War Photographer's Notebook

Early the next morning, all the people who had breakfast put on new clothes that they had never worn under the command of the young couple, Horst and Heike.

These clothes are all proper civilian dress, gray plaid jacket, black overalls, brown felt hat, and sweaters of various colors and patterns.

Even though Wei Ran, Timov, and Buck lying on the bed did not get these civilian clothes, they each got a pair of extra thick gray wool gloves with a white elk pattern.

To the surprise of Wei Ran and others, according to the explanations of those children, except for the sweater and socks that Uncle Letts obtained through various channels, the rest of the coats were actually made by Sophie, Qiqi and Heike. These three hard-working girls used the only sewing machine to help everyone design and sew before winter.

Even those woolen gloves were woven by the rest of the little girls every afternoon.

Undoubtedly, both the cloth for the clothes and the wool for the gloves came from the busy and bald quartermaster.

Patiently waiting for everyone to change into new clothes, under the command of Sophie and Qiqi, everyone, including Timov and Buck who was helped over, sat or stood on the side of the long table in the basement They lined up in two rows, and then adjusted the positions of the two kerosene lamps that were lit.

Look at my camera, look at the camera, okay, now close your eyes.

Wei Ran, who was holding the camera against the wall, slowly adjusted the focus, trying to capture everyone and everything in the basement in the camera lens, and at the same time kept saying, when I counted to three, Everyone opened their eyes together, and counted down from three to one together.Everyone is ready--

Wei Ran started counting after intentionally drawing a long tone and waiting for Timov to finish the translation for Buck, who was holding Dominic's shoulders to stand firm.

1
2
3!
Before he finished speaking, everyone opened their eyes towards the camera and started counting down.

Finding the right opportunity, Wei Ran pressed the shutter when everyone counted down to 2, leaving these young faces on the film forever.

Sophie and Chi Chi are next.

Wei Ran shook the camera in his hand, where are you going to take pictures?

Go to the sluice!
The two sisters said in unison, and then ordered in unison, Horst, Nadia, watch everyone wear the clothes of the labor group outside, and remember to wrap the trouser legs with leggings.

Knowing that Horst responded immediately, Qiqi, how about leaving a negative for Heike and me later?
no problem!Qiqi replied bluntly, go to Brother Victor when you are done.

It will be ready soon!Horst thought for a while and said, Heike, wait for me at the stone bridge!
it is good!The girl named Heike nodded immediately.

Sister Qiqi...

no!Before Dominic finished speaking, Sophie and Qiqi rejected his request with one voice.

Let's go!As Qiqi said, she pulled Sophie with one hand, and Heike who covered her mouth and smiled with the other.

Following the three girls to the edge of the sluice, Wei Ran just got ready when the three of them sat side by side on the concrete platform next to the sluice switch. …

Is it from this angle?Wei Ran asked.Just this angle

Sophie smiled and said, before other people came here, what the three of us liked most was sitting here, smoking and drinking together, waiting for the war to end together, and fantasizing about us saving more partners through the radio station.

Although our wish was not fulfilled, it did leave us with many memories here.The girl named Heike said, holding Sophie's arm, so here it is.

straighten your back

Wei Ran took a few steps back, moved slightly to the side and continued, raising his forehead, well, this is the posture.

Now imagine the stupidity of that idiot Dominic when he confessed his love to Nadia.

Just when the three girls couldn't help smiling, Wei Ran also recorded them, the rising sun on their cheeks and the treetops in the distance on the film.

It's time for me to shoot with you!Before Qiqi finished speaking, she jumped off the concrete platform.

Before Wei Ran could say anything, Sophie who jumped down a little later had already snatched the camera from him.

Just when Wei Ran was about to ask where to shoot and how to shoot, Qi Qi deliberately threw herself into his arms with courage, and tried her best to kiss the former on tiptoe.

Just as the lips of the two were about to part, Sophie also pressed the shutter against the sun against them.Thank you, Mr. Magician.

Before the flushed Qiqi could finish her sentence, she let go of her hands and ran towards the direction of the ruins, leaving only Wei Ran who smacked her lips subconsciously, and Sophie and Heike who were smiling like aunts.

Well, it's time for me to go back and get ready.After Sophie finished speaking, she stuffed the camera into Wei Ran's arms, lit a cigarette, put her hands in her pockets and walked towards the ruins of the castle in the distance.

