Chapter 283: Hesitation

Even in the middle of the night, when it was snowing heavily, the lieutenant only felt that his brain suddenly had a surge of blood, which made him feel a little dizzy. He was a little dazed and said to the German soldier in the lowest voice he could, "Captain Parkes? ”

The German soldier looked at him and frowned and said: "Lieutenant, you better trust me now, not doubt me, I persuade those Germans to surrender to you, this is your only chance, don't miss it, everything will listen to me when the time comes"

The lieutenant hurriedly whispered, "No, no, Captain Parkes, I trust you completely, do you know what I just had?" Me and one of the other soldiers are too much like Captain Parks now. The soldier said he was hallucinating. But I know that it's very likely, it's your territory, and I've heard your story, Captain, and I admire you."

Captain Parks was shocked, it seemed that his face was already a popular face among the Allies, but fortunately the Germans were not very familiar with it, otherwise, the operation would have failed today, and he would have been in danger. But it's not all risk, at least neither the American prisoners nor the Germans can believe that under such circumstances, someone would pretend to be the Germans and collude with them to put on a show. This is an incredible thing for them.

"Well, now all you have to do is agree to all the conditions, and then get the German weapons in your hands, so that you can turn defeat into victory, remember, these Germans just want to be prisoners, and then wait for the war to return home, and hopefully when the time comes, you will be able to testify to them, except for the six people who were taken into custody, no one else participated in the massacre of Malmedy. Of course, there will be a court-martialed to decide" said that Captain Parks did not talk nonsense with him, just stood up and walked towards the side of the Germans.

All the Germans looked at him, and Ritter said to Captain Parkes, "Bourne, what do those Americans say?" ”

Captain Parks nodded at him, then turned to look at Ensign Aild and said, "Ensign, they promised, once we surrender to them, they will guarantee our safety, and send us to the rear prisoner of war camp of the American army, and after the war is over, repatriate us as soon as possible, and testify for us, we are not the executioners involved in the Malmedy massacre, I think that's all, now it's up to us to decide." Whether to kill them all, and then accept the outcome of being surrounded and annihilated by the American forces or being tried, or let the Americans take us to safety, and then wait for the war to be over and go home, the decision is yours," Parks said, and then looked straight at Ensign Elder, as if waiting for his answer.

The lives and futures of every soldier were at stake, so they all set their sights on Ensign Elder, hoping that he would come up with an idea, and of course what they wanted most was to return to their homeland alive.

This was the most difficult time for Second Lieutenant Elder, who knew that as an officer, the only officer in the German army, every decision he made would determine the life of these soldiers. His throat rolled up and down, then he nodded and said, "Okay, okay, guys, I need to calm down now" With that, he parted from the Germans, walked alone into the distance, sat on a crossbar under a large tree, shivered out a cigarette from his pocket, and then lit the fire with great difficulty.

"What now?" Ritter walked over to Parks' side and whispered, "Captain, are we waiting for his decision?" If he asks us to kill these captives, or if he doesn't want to surrender, we're in vain."

Parks glanced at Ritter, and then said with a smile on the corner of his mouth: "Ritter, he will agree, what is called irresistible?" Now it is. He's just a hard time making decisions as an officer. Know that the consequences of any decision must be borne by him, but if he can figure it out, it will be the only way. ”

"I hope so, Captain, you're doing something amazing," Ritter glanced at Parks with some aw.

Parks smiled slightly: "Ritter, if you are willing, because of your contribution to this operation, I would advise my superiors to treat it as a special case, or stay in the United States, even if it is to stay in the army"

Ritter was stunned for a moment, he knew what Parks meant by this, which meant that he might not be held as a prisoner of war, but more likely to obtain U.S. citizenship as a person with special contributions, and even stay in the U.S. ** team. Yes, now he has no relatives in Germany, he is just alone.

"Captain, I'll have to think about it" Ritter was a little overwhelmed by this message, but the immediate priority was how to get Ensign Elder to give the order.

Parks knew that only when Second Lieutenant Eild gave the order would the Germans be completely relieved and willingly lay down their arms and surrender to the American prisoners in front of them. He did not press Ensign Elder any further. He knew that this would have to give Ensign Elder a little time, and he would figure it out, and once he figured it out, it would be time for the Germans to surrender.

The lieutenant among the American prisoners had been assured by Captain Parkes, but the American prisoners around him did not know that there was infighting in the German army, and that they would face unpredictable results. Some people start to get impatient. The Germans were now just looking at them and didn't care what they were doing, so the prisoners began to whisper to each other.

