Chapter 34 end

somewhere in france To all my dear family members: I'm writing this in the diary that's in my pocket, and it's going to stay here until the war is over—it doesn't matter; you'll get it anyway.But I can't send sealed letters now, let alone sealed in five nested envelopes.This was due to a kind of "censorship" here - meaning that every letter was opened, censored, and everything that might be of interest to the German devils was deleted.Things like dates, places, unit numbers, and maybe what I had for breakfast. (Beans, boiled pork and french fries, and coffee to melt the spoon.)

You see, I have made a pleasant journey across the sea, courtesy of Uncle Sam, and now I am in the land of wine and beauty. (The wine is very ordinary wine, and they seem to hide all the beautiful girls. The most beautiful girls I saw had light beards and heavy leg hair. If I hadn't made a mistake and stood in the wind , I could have ignored it. My dear, I don't know if the French never take a bath, or only during the war. But I have no right to find fault with them. Bathing is a luxury. Today, if I were in a Given the choice between a beautiful girl and a hot bath, I'd choose the hot bath—otherwise she wouldn't touch me.)

Don't worry I'm in a "war zone" right now.If you get this letter, the war is over and I'm fine.It's easier to write a letter than to jot down trivial things in your diary every day. A "war zone" is an exaggeration; it is a "static war," meaning that both sides are in the same stalemate, each pinned down by the other.I'm far from the front line and can't be hurt. I was in charge of leading a small unit called "Squad" with eight people.Me and five others are riflemen, plus an automatic rifleman (by automatic, I mean the rifle, not the man; there are no robot soldiers in this war), and the eighth carries ammo for that automatic rifleman people.It was a corporal job, which (mentioned in my last letter from America) was lost in the course of my transfer from one unit to another.

Being a corporal also suits me well.For the first time, I had several people permanently assigned to me, enough time to get to know each other, their strengths and weaknesses, and how to deal with them.They're a nice bunch of people.Only one was troublesome, and it wasn't his fault; it was due to the prejudices that existed at this time.His name was FX Dinkowski, and he was the only Catholic in our class and the only Jew.Twins, if you've never heard of these terms, ask Athena.From his ancestry he belonged to one religion and he was brought up in another religion.His luck was not very good, and he was placed among a group of rural boys who believed in a third religion and were not very tolerant.

To add to the misfortune, he was a city lad with a bad voice (even to me) and a little clumsy movement.When they played tricks on him (which they did whenever I wasn't around), he got clumsier.Honestly, he's not fighter material - but I'm not asked for my opinion.So he became the one who carried the ammo, and it was the best I could do to keep our class balanced. They called him Tinky, only a little derogatory in it, but he hated it. (I call him by his full last name—I do with everyone. There is a mysterious convention in the military organization here and now of calling everyone by their last name.)

Let's leave one of the best classes in the American Expeditionary Force for an update on my first family and your ancestors.Just before Uncle Sam sent me on this wonderful trip, they gave me a vacation.I spent this vacation with the Brian Smith family.I lived in their home because they "adopted" me as an "orphan" during this time of war. This vacation was the best I've had since I got off Dora.I took Woody to the amusement park, which was primitive but far more fun than some of the high-end and complicated rides on Secundus.I take him on various rides, ask him to play games and other projects that interest him.I enjoyed it myself, because he loved playing so much - he ended up exhausted and fell asleep on the way home.He behaved well and now we are good buddies.I decided not to kill him, let him grow up well, maybe there is still hope for this person.

I had many long conversations with my grandfather and got to know other people better—especially Mom and Dad.Something happened to my father that I didn't expect in advance.I spoke to him for a few minutes at Camp Funston, and then he came home on leave the day I was about to leave for the unit.I wasn't supposed to see him, but he left the barracks a few hours early (that's the thing about being an officer) so we were home for a while.Then he made a phone call to the army, which gave me two more days off.Why?Tamara and Ella, listen carefully— For the wedding of Miss Nancy Irina Smith and Mr. Jonathan Sperling Vesallo!

Athena, please explain to the twins the historical significance of these two unions, and list notable and important people in this branch of the family, dear, it is not necessary to list them all.In our little family there was Ella, Tamara, and of course, Ishtar and at least five of our children—I might be missing someone, and I can't keep that many family branches in mind. I'm Jonathan's "Bridesmaid", Dad "brings the bride to the groom", Brian is the "Hello Man", Mary is the "Ring Bearer", Carol is the "Bridesmaid", And George looked after Woody so he wouldn't set the church on fire, and Ma looked after Dick and Ithel—Athena could explain the terms and customs; I won't.Not only did this wedding give me two extra days off (most of which were running errands for Mom, an old-fashioned wedding is a complicated process), but it also gave me time to spend with Dad.Now, I know him better than when I was just one of his sons - and I like him very much and admire him from the bottom of my heart.

