Colonel Robert Hogan and his four men, Sergeant Carter, Sergeant Kinchloe, Corporal Newkirk, and Corporal LeBeau, were all gathered around a table in the tunnel below their barracks finishing up their work for the night. Hogan was in the middle of explaining their next assignment, which involved a railroad station not too far off from Stalag 13. It was their next plan to help prisoners escape and get back to London.
"The train runs in early morning and late night," The American colonel continued. "Due to its scheduled runs, it will make easy escape for the next four prisoners we have waiting to be transferred from here to there."
"Makes sense to me Gov'nor." Newkirk replied.
"But how exactly do we plan on getting the prisoners to the train station and undiscovered while the meanwhile?" Carter questioned.
As Hogan was about to answer, the radio started making noises. Kinchloe made his way quickly to his station to take in the Morse code reading from what they assumed was London.
"What's it say, Kinch?" LeBeau questioned.
"In a minute," Kinchloe answered, focused.
The beeping and dashes stopped, and Kinchloe read the note out loud to the group.
"Stay put; hold off on transporting prisoners. Gestapo checking area for order and inspection." Kinchloe answered.
Besides Hogan, all men moaned.
"Well, that's great; now what do we plan on doing?" LeBeau moaned.
"We can't do our operation with gestapo officers all over the place." Carter added.
"Maybe we can find a way to lead the gestapo away from here." Hogan suggested, trying to think.
"How so," Carter questioned.
"It could be as simple as pretending to be General Burkhalter and ordering all gestapo officers in the area to cease the inspection and save it for another day." Kinchloe answered.
Hogan grimaced and put his right hand on his belly. He put his left hand on the table, bent over slightly, and softly moaned.
Kinchloe turned his attention to Hogan and noticed something was wrong.
"Colonel, are you alright?" Kinchloe questioned.
"I'm fine...just a little stomach ache is all." Hogan answered, trying to reassure his men.
"You sure, Colonel?" Carter asked, worried.
"I just need a good night's sleep, nothing more." Hogan grimaced, again while rubbing his middle. "I'm just gonna head on up to bed. You men make sure to close up, when you're ready to call in for the night, as well."
"Yes, sir," Kinchloe spoke.
"Good night, Colonel," Carter answered, with a smile.
"See you in the morning, sir." LeBeau added.
"Hope you're feeling better, soon, Colonel." Newkirk chimed.
Hogan smiled and nodded. He walked to the ladder and began to climb up it. He paused halfway up, grabbed his middle again, and moaned softly. He then slowly proceeded with leaving the tunnel for his quarters.
The men turned their heads to face one another after their colonel became out of sight.
"I don't think it's just a stomach ache." Newkirk answered.
"Don't underestimate the colonel, Newkirk. If he says it's just a little stomach ache, then that's all it is." Kinchloe answered.
"Maybe he got it from the dinner we had, tonight." LeBeau moaned. The dinner the prisoners were served had not been a pleasant meal at all.
"Wouldn't we all be sick if it were from dinner, then?" Newkirk remarked.
"Newkirk's right; what if something's wrong with Colonel?" Carter asked, growing frantic.
"Relax, you guys; nothing's wrong with Colonel. If something comes up, he will make sure to let us know about it." Kinchloe answered, optimistic.
"You're forgetting the colonel can get very stubborn, when he's not feeling well. He was resilient for getting cold medicine from the doctor, when he got that sinus infection a couple months back." LeBeau added.
"Colonel Hogan's tough; he doesn't give in, unless he knows he can't fight anymore." Newkirk answered, with pride.
"Well, it's getting late; I think we should all take Colonel's advice and turn in for the night." Kinchloe replied.
Newkirk nodded, while yawning. Not only him, but the rest of them were exhausted from the day's work. They knew they would wake up tomorrow and have to deal with a whole lot more of it, as well.
"I think yah right, Kinch." Newkirk answered, finished yawning.
"Kinda think of it, I'm a bit tired, myself." LeBeau commented.
"What about the plan?" Carter asked.
"Colonel will finish going over everything in the morning, when he feels better." Kinchloe answered.
"The man makes a good point there, Andrew." Newkirk answered.
Kinchloe abandoned his station, and the men climbed up the ladder to the barracks, got into their pajamas, and headed to their assigned bunks for the night.
It was around 2:00 in the morning. Newkirk had woke up to find himself with a dry throat and tongue.
"Blimey, I can hardly speak." Newkirk spoke, raspy.
He got up from his bunk, climbed down the ladder, and over to the sink to grab a drink of water. After filling his glass full, he gulped the whole thing down and sighed with relief.
"Ah, nothing better than a glass of water." Newkirk answered, softly.
Deciding it could not hurt to have another drink, the Englishman filled his glass again with water and took a drink. Newkirk put the glass away with the other dirty dishes as soon as he was finished. He was about to head back to bed, when he heard a voice calling for him, Carter, LeBeau, or Kinchloe in Hogan's quarters. It sounded as if something was really wrong. Newkirk snapped his head and ran to Hogan's quarters. He opened the door quickly, turned on the light, and rushed to Hogan's bedside. Hogan was grimacing in pain, had pale skin, his right hand on his belly, and he was moaning loudly and gasping for air.
"Gov'nor, what's wrong?" Newkirk asked, concerned.
"Newkirk...get Klink...get a doctor!" Hogan moaned, again, from the stabbing pain in his abdomen.
Newkirk lay his hand on Hogan's forehead and felt that he was burning up. Probably why he had perspiration on his neck and face.
"Colonel, yah burning up, mate!" Newkirk gasped.
"Get a doctor…" Hogan cried out in pain, as another wave of it hit him hard and unexpectedly.
"Yes, sir," Newkirk answered.
"Hurry, Newkirk,"
Hogan continued giving short, labored breaths as he fought through intense, throbbing pain in his stomach and moaning every so often.
Newkirk bolted out of Hogan's room and out of barracks two. He ran straight for the Kommandantur's and would not stop, until he found Kommandant Klink. It was the first time in Newkirk's life that he actually wanted to see the Kommandant, too.