"Congratulations!" Inside the barracks, White extended his hand to Parks, who was packing his luggage, and shook it. "I never thought we'd have to part ways now, but this really is a great opportunity, isn't it?"
"Thank you, White. Don't worry, I'll still come back, even if it's only for thirty days." Parks smiled. He didn't want to make it so sentimental. But honestly, once he had to leave the brothers he had spent days and nights with, he always felt a little reluctant.
"I heard that after this, you'll be reassigned. If I'm not mistaken, you'll definitely be promoted." Cobb sighed, "Parks, you really got lucky. Will you remember us after this?"
"Shut up, Cobb!" Heffron said, "Parks won't leave his brothers. Will he?" The last question was directed at Parks. Actually, he wasn't sure either, but that's what he thought.
Parks spread his hands, looking a bit helpless: "Anyway, I'll try my best to request to come back. You know, I have feelings for Easy Company, and I won't leave Easy Company without firing a single shot. Brothers, don't forget, we still have to go to Europe. Hitler, that little mustache man, is still waiting for us to deal with him."
Everyone laughed, and the atmosphere became a little more lively.
"Parks, say goodbye to the other brothers!" George Luz said from the side, "Actually, I don't miss you at all. It's only a month, right? Maybe when we jump out of the plane and land, our butts will land on Parks's head."
Everyone laughed again. Parks heard Luz's words, so he went from barrack to barrack to say goodbye to his brothers.
"Parks, you still owe me money. You really messed us up." Buck was the loudest one, still holding a grudge about losing to Parks that time. "If you don't come back, who will I go to for collection?"
"Come on, Buck, you're just not as skilled!" Guarnere chuckled, then stepped forward and hugged Parks. "Congratulations, Parks, you deserve this."
Parks nodded, smiling: "Yes, this means something to me, but if I had to choose, I'd still prefer to be with my brothers." Then he lowered his voice and said, "You know, I've been in the United States my whole life. Before long, we'll be able to go to Europe for free. What could be better than that?"
"Come on, Parks. You deserve this, we're all happy for you!" Talbert shouted, "Do you know where you're going this time? Washington? Or Chicago?"
"Washington and New York."
"Wow, those are really great places!" Someone exclaimed.
"Of course, the girls in New York are very generous. Hey, Parks, don't get lost on your way back! Remember to come home!" Buck laughed loudly, "New York is a city that makes people get lost, but I like it!"
"Buck, it seems you've charmed quite a few girls!" Someone shouted at Buck.
Parks smiled and said, "Alright guys, I have to go. There are still a few brothers in other barracks I need to say goodbye to." Parks stood up and straightened his uniform. "I'll be back."
"I'll be back." This sentence was easy to say, but Parks knew it wasn't easy to do. After saying goodbye to his brothers, he felt he should say goodbye to Lieutenant Winter.
"Parks?" Lieutenant Nixon opened the barracks door, startled. "Saying goodbye to us?"
Parks saluted, then nodded: "Yes, Sir!"
Winster walked over with a smile, extended his hand to Parks, and shook it firmly: "Congratulations, Parks!"
Parks nodded, then said to Winster: "Lieutenant, you know, I actually don't want to leave my brothers."
"I know!" Winster nodded, then looked at Parks, signaling him to continue.
"Colonel Sink said that if I wanted to, he would ask Division HQ to reassign me." Parks took a deep breath, then looked at Winster firmly, "I don't want to be assigned to other units or leave Easy Company. You know, when I joined Easy Company, I wanted to be a paratrooper, but now I haven't even become a paratrooper."
"Do you need me to do anything for you?" Winster seemed to understand a little, a slight smile on his lips. To be honest, if Parks left like this, he would also feel it was a pity.
"If possible, after the bond drive ends, I want to stay in Easy Company." Parks said.
Winster thought for a moment, then nodded: "I will relay that to Colonel Sink. Don't worry!"
"But you have to think it through!" At this moment, Lieutenant Nixon spoke, holding a glass of wine. "Not everyone can return to their original unit as they wish. And your promotion this time will definitely be linked to your position. Maybe when you come back, we'll have to call you Lieutenant."
"If you are promoted, then you will be transferred to another company to serve, not Easy Company as you requested," Winster added from the side.
"Of course, this is just my speculation," Lieutenant Nixon smiled, "If you want to return to your original unit, then you definitely won't get promoted. It's up to you to choose then."
Parks smiled and said, "I know how I will choose, Sir!"
"Alright, congratulations again!" Lieutenant Nixon shook Parks's hand.
Winster, however, saluted Parks first, then shook his hand: "Do well!" Then he patted his shoulder, "I really look forward to you coming back here."
The next morning, Parks packed his bags. Winster specifically drove over in a military jeep.
"Parks, I'll give you a ride!" He stood by, waiting for Parks to finish saying goodbye to his brothers, then said to him.
"Thank you, Lieutenant!" Parks smiled gratefully.
The jeep kicked up a trail of smoke, then disappeared into the temporary military camp in Atlanta.
