Battle of the Rhine

Anthony? McWood, also known as "big girl", is currently working for a real estate company in New York. "I like flipping houses," he said. "One has to own a house and pay off the mortgage as soon as possible—trust me, you can never lose money buying a house in New York—"

"It's tempting, but I'm sorry," Michael couldn't help smiling, "but my savings probably can't afford a basement in New York."

"You've really changed," "Big Girl" punched Michael. "You're not the same you, old Mike, the fuck!"

"It's been ten years." Michael looked at the crisp suit and tie of "Big Girl", "You're not like the original you."

"Fuck you, that's how I was. Did you forget? None of you know how to tie a tie. I taught you until your fingers cramp. To be honest, is it so difficult to tie a knot?"

"It's not difficult, but since you can, why don't we save a little effort?"

"Fuck, I knew from you, Peter, Oliver, Tim—" "Big Girl" pursed her lips, "You are all scumbags."

"That's right," Michael raised his glass, "Three respects."

"Big Girl" also raised his glass, "Together, three——and myself, I am different from you."

The phone call before Christmas pulled Michael back into the real world from the fog of misery. "Big girl" scolded him on the phone for 5 minutes. "Ten years since the end of the war! It's been a great anniversary this year, and we've been talking about getting together...and no one can fucking get in touch with you, Michael Fiennes, and everyone thinks you died in Europe! We talked about half of it Do you want to call the police in an hour-you dead dog! Damn, how long did it take me to find you... Oh! So you went back to the United States! You didn't even say hello when you came back, I think you should be shot for treason you!"

"Shoot me," Michael said first, and they chatted. "Big girl" scolded and laughed, looking like a crazy person.Finally, they agreed to use the New Year's holiday to get together in New York. Michael drove against the wind and snow, and it took a full day and a half. "I almost froze to death on the road," he laughed, "Oh, it's so cold in winter..."

"I still remember being in the forest, but it was freezing enough." The big girl beamed, "Everyone was covered with snow, and I kept thinking about that fairy tale, the little match girl..."

"Big match girl."

"shut your mouth!"

Michael saw Big Girl's daughter, a lovely little black-haired girl with dark eyes and a fair, rosy face like a lovely apple. "Vivienne is smart!" "Big Girl" was very proud, "She has already learned how to count."

"Awesome."

"Why are you not married yet? Oh, no, why are you divorced?"

"That's it." Michael shrugged. "After retiring, many things have changed. Sometimes I even think, if the war is not over...not over..."

"Come on, the war has to be over." Big Girl said seriously, "I don't want to fight any more. Well, my helmet, the one with the hole in it, I keep it in the bookcase .My wife thought it was unlucky, so she wanted to throw my helmet over and over again. I said it must not be thrown away! Without it, I might have died a long time ago—why don’t you get married? Don’t even have a girlfriend?”

"It's nice to be alone."

"Fart, you don't look like 'nice' at all."

Michael tugged at his shirt and sweater, "I'm a supervisor now, isn't that good enough?"

"You look sad and frustrated. It's not a good time to be president."

"I work overtime every day, so tired, really."

"I fucking work overtime too, I can tell the difference between overtime and being sad, don't lie to me." "Big girl" sighed, "Well, this is your privacy, I have no right to interfere. It's just, my old Dude, I hope you are still as happy and smiling as before, instead of..."

"Thanks," said Michael sincerely. "I see...thanks, 'Big Girl.'"

"I warn you, old dog, don't call me that damn nickname again!"

……

Michael had a great few days in New York.At noon the day before leaving New York, Big Girl organized a party.Michael actually didn't want to participate in the reunion of comrades-in-arms, not because he had conflicts with anyone, but because he had a ghost in his heart—he was afraid of meeting Oliver Bowman.He didn't tell the "little German" when he left Munich.For this, Oliver will definitely beat him up.

What are you afraid of?At the party, just as Michael greeted Hugh Hoyle, he was punched hard in the back.He turned around and Oliver stared angrily, "Fuck, Mike! You ungrateful bastard... why the hell didn't you tell me you ran away? No! I can only let 'Mayan' be my best man..."

"Are you married?" Michael avoided Oliver's "greetings," "Congratulations—when did it happen?"

"You still have the face to ask!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'll make up your gift money now, okay? Please, forgive me!"

"Little German guy" poohed, "Money, money, money, you can count money, Mike, you are a German guy! Caring about every detail, eating too much sauerkraut will do it... I know it. Our friendship is money can In exchange? Huh?"

