sophie asked with a smile.

I don't know if he's dead or alive, and I just think he's more handsome, but we haven't decided yet."

I heard the bartender's daughter say she'd slept with Mark a long time ago, including the night before he went to fight in the Soviet Union.

Sophie didn't wait for Qiqi to finish speaking, and broke the news with a look of gloating, I've been hesitating whether to tell you before, and since you said so, then I can tell you.

what!Really happy news.

Qiqi, whose head was suddenly green, snatched back the glass, poured the last sip of red wine into her mouth, and then hiccupped and said, I will pray that the Soviets must kill Mark from now on. The tank started from his toes and rolled over his head little by little.

Grind it several times, cheers!As Sophie said, she had unscrewed the lid of the pot and refilled some red wine into the former's glass.

While the two little sisters were gossiping, Wei Ran, who had been ignored, had already thrown the sauerkraut into the pot, poured water and put the seasonings on it. At this time, he was busy preparing to make pancakes.

After a lot of busy work, Wei Ran also used another gasoline stove and the lid of the Dutch pot to make two large pancakes. As for the hot gossip talked about by the two girls who had already drunk half a jug of wine, it was not. It didn't affect him at all.

This is no joke, there are so many girls living in his family, he has long been immune to this kind of secretive chat.

However, when the not-so-big cave began to smell sour, when Wei Ran filled the lunch boxes of the two young girls with sauerkraut stewed pork and was ready to eat, there was a sudden noise from outside the cave. The unique roar of the aircraft engine!

Immediately afterwards, they heard explosions from far away!
bang!The lunch box that Wei Ran just picked up fell to the ground, and he was the first to run out.

After a short period of sluggishness, the two girls who had already drunk looked at each other, shuddered in unison, put down the lunch box in unison, and also stumbled out.

However, at this time, the fog outside the cave still did not dissipate. Not to mention the plane overhead, they couldn't even see the ruins of the castle not far away very clearly!
It didn't sound like the direction of the mill, much less the direction of the fort.Wei Ran who was standing at the entrance of the cave was the first to speak.

It seems to be Klein Howe. Sophie said with certainty while unlocking the lock, it must be Klein Howe!It's not too far from here, and it's in the direction of the explosion!
I remember that Horst seemed to come from Klein Haoqiqi and said worriedly.

Sophie, who would be comforted by Heike, sighed secretly, most of the wine was sober, and her tone became even more worried. The Americans were getting closer and closer to us.

I hope they won't find us. Qiqi hiccups, raises her neck and looks at the foggy sky, at least don't drop any more bombs.

I don't know when they will come over.
Sophie muttered something to herself, and said while walking towards the ruins of the castle, you guys continue to eat, I'll go and see everyone's situation.

You can't stop the Americans from firing, so let's finish eating first.Before Qiqi finished her sentence, she had already grabbed Sophie's arm. It's better to let Horst get busy now.

but
You said it yourself, you can't appear in front of children after drinking.Brother Victor, lock the gate quickly.Qiqi skillfully found an excuse for Sophie, and took her into the cave again.
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