Parks wasn't just talking big, but his amazing massages had been vividly described by Moore to the brothers of Easy Company multiple times, so much so that many in Easy Company even had the misconception that Parks was a witch doctor.
Parks didn't care what the brothers thought. This time, Easy Company was serving as the lead company primarily because Parks' training methods had improved Easy Company's physical condition relatively quickly, plus Easy Company was usually the most diligently trained company.
"Heh heh, brothers of Easy Company, when we get to Atlanta first, I'll help you take girls to the movies." At this moment, soldiers from First Battalion and Third Battalion exited the camp gate; they were about to form up and head to the nearby train station.
"These are a bunch of bastards!" Patrick Christenson cursed softly.
"Hey! You cowards, just wait and see Colonel Sink award us medals when we arrive!" soldier Ellie shouted loudly at the soldiers who had just mocked them, "You're just jealous!"
"Shut up! soldier!" At this moment, Captain Sobel, who knows when he appeared, stood behind everyone, "You are responsible for your words and actions. Now, you climb that hill for me. You have thirty minutes, quick, quick!"
"Sir?" Ellie looked at Captain Sobel in confusion, clearly bewildered by his unprovoked punishment.
"Captain!" At this moment, Lieutenant Winters walked over, "We're about to embark on a long march tomorrow, it's really not suitable to do strenuous exercise before that."
Captain Sobel glanced at Lieutenant Winters, then dissatisfied, he shouted loudly: "Lieutenant Winters, are you telling me not to punish a soldier who made a mistake? That's not what an officer does."
Lieutenant Winters still asked: "What kind of mistake?"
Captain Sobel looked at Lieutenant Winters in surprise. In his impression, Lieutenant Winters rarely made such a move, questioning things to the root. His gaze became stern: "soldier Ellie, aren't you going to run?" He ignored Lieutenant Winters, turned and walked straight away, leaving his orderly there, "Watch that soldier carefully, then report back to me!"
"Yes, Sir!" The orderly stayed behind. Ellie, helpless, shrugged at Lieutenant Winters and had no choice but to run up the hill.
Seeing Captain Sobel leave, some people couldn't help but grumble.
"Damn Sobel!"
"Heaven knows what will happen tomorrow? Does he want Ellie to die of exhaustion on the road?"
Although everyone was very dissatisfied, there was nothing they could do to save Ellie.
In fact, Ellie was indeed a bit exhausted. When he returned, he was drenched. He really didn't know how he would endure the 118-mile journey tomorrow.
The brothers had all dispersed, but Parks had been waiting for Ellie to return, and then he saw a tired and dejected Ellie come back. Parks quickly went over and called out: "Hey, Ellie, how do you feel?"
Ellie saw it was Parks and sighed helplessly: "I feel like I'm falling apart. I really don't know what will happen tomorrow. Parks, can you help me? Just like you helped Moore?" Ellie's tone carried obvious hope.
Parks smiled and approached: "That's why I'm here, waiting for you. All right, let's go to the barracks. Lie on your bed, and I'll give you a recovery massage. I guarantee your physical strength and energy will be just like before you ran."
Clearly, Parks' actions touched Ellie. He had only said it casually, and even if Parks had refused, he wouldn't have complained. He just hadn't expected Parks to be even more serious about it.
"You're a good person, Parks! Really." Ellie mumbled, speaking from the bottom of his heart.
Parks' massage skills were truly not to be underestimated. Many people in the barracks enjoyed watching Parks perform these miraculous movements. Parks did this for two reasons: first, to allow Ellie to quickly recover his physical strength, and second, to show the other men of Easy Company the magic of his massage techniques, to give them some confidence. This would be very beneficial for the long march, after all, such a march largely depended not on physical strength, but on willpower, and willpower often determined the final outcome.
"Oh—" Ellie groaned as Parks' fingers moved across his back, legs, and arms. It was a very comfortable kind of groan.
"Damn it!" Guarnere cursed, "Ellie, is that more comfortable than being with a girl? Please don't make sounds like that, it makes you seem indecent, a total debauchee!"
"No, no, Guarnere, Parks' fingers are like they've cast a spell, hmm… how to put it? It's like finding pleasure in pain, yes, that's exactly the feeling!" Ellie's mouth couldn't stop.
