Hogan let everyone celebrate for a few minutes. LeBeau shared the remaining coffee around and they all clinked their mugs to success. With an expansive smile, the colonel praised his crew: "That was good work, everyone, both from those outside capturing the field marshal and those who ran interference with Schultz while we were gone. Carter, be sure to convey my congratulations and thanks to the fellas in the other barracks."

"I sure will, boy! I mean, sir!" Carter answered eagerly.

The colonel turned back to business, reminding them, "The job's not done yet. We're going to have to monitor all communications going in and out of Klink's office while Barton is in camp, so we'll know what orders he gets regarding for the exchange." He looked apologetically at Kinchloe. "I'm afraid that means you'll be spending a lot of time downstairs at the switchboard."

Kinch nodded. "That's okay. We've worked out a schedule, and Farrell can spell me."

Hogan nodded. "All right then. Keep an eye on the compound, and let me know when Klink gets back. We'll listen in on the coffeepot as well. We can't afford to miss anything that affects their plans for Barton."

ooOoo

The remainder of the afternoon wore away without incident until General Burkhalter showed up in camp in the middle of roll call, livid over the kidnapping, with two other generals in tow. As soon as the correct count was established, Klink cut the roll call short to join the generals in his office; he didn't seem much in the mood to be making boastful speeches to the prisoners about the Third Reich's military superiority.

"Gee, they're pretty brave coming where another general just got captured," Carter remarked as they watched the four officers enter the Kommandantur.

"I guess they figure there's safety in numbers," LeBeau sniggered as he and the rest of the team headed into Colonel Hogan's office to listen in.

ooOoo

After Klink saw to their coats and served up drinks, Burkhalter spread out a map across Klink's desk and had the Kommandant show himself, General Krause, and General Adler exactly where the kidnapping had occurred.

"Gentlemen, this is most embarrassing. In broad daylight!" Burkhalter was still fuming.

"I still think we should send a squad to look – " Klink started to suggest.

"Shut up, Klink. Right in the middle of Germany. . . " Burkhalter seethed.

"And not a trace of him!" Adler growled, obviously equally frustrated.

"He could be anywhere by now," Krause said with a sigh.

"Yes, Herr General," Klink anxiously agreed, taking a step forward. "Herr General, may I suggest that the . . ."

Burkhalter looked up and glared at him impatiently. "Klink, be careful you don't suggest yourself all the way to the Russian front!"

Klink winced visibly and took a crestfallen step backwards to the safety of his original spot on the margins of the room – and of the conversation.

Satisfied that Klink was suitably cowed, Burkhalter turned his attention back to the map. "But we have taken steps to find them: we have put road blocks in place and cut them off here, we have cut them off there, now we must block them here!" Burkhalter insisted, tapping each of the major local roads on the map.

"Very good, Herr General!" Krause approved.

The telephone rang, cutting off conversation as Klink took the call. "No, Field Marshal Von Heinke is not here. Who is this?" he demanded. Covering the handset, he told the generals, "The field marshal's pilot is inquiring about his whereabouts. He says that the field marshal's plane is no longer at the airport!"

"Plane!" shrieked Burkhalter, swinging his alarmed gaze back and forth between the map and his fellow generals. "They cannot. . . ." He broke off in consternation as the implications grew on him. He grabbed the phone from Klink. "This is General Burkhalter. Find out who took the plane and when. NOW! Report back to me here instantly when you know. I will hold the line."

The four German officers waited in tense silence; in Hogan's office, the silence was equally tense.

"The field marshal was on the plane – you are sure? But ill . . . and with an unknown pair of pilots . . . wearing Luftwaffe uniforms. Find out all you can, then report to me here at Stalag 13. Yes, we will send a car. Heil Hitler!" Burkhalter hung up and turned to Klink. "See to it that transportation is sent to the airport to pick up Von Heinke's pilot: we must find out what has happened there. But if they took a plane, they could be anywhere in Europe." He sighed heavily. "This is a most terrible day in our war effort, to have lost the field marshal, and in such a manner."

Another call came in soon afterwards, this time from Berlin. Klink handed the phone straight over to Burkhalter, who listened with very little to say beyond "I see" and "I understand" several times. When he hung up, he faced the others.

"A message from the Allied chiefs has reached Berlin. Field Marshal Von Heinke is in England; he spoke over the radio himself to confirm that he is a prisoner there. The Allied High Command has offered an exchange of their prisoner for General Barton, and our leaders have accepted the exchange." His lips thinned and his eyes narrowed as he turned to Klink and regarded him with displeasure. After a sigh of resignation, he continued, "Klink, we will send instructions on when and where to transfer General Barton when the details of the exchange have been worked out. Until then, keep him secure. Maybe at least you can manage not to lose this general!"

"Yes, Herr General, I mