On the first day of the holiday for Company E, Lieutenant Parks went to the divisional headquarters, which is now based in Eindhoven, and despite the failure of the operation, the Allies still occupied a part of the Netherlands as a base for counterattacking the Germans. Before leaving, Parks sent Carl and Cecia away. Karl was going to Eindhoven, where he had previously contacted the head of the Dutch underground resistance, who were now openly active and recruiting.

Cecia had some reluctance in her eyes, but she still had to leave with her father, and when she turned around, she turned back to Parks and smiled, "Don't lose it!" ”

"What?" Parks gave her a puzzled look.

"Bear!" Cecia stretched her hands forward, made a stupid gesture, and then turned and walked away with Carl. The skirt she wore and the floral turban on her head fluttered slightly in the wind.

Parks didn't go with Carl and his daughter, and the division headquarters sent a major to pick him up in a special car. The car was a little bumpy on the winding and not very smooth road, and this time it was only Parks, who was staggering in the car, looking at the scenery around him, and suddenly felt like he was out of this world. This time, birth and death are like a dream, and there is such an unreal feeling.

Last night he wrote a report, on which he wrote all the combat experiences, and as he wrote, the scenes of those battles and the faces of those brothers would come to his mind on the one hand. Clinken was dead, Frank was wounded, and it was already learned that he had joined up with his brothers of the 82nd Division and was taken to the hospital in the rear. But when it comes to Clinken's death, Parks is still a little distracted. Although he had always consoled himself in his heart, Clinken's death was worth it.

The report was handed over to Commander Zinke that night, and he immediately sent someone to the division headquarters. It is believed that by this time, General Taylor already knew the whole story, not to mention the briefing of the British army and the written statement of General Urquhart.

The car stopped at a nice hotel in Eindhoven, where officers and non-commissioned officers were constantly coming and going. When Parks got out of the car, the major in the same car smiled at him, "Please come in, the general is waiting for you inside!" ”

Parks followed the Major, a little uneasy. It wasn't the first time he had seen General Taylor, but he was still a little nervous, and he kept tidying up his military uniform and tie, trying to make himself look neater and more energetic. He followed the Major to the second floor, walked through a hallway, and then stood outside the door of a large hall.

The major opened the door slightly, then stretched his head in and out, and whispered inside, "Sorry to disturb me." General Taylor, Lieutenant Parks has arrived! After receiving permission, the major retracted his head and closed the door to Parks, "You go in alone, General Taylor is inside." ”

Parks coughed dryly, then straightened his uniform, tie, and hat again, straightened his waist, and pushed the door in. The major behind him immediately closed the open door gently.

This is a very mining conference room, a long table is placed in the middle, covered with blankets, as well as combat sand tables, military maps, etc., there are several people sitting at the table, judging from the military uniforms, there are British and Polish troops and American troops. Sitting opposite were two British generals, Parks, who knew General Urquhart and Brigadier John Forlost, and a familiar figure with his back to him, the Pole, Admiral Sushabawski, and General Taylor stood in front of the table.

Parks came in and caught their eyes. General Urquhart and Brigadier John Forlouster smiled at Parks, and Admiral Sushabowski turned and nodded and smiled at Parks. And General Taylor nodded to himself.

"Lieutenant Parks, please be seated!" General Taylor smiled at Parks.

"Thank you, General!" Parks thanked politely, and sat down in one of the chairs next to him, not thinking he could sit at the table with their general.

"I've read the briefing that was presented last night." General Taylor continued, "To tell you the truth, your achievements are impressive, and our 101st Division is proud of you. ”

This was said more heavily, and Parks looked at General Taylor in some surprise. General Taylor nodded at him and said with a smile: "This is not my conclusion alone, in fact, I and several generals have analyzed your combat process, and we have to say that it is indeed very ingenious and resolute." And I also have deep admiration for the sacrifices you made to your brothers around you at the last minute. ”

Parks couldn't help but stand up and said to General Taylor: "It's nothing, General, I just did what I had to do, and the brothers are the key to the operation." ”

General Taylor smiled and nodded, "I know, I know!" Well, I'm very happy to hear that you're back, and the generals who did it again are, you know, it means a lot to us that you can come back here alive! ”

"Thank you, General!" Parks nodded hurriedly.

