When the white light in his field of vision faded, the surrounding scene finally returned to the world Wei Ran was familiar with. He also saw the half-track motorcycle directly in front of him and the luxury carriage not far away.
Subconsciously, Wei Ran gritted his teeth, shrank his neck, and clenched his fists and waited for a few seconds. When he realized that the pain caused by the injury was not brought back this time, Wei Ran cautiously breathed a sigh of relief and looked up at the open book in front of him.
Metal book.
At this time, the drawn pattern on page 30 of the metal book had turned into a black and white photo. In the photo, a slender hand held a ppk pistol and pointed it at the back of the head.
In this photo, we can neither see who is the girl holding the gun, nor who is the one with the gun pointed at the back of her head, but Wei Ran knows that it is Sophie and Timov, who were the first ones they met in the waterway.
The way he looked when they met for the first time - except that the big enemy pointed at the back of his head turned out to be him. Glancing at the paper bag pretending to have negatives next to the photo, Wei Ran gently moved his gaze downwards, silently
He stared at the subsequent story written by the metal quill pen on the pale yellow page:
Quartermaster Letz Capet, during the Battle of Hürtgen Forest in 1944, used his status as quartermaster to rescue a total of 18 teenagers from escaping the battlefield.
On December 5, 1944, on the eve of the fall of the fortress, he escaped and hid in the ruins of Elk Castle. On the 7th, his use of radio to communicate with the outside world was exposed, and he was later sent to a prisoner of war camp.
On April 18, 1945, Timov, a former U.S. Ranger, was acquitted after many efforts in defense and testimony. On April 20, he died of long-term hunger and malnutrition during his detention. According to the wishes of his daughter Sophie Capet
, buried in the family cemetery under Elk Castle Church.
Didn't he survive after all? Wei Ran sighed secretly and continued to move his eyes along with the tip of the pen.
During World War II, Sophie Capet worked for various resistance groups fighting behind enemy lines for a long time. During the Battle of Hürtgen, she collaborated with her father to rescue a total of 18 young people from the battlefield.
On December 7, 1944, in order to rescue the Loew family, he ventured back to the Ruhr Industrial Area. Until the end of World War II, he continued to carry out resistance activities behind enemy lines in the Nazi-controlled area.
On February 23, 1945, he and his family were arrested by the Nazis, but managed to escape from imprisonment through the efforts of the resistance organization.
On April 15 of the same year, Sophie Capet reunited with Timov. On May 5 of the same year, she found and rescued Dominic at the Rhine Camp. After discussion, they decided to work with Timov to conceal the truth about the murder of his family.
In February 1950, at Timov's repeated invitations, he decided to leave Germany and settle in Alaska, where he would make profits by selling art and invest in the gold mining industry.
In February 1965, the land around Elk Castle was purchased and decided to rebuild the castle.
In February 1975, the reconstruction of Elk Castle was completed. In September of the same year, Sophie left the 24th Hexian Hua Gang District due to neck cancer.
Dominique Love lost her fertility due to a landmine attack on December 5, 1944, while fleeing the battlefield.
In February 1945, in order to find Letz Capet, he pretended to be a soldier of the Youth League and voluntarily surrendered and entered the prisoner of war camp. In May of the same year, he left the prisoner of war camp through the efforts of Sophie and Timov.
In February 1950, he immigrated to the United States with Sophie and Timov to search for clues about his family.
In 1965, due to Sophie Capet's health, she took over the gold mining business.
After Sophie Capet's death in 1975, she inherited all of her estate.
After Timov's death in June 1983, he inherited all his inheritance, purchased land in Salzburg, Austria, built a monumental building for him - Timov Castle, and established the Elk Foundation to support Timov and his family.
Part of Sophie's estate is placed in trust.
In February 2000, Dominic moved Sophie Capet and Timov to the Timov Castle Cemetery.
"A castle was also built for Timov?" Wei Ran raised his eyebrows in surprise, moved his eyes and continued to look down.
Qiqi, a member of the White Rose organization, assisted Sophie Capet in her activities behind enemy lines during World War II. On February 4, 1945, while returning to the castle, she was ambushed by American soldiers and died unfortunately. She was buried in the basement of the Elk Castle church.
