August 6
The Tunnels – 0530 Hours
It is nearly time for roll call (another half hour, maybe, if I'm lucky, an hour) and here I am, standing guard in these tunnels while Kinch is fixing our radio, now crushed and destroyed because of an intruder. Rob was just about ready to call for an all-out mass escape, but London needs this mission done so this is a wait-and-see situation, so to speak. That's what made Rob decide that we stay, except in the case that the Gestapo finds us and the tunnel system, that is.
Oh, did I fail to mention that I'm guarding these tunnels because we've had a security breach? Yes, we've had an intruder come down into the tunnels. All the time that Rob was down here, he was searching for our visitor while Kinch was trying to find our spare radio parts, which are missing. The radio has been smashed to bits and it can barely get a message across except for the last faded one (that was the same one we received about the bridge, agent and ammo truck and the urgent need to destroy all of them). All that was found, while Kinch was down in the tunnels with Rob, was that broken radio with the smallest reception (now dead), some muddy footprints, a torn piece of cloth from a German uniform by one of the torches (I believe it was under Barracks 12) and some stolen materials, mostly wood, paper, some of our counterfeit money and such. Kinch thinks our intruder ran off with the spare parts for the radio too because he can't find them anywhere.
It is no wonder that Kinch wouldn't let Rob down in the tunnels for a while. He had to make sure everything was what he thought it was before he could sound the alarm. Dammit!
All and all, this has to be a cautious affair. "We have to play by ear," Rob said as he came up with the destroyed radio parts. "If we suspect Gestapo having a hand in this, then we have to go. Otherwise, we stand by our post, fix the radio and wait for more orders from London. They're counting on us to destroy this bridge before that ammo reaches the other side. Preferably, they want us to get the bridge and the ammo truck plus that agent."
I was so frightened when Rob came up with those broken radio parts. Every prisoner in the barracks was shocked and was shouting for an explanation. "If you fellows shut up, you'll get it!" Rob said. The yelling continued anyway. Rob just sighed and shook his head. Kinch had popped himself up from below. He made sure that the bunk was closed and settled at the table where LeBeau had some coffee ready. Rob also made sure that the bunk was securely closed before he too sat down to some coffee. I'm still wondering how he can stay so calm in situations like this, although I think he had a headache the way he was rubbing his forehead, to the point where I could almost feel it. He then yelled for silence again. Finally, the shouting stopped and Rob looked up to speak his peace.
"Listen, fellows and Colonel," Rob started, "our tunnels have been breached and our radio destroyed. We can't reach London anymore –" Here, Rob was interrupted by more noise.
"Hold it, hold it!" Rob yelled back. "We have some things we need to do before we figure out whether to escape or not."
Rob sighed. "First of all, we don't know what we're up against. This could be a trap, some Underground agent or even some youngster that found this and didn't know how much worth it is until he told somebody about it – if he even bothered to. We're going to blow up the tunnels and break out if this happens to be anybody German or Gestapo, and that's a direct order. We can't afford being in front of a firing squad. It doesn't help London."
Everybody seemed to have held their breath when Rob added, "Otherwise, I'm asking that anybody take turns watching underground until we know what's out there. This would be in shifts, starting now and continuing after 2330 hours tonight after our scheduled bed check from the Kommandant. Afterward, the next group comes down at 0600 after roll call, come off at 1200 after roll call and lunch, 1830 after dinner, 2330 after usual bedcheck and so on. LeBeau, you'll be in charge of getting this information from Schultz about any extra bed checks and roll calls."
"Oui, Kommandant." The room was in total silence. I could feel the nervousness from the other men in the room.
"Furthermore," Rob continued, "we need others to keep track of the guards and the new positions and changing of the guard, just in case somebody from the new group of guards discovered the stump. Newkirk, you and Carter will be in charge of that. Watch the changing of the guard everyday and make sure to create diversions at the camp if necessary, preferably chaos. Take anybody with you to achieve that, but watch out for those trigger happy kids."
"Yes, Colonel" was all that echoed in the room. So, even the boyish Carter and the usually poppy Newkirk were just as worried about this as the rest of us are. I noticed that Carter was still sitting at his bunk, gripping whatever he was making (I couldn't tell what it was). His knuckles were turning white from gripping whatever it was that he was making. Newkirk was above Carter in his bunk, tense.
The situation still wasn't made any less serious and the planning didn't make me or even Rob, from the looks of it, any less edgy. Rob still talked about what he wanted done, biting his lip as he went on. I'm usually the person who notices that because I've known him too long. He always did that when he was feeling we were in trouble.
Rob was motionless, in serious thought still. "The Krauts might know about the emergency exit, so we have to have it guarded or blown up, again depending on our situation. We might be lucky. The Gestapo might not even know about this place yet or Hochstetter and his gang would have been here by now. In this week's case, I think we're out of harm's way." I shuddered at the mention of Hochstetter, our Hangman of the Stalags. I hated him with a passion and feared him even more than my hatred.
Rob continued. "According to Kinch, London also said last night and today even, before the radio died, that they have a double agent so we have to meet him or her. This person might be the one who has been visiting us, unnoticed, so they're sending this person they suspect to convene with us. That's why they said to get the agent." Rob paused. "This may also explain why the tunnels have been breached and not discovered by the Krauts yet. This could be the double agent. He or she might not have gotten anything valuable out to someone yet." Rob was now looking at me sharply. Even females can be spies his eyes were saying.