"Parks just left like that! I really feel a little reluctant!" White said with a somewhat downcast expression.
"Don't overthink it, White!" Heffron said from the side, "Don't worry, he'll be back. He's our brother, isn't he? No matter where he goes, he always will be."
"Parks is a good man!" David Landers said, "Let's go back!"
"Oh, he's certainly a good man, but why isn't it Sobel who's leaving?" Guarnere said from the side, "I'd rather Sobel leave and let him enjoy the limelight than Parks leave. But there's nothing we can do about it. Brothers, tomorrow we're off to Fort Benning. This brings us one step closer to becoming paratroopers."
"Yeah, I really hope to go soon, so I can get my silver wings sooner!" Muke said from the side.
"Silver wings? I like it!" Luz said happily.
"Alright, we're here!" Winster escorted Parks into the station. "I'll see you off here. I have to go back to camp!"
"Thank you, Lieutenant!" Parks said.
Winster nodded, started the car, and sped off back the way he came.
Was he really leaving just like that? Parks watched Winster's receding figure grow smaller and smaller, feeling a little downcast. At this moment, the whistle had already blown, and the conductor kept urging passengers to board the train.
"Are you sure you want to take the train?" The conductor looked at Parks, who was lost in thought.
"Oh, sorry, I'm getting on!" Parks climbed onto the train and sat by the window. With a clatter, the train slowly began to move forward.
Atlanta's train station, outside the increasingly fast train, appeared smaller and smaller. It stood there alone, looking a bit desolate in the cold air.
Parks reluctantly took one last look, then turned his head. At this moment, two young conductors walked over, looked at Parks, and then respectfully said to him: "Excuse me, are you Reese Parks himself?"
Parks looked at them, then smiled and said, "Yes, may I help you?"
"That's great!" The two laughed happily, "We are the conductors of this train!"
"I can tell!" Parks smiled.
"Excuse me, can we take a photo with you?" One of the conductors looked at Parks with anticipation and asked.
"Of course!" Parks shrugged, looking indifferent.
"That's great!" One of the conductors suddenly pulled out a camera from behind him, looked at the passenger opposite Parks, and said, "Miss, could you please take a picture for us? Please!"
Parks looked across. It was then that he noticed a very beautiful girl sitting opposite him. Her blue eyes held a slight smile, and a well-fitted long woolen dress made her appear noble and elegant.
"Of course!" The girl smiled faintly, took the conductor's camera, and glanced at Parks. "Why not?"
"Reese Parks?" After the two train attendants left, the girl sat back down, leaning against the chair, elegantly lighting a cigarette. "Sergeant?"
"Yes!" Parks managed a faint smile, then nodded, and said nothing more. Even facing such a beautiful girl, he wasn't in the mood to say much; suddenly leaving his familiar military camp and comrades, his heart hadn't adjusted yet, and his mood wasn't very high.
Seeing that Parks wasn't speaking, only looking out the window, the girl couldn't help but narrow her eyes, carefully scrutinizing him.
Parks knew the girl was secretly observing him and didn't mind. He just felt a bit mentally weary, then gently closed his eyes.
With a "boom!" sound, dirt splattered everywhere, and several figures flickered before him. The gleaming blades faintly radiated a chill in the hazy mist.
His comrade was right in front of him, blocking the cold light's sweep, blood splattering on his face, even feeling its warm heat.
"No—" Zhang Xiang roared with a tearing heart, attempting to stand, but a rifle butt slammed heavily onto his head. He felt his head buzzing.
"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"
The enormous kinetic energy of the Desert Eagle in his hand struck several people who had surrounded him, sending them flying.
"Brother Xiang—" Suddenly, a startled voice came from behind him.
When Zhang Xiang turned his head, he saw two tall figures holding AK47s spitting fire at him.
"Puff" "Puff" "Puff"...
The bullets made dull thuds as they struck human bodies. A body softly collapsed into his arms; it was the comrade who had just made the startled sound. Zhang Xiang drew his bayonet, leaped forward, and the blade tip pierced the throat of one figure, producing a gurgling gasping sound. The other person tried to raise his gun, but Zhang Xiang's bayonet was pulled out, scattering a few drops of blood into the air.
"Puff—" A short, desperate sound came from that person's throat, then he stiffly fell to the ground, twitching.
"Surrender traitors!" A stiff Chinese voice came from a distance, "You are surrounded!" Hazy figures flickered all around. Zhang Xiang crouched down, looking down at his comrade who had just fallen to the ground, taking a bullet for him.
"Live... live!" His comrade's lips moved, his eyes gradually losing their luster.
"Ah—" Zhang Xiang felt his chest about to explode. He suddenly stood up, raising the pistol and QBZ95 automatic rifle in his hands, and began to spray bullets wildly.
The constantly falling figures seemed like mere wood.
"Boom—" With a few more loud bangs, shells exploded beside Zhang Xiang, and the huge airwave threw him to the ground, his back slamming hard. Then he saw the dark muzzles of guns, continuously flashing fire at him.
"No!" Parks suddenly snapped his head up, then frantically looked around.
