"Hashette, you see I'm right. I told you that he was not dead."
Opening his eyes drowsyly, Hayes found himself lying on his back on the cold bed, while the thin figure of the old military doctor stood beside him.
For a moment, he wondered what happened to the open grave and the mud on his chest, and it must have been a nightmare.
When he tried to stand up, a strong hand pressed on his chest stopped him.
"Haise, don't rush to get up first."
Hashet's face appeared in his sight, and Hayes suddenly realized that his vision was different from the past, so he reached out and touched his cheek.
Wrapped with a bandage and covered his left eye.
"My eyes..."
The military doctor shook his head helplessly.
"There's no way, your eyeball has basically been destroyed. I can only remove it to prevent infection, but you should be glad you have another one."
Hayes didn't act too frustrated. Perhaps it was because of his realistic death experience that made him realize that it was a blessing to survive.
"Uncle, I'm fine."
Hayes sat up slowly, with some bandages on his body. After looking around, he found that it was not on the position, but the track hub behind their position, with hundreds of injured soldiers sitting or lying by the wall. The bloody smell of their bodies made it smell like a slaughterhouse.
Gasing for a moment, he looked at Hashet.
"Uncle, fight..."
Hashet, who also had bandages around his neck, shook his head.
"I didn't defend it. I had already repelled a wave of enemies, but I didn't expect another wave to come. There was also a hell beast and several chaos eggs inside. In the end, I could only blow up the passage and retreat here, but it probably won't be safe for long."
Hashet said, glanced at it, then walked up and stuffed a note into Hayes's hand, whispering:
"I have won you a place to transfer the wounded soldiers. If you have a rest, you will go to the station immediately. There is the last train there. It will take you to the safety zone behind the third line of defense. These Red Pirates can't last long, and you can go home safely after the battle."
"Wreak soldiers?"
Hayes's eyes turned to his moaning comrades, including those who had broken arms and legs.
“Shouldn’t it be for those who are more serious?”
"Follower, this is our last position and the grave of most people. We must cover the flanks of friendly forces until the end. Now the entire regiment has been actually disabled, with less than one-fifth of the number of people. The Second Battalion has also been reduced into a company, and even the wounded have to fight... This quota is actually to save lives."
As he said that, Hashet took out another small silver eagle emblem.
"I have saved some things in the military station over the years. After the fight, you use this to get it, but don't be foolish and cheated away by others. Do you know? The last time that woman was good, she should be waiting for you. After she goes back, she will marry her and have a few children. That money is enough for you to live a safe life and don't have any connection with the war anymore."
"Uncle..."
Hayes thought of many things. When they were having dinner together, Hashet would always say that he couldn't eat it and leave the best part for him. When his military uniform was damaged, the other party would also find ways to sew for him. He protected him all the time during the battle. Sometimes when he woke up in the middle of the night, he would find that the other party was sitting not far away and staring at him with a kind of remembrance... Gradually, his eyes became wet.
"Why are you so nice to me?"
Hashet reached out and touched his head, then sat next to him.
"A cliché story, I once had a family, a wife, a son, my father was a soldier, and my grandfather was so, and of course I came to me. As a low-level officer, I always believed that there was only glory and victory in the war, until one day I returned to my hometown that had become ruins... I could not evaluate whether it was wrong for the Governor to use a fire bomb to suppress the riot, but since then I became suspicious of the war. I could no longer perform my duties like in the past. I could only use my skills to eat and drink in the army occasionally, and then hide in a small bar in the nest. I was drunk and dreaming... After more than ten years of such a decay, sometimes I also thought, maybe my child escaped that disaster, and he was waiting for me somewhere? I also tried to find it, but I knew there would be no hope. This was just a motivation to keep me alive."
As he said that, Hashet reached out his hand, gently stroked Hayes's hair on his head, and said with a smile:
"If he is still alive, his age should be about the same as you... He is always full of fantasy ideas like you. His favorite is an Astat wood carving doll I gave him when I was five."
Hayes looked at the other person's face, which had experienced vicissitudes and was gently clenched his fists.
"Uncle, sorry, I didn't want it..."
"It's okay, I'll say it if you don't ask, Hays, you are a good boy, with a heart that is not covered in dust in the cruel war. You shouldn't die in this meaningless place, but I have the last request before leaving."
“What is it?”
"My full name is Hashet Bartori. According to my grandfather who has been dead for many years, our family can be traced back to the great era of humanity conquering the galaxy. It has produced countless great heroes and even great space warriors... But these have nothing to do with us. After all, they are just a lonely small family in Zhongnun, but it still carries a lot of past. Hayes, are you willing to inherit this surname?"
Looking at Hashett's expectant look, Hashes suddenly felt the weight of the wounded soldier's transfer of the bill. Hashett's care for him and his experiences flashed through his mind over the past few years.
Hayes never knew who his parents were, but the man told him what his father was.
He nodded vigorously.
"From now on, I will tell everyone that I am Hassette Bartori's son...father."
Hashett touched Hayes' cheek with his slightly trembling hands, tears flowing down his eyes, and then held Hayes in his arms.
"Okay...Okay, son, I'm proud of you."
After a moment, the two separated, and Hashet smiled and wiped away his tears.
"Let's go, son, I've packed your backpack, leave here, and stay away from war from now on, but always remember to pray to the Emperor, He has saved your life countless times."
Hays nodded silently, stood up, and saw his backpack on a shelf not far away. He walked over and found that there were many things stuffed inside, including blood-stained expedition manuals, all of which were from those who died. The covers contained everyone's names, Bell, Fitz, Jung, Peak, etc., so many people, so many lives, and the last thing left was this booklet.
However, most of them did not even have the most basic rewards. Hayes originally wanted to put a sticker of Venus symbolizing the honor of veterans on their expedition manual, but the logistics told him that there was no such thing at all.
None from the beginning.
The Expedition Manual is just a traditional "incentive program" that never makes any sense, so there will be no subsequent steps.
Chapter completed!