Ella, he reminds me of you - brainy, no nonsense, relaxed, tolerant, warm and friendly. NEWS: The bride is pregnant (most normal by Howard wedding standards - but at the time, all brides were supposed to be virgins) with what should be (if my memory serves)" Jonathan Bryan Visaro".Right, Justin?Who are his children?Remind me, Athena.I've met so many people over so many centuries; it's even possible that I married some of Jonathan Bryan's descendants at some point.I hope so; Nancy and Jonathan are a fine young couple. I gave them "my" car and sent them on their honeymoon for only six days before Jonathan was due to join the army - which he did, but too late to fight.But in Nancy's heart, he is still a brave warrior; because he has done his best.

A petty sergeant who was looking for trouble asked me to gather my team and dig trenches that no one wanted to dig.so-- offer my love your corporal brother somewhere in france Dear Mr Johnson: Please double-check this letter; some of it needs to be explained to other members of my adoptive family. I hope Mrs. Smith gets my thank you letter from Hoboken (hope she recognizes what I wrote - writing on my lap in a bouncing car, the handwriting will not be very legible).Anyway, I thank her again for making me have the best vacation of my life.Thanks also to all of you.Please tell Woody I won't let him have another horse.From now on, either we don't give up, or he can find another opponent-I lost four games out of five, which is too much.

