Dawn Redemption

Finn is an unkind person.

This is probably everyone's general impression of him, from family members to comrades-in-arms.

He has also always been used to not letting others know his mood swings, whether it is anger or silent concern.But in fact, he sometimes felt that he was a very emotional person. For example, he stood at the door of the restaurant and watched the servant help carry Paul's luggage downstairs from the guest room and put it in the hall.Those luggage seemed to be piled up on his heart one by one, which made him feel extremely heavy.

This scene is the second time I have seen it today.But for the first time, his state of mind was completely opposite to what he is now. It may be because of such a large ups and downs that he came to the conclusion that "I am a little emotional".

During the day, when Jonas heard the news that he was about to take a vacation, he almost jumped up and hung himself on his body to give him a kiss.Luckily, he quickly yanked his backpack out of the closet and started packing before he actually had to.Seeing him so excitedly folding the normal clothes he had never worn before, Fein's mood also became lighter for some reason.

"Jonas." He had to move his butt off Jonas' bed to make room for his clothes. "If you're going back to Munich, we're on the way."

"Oh, oh, Finn." Jonas looked up at him, with a trace of apology in his eyes, but the movement of his hands still did not stop, "Of course I would be more than happy if I could get a ride, and there would be a car on the way." But it’s just a few days of vacation, if you go home, you will definitely be dragged by the whole family to ask this and that, 'Are you tired every day?' 'Are you used to Polish food?' 'Is Polish cheese eaten? Like shit?’ I know it’s well intentioned, but I just can’t stand it.”

"So?" Fein was a little dazed by his vivid imitation, "Aren't you going home?"

Jonas nodded politely: "Yes, not back home. Although I miss pretzels and white sausage again."

Finn could guess what he was going to say, but he continued on his own: "Of course I'm going to Berlin, looking for—cough, cough, cough, you understand."

"Huh?" His voice was so loud because of his excitement that Rolf who was sitting on the other side of the dormitory looked over at him, "But your boyfriend lives in the military barracks, you are transferred now, then Where do you live in Berlin? A hotel, I don't believe that the relationship between the two of you is so pure that a barracks bed can bear it."

Normally, Jonas must be impatient, but this time he waved his hand, but he was still happy to continue: "No. I rented a house before, and I handed it over to him after I got here. It's just right to go back Live there. Besides, he's been promoted, and I don't quite understand the specific job. In short, he doesn't have to share the dormitory of the barracks with others anymore. Unlike some strange people—" He glanced at Finn again, the corner of his mouth Laugh mischievously.

Finn looked away in embarrassment.Indeed, in his capacity, let alone a single room, a whole building can be built for him, as long as he wants.In the area under his jurisdiction, wherever he looks, there will be prisoners who have served as architects and a construction team composed of prisoners to build a luxurious villa for him.

But as a person who doesn't talk much and doesn't like to joke with others very much, even imagining that I live alone in a room without other people's laughter and laughter will feel uncomfortable.

At that time, there was no Noah, only these partners were the light in his life, and now that he is so familiar, he cannot do without them.So he has not left this seemingly shabby multi-person dormitory for various reasons.

"But having said that, Finn, you are so busy." Rolf put away his smile and glanced at him sympathetically, "We are all on vacation, but you still have to run around with the commander."

In order not to make him too suspicious, Finn still shrugged with a helpless expression.

In fact, in his opinion, there is no more perfect vacation than Noah's arrangement.

Jonas hummed happily, even though his singing was not very melodious, it also lightened up with Finn's mood.

Now he thought about it seriously.He was sure that the relationship between himself and Jonas was better, but Jonas' vacation was only a few days, and soon he would be noisy in the dormitory again, and it was difficult to feel the sadness of parting.And now that Paul is gone, it's hard to know how long the next meeting will be.

Until he sat at the dining table, he was still immersed in the ups and downs of emotions, so that Noah looked at him in a daze with a sad expression and smiled softly.

"You said you too," Noah turned to look at Paul, "Since you want to miss my dinner here, you might as well leave tomorrow morning. It's not convenient to be in the dark."

Paul seemed to be more interested in the things that were being served one after another than in what his old friend said: "If I didn't want to eat with you, I would have left in the morning." But in a blink of an eye he regained his serious look, "But to be serious Yes, there are still many things waiting for me, I can deal with them early, and time is tight."

Do you have anything else planned for later? asked Noah.

Paul smiled and shook his head.Just at this time, the hot and fragrant mushroom soup was served on the table. Although Noah was puzzled, he did not continue to ask.Only Finn, who had never spoken at the side, understood the meaning of Paul's words.

Although Noah was cautious, he hardly encountered any devastating setbacks along the way.There are some things that he doesn't understand.

When he was in the army, he had always abided by military orders and completed tasks day after day.When he arrived in the concentration camp, his work was more clerical.It is piled up like a mountain, but it is the same.

What Paul means by this is not that there is too much work, but that life is too short.

Especially in this era background, the whole world is messed up by deafening gunfire and dirty blood mud, all rules and systems have been reset and rewritten.No one who goes to sleep in the dark can be sure that he will live until the next morning.

Therefore, while you are still living in this world, you must hurry up and finish what you have already done.

In the turbulent age, every living person is living.

The sadness from the bottom of my heart swept over Fein's body.He didn't know how many times he felt powerless and felt his own insignificance.

He has status, he has medals, and he has military exploits.But what is the use of these.

He didn't want his depression to be noticed by Noah and Paul.He didn't want to explain to them, and it was too selfish to impose his negative emotions on others.So he forced himself to start eating bread, smeared with thick butter, hoping that the sweetness would dilute the depressed mood.

It is for this reason that he has a bit of a sweet tooth.Although in the eyes of others, this hobby is really incompatible with his personality.