Just wait and take a picture of me and Horst's back.
After Heike finished speaking, he took a few steps to catch up with Sophie. After the two walked hand in hand to the stone bridge, Heike also chose a seat, and sat on the moss-covered stone guardrail on the side of the stone bridge with his back to Wei Ran. superior.

After a while, Horst, who had finished his work, came out from the entrance and exit of the basement, waved to Wei Ran from a distance, then walked to Heike's side, sat down side by side, put his arms around the girl next to him, and also turned his back Leave it to Wei Ran.

Sighing secretly, Wei Ran took a few steps forward, and included the backs of the young couple, a part of the ruins of the castle not far away, and a part of the moat covered with reeds into the frame, and then lightly pressed the shutter.

So far, only the last negative is left in the camera.Not surprisingly, when Wei Ran put down the camera, Dominic pulled his little girlfriend Nadia to stand in front of him.

Victor, take a picture for us too.Dominic said with a flattering face.

For the sake of 270 million US dollars, Wei Ran muttered indistinctly.

What did you just say? Dominic looked at Wei Ran suspiciously.

Wei Ran shook the camera in his hand, where are you going to shoot?
Right here!
Dominique, who was standing at the bridgehead, had already embraced the girl beside him before he finished speaking.

Shaking his head helplessly, Wei Ran had no choice but to take a few steps back, finding a good angle so that the two kissing men and women could block Horst and Heike in the distance, and at the same time, he took a picture of the castle ruins shrouded in the rising sun. …

After using up the last film in the camera, Wei Ranquan pretended that he couldn't see the pair of desperate couples, and walked towards Sophie's room with the camera.

You came just in time for Sophie to see Wei Ran coming in, and immediately locked the door to greet him to put down the camera, and helped her move the wooden bed and the box away.
Lifting the floor and getting into the stairwell where medical supplies are stored, Wei Ran saw Sophie pointing a flashlight at a wooden cabinet against the wall, and immediately removed it carefully, revealing a small space hidden behind the stone stairs.

When the beam of the flashlight illuminates this not-so-large space, Wei Ran is stunned. There are quite a lot of things in this small space, which is almost the exclusive bedroom of Harry Potter.

The most conspicuous thing here is a 200-liter oil drum placed against the wall, and two GG400 fuel generators stacked on a wooden shelf next to the oil drum.

In addition, there are all kinds of weapons and ammunition in this small space, the most of which are the light and easy-to-use MP40 submachine gun, the apparently captured American 1911 pistol, and the only STG44 assault rifle .

As Wei Ran can see from the memories of later generations, this assault rifle can be described as a model of shoddy manufacture, and even the wooden butt has burrs remaining.

Of course, in addition to these weapons and the matching boxes of submunitions and dry batteries with packages

In addition to the pool and some explosives, there are also various weapons seized by Wei Ran from the two American soldiers before, as well as the steel helmets with the logo of the Labor Corps spray-painted on top of each other, and even two boxes with the logo of the Labor Corps Unique equipment - engineer shovel.

Do you think these weapons are enough?Sophie asked in a low voice.

It should be enough. Wei Ran nodded. After all, we are fleeing instead of fighting, and these weapons are only for self-defense.

Having said that, Wei Ran picked up a submachine gun and looked at it. Sophie, have you thought about what to do after you escape to Belgium?Follow the arrangement of those two Americans?
Not

Sophie shook her head without thinking. Mr. Timov just provided a reason for us to leave here as soon as possible. We do want to flee to Belgium, but we will not follow his arrangement.

Do you have a purpose?Wei Ran lowered his voice and asked.

Sophie looked at Wei Ran seriously, and after hesitating for a moment, she said in a low voice, don't worry, as long as we can reach Belgium, someone will definitely help us.

Sophie, I hope you can... Wei Ran was thinking about his words. Now that he was about to flee, he discovered that this 19-year-old girl seemed to still have a lot of secrets.

Especially when it comes to the arrangement of the [-]-odd people after fleeing to Belgium, if you simply trust Timov and let the other party arrange, the risk is too great.Because of this, he had to know if Sophie had other arrangements.

someone will help us
Sophie emphasized again that there will be arrangements for all of us to eat and drink, including Mr. Timov and Mr. Barker, and we will all have a warm shelter and proper care.

May I know who it is?Wei Ran pointed in the direction of the next door, which is related to whether I need to guard against the two Americans on the way.

After half a minute of silence, Sophie whispered a name that surprised Wei Ran, Comet Line.

What did you say?Wei Ran looked at the girl beside him in shock.