On February 9, 1945, Nadia, along with other war orphans, was evacuated by the G Group and the Comet Line relay and rushed to France for refuge in order to avoid being convicted of being a radio station. Later, due to the disbandment of the G Group and the Comet Line organization, Nadia was separated from the rest of the people.
Lost.
In September of the same year, Nadia died in childbirth, leaving behind a son who was raised by a local church.
"Nadia has a child?"
Wei Ran let out an exclamation, but the quill did not pause and continued its work stroke by stroke.
On February 9, 1945, Jonas, along with other war orphans, was evacuated by the G Group and the Comet Line relay and rushed to France for refuge in order to avoid being convicted of being a radio station. Later, due to the disbandment of the G Group and the Comet Line organization, Jonas was separated from the rest of the people.
Lost.
In June of the following year, Jonas and his adopted brother Okan returned to the country villa in Mons, Belgium, as agreed. After waiting for a long time with no results, he was persuaded by the Walters and went to the German border in Belgium to settle at the Derwent Farm.
In 1948, the two brothers finally reunited with Dominic.
In 1955, Jonas voluntarily went to Forest Mill to settle down and start a family.
In the spring of 1992, Okan died without any illness.
In the winter of the same year, Jonas passed away, and the two were buried in the basement of Elk Castle Church by Dominic.
After writing this, the metal quill started a new line again, listing two addresses in Bethney, France and one in Salzburg, Austria, as well as the detailed coordinates corresponding to these three sets of addresses.
Immediately afterwards, the quill listed the name of a person also named "Dominique", but whose last name was "Loew", and a contact number from France.
The metal quill paused again for a moment, and then wrote smoothly, "War can easily turn all beautiful things into the cruelest tragedies. But cruel wars will eventually end one day, and all the good things will eventually be given to those who
Bring happiness and comfort to the less fortunate.”
This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! Under Wei Ran's gaze, the light yellow page filled with words slowly turned to the back, and the metal quill continued to write under the slowly rotating red vortex.
:Dear friends, let’s run! Bravely walk through this minefield, pass through this man-eating thorn, and there will be a peaceful world beyond the fog!
Is it Okan, or Host and Heike...
In Wei Ran's murmur, the metal quill did not fall down, and even the pages of the metal book began to flip forward quickly!
Finally, when the book stopped at the first page, under Wei Ran's dull gaze, the "rank" column also changed from lieutenant to captain! And in the "nickname" column, except for "veterinarian"
In addition, he also has the title of "magician".
Got promoted again?
Wei Ran, who selectively couldn't see the word "veterinarian" and didn't even want to see the "nickname" column, had a look of surprise on his face. But obviously, the surprise was not over yet!
In the almost frightening white light, the self-locking metal book has grown visibly larger, and the few rust stains left on the cover have completely disappeared. Even the hourglass relief that first appeared on the cover has become
There is a real glass hourglass embedded on the cover. This hourglass is only the size of a thumb. When the fine blue sand on it falls, it turns scarlet.
When the blue fine sand completely leaks into the bottom and turns red, it will automatically flip over again, and the falling red fine sand will also cycle back and forth and turn blue again.
Just when he was about to touch the metal book, which had become much more beautiful, the metal quill that had also become much more refined was slowly embedded on the cover. Following that, the metal quill pen became much larger.
The cover was opened, and the light yellow pages began to turn slowly.
Under his gaze, the metal book turned to the back of page 28, and then the blue vortex with the Soviet pilot's winter leather flying cap lit up slightly like coals blown by the wind and then returned to calm.
Immediately afterwards, the red vortex on page 29 containing the bamboo basket brought back from Savage Mountain also flashed.
Until this time, the metal book finally calmed down. Since it was snapped together, the old
It fell into Wei Ran's hands honestly.
After weighing the metal book, which had almost no change in weight, I realized that no, no, this slutty metal book now should probably be called a metal book, which would be more accurate.
Regardless of what to call it, Wei Ran gently touched the hourglass on the cover, which seemed not to be affected by the angle change, and then waved his hand to take out the items in the two vortexes on pages 28 and 29.
“It turned out to be this.”
Wei Ran laughed dumbly. At this time, the Soviet winter flying cap in the red vortex on page 28 was not only inlaid with various trophies of the eagle over Stalingrad, but now also had an American B8 goggles.
.