Soft light and the click-clack sound of the train.
"Did you have a nightmare?" A gentle voice came from across.
"I'm sorry!" Parks smiled apologetically at the girl across from him. "I caused you confusion, that's my fault!"
The girl smiled at him: "It's nothing." Then, as if she had something to say, she hesitated.
Parks clearly noticed her expression, so he smiled and said, "Is there anything I can do for you, Miss?"
The girl said, "I'm just a little curious. Are you from the Air Force at Fort Benning?"
"Well—how should I put this?" Parks didn't know how to answer. "At least I'm not in the Air Force yet, but perhaps one day I will be a true paratrooper."
"Sir?" The girl was clearly a bit confused.
"I know it's a bit hard to understand, but in fact, I'm just a prospective paratrooper who hasn't finished training and hasn't received the silver wing badge yet," Parks explained honestly.
"I see!" The girl nodded and smiled, then took out a newspaper. On it was a photo of Parks receiving an award. The girl pointed to the photo and said, "Is this you? Reese Parks?"
"Yes, Miss!" Parks cleared his throat.
"Virginia Grey!" The girl extended her hand to Parks. "It's a pleasure to meet you!"
"My pleasure!" Parks gently squeezed her soft, delicate hand, smiling as he said, "I'm also very pleased to meet you; you are one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen!"
Virginia Grey seemed to enjoy such flattery. Just then, a waiter came over, and Virginia Grey snapped her fingers: "Two glasses of Bordeaux 1896."
The waiter quickly brought the wine. "Care for a drink? It's on me!" Virginia smiled gracefully, gently raising her glass, and subtly gesturing to Parks.
"To what?" Parks also raised his glass.
"To our first meeting!" Virginia smiled slightly, "And to our future meetings!"
Like many handsome men and beautiful women who meet by chance, sparks would fly when their glasses clinked. Parks felt a strong liking for this beautiful Miss Virginia, and Miss Virginia also seemed to be deliberately cultivating passion.
"Oh—God, God!" Virginia's exposed white body writhed on the small bed. Like an octopus, she wrapped her white arms and long legs around Parks's head, clamping his waist.
"You are my king, Parks." Virginia's gasps, mixed with Parks's low roars, made the train compartment bed creak, accompanied by the clatter of the tracks, as if it would never tire.
"Ah—" Virginia's long legs, clamped around Parks's waist, suddenly straightened, like two soft white jades. Her youthful toes were tightly tensed, and she let out a long, soul-stirring moan of climax that surged from deep within her.
"Oh—" Parks, after a struggle, also tightly embraced her soft body.
"Darling! You're really strong!" Virginia clung to Parks's body; she didn't even want to move her body off Parks. This man's strong body made her so ecstatic that she was reluctant to leave.
"Are you saying that because I'm a prospective paratrooper?" Parks smiled, then patted her hip. "Are you going to Washington?"
"Yes, I just happened to pass through Atlanta, and that's how we met!" Virginia rested her face on Parks's chest, feeling his heartbeat. "Perhaps we'll meet again."
"Maybe!" Parks nodded, after all, their destination was Washington.
"I heard you're going to promote war bonds this time?" Virginia suddenly looked at Parks. "You're about to become famous across America. Don't you have any thoughts about that?"
Parks shook his head: "Yes, it's just promoting war bonds, and I don't want to be famous. I just want to return to my company! That's my thought, Virginia. I want to fight alongside my brothers in our company!"
"Is that all?" Virginia propped herself up, looking at him with some disbelief. "Don't you think this might be an opportunity for you to achieve fame and success?"
Parks thought for a moment, then firmly shook his head: "Actually, I also want these things: fame, status, money. But everyone's pursuits are different. Perhaps in the future I'll need these very much, but now, before the war ends, I just want to go back to my company and then go to Europe with my brothers. They need me there!"
It wasn't that Parks didn't want the opportunity, but he knew better that his war bond promotion was merely a masked facade; once the promotion ended, he wouldn't have any more opportunities. Besides, he knew that some officers and soldiers who had previously promoted war bonds, though they enjoyed temporary glory, ultimately most of them ended up in obscurity.
"You're really a good person!" Virginia's tone became less lively, and the sentence even carried a hint of sarcasm. But Parks didn't care; they were just playing along for a chance encounter. Both he and Virginia understood this. As for Virginia's mention of perhaps meeting again, that would be for later. He believed their paths wouldn't cross often.
After that, the two were like a sweet couple, enjoying delicious red wine in the train's dining car, and then making love on the small bed in the sleeping compartment.
Both were so infatuated with each other's bodies, that when the train arrived at Washington Station, they both felt the journey had been incredibly short.
"We'll meet again! I believe it!" Virginia said goodbye to Parks, then followed several well-dressed men in suits into a black Ford car and drove away.
Parks shook his head and smiled. Meet again? He held no hope. Even if they did meet again, what then? A fleeting romance couldn't last. He stood on the station platform, took a deep breath of air, then straightened his military uniform, and picked up his bag.