CHAPTER 2

That cold November evening, all was merry in Barracks Three, where Colonel Hogan and his merry crew were playing a "Thanksgiving"-theme version of Poker…

"I'll start this hand with five," said Colonel Hogan, placing a red poker chip in the middle of the table.

"I'll meet your five and raise it ten," said Kinch, shuffling the bills in his hand and putting three $5 bills in the pot.

"You're bluffin'," said Newkirk. "I think you're bluffin'." He flicked two blue chips into the pot.

"Bah," said LeBeau, picking up a feather from the center of the table, and adding it to his makeshift headband, which already had two feathers. "I fold."

MEANWHILE…

The Komandant of Stalag 13 could not sleep. The reason he could not sleep was that his favorite pillow was missing! Of all things, how could he misplace his pillow! Colonel Klink had searched everywhere, ransacked his quarters, and even phoned Helga at her own residence to see if she had stolen it for whatever reason she might have had:

"Hello?" said Helga, annoyed that she was receiving a phone call at 9:45 PM (GMT +1).

"Hello, Helga, this is Komandant Klink calling. I need to ask you something."

"Yes, Herr colonel?"

"I can't find my pillow tonight."

"Your pillow? How did you lose a pillow?"

"That's why I'm calling. I wonder if you took my new feather pillow by mistake somehow when you left Stalag 13 today."

"I certainly wouldn't have it. Sorry, Komandant. Gutennacht," and she hung up.

"'Sorry Komandant.' Humph," Klink muttered. Klink opened his bedroom window and was blasted by the icy wind. "Schultz!" he hollered.

Sergeant Schultz was doing punishment patrol that night, marching around the camp in full uniform and combat pack, after Klink caught him tasting some of LeBeau's strudel. Hearing his name, the obese sergeant brought his rifle to bear and turned to look for the person calling his name, but he did not see anybody. "Who is there?" he asked the wind.

"Dumkauf! Schultz! I'm up here, you fat imbecile!" shouted Klink, watching his guard turn around and around, looking for the voice.

Schultz swung around when he recognized the Kommandant's voice, not realizing he was still aiming his rifle. It was only then that he noticed Klink was hollering from his bedroom window.

"Dumkauf! Put your rifle down and get up here at once! Schnell!"

"Jawohl, Herr Komandant!" Boy, was Schultz glad to get inside out of the cold. He ran as fast as his legs could carry his overweight body into the Komandant's quarters.

"Herr Komandant! I am here!" said Schultz. Then he saw Klink. "Colonel Klink, eh, what is the matter?"

"I'll tell you what the matter is, Schultz," Klink growled. "Somebody stole my new feather pillow!"

"No!" Schultz's eyes widened.

"Yes!" Klink hissed. "I want you to search the prisoners' barracks until you find it, or I will make a new pillow with your hide!"

"Jawohl, Herr Komandant!" Schultz waddled as quickly as his bulk would allow, as he rushed out of the room, and into Barracks Three.