Ways We Live And Die

By

Jennaya

Klink sat at his desk going through the never ending pile of paperwork. Some days he thought when the fighting stopped, the paperwork would keep the war going for another six months. Sighing, he looked out his window and saw Colonel Hogan in the compound. Klink was thankful that he wasn't in the office harassing him. Still it was always a good thing to be able to keep an eye on his senior POW officer. Hogan was walking around and nothing seemed out of the ordinary, so Klink took out the information needed for the next report and started on it.

An hour later, Klink noticed Hogan was still walking around the same area. Curious he stood up from his desk and went to the window. Crossing his arms, he studied his American counterpart, who seemed to be talking to himself. Hogan turned walking in a parallel line to the path he'd just taken. Something was amiss, Klink's instincts told him. Hogan was up to something and he needed to investigate. Grabbing his hat and crop stick, Klink left out of his office and went out to where Hogan was.

"Colonel Hogan, what are you doing?" Klink asked walking up to him.

"Kommandant, what brings you out this afternoon? Did you finish your paperwork?" Hogan gave him a quick smile, which made Klink positive he was up to something.

"My paperwork never ends. You've been walking this same area for over an hour. Why?" Klink requested with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh, just thinking. I like to pace while I think," Hogan said shrugging his shoulders.

"And what have you been thinking about so arduously?" Klink questioned, wondering what type of bullshit Hogan would come up with.

Hogan readjusted his hat before answering. "Well, you see sir, the escape committee came up with a new plan. So I've been going over it and the possible outcomes trying to determine if it will work or not."

"Really?" Klink didn't believe him for a moment. "And what do you think of their plan?"

"They've outdone themselves; I think it might actually work. Causing a riot then leaving through the front gates might be a little tricky though. But the path they've laid out for getting to safety that's the ingenious part. Instead of everyone heading to the coast as would be expected of them, half will split off and take off towards the Russian front since its closer. With all the new Russian soldiers, Russian classes have been mandatory and everyone has a rudimentary level of the language now. Enough so when they get to Allied lines, they could join the fight from that side pushing the front forward, eventually making it back here to release the rest of the men. Fifty or sixty men might be able to escape and get back to the fight," Hogan explained with a grin.

"Colonel Hogan that's utterly ridiculous! No one escapes from here," Klink said stomping his foot and waving his arms. Hogan looked down, appearing to be properly chastised. "Now why don't you start over and tell me what you're really up too."

"Do you really want to know what I've been doing?" Hogan asked with a straight face, his voice low.

"Yes, I do," Klink replied with a wary eye, wondering if he'd ever get the truth out of the American.

"Well, with the snow melting and the onset of the rainy season, we've had a bit of trouble with the tunnels. There's been some water leakage and I'm concerned about a possible cave in, in this area." Hogan pointed to the part of the compound he'd been walking. "So I've had the men inspecting those tunnels while I've been walking around. They're looking for dirt falling or signs of the support structure weakening and marking them for repair. Once we know what areas need attention, work crews will be assigned. It'll keep the men busy for a few days."

Klink shook his head in disbelief. "That is the most absurd thing I've ever heard. I'll prove that there are no tunnels beneath here. Schultz!"

Schultz came ambling over, "Yes, Herr Kommandant?"

"I want you to walk around this area between Hogan and myself," he ordered.

Schultz looked confused and then glanced at Hogan who shrugged his shoulders. Then he walked over to Hogan and nothing happened. Klink ordered him to walk around more so Schultz complied. To give him more room, Klink backed up several steps. As he stood there, he felt the ground under him shift. Too late, Klink realized that Hogan had been telling him the truth as he fell into the tunnel below breaking his neck on impact.

Hogan and Schultz ran over then cautiously approached the hole Klink had fallen into. They could see Kinch looking up at them. "He's dead sir," Kinch said feeling Klink's neck for a pulse.

Hogan shook his head sadly, "Was anyone else hurt?"

"No, sir, we're all right. What do we do now?" Kinch asked as Newkirk and LeBeau moved Klink's body to be taken out of the tunnel.

"I think we're going to have to evacuate the camp," Hogan said solemnly standing up starting to give orders.

"You can't do that, Colonel Hogan!" Schultz said as he got up with a grunt.

"Well, what do you suggest?" Hogan asked, crossing his arms.

"Me suggest?" Schultz glanced back down at the Kommandant's body. Swallowing hard and looking at the guards and prisoners gathering around, "I think we'll have to do it your way."

Hogan gave out orders to his men starting the complete evacuation of the Stalag 13.