Newkirk and Kinch were leaning up against the wall of the kitchen, watching as Lt. Brown, Sgt. Thompson and Sgt. Rodriguez wolfed down the meal prepared for them by Gretchen. The three men sat around the table laughing, joking, stuffing their faces; and going through the wine at an alarming rate. Newkirk exchanged a knowing glance with Kinch; they both knew where this was headed. They gave a slight nod to each other, and began to inch their way toward the doorway as quickly and quietly as possible.
They slipped out of the kitchen, unnoticed by the raucous group of Americans, and headed for the front room. When they got there, they saw Otto, his wife Gretchen, and their daughter-in-law Odette huddled together on the sofa along the side wall. Corporal Aikens was seated in a chair directly opposite them, and was watching them closely; the gun that Rodriguez had passed to him lying on his lap.
Aikens looked up when they entered, and, startled to see them, grabbed the gun and pointed it in their direction. "What are you guys doing in here?" he asked nervously, "I thought the lieutenant wanted you in the kitchen where he could keep an eye on you."
"We got bored," Kinch stated nonchalantly.
"Yeah," Newkirk said, "We thought you could use a bit o' company out 'ere." He walked up and plopped down in the chair next to Aikens, keeping an alert eye on the gun in his hand. "So, 'ow come those other blokes didn't include you in their little party?" he asked the corporal.
"Well, somebody had to watch these folks," Aikens answered, "You know, so they don't try anything."
"They look pretty harmless to me," Kinch said, "As a matter of fact," he added, staring hard at the corporal, "So do you, Aikens. Tell me, why are you hanging around with those other guys, anyway?"
"It's none of your business!" Aikens exclaimed. Then he dropped his gaze and muttered, "I have my reasons."
"Well, whatever those reasons are, mate, I 'ope they're bloody good enough to let yourself get into all this trouble."
Aikens glanced at Newkirk. "I'm not the one in trouble, here," he replied defensively, "You two are." His eyes moved quickly back and forth between Newkirk and Kinch.
"You're the one holding a gun on a defenseless farmer and his family," Kinch said calmly. He paused for a moment, watching a tiny spark of guilt appear in the corporal's eyes as his words hit home; then he plunged ahead. "Not to mention being an accessory to assault."
Aikens' eyes grew wide. "What are you talking about? The lieutenant hasn't assaulted anyone, and neither has Thompson or Rodriguez."
"Not yet, but they're ruddy goin' to," Newkirk stated matter-of-factly.
Aikens scowled at him. "How could you possibly know that?" he huffed.
"You know what those three guys are doing, don't you? They're in the kitchen right now, drinking lots of wine," Kinch informed him. Then he leaned in slightly, his voice taking on a serious tone. "And what do you think they're gonna want to do when they get good and drunk?" He glanced across the room to Odette.
Aikens followed his gaze, and when his eyes met the young woman's, he could see the fear radiating out from them. He looked back at Kinch, his expression full of forced denial. "They wouldn't… I mean, we just came in here to get the keys to the car!"
"Blimey, mate, you saw the way Brown was lookin' at her, didn't you?" Newkirk replied, as though he were stating the obvious, "You really think he and those two ruddy sods with 'im are just goin' to waltz out of 'ere without 'avin' a go at her?"
Aikens' eyes began to widen as he realized that the Englander was probably right. His suspicions were further confirmed when he looked at Kinch, and saw him nod slightly in agreement. He glanced from one man to the other; wishing, not for the first time, that he'd never gotten involved with Lieutenant Brown, and knowing that he wanted no part in helping him or his sergeants carry out such a terrible act. But his courage was fleeting, and when he opened his mouth, he heard himself say, "Well, even if you're right, there's nothing I can do about it."
"How do you know unless you try?" Kinch countered.
"Are you serious?" Aikens looked at Kinch incredulously, "Do you know what the Lieutenant would do to me?"
"Do you know what he's going to do to Odette?" Kinch shot back.
Aikens once again glanced over at Odette and her in-laws. They looked so scared and helpless; obviously fearing for their very lives. He knew they didn't deserve what was happening to them, and he could well imagine how he would feel in their place. At last he let out a huge sigh and turned back to Kinch. "All right, what do you want me to do?"
* * * * * * * *
LeBeau and Carter were picking their way carefully through the forest, making good time in the clear, moonlit night. They were just over halfway to the rendezvous point when LeBeau heard Carter stumble behind him and let out a small cry of surprise.
LeBeau stopped and quickly whirled around. "Carter, what's wrong?" he asked with concern.
"Oh, nothing, really," Carter answered somewhat sadly, staring at something on the ground just to the right of where he'd tripped. "I just noticed, well, that," he said, pointing to what had caught his attention.
LeBeau looked down and saw what had Carter so distressed. There on the ground lay a small, shapeless mass covered with fur. Upon closer inspection, he discovered it was the remains of a freshly killed rabbit; just a flat, lifeless pelt, tinged with red, attached to a little furry head with long ears and lifeless eyes. He looked up at Carter, and, knowing how the American sergeant felt about animals, he decided to be sympathetic. "I'm sure it didn't suffer," he said quietly.