"So," Paul took off his glasses and put them in his pocket, "are you really going to drive there? It's quite a long way from here to Dhow."

Noah seemed to be in a good mood: "Yes, because it's not an official business this time, and there's no plane to take. And I'll drop by..." He paused, glanced at Finn, and asked in a low voice, "Where is it?" ?”

"Augsburg." Fein also lowered his voice and said softly.

"Augsburg." Noah turned back to face Paul and said firmly.

Paul raised his eyebrows and smiled, and looked back and forth at the two of them: "I really don't know whether you are going on a visit or a honeymoon, and it is enough to drive this way. But the scenery is really nice, endless Along the way, you can meet lakes of various sizes. If the weather is fine, you can see the Alps in the distance on the horizon, farmhouses and green hills, a large expanse of whiteness, so far, so Pure. Never polluted by the flames of chaos."

When he talked about the scenery, his eyes seemed to look through everything to the field he expected.But soon, the hope and smile on his face turned into a sigh: "This is what I really want to shoot."

"Since you said that," Noah seemed to avoid the next sentence intentionally in order to avoid too heavy a topic, making his tone lighter, "You must be very familiar with that side, what's so good about it?" Do you recommend it?"

Paul snapped his fingers: "I knew you wanted to ask that. Do you have a map?"

Noah turned his head and summoned a servant who was standing respectfully at the door of the restaurant with his head down. After whispering a few words, the servant left the restaurant quickly.A moment later, the servant came back with a folded map and was about to hand it to Noah, but Noah pointed to him to give it to Paul.

Paul took the map but did not take the pen brought by the servant. Instead, he groped through the many pockets on his jacket and finally took out a short pencil. He moved the tableware in front of him, spread out the map and put on his glasses. Look carefully.

"I recommend this road to you." Paul gently drew a pencil on the map, "Warsaw...Dachau...it won't take too long, and the scenery is beautiful. Not many people know about it." , you earned it."

Finn leaned forward curiously, only to see some lines and circles drawn by Paul on the map.

"Here, here," he tapped a few circles on the map with the tip of his pen, "there is a hotel, we stayed in it when we went there before, and the conditions are pretty good! I'll write you the phone number next to it..." He buried his head in writing , the tip of the nose was very close to the map, leaving a string of small numbers on the map, "You can make a reservation in advance."

"Thank you." Finn said quickly.

"It's all right." Paul finished writing and put the little pencil back into his pocket.He took off his glasses and handed the map to Noah: "Keep this one away and give it to your driver tomorrow."

"no need."

"Fin and Noah said at the same time, they turned their heads and looked at each other awkwardly for a moment.

"I'll go."

They spoke in unison again, and this time both of them couldn't help but smile.Fein's casual, heartfelt smile is extremely rare, and it's extraordinarily beautiful.It was different from the mocking sneer that chilled to the bone on other occasions, nor was it the ferocious smile that he obtained twisted pleasure through venting violence back then.This is the real him, with the youthfulness that has not faded at this age, the light-colored eyelashes drooping to cover the crystal blue eyes, and the corners of the mouth are raised to form a shallow dimple.

"Okay, okay, I can't stand it anymore, you two eat quickly." Paul waved, "I'm leaving, do you have the heart to let me be so hungry?"

"Yeah." Noah raised his glass, poured it in a gesture, and then took a sip, "Fortunately, Florian was not called in advance, otherwise he must be very sad. He must feel that he is about to lose his job. "

Illuminates the gray steps in front of the door.The fine dust flutters gently in the light beams in the night.

Three people walked out of the door, one of them walked down the steps slowly, and the other two stopped in front of the door.

"Florian." Noah said to the driver who had just opened the car door from the driver's seat, "Take Mr. Schneider to the train station, and refill the gas by the way, and then take a good rest for a while, thank you .”

While helping Paul put the luggage into the trunk, Florian replied, "Okay, sir." Seeing Noah coming down the stairs, he knew that he had to say goodbye to Paul for the last time, so he got in first. out of the driver's seat.

"After the war is over, let's call the old guys from back then to have a gathering together." Paul said with a smile.

Noah nodded: "I think so too. I treat you."

"Remember to take Finn." "I will."

Paul's smile didn't fade away, but his eyes moved from Noah's face to the dark sky: "How lucky we will be to be able to get together at that time... Remember what I said? The countryside of Bavaria, the Alps The snow in the mountains, what I really want, I will take pictures one day. That kind of world is the destination of a photographer like me." He sighed softly, and the sky full of stars was reflected on the glasses.

"There will be such a day. I look forward to meeting you again, after the war is over." Noah whispered, stretching out a hand.

"Take care, remember to take good care of Finn." Paul held Noah's hand tightly, and covered it with his left hand, as if strengthening the friendship forged by the war.Finn also came down to stand beside Noah, and when Paul shook hands with him, he heard him whisper, "He's a nice guy. "

"I believe." Finn nodded, "Goodbye, Paul." Looking at the eyes half covered by the lens, they were deep, but compared with Noah's perseverance and sharpness, Paul's eyes shone , is the wisdom of a scholar.

And the glory of freedom.Too wild, the freedom that allows him to fly unscrupulously under the restrictions like heavy shackles.

"Let's go, don't delay you, don't send it off!"

Paul Schneider turned and waved carelessly, got into the backseat of the car and closed the door.The photographer folded his arms and lowered his head, as if lost in thought for an instant, and never looked up at Noah and Finn outside the window.Until the car drove out of the courtyard, it disappeared into the depths of the night so dark that even the headlights couldn't penetrate it, carrying smoke and gradually quieting down the roar.

The author has something to say:

After tossing 10,000+ words in this place, I finally have to change the map