Carter, who had been sitting on his bunk, finally dropped his woodwork. It hit the floor with a satisfying clank. "Colonel, how are we going to blow up that bridge? I have some good explosives that can take care of that, but the guards and Gestapo are e-everywhere. They'd take it right back to us!"
If this wasn't so serious, I'd laugh. This was one of those moments that Carter was saying something intelligent and not acting like an idiot. It was more amusing when Newkirk came out of his trance and glared down at Carter, indecisive about whether to hit him in the head or pat him on the back for this apparent and most obvious comment.
Rob rose up from his seat and went over to where Carter was. He sat down next to him and put his arm around the Sergeant's shoulder, answering, "Carter, we're still going to blow up that bridge and its ammo and apprehend our fabulous agent. Like I said, all we need is a few distractions, some spying and a few sneaky prisoners of war to pull it off. And Klink doesn't even need to know about those who have escaped…for a while."
Many around the room groaned for it sounded like another impossible mission from Colonel Hogan, the master of all strange and unusual plans. Rob saw this and got up from Carter's bunk. He only resumed his position at the table, except standing next to his seat, and said, "Oh, I see that I already have some eager volunteers to watch the tunnels with Kinch." He moved towards the tunnel's entranceway at the bunk. "Well? Volunteers only. Remember, I don't order them."
Those who groaned about the impending mission moved with unease in their places, equally worried that they'd be chosen for this assignment if they said another word. There were no volunteers still and Rob had no excuse to choose someone as none opened their mouths. Then, I suddenly had some crazy idea and I knew that Rob wasn't going to like it for many reasons. I gazed around the room murmuring, my big dumb mouth to be thanked and my idea be damned, "I'll do it."
Rob faced me and I could tell that he's surprised that I alone would volunteer for this sort of duty. Sure, I go on missions, but only as a female role. I have never taken up the role of commander and sentinel before. This is dangerous. Our intruder could come back with more than himself (or her) and bring the Gestapo. I could be used. Worse, I could be killed on the spot and my friends be shot as spies later after they're tortured for information, false or not. I'm taking the risk to safeguard and stall any one of them, anyhow. With my temper, anything can go. However, nothing is going to change my mind, stupid as it is.
I gave Rob my most defiant look, the one that always made him laugh for it made me "come across saucy" (Rob's words, not mine). He faced me about ready to laugh, but instead said in a serious tone (and his face trying to keep straight), "All right, Colonel. Be careful. Kinch will be down there with you. When you inspect the tunnels, bring a team, not just two or three people. And make sure you call for a team ahead of time. Don't go anywhere in the tunnels, especially alone. That's an order." I heard a sigh escape his lips. "Remember, you'll be relieved at 0600 hours with the next group."
Rob went around to our stove and pulled out a handgun from its hiding spot from a bucket covered with some fake logs. He handed it to me. "Make sure you know how to use it. Don't hesitate to when there's Gestapo. And don't try to be heroic, either." Making sure that there are no guards, Rob herded me and then Kinch down the tunnel. Kinch was all-in and he asked LeBeau to bring down a pot of coffee. I might as well grab some, too. I might need it later.
After I started down the ladder, Rob called after me, "And make sure to have the tunnels blown up if the Gestapo happen to be in armies. The explosives are set to blow anytime if Carter gets to it." I saluted (sort of, but with busy hands, it was hard) and continued my way down to the tunnels. Afterward I heard Rob yell at Carter, "Make sure those explosives are set at the entrance!" He sounded very angry. His attitude was unique in this situation and well-noted by me and the men.
~00~
I'll say this though: the night has been quiet and there has been nothing. My neck, which has always warns me of disaster and impending danger (might I add I usually ignore it?), has not been bothering me all night. This is a good sign and I have no denial about it. Kinch, in between searching for any miracle radio parts, has been checking on me. His gun is always in hand and every noise he has investigated. I am grateful that he is around to protect me in case of danger. He even called the team down for me to check the tunnels. All six men, who have not split far from each other as was ordered, have found nothing.
I personally cannot say that there is nothing out there. I mean, would these men believe that, if my neck troubles me, that there is someone out there and ready to point their deadly weapons at them? Would they ignore me and just go their own way? I don't know. I don't even know if Rob will ever listen to me, either.
Kinch just said he has found enough junk around here to fix the radio. They're not exactly radio parts, but enough pieces of other machines to fix the radio, so I better move aside so that he can get this done. Afterward, there's going to be a lot of transmitting to our Headquarters in London for this mission. And then, I might consider some sleep.
~00~
The loneliness of a one night stand is hard to take
We all chase something and maybe this is a dream
The timeless face of a lone woman while her heart breaks
Oh, you know the dream keeps coming even when you forget to feel
For me, it's the only life that I've ever known and love is long one, fine star away
Even though the living is sometimes laced with lies – it's all right
The feeling remains even after the glitter fades
It is past 0600 hours now and nobody has called me up yet. Wait…Newkirk just bellowed for roll call. I'm now relieved from duty. He, LeBeau, Carter and Private Kearns will take over after roll call. My next hope is that Klink won't be inspecting the barracks today or surprise us with something worse later. Kinch is down there and I don't want to get the men to create a diversion as we get him up here. Klink could become more suspicious than Schultz when it comes to such things as insane detractions. On the other hand, it can sometimes be hilarious as he doesn't suspect a thing.