"I hope not," Carter replied. He sniffed twice, and then sighed and looked at LeBeau determinedly. "Let's go."
The two men once again plodded through the woods, headed in the direction of the rendezvous area. When they finally reached it, they found exactly what they'd expected to find; no one was there. They searched the area, looking for clues, when at last Carter piped up, "It looks like someone went through here."
LeBeau studied the trampled leaves and partial footprints that Carter had found, and instantly agreed. "I think you're right, Carter," he agreed. Then he looked up at him and stated, "It looks like they went south. Let's go."
They followed the path of broken twigs and obvious boot prints on the forest floor, both of them hoping that their friends would be at the other end of the trail. At last they reached a clearing, and, looking out, they saw a farmhouse nearby; with open fields beyond it, reaching far into the distance. The trail seemed to stop there, and LeBeau looked at Carter with frustration.
"They're not here," LeBeau stated, letting out a sigh.
"Well, maybe the people in there know where they are," Carter said, pointing to the farmhouse.
LeBeau rolled his eyes. "Carter, we can't just knock on some German's door, and ask him if he's seen our Allied friends… He'd probably shoot us!"
Carter thought about it for a moment. "Yeah, I guess that wouldn't be a good idea," he said at last. "But, what else can we do?"
LeBeau looked at his watch. "We can go back to camp and tell the colonel we couldn't find them," he said. "We were supposed to be back in two hours, anyway. If we leave now, we should just make it."
"But, we haven't found them yet!" Carter replied, his voice pleading.
"I know," LeBeau answered, "But if we're not back when the colonel expects us to be, well…"
Carter nodded. "You're right, Louis," he acquiesced. "We better get back to camp, and tell the colonel that we didn't find them."
LeBeau saw the despair on Carter's face, and clapped him on his arm. "Hey, don't worry, mon ami, we'll find them! I bet the colonel will come up with a plan that will lead us to them in no time!"
Carter looked at LeBeau. "You really think so?" he asked, his expression filled with hope.
"I know so!" LeBeau replied confidently. He smiled at Carter, and then turned and headed back to Stalag thirteen. As he heard Carter's footsteps fall into line behind him, he willed himself to believe that he was right.
* * * * * * * *
Aikens stared up at Kinch, waiting for him to reply to his question, but it was Newkirk who spoke up first.
"Well, first thing you can do, mate," Newkirk said, "Is let me talk to Otto, there, so's I can let 'im know we're tryin' to 'elp."
Aikens nodded. "Okay, but make it quick."
Newkirk got up and walked over to the little group seated on the sofa, and began to converse with them, keeping his voice low. After a couple of minutes, he smiled and nodded at them, and returned to his chair.
"Well?" Aikens asked.
"Well, they've got a room down in the cellar, what's got a big, thick door in front of it, and it locks from the inside. I'll sneak 'em down there, and they can lock themselves in until we can get those ruddy 'faced sods out of 'ere."
"Sounds like a good plan to me," Kinch said.
"I don't know," Aikens replied, beginning to have second thoughts, "I mean, the Lieutenant's going to blame me…"
"Well," Kinch raised his hand and began to stroke his chin as he thought out loud, "I could take your gun, and lock you in one of the bedrooms. I'll just tell the Lieutenant that I overpowered you."
"You think he'd believe that?" Aikens asked.
Kinch stood up straight and puffed out his chest. "What do you think?"
Aikens smiled and nodded. "I think he'll believe that!"
"All right, we better work fast." Kinch said, "No telling when those guys are going to realize we slipped out, and come looking for us."
Newkirk and Aikens rose from their chairs. Newkirk motioned to Otto and his family to do the same, and then he followed them as they walked quickly to the cellar door. They climbed down the steps and hurried through the small, musty, main cellar; arriving at the door on the far wall. Otto reached out, grabbed the handle and pulled hard. The door opened, groaning from disuse, and Newkirk could see that it was indeed as solid and thick as a bank vault door.
The trio rushed inside, and Newkirk told them to lock the door, and not to open it until he and Kinch got rid of the Lieutenant and his sergeants. Otto thanked him profusely; knowing that the Englander and his friend were doing this, in part, to protect his daughter-in-law. Then they shut the door and bolted it from the inside, and Newkirk turned and headed up the stairs.
* * * * * * * *
Brown and his cohorts were still sitting at the table in the kitchen, their conversation becoming more heated in direct proportion to the amount of wine they were consuming. The topic had shifted to complaining about everything and anything that had ever bothered each of them, and currently, the Lieutenant had the floor.
"…And another thing I can't stand; those lousy Brits!" Brown announced to his two sergeants, leaning forward and propping his elbows on the table, "They think they're so damn superior. You know, when I was in London, they used to…"
"Hey," Thompson cut in, after glancing around the kitchen, "Where's that Brit we brought here with us?"
"Yeah," Rodriguez remarked, "And that Sergeant friend of his?"
"Whaddaya mean?" Brown drawled, "They're standing over by the wall…" He glanced at the spot where Newkirk and Kinch were supposed to be, and saw that they were gone. "Hey, where'd they go?"