"Lieutenant, what should we do now?" The soldier who had just spoken to the lieutenant leaned over to him and said, "What will the Germans do with us?" Or kill us? Or let's go? ”

"Stay in peace, things will turn around, maybe it's good news, soldiers, maybe we can get out of this predicament. Don't worry, all we have to do now is wait for the Germans to make their final decision. Obviously, they are also discussing what to do, and this is also a big decision for them, okay, go and pass it on to the others, one by one, tell them, don't act rashly, we will have a good result, don't do anything stupid before this" This is what the lieutenant is most worried about, the captive team that has become emotionally unstable is definitely a bad effect on Captain Parkes's plan.

The soldier quickly spread the word, and there was some commotion that the captives gradually settled down. There was a strange quiet atmosphere all around. The Germans were silent, they all looked at Ensign Elder. The American prisoners did not say anything, they waited for the decision of the German army, and forced themselves to control their emotions.

Time passed slowly, both for the Germans and for American prisoners. But it was too fast for Second Lieutenant Elder, who knew that everyone, including the American prisoners, was waiting for his decision, but how could he make a decision in such a short time? His delay in making a decision made some of the German soldiers begin to become a little restless and restless. They began to talk in whispers.

"Are we going to wait for this man to decide our fate?" One of the Germans said to the people around him, "To be honest, I don't trust him much now, it's an easy decision, but we're still waiting here, do we have to freeze to death before he makes a decision?" Damn"

"Yes, yes, he's just going to make you freeze to death before making a decision, that's a good idea," another German soldier picked up, a little impatient, "but no matter what, he's our current top commander, and we have a reason to let him make a decision, you know, it's a difficult decision, that's why we can make him think about it for such a long time." ”

"Well, I hope I won't be killed by him"

The conversation between these two men was nothing more than a representation of the two different attitudes of these German soldiers, but they both had one expectation. Captain Parks walked over to Ensign Elder.

"Second Lieutenant, now is the time to make a decision." Captain Parks said, "If it's because of military honor, there's no need to worry about it, if you make a decision that saves everyone's lives, then what could be higher than this honor?" Think about it, you saved the lives of a dozen German soldiers. If it was because of the post-war treatment, or rather the treatment of prisoners, there was no need to worry about this, the lieutenant had given us assurances that they would testify for us in court, which would clear us of the suspicion of the executioners and thus be treated better. Ensign, make a decision" Parkes's words were a little aggressive, but he knew that if he dragged on any longer, it would be a psychological test for the Germans

"Corporal—" Second Lieutenant Alder looked at him, then slowly stood up, and said to Captain Parkes, "Should I call you that?" I only have one doubt now, who are you? You give me a strange feeling, since you came here with Ritter, everything has been in turmoil, and then things seem to have gotten sour. And all this has to make me doubt your identity. Corporal, who the hell are you? If this answer is resolved, I give the order to surrender. Elder's eyes slowly turned serious.

"Does it matter?" Parks frowned.

"Yes, it's very important, I value this very much" Second Lieutenant Eyer nodded solemnly, "Don't tell me anymore that you're a German soldier defending the town of Norville, don't tell me what your name is Bourne, I don't believe in this anymore." Many of your actions are suspicious, since you decisively killed Lieutenant Colonel Gurion, I have been suspicious of you, tell me, who are you? Spies for the U.S. military? ”

It turned out that he had already begun to suspect Parks, after all, things had changed too quickly, and until now, none of the patrols sent out had returned, maybe some people suspected that they were lost, but even if they were lost, Ritter came back with him.

"Well, I'll tell you, come here, Ensign, I can only tell you quietly" Captain Parks has made a quick judgment, he will tell the second lieutenant his identity, and give the second lieutenant assurance, but if the second lieutenant has any abnormal movement, he will be by his side, and he will quickly end up this guy, and don't let him talk nonsense.

Ensign Elder hesitated, but approached Captain Parks and said, "Okay, I'm here, can you say it now?" ”

Parks smiled at him, then leaned over and whispered: "Yes, second lieutenant, your suspicions are all justified, I am not German, I am a captain of the 1o1 airborne division of the US army, my name is Lacey?" Parks. ”

"Captain Parkes?" Elder exclaimed in a low voice, it was clear that he had heard of this name, knew it from the propaganda of the American army and the mouths of the German commanders, he was a hero of the United States. And when he heard the name, he had a decision in his heart