Now for something else.Please note my signature and address.After I arrived in France, the military rank did not follow, so the three stripes were reduced to two.Can you explain to Mrs. Smith and Carroll (especially these two.) that being demoted doesn't humiliate a person for long?I'm still Carol's Special Soldier, as long as she agrees to keep me in that role.Please tell her that I'm a real soldier now, out of my "instructor" status, and commanding a squad in a combat unit.Wish I could tell her where I am.As things stand now, I might see the Germans by poking my head out of the bunker, or they might see me first.I'm not slacking off at the rear of a hundred miles. I hope you are not ashamed of me.No, I'm sure you won't; you're a veteran and don't care about rank.I'm fighting now, and that's what matters to you.I know that.May I say, sir, that you have been, and have been, my spiritual support ever since I have known you? I won't go into the details of my two relegations; reasons are unimportant in the Army.But I want to tell you that not once was it because I did something dishonorable.The first was during a troop transfer involving a picket chief on duty and a game of poker being played in my area.The second time was when I was training - fake trenches, fake positions - and a captain asked me to line up the troops in a skirmish line and I said, "Damn Captain, are you trying to save bullets for the Germans ? Haven't you heard of machine guns?" (I didn't really say "damn." I actually used another word that is more commonly used among soldiers.) And so, after that incident, I became a corporal.I applied for a transfer to another unit and it was approved right away.This also happened on that day. So here I am, and I feel pretty good.It is true that the closer a man is to the front, the higher his morale.I've made peace with lice, and the bogs in France are deeper and stickier than those in southern Missouri.I miss the hot baths and Mrs. Smith's cozy guest quarters for soldiers.But my health is good and my spirits are good and I send my love to all of you. respect yours, Corporal Ted Branson "Hey, down there! Corporal Branson. Come out." Lazarus slowly crawled out of the trench, letting his eyes gradually adapt to the darkness around him. "What is it, Lieutenant?" "It's barbed wire. I want you to volunteer." Lazarus did not speak. "Did you hear what I said?" "I hear you, sir." "What is it?" "You want a person to volunteer, sir." "No, I mean let you sign up voluntarily." "Lieutenant, I volunteered last April 6th. My quota of volunteers for this war has been exhausted." "The barrister in the hut, eh?" Lazarus said nothing again. "Sometimes I think you're afraid of death." Still Lazarus said nothing. (You're so right—you didn't get past the bunker even once. If you do lead this platoon out of the bunker someday, we'll have to pray to God for help.) "Well, since you want me to take the hard line, then I order you to command the group. Get three more volunteers from your class. You know what to do if they don't sign up. Pick good people Later, tell them to get ready, and then you bring the people to me, and I'll show you the map." "Yes, sir." "Also, Branson, make sure to complete the mission... Someone told me that you are very good at exploiting loopholes. Disband." Lazarus calmly went back under the bunker.Are we about to launch a general attack?Very confidential.No one should know, except General Pershing and probably a few hundred thousand American soldiers, and twice as many German devils and Reich headquarters.Why "intensive bombardment to soften the enemy's defense" for three consecutive days is tantamount to propagating that we are going to launch a "surprise attack" with too much fanfare.The bombardment did nothing but tell the Germans where to raise their reserves and then give him ample time to deploy them.Forget about that, Lazarus, it's none of your business.Still concentrate on how to pick three people who can go out of the trenches, complete the mission, and come back. No Russell, you need your automatic riflemen before the war is over.Wyatt had been out last night.Dinkowski was making too much noise, he might as well have a bell around his neck.Fielding is on the disabled list, damn it.So it can only be Schultz, Taylor and Cadwallade.Two of them are old fritters who can't die, only Tai Lei is young and inexperienced.It's a pity, Fielding has the flu or something; I really need him.That's it, Schultz with Cadwallard; I look at Taylor. It was a trench that could hold two squads; his squad was on the left, and the other squad was on the other side, and they were playing poker by candlelight.Lazarus called his class together, and Cadwallad and Schultz were woken up.Russell and Wyatt remained in their bunks, and everyone gathered here. "The lieutenant asked us to cut the barbed wire, and he asked me to find three volunteers." Schultz nodded immediately, and Lazarus knew he would sign up. "I'll go." In Lazarus' view, his deputy squad leader should command a detachment.Schultz, a forty-year-old married volunteer, tried very hard to make up for his German name and accent (he was a second-generation German-American).But he did it with ease and skill, without showing any inappropriateness.He is not a person who pursues fame and fortune.Lazarus hoped that not many of the Germans they faced would be as good as Schulz—but he knew that was wishful thinking, and many of them were veterans of the routed Russian front.In the eyes of Lazarus, the only shortcoming of Schultz is that he does not like Dinkowski. "One. Don't talk at the same time." "What about them?" Cadwallad called out, pointing his thumb at the other class. "The teacher's favorite? They haven't done anything for a week." Corporal Bryan over there answered for the class, "Just tell Jesus your troubles." "who is the next?" Dinkowski swallowed, "Take me, Corporal." Taylor shrugged, "Count me in." (Damn it, Dinkey, why can't you keep your mouth shut and wait for a consensus? And damn that stupid lieutenant, why don't you get any volunteers and just give orders.) "Let's hear the others It's not an urgent task." (You pig-brained, imbecile and ignorant Lieutenant, Cadwallader is right; it's not up to us to do this. Why don't you arrange it through the sergeant in the platoon? When assigning difficult tasks, he would be fair.) Russell and Wyatt said at the same time that they would sign up.Lazarus waited, then said, "Cadwallad? You're the only one who hasn't commented." "Corporal, you want three volunteers. Why do you want everyone in the class to sign up?" (Because I want you, you disgusting gorilla. You're the best pawn in the class.) "Because I need you. Do you want to sign up?" "I'm not a volunteer, Corporal; I was conscripted." "Well. (Those damned officers who don't know what to do!) Wyatt, you were out last night, go back to your bunk. Russell, you sleep a little longer; you'll be busy soon Get up. Schultz, I'm taking Dinkowski; you're taking Tyley. Be quick; I'm going to see the lieutenant. Go." Lazarus pulled the hole made by the German shells in the barbed wire to a larger size, and passed through the barbed wire on his side without much effort.All the work was done by himself, and he only