At this time, General Urquhart and General Sushabowsky also stood up, they faced Parks, General Urquhart nodded at Parks, and said: "Lieutenant, the British 1st Airborne Division has to thank you for everything!" As he spoke, he motioned to a sergeant behind him, whispered a few words to him, and then smiled, "So I heard that you are home, so I beg General Taylor to invite you over, and I think we should have a toast because we have fought together." ”

"I second!" General Sushabowski and Brigadier General John Forloster also spoke at the same time.

"Of course, I can be a part of it!" General Taylor nodded and smiled.

At this point, the sergeant brought in a few glasses of wine, and then one for each person. General Urquhart laughed and said, "For the Allies!" ”

"For the Allies!" Several people's wine glasses collided together, making a crisp "ding" sound, and then they all looked up and dried the wine.

General Taylor said nothing more, and Parks knew it was time for him to take his leave. So he thanked the generals and saluted General Taylor before withdrawing.

He couldn't help but feel a little depressed, it turned out that General Taylor had called himself here to talk this nonsense. Including Urquhart, John Forlost, Sushabowski and others, it is not easy to live on their own, but they have to toss and make themselves go back and forth. Parks, of course, couldn't help but mutter.

He had not gone far when he heard the major who had brought him in shouting to him, "Lieutenant Parks, please wait a moment, General Taylor will see you alone later!" ”

Parks was stunned, but stopped. The major found a place for him to sit down in the hall on the first floor and said, "The general still has some things to discuss, please wait a while, and I will call you again when the time comes!" ”

Parks nodded, then sat down on the couch in the hall. He looked around, there were many people resting and chatting in the hall, they were all some officers, and a few non-commissioned officers and soldiers. There are still people who keep going in.

Parks was bored when a sergeant approached with a plate and a glass of wine on it. The sergeant walked over and bowed slightly to Parks.

Parks couldn't help but be surprised: "It's for me?" ”

"Yes, Lieutenant!" The sergeant nodded, "The major ordered just now, let me bring you a cup and come over." You can use it! The sergeant motioned for Parks to bring the wine over.

"Thank you, Major, Sergeant!" Parks nodded at him. Then I took a sip, and the taste of the wine was good, it was a French aged whisky, and the taste was very mellow. He took a sip and placed the cup on a low stool in front of the couch. He felt a little tired, so he closed his eyes slightly and leaned his body comfortably on the sofa.

Closing his eyes, the experience of the battle flashed through Parks' mind again like a movie scene. The impact of the plane crashing into the trees, the smell of the dirt lying silently on the grass, the bright red blood flowers that bloomed in front of his eyes when he fired the shot, and the icy water of the river and the poisonous snake that suddenly raised its triangular head and protruded Nobuko.

In the confusion, it was as if someone was calling their own name. He woke up suddenly, and then opened his eyes. Everything was gone, and there were three soldiers in front of them, who were standing in front of them, facing very sincere smiles, calling their names.

Parks calmed down a little, then looked at them in some surprise and said, "Is there something wrong?" ”

"Are you Lacey? Lieutenant Parks himself? One of the soldiers asked with some caution.

"Yes, I'm Parks!" Parks was a little confused.

"Lieutenant Parks of Company E, 101st Regiment of the 506th Airborne Division?" The other soldier cautiously checked it. Then they looked at themselves with hope.

"Yes, yes, what's the matter?" Parks wasn't used to being looked at like this, and he was getting a little impatient. But the three soldiers didn't mind in the slightest, and they immediately looked excited when they received Parks' affirmative reply.

"I'm sorry, Lieutenant!" One of them stammered a little excitedly, "That's right, we saw about you in the newspaper, and there are photos, so it just so happened that we saw you here and wanted you to sign for us." ”

"I'm in the newspaper?" Parks couldn't help but look at them in surprise, "Are you sure you want my autograph?" ”

"Yes, sir, we would love to!" As he spoke, the other soldier immediately took out a pen and paper, and the other two quickly took out their own paper and pen and handed them to Parks.

"Okay, okay!" Parks shook his head, "I hope you didn't get the wrong person to sign it!" Parks took it, and wrote a few words on it one by one, signing his name.

"All right, boys!" Parks gave them back the notebook and pen.

"Thank you, sir!" The three soldiers had smiles on their faces, then stood up straight and gave a solemn salute to Parks, then nodded and turned to leave!

Parks suddenly remembered and said to the three of them, "Wait a minute! What do you say? I'm in the newspaper? What newspaper? ”

"Several! Sir! One of them turned around.

"Got it, let's go!" Parks shook his head, it was clear that this should be today's thing.

(To be continued)