There was even a pair of US military A10 flying gloves inside the flying cap. He remembered clearly that these goggles and gloves were small gifts given to him by Captain Letts.
Trying to put the Soviet flying hat on your head and the goggles, you have to admit that although the goggles and the flying hat come from two different ideological camps of the United States and the Soviet Union, they perfectly complement each other when paired together.
Putting away the flying hat, goggles and gloves, Wei Ran turned to look at the bamboo basket beside him.
At this time, the bamboo basket filled with various kitchen utensils was still wrapped in waterproof canvas. So at first glance, there was no change at all.
However, when he patiently untied the tarpaulin, he immediately discovered that in the backpack, there were not only two American Coleman 520 oil stoves installed in metal storage cans, but also a heavy
Dutch oven and a radiator adapted from a German army gas mask can.
Compared with the crude radiators in the trenches and castle ruins, the workmanship provided by the metal book is much more refined. Of course, just like the homemade radiators on the battlefield, it is tightly wound and still has barbs.
Barbed wire, not fine spring-like tungsten wire.
Instead of rushing to put these things away, Wei Ran took out the contents from the latest red vortex - the wire cutters distributed in large quantities by the German army in World War II.
In a daze, he seemed to see the young man named Okan again, and saw him running into the minefield without hesitation, using his life to open a passage to a peaceful world for his companions.
Sighing secretly, Wei Ran put the wire cutters marked with hourglass marks and the basket full of kitchen utensils back into the metal book.
He glanced at the half-track motorcycle and the mortar group installed in the trailer next to him, and then at the carriage next to him. Wei Ran patted his butt and got up, walking towards the cave outside the moat that was originally used to store treasures, while secretly
Analyze the current situation.
According to the information given in the metal book, it is obvious that Nadia left a child for Dominic, and it seems that Dominic did not know about it.
Obviously, if the child is really Dominic's son, his main purpose has been achieved this time, but I don't know if Dominic, who is now elderly, is satisfied with this result, and whether he is willing to believe that Sophie was
Cheated him with Timov.
Compared with these realistic things, Wei Ran was wondering about another thing. After all, although the metal book recorded in sufficient detail, it did not mention why Dominic did not go to find Nadia, and why Nadia did not
Contact Dominic about this.
In addition, the three addresses provided by the metal book also seem to have some secrets hidden behind them.
With these doubts, when Wei Ran passed through the pine trees growing in the river and the surrounding grass, he finally discovered the cave where the treasure had been hidden.
Walking into the cave along the bluestone steps, when the flashlight light swept around, wherever you looked, you could no longer find the shadow of the past. Naturally, the artworks that were once hidden here had long since disappeared.
All that was left was a rusty oil lamp hanging on the iron fence.
Sighing secretly, Wei Ran turned around and walked towards the church. He climbed up the stairs to the bell tower with familiarity, then followed the steps inside the bell tower and returned to the underground tomb.
When the flashlight light swept across the names that did not use the surname "Cape", Wei Ran also saw it from inside.
There are too many names of familiar partners.
There are Jonas and Okan mentioned in the metal book, as well as Host, Heike, Bernd, Stefan and even Jutta and Boyi who have not been mentioned. Of course, there is also the brave Qiqi.
girl.
He took out a pack of wet wipes from his pocket and carefully wiped Qiqi's tombstone. Wei Ran, who didn't usually smoke, touched his pocket, and then simply took out the medical kit in the metal book. From the one placed on the medical kit
He took off a pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes from the American helmet, took one out, lit it, and placed it gently in front of Qiqi's tombstone.
As for himself, he sat down on the medical box and quietly looked at the inconspicuous short tombstone in front of him in the swirling smoke.
Two time and space separated by seventy or eighty years, he didn't know how to treat Qiqi's affection for him. But even if the two people were in the same time and space, facing a brave girl who had just begun to fall in love, Wei Ran could only do
Try not to hurt the other person as much as possible.
"War can easily turn all good things into the cruelest tragedies, but cruel wars will eventually end one day..."
Wei Ran murmured to comfort himself, comforting himself, and also comforting the children and girls who did not survive the war more than half a century ago.
Finally, as the cigarette burned out, Wei Ran bent down and picked up the extinguished cigarette butts, took back the medical box that served as a bench, turned around and strode away from this tomb full of family, friendship, love and sad memories.