asked Dinkowski to lie on the ground and follow him.From time to time, the rumble of shells exploded, including our own and German howitzers.Lazarus didn't care about this, he couldn't do anything with the cannonball anyway.He also ignored the rattling of machine guns if it came from far away on either side.He has a low profile, so he doesn't worry about snipers either. His main concern was that the German patrols - and flares, if any - were too many.It was precisely because of this latter concern that he ordered Dinkowski to crawl forward on the ground instead of walking with his waist bent.He couldn't trust Dinkowski, and if a flare had gone off nearby, he might have jumped up instead of falling fast and still. After passing the last barbed wire fence on his side, he climbed into a bomb crater with Dinkowski, and both of them crawled forward.Then he put his mouth to the private's ear and said, "Wait here until I get back." "But, Xiatu, I don't want to stay behind!" "Don't be so loud, it will wake the child. Speak softly in my ear. If I don't come back in an hour, go back by yourself." "But I can't find my way back!" "That's the Big Dipper, and the Polaris. Go back southwest. If you missed the gap we just passed, don't forget you have wire cutters on you. Always remember: If a flare goes off—don't Be still! The best time to move is when it's off, when their eyes are still a little dazed. Be still; your movement is as loud as two sets of bones hanging from a tin roof. Don't In the end, let our own people kill it. What is the password?" "Ok--" "Oh my God, it's 'Charlie Chaplin'. If you forget, you'll be sifted; some of us here like to pull the trigger. Repeat." "Corporal, I'm going with you to cut the barbed wire." Lazarus sighed inwardly.This clumsy clown wants to join the fight.Not letting him go would damage his morale.But if he did follow, it might cost us both our lives.Cadwallader, I admire your wisdom - but I hate you.I wish I could take you with me. "Okay. Don't say a word from now on. When you have to talk, pat my foot and point with your finger—follow me. Remember what I said about the flares. When you see the Germans , hold your breath. If they suddenly appear in front of us - surrender immediately." "surrender?" "As long as you're still trying to be a grandfather. You can't kill a patrol by yourself. Even if you could, it would make a lot of noise and their machine guns would shoot you in half. Follow me closely, leaning over." Just as Lazarus was about to touch the first barbed wire fence of the Germans, a flare exploded.The private panicked and tried to jump into a bomb crater they had just passed, and was shot while rolling in. Lazarus lay motionless on his stomach, listening to Ding Ji's screams.Dazzling flares exploded overhead.It was his own, he thought; the German flares should go to illuminate the American trenches.If the poor idiot doesn't shut up, the place will be full of bullets greeting them in no time.With such a big movement, it is impossible to cut any barbed wire.And—oh, damn it, he's mine; I have to take care of him.Maybe Dingy was doing him a favor by letting him go--but Maureen wouldn't like it.Well, I'll take him back--and back again, to complete this daunting task.Don't try to sleep tonight, try again at four o'clock.Definitely going to join the navy next time. The flare went off, and Lazarus scrambled to his feet and ran—just then another flare went off.A machine gun bullet hit him in the side.The impact of the bullet sent him falling into the crater.A bullet hit the implant in his right abdomen, writhing in it, and emerged from his left hip.There are also bullets that do some other damage.If it was 4219 AD, it would not be difficult to heal these injuries, but now is the Dark Age, and any kind of injury would be fatal. Lazarus felt it was just a slight impact that knocked him off balance and pushed him into the crater.He didn't lose consciousness immediately; he still had time to realize that his injuries were fatal.He fell and lay there, looking up at the stars, realizing that he had reached the point where his own life ended. Every animal finds a place where its life ends.Some are in traps, some are in battles it cannot win, and some happy animal finds a quiet place and waits for the end of its life.Wherever that place is, it is where life ends.Most of us will understand that when we get there.This is where I am. Does butyl understand?I think so, since he doesn't scream anymore, I think he's found his place too.Strange, why doesn't it hurt?Thank you for making my life meaningful Maureen...Rita...Dora Baby...Tamara...Minerva...Razu, Laurie...Ella...Maureen —— He heard wild geese croaking above his head, and he looked up again at the stars, which were fading...
"You still don't get it," murmured a sullen voice, "there is no time, no space. The past, present and future are all the same. You are you, playing chess with yourself, checkmate yourself again. You It’s the referee. Ethics is the principled agreement you make with yourself that you need to abide by. Be absolutely true to yourself, or you’re ruining the game.” "crazy." "Then change the rules and play another game. The variations are endless, and you can't run out of variations." "I just wish I could see your face," Lazarus muttered angrily. "Look in the mirror."
From the Kansas Post Post, November 7, 1918: ... Supplementary list of our lost personnel.It is with deep sadness that we report the situation in Kansas and Missouri: Dead Person: ... Missing Persons in Combat: ... Theodore Branson ... ...
"Ella! Grahead! Got him?" "Yes! Pull us in! Oh, what a mess! Ishi, about two liters of blood, and a lot of mucus." "Pull him in and let me watch. Laurie, get us out of here." "Close the hatch, Dora, and take off." "The hatch is closed and accelerating! What the hell have they done to our leader?" "I'm going to watch it, Dora. Get the case ready; I might need to freeze him." "Get ready, Ishi. Razu Laurie, I told you we should have picked him up sooner. I told you." "Stop it, Dora. We told him he'd get his ass smacked. But he's going to play a little longer, naughtier than a cat—" "—and won't thank us—" "—and not coming back,—" "—you know how stubborn he is." "Tamara," said Ishtar, "hold his head and talk to him. Keep him alive. I want to give him an emergency first, and then freeze him—if necessary. Hamadiyadh, Clamp here! Well... Grahead, a bullet hit this locator, which is why the guts are such a mess." "Clone transplantation therapy?" "Maybe. Depending on how he recovers, maybe tinkering will do. You're right, Justin; the date on his letter proves he didn't make it to the end; the disappearance of the locator signal lets us know he When and exactly where. Grahead, did you find any other shrapnel? I'm going to stitch it up. Tamara, wake him up and let him talk! I don't want to freeze him. Shut up and get out the rest of you ! Go and help Minerva look after the little ones." "Glad to go," Justin said hoarsely. "I almost threw up." "Maureen?" Lazarus murmured. "I'm here, honey," Tamara replied, laying his head on her breasts. "A...nightmare. Thought...I was...dead." "It was just a dream, dear. You can't die."

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