"Enough, Ellie, it's not as exaggerated as you say. It's just a massage." Parks couldn't help but find it amusing.
The brothers watching couldn't help but burst into laughter. But Ellie ignored them, closing his eyes and enjoying himself.
"Alright, Ellie, don't just lie there." Parks withdrew his hands, then patted Ellie's buttocks twice with his hand, "Get off the bed and move around. Try it, how does it feel?"
The effect was excellent, that was Ellie's feeling; his spirits were very good now: "I never expected such an effect, Parks. What do I have to worry about then? With you here, I think even an additional fifty miles would be no problem."
Ellie's expression definitely didn't look like he was lying, which was absolutely good news for the brothers of Easy Company. Parks, at this moment, was like the backbone of Easy Company; many people now trusted him.
Although this was just an interlude, the effect it produced was excellent. At the very least, the soldiers of Easy Company were not as dejected, and some even truly began to hope that Colonel Sink would award them a medal of honor when they reached Atlanta this time.
It also attracted the attention of Lieutenant Winters. In the evening, he called Parks to his barracks.
"Lieutenant Winters, Lieutenant Nixon!" Parks stood ramrod straight and saluted Lieutenant Winters and Lieutenant Nixon, who was also in the barracks.
Lieutenant Nixon saw Parks enter, he smiled and poured a glass of wine, handing it over. Lieutenant Winters' lips curved into a slight smile, he returned a salute, then said: "At ease, Staff Sergeant Parks. Relax, have a seat, we're just having a casual chat."
Parks took the whiskey Lieutenant Nixon handed him and sat down on a nearby chair.
"Whiskey!" Lieutenant Nixon smiled, "Emerald 69 vintage, try it, it tastes good!"
"Thank you!" Parks took a sip, then smiled, "It really is good wine!"
Lieutenant Nixon couldn't help but laugh upon hearing Parks' praise: "Finally, I can find a kindred spirit. You know, your Lieutenant Winters is really boring; he doesn't even know what wine tastes like, which has to be said is a great regret in life."
"Perhaps without drinking, life has no regrets, Lieutenant!" Parks smiled.
"You really know how to speak up for your Lieutenant." Lieutenant Nixon whistled, "Am I to see this as you trying to curry favor with your superior? Of course, that's a joke!" He added at the end.
Lieutenant Winters cleared his throat somewhat awkwardly, then smiled at Parks and said: "Alright, let me tell you why I called you here. These past few days, I know there have been some rumors in the company regarding your various abilities."
Parks nodded and said: "I know, Lieutenant Winters. I have indeed been quite prominent in the company lately. Of course, today I also helped Ellie, you know, I did this out of my love for the brothers of Easy Company. Nothing is more important than my love for this company, and of course, you too, are the most respectable officer I have ever met."
Lieutenant Nixon smiled at Lieutenant Winters, as if it was something expected.
"Parks, this is what I'm thinking: if there are any problems during this march, I hope you can step in and help those brothers at critical moments. You know, we should inherently be a whole, united and mutually supportive, sharing joys and sorrows together." Then he looked at Parks very seriously, "I don't want any brother in the company to leave the company because of this long march."
Parks was deeply moved. Lieutenant Winters truly cared for every brother in Easy Company. He stood up and solemnly said to Lieutenant Winters: "Please rest assured, Lieutenant Winters, they are my brothers. I will do my best to take care of them."
"Alright, Sergeant, I hope what we discussed today won't be known by a fourth person." Lieutenant Winters looked at Parks frankly.
"Yes, please rest assured!" Parks nodded, preparing to leave.
Lieutenant Nixon called out to him: "Sergeant, how do you feel about the wine?"
"Very good!"
"Hmm, then may I ask you a question?" Lieutenant Nixon seemed a bit hesitant.
"Ask away, Lieutenant, as long as I can answer!" Parks seemed to know what he was going to ask.
Sure enough, Lieutenant Nixon still asked; his curiosity was indeed not small: "I just wanted to ask, why do you always have some strange things and extraordinary abilities that make you perform so excellently in training?"
Parks looked at Lieutenant Nixon; he was indeed very curious. Of course, Lieutenant Winters, who was beside him, also seemed to look at him with some anticipation.
"You know, maybe I'm just built different" Parks shrugged, with a look that implied 'you know'.