"I was wrong, really." Michael held up his hands, "My sincerest apologies to you."

The crowd cheered for Michael and Oliver's "return to the old relationship". "You haven't seen him like that in Germany," "Little German" gestured, "in a long coat--good woolen stuff--with a sleazy hat, and laughs when he sees people." No laughing, 'Hello! How's it going?' - it's disgusting! I've seen it a few times and every time I feel like throwing up."

"Fuck," Peter laughed, "I can't imagine...that guy Mike will ever wear a woolen coat as a gentleman."

"Our allied battlefield morals, what's the matter with the long trench coat!" Oliver rolled his eyes, "He got a jeep, and I begged him, 'Mike, let me drive!' He kicked me out of the car Go down, 'Get out! There's no door!'—for God's sake, can you learn something good from the Germans, and don't be mean!"

Michael held the beer and smiled as cooperatively as he could. "It's that kind of smile," said Oliver, "that's the kind of... laugh, the German smile. There's a historical reason why Germans don't like to laugh. Why are you laughing like that? I thought you had to rush back to America. What unforgivable crime have you committed!"

"I'm a normal job transfer." Michael was at a loss, "I'm an American after all, and I can't stay in Germany for the rest of my life, right?"

"Damn you," Oliver poured down a large glass of beer, "We are not as good as Germany in the United States, the taste of beer is too weak." He slammed the beer glass on the table, "Uh...you still Remember 'The King'?"

Michael's heart sank sharply, and his eyes darkened for a while, "'King'..."

"What 'King'?" asked Big Girl. "Is this a German riddle?"

"Do you remember that the highest rank of the first Germans we captured—"

"Fuck," someone cursed vaguely, "that lunatic Hitler... I only remember that he has the highest rank!"

"Idiot," Oliver chuckled, "that time on the Rhine when Big Girl's helmet was notched by a bullet--that was the first time we guarded captives. One of the Germans had a blond , looks very much like a statue - old Mike's sweetheart..."

"You said Mike's sweetheart, I remembered." "Big Girl" was also drunk, "I remember! That guy looks like a purebred Aryan specimen in Hitler's propaganda. Old Mike Got into a fight with Tim about him. God, it's a good thing he's not a girl—”

"He's about the same as a girl." Oliver looked at Michael, shook his head suddenly, and closed his mouth.Michael's mind went blank, and he stood there stiffly. "How's Mike's sweetheart?" someone asked. "Still like a taxidermy?"

"Well," Oliver obviously hesitated, looked at Michael and lowered his eyes, "That's it, he looks like a human being."

"Then you are talking nonsense!"

"I just want to talk nonsense, can't I!"

Michael found a chair and sat down.He felt dizzy, ringing in his ears, and his stomach puckered up.After an unknown amount of time, Oliver came to him, dragged a chair, and sat down.

"Are you all right?" whispered "Little German." "Sorry, I didn't mean to bring up that time, but—"

"I'm fine." Michael waved his hand, "I've been working overtime for a while, so I'm a little tired. Nice to meet you, Ollie, I didn't mean not to tell you... I'm sorry, I—"

"It's nothing, buddy." Oliver blinked, and the corners of his mouth curled up. "I don't know... whether I should say it. Miss Charlie is a good person, and I like her very much. Without her, I wouldn't know Vera." .Vera is pregnant, Mike, and I'm going to be a daddy in May...”

Michael raised his head, surprised and delighted, "Really?"

"Well." Oliver nodded his head, "It stands to reason that I shouldn't ask. But... Miss Charlie came to me and asked me if I knew where you were. She was very anxious and very sad. Me and Vera comforted her, and she wept... Her brother, the 'King,' disappeared—"

"What?" Michael stood up in shock, dizziness forced him to sit back again, "He... disappeared?"

"I helped to find it, but I couldn't find it anywhere. However, he came back by himself in the end." Oliver became more and more hesitant, "You know him very well, don't you? Charlie said you were a good friend of the 'King'. He came back At the time, she was devastated, and her spirit didn’t look right. With Veteran’s Syndrome, Xia Li cried very sadly. We advised her that her brother should be sent to the hospital, and the doctor would take care of him... Xia Li said that she tried No, it's useless, she didn't want her brother to suffer that. You know, that kind of hospital uses electroshock therapy or something. Later, before I left Germany, Vera and I went to visit Charlie. We met the 'King' ..." After a period of silence, his voice trembled, "Did you know? He...he is gay."