The three men rose from the table and started to head toward the front room. As they got to the hall, the door to the cellar opened, and Newkirk walked out.
Brown stared at him, confused. "What were you doing down there?" he asked loudly.
Newkirk looked up and smiled at Brown. "It's none of your ruddy business, now, is it?" he replied.
"I'll decide what's my business!" Brown yelled. Then he happened to glance into the front room, and noticed it was empty. "Hey, where's Corporal Aikens?" he leaned in farther, "And where's that German, and that daughter of his?"
"Someplace you'll never get your bloody 'ands on her!" Newkirk retorted, a smug look on his face.
Brown glared at Newkirk, his expression darkening. "Thompson, Rodriguez," he said, still staring at Newkirk, "Go down to the cellar and see if you can find them."
The two sergeants did as they were told, and as soon as they disappeared behind the cellar door, Brown moved swiftly in front of Newkirk and grabbed the front of his uniform jacket. Before Newkirk could react, the lieutenant pulled him forward just a little, to get him off balance, and then pushed him, hard, slamming him up against the wall. He pulled the gun out of his belt and jabbed it into Newkirk's gut, at the same time leaning in until his face was mere inches from the corporal's.
"I had plans for that girl," Brown hissed, "It's been a long time, you know?"
Newkirk just stared at him, too scared at the moment to say anything.
Brown stared back, angrily. Then he smiled cruelly, and his eyes raked slowly down Newkirk's body, and back up to his face. "You know what, Limey? Maybe I should make you take her place…"
Kinch, who had just rounded the corner from escorting Aikens to the bedroom at the far end of the hall, not only saw Brown pressing Newkirk against the wall, his gun jammed into the Englishman's abdomen, but heard the lieutenant's latest remark. His anger bubbled over and his control finally snapped, causing his instinct to take over. He strode up to Brown, grabbed him by the arm, yanked him off of Newkirk and sent him flying halfway across the room.
"That's enough!" Kinch yelled, his voice thundering through the house, reverberating off the walls like a shockwave.
Both Newkirk and Brown stared at him in complete shock. Just then the door to the cellar opened, and Rodriguez leaped out, heading straight for Kinch. The shorter sergeant tried to throw a couple of punches, but he was no match for the former boxer, and Kinch gave him a shove, pushing him into the wall, where he hit his head and slumped to the floor, unconscious.
When Brown saw Rodriguez initially start grappling with Kinch, he brought up his gun and aimed it at the black sergeant, but Newkirk quickly stepped in front of him and, balling his hand into a tight fist, hauled off and punched the lieutenant with all his might. Brown fell to the floor, letting the gun fall out of his hand as he hit. The weapon went sliding, just out of his reach.
Newkirk saw the gun go flying, and started to go after it. But Brown grabbed his ankle, causing him to lose his balance and fall down right in front of him. Newkirk was closer to the gun, and he reached forward to grab it, but Brown quickly crawled up and jumped on top of his back, stretching his own arm toward the weapon while trying to pull Newkirk's arm back.
After Kinch had taken care of Rodriguez, he looked over and saw Newkirk and Brown struggling for the gun. Just then he remembered that he had Aikens' gun tucked in his belt. He started to reach for it, when suddenly Thompson appeared from the cellar and grabbed him, whirling him around while raising his fist, preparing to strike him.
Kinch, caught off-guard, instinctively threw up his arms, effectively blocking Thompson's first blow. But Thompson was the same size as Kinch, and was not about to be dissuaded. He continued to throw punches, his fists occasionally hitting their mark, while Kinch fought back, his own fists having more luck.
As Kinch and Thompson continued to duke it out, Newkirk and Brown were still vying for possession of Brown's gun. The Lieutenant raised his arm and brought his elbow down hard right between Newkirk's shoulder blades. Newkirk let out a small cry, and while he was distracted by the sudden pain, Brown took the advantage. He pushed himself off of Newkirk, extending his hand out at the same time, and was able to grab hold of the gun.
Newkirk reached over and latched onto Brown's arm, pulling it toward him so he could take the gun away from him. Brown responded by trying to yank his one arm out of Newkirk's grasp while attempting to push him away with the other. As they struggled, the gun inadvertently went off. The shot went wide; the bullet flying harmlessly through the air, embedding itself in the wall near the cellar door.
Newkirk and Brown were still lying on the floor, facing each other at this point. Again Newkirk dug his fingers into Brown's arm, desperate to get the gun away from him. But Brown's anger welled up in him anew, and with a burst of energy, he raised his leg and kneed Newkirk in the abdomen as hard as he could.
Newkirk exhaled forcibly, an audible, 'Oomph', escaping his lips. He relaxed his grip just enough for Brown to pull his arm free. The lieutenant quickly rolled away from Newkirk and got up on his knees, turning his attention to the two sergeants who were still fighting. Kinch appeared to have the upper hand, and was just about to deliver a knock-out blow, when Brown raised his gun.
"No!" Newkirk yelled, scrambling to get to Brown. But before he could reach him, the Lieutenant took aim at Kinch and fired.
A/N: I know; I'm a cliffhanger junkie!