Act One

Scene Two

– Three –

It was during the building of the first barracks that the first attempt was made. Supplies had been coming into camp regularly. The prisoners' work details also made forays into the woods for lumber. There was a constant milling around of men, guards and prisoners. Even Hogan had trouble keeping track of everyone.

Hogan and a group of twenty men were in the woods, cutting trees. Hogan was none too happy about having to get the wood this way, but Klink's attempt to get it from town met with little success. The townspeople were reluctant to extend any more credit to the camp, and neither Klink nor Hogan could blame them. Everyone, except the men in Berlin who ran things, could see the writing on the wall. Everyone seemed to know it was just a matter of time before the war would be over. Then what good would promises of payment from the military be?

There were only three guards watching the men. Schultz and two newer guards. Hogan nearly laughed at them. They were little more than children. He sobered up quickly. They were nervous children, armed with machine guns. And a lot more dangerous than the older men who were brought in to watch the prisoners.

Martinelli was on the work detail when he decided to slip away. Fortunately, it was Schultz who caught him. Otherwise, someone might have gotten hurt. Otherwise, Klink would have been told. Hogan managed to convince Schultz that no one need mention what had happened. Schultz, reluctantly, and with help from a bribe, agreed.

The second attempt wasn't as easily handled. There had been an accident in raising the frame of the first building. It wasn't a serious accident, but it attracted the attention of everyone, including the guards. And it left a blind spot in the wire. Before anyone could stop him, Martinelli was there, cutting his way through.

Klink spotted him.

Klink, Hogan thought with disgust as he followed Martinelli up the stairs. Of all the dumb luck.

Hogan listened as Klink went into his song and dance about nobody ever escaping from the camp. And waited to protest the thirty days in the cooler that Klink would impose for the attempt. To his astonishment, Klink didn't order the thirty days. In fact, he didn't order any time in the cooler.

Hogan stared at Klink as Martinelli was led out. "All right, Kommandant." Hogan leaned on the desk. "What's going on? You've thrown men into the cooler for a lot less."

Klink looked at him with faint amusement. "You're objecting to my leniency?"

"Yes!"

"Sit down, Colonel," Klink requested pleasantly.

Hogan sat, suspicious; Klink was being too nice.

Klink saw the suspicion. Part of him was amused, part of him was resentful. Klink removed his monocle and rubbed his eyes.

Klink was tired, Hogan noted. Well, if Klink would stop playing around after dark, he wouldn't be.

Klink looked at him with an unusually sober expression. "Colonel Hogan, keep an eye on him. Please, for his own sake."

"Isn't that your job?"

"Hogan, please." Klink wasn't in the mood. "I warned you what would happen if he escapes. The Gestapo is keeping an eye on him. They are scrutinizing all of my reports. If I lock him in the cooler, I would have to include the incident in my report. Frankly," Klink's eyes met Hogan's, "I don't want to. As far as I'm concerned, this never happened. But, I warn you, I can't, and I won't, ignore any more attempts. So, talk to him. Make him see sense."

"I'll try."

"You'd better do more than try," Klink said sharply.

"Yes, sir!" Hogan, stung by Klink's order, stood.

Klink looked at him; the American's face was belligerent. An inward sigh. Their recent goodwill seemed to have disappeared. If anything, their relationship harkened back to the early days of their acquaintance. Maybe he could say something, do something. But what?

"Colonel Hogan," Klink's voice softened, "please. Believe it or not, I do not wish him harm. He can stay here, safely. But he must cooperate. I can't deny that this is a prison; none of us can. But please, try to make him understand. For his own sake."

Hogan looked at Klink. And unbent a little. Angry about the conditions in camp, he knew he was picking on Klink. Even he was forced to admit, Klink had no control over events. As for Martinelli, Klink seemed to want to help him.

"All right, Kommandant," Hogan said. "I'll do my best."

"That's all I ask, Colonel. Dismissed."

A salute and Hogan left.

Do your best. A sigh. Will it be enough?