Part VII

Hogan was standing outside with Kinchloe, LeBeau and Newkirk when the truck took Fetherston and Gisbourne away from camp. Newkirk couldn't find it in him to work up even a minimum of sympathy for the men.

"Good riddance t' bad rubbish, I say."

Kinchloe spoke next.

"I don't guess any of us have doubt that you passed the challenge, Colonel. I don't know what you're up to, but I'm in."

"So long as it is nothing to harm mon bien-aimé France? I am your man as well, mon Colonel."

"Guess that means it's up t' me t' make it unanimous this time, Guv'nor."

"Excellent. Let's go into my office, men."

Turning, Hogan gave both Kinchloe and Newkirk a pat on the back. The pained intake of breath from Newkirk was not anything the Colonel had been expecting.

"Sorry - just took me off guard there. I'll be fine in just a bit."

"Do I need to get Wilson to take a look at you, Newkirk?"

"Wilson's already seen me, sir. 'onest."

"It is a long story, mon Colonel. One we will tell you, but first you have something to tell us, non?"

"Yes - come in and grab a seat. This isn't going to be quick."

The three men settled quickly - as usual with Newkirk in the middle. Hogan now at least thought he knew why.

"That's the reason you two have been flanking him all this time, isn't it? Up with the shirt, Corporal. Let me take a look."

"Ain't pretty right now, Guv. Mates? Give a bloke a 'and?"

Kinchloe and LeBeau helped him pull off the sweater and shirt. Hogan moved closer and carefully moved the wraps. Gentle as he tried to be, Newkirk couldn't help wincing. The still clear signs of rope told him why the injury was being kept secret.

"Broken or cracked ribs?"

"Wilson said cracked. They're 'ealing, sir. Just a bit tender right now, you might say."

"We'll have him take another look at you tomorrow. For now though, LeBeau's right. We have other business to discuss. First thing I want to say is that nothing you have said or done obligates you to anything beyond treating what I'm about to tell you as Top Secret. A lot of lives could be lost if this gets out. Understood?"

They all nodded as they gave him their full attention.

"The Allied Command wants a way to move information and some personnel out of Germany. They want us to be that conduit. This is strictly volunteer stuff, men. If we get caught, if we're lucky we'd be shot as spies. But - and this is a big one - if we can succeed here, we could shorten the war and save lives. Wilson implied to me that if I was able to get the three of you onboard that we'd have a good chance of pulling this off."

Kinchloe looked startled.

"Wilson? Sergeant Wilson?"

"That's the one. He was told to keep his head down and his eyes open. Apparently he didn't manage the 'head down' part too well. He was on Fetherston's bad boy list."

"That was my fault, Colonel. I went to him when Newkirk was hurt and asked him to take a look at him. Not many guys turn me down to my face."

Hogan just gave Kinchloe a crooked smile.

"I can see that, Sergeant. Rumor has it you were a boxer?"

"Yes sir. Golden Gloves."

"That's the sort of thing I'm going to need to start learning about all of you. But think it over - this operation is going to be a lot of work for very little glory."

"I am not in this for glory, mon Colonel. I am in it to free my country. You may count me in."

"England's takin' a beatin' as well, sir. Sooner th' war is over, sooner I can look -"

Kinchloe reached a hand over and gave Newkirk's shoulder a squeeze. Yet another mental note. Hogan sighed quietly. At this rate, he could really use a mental secretary to keep track of everything he needed to follow up on.

"I'm with Peter. Sooner the war is over, the better. Looks like we're all onboard, Colonel."

Hogan began to pace slightly as he considered what their next move should be.

"Alright - first things first. We're going to have to have a place to keep both equipment and people out of sight as well as a way in and out of camp. We're going to need to start on some tunnels - "

At the sound of a chuckle, Hogan paused and looked back toward the trio.

"Beggin' yer pardon, Guv'nor, but I think we've got us a start there. We don't know 'ow big it is ourselves yet."

Eyes bright, Hogan remained standing, but leaned on the table.

"This has something to do with those ribs, doesn't it?"

"My ribs an' Kinch's guts, Guv."

Hogan looked over to Kinchloe with a slight frown.

"Are you injured too?"

"No sir - Newkirk's talking about gut instincts. Long story again, but the part you need to know for now is that we've been working on a tunnel. And we - well, Newkirk - broke through the ceiling of what we think may have been an abandoned bunker from the last war."

"It all happened the day you arrived in the camp, mon Colonel. We have had no chance since then to see what exactly it is that we found."

"No time like the present. Well, tonight at any rate. After lights out, let's go take a look at what we have to work with. Why don't the three of you try and catch a nap? It's likely to be a busy night."

Watching the three head back out of his office with LeBeau already talking to Newkirk about eating some more, Hogan sat down and reflected on something his grandmother had once told him. Some things are just meant to be. This was seeming to be one of those things that was meant to be and he viewed that as a good sign that they might just be able to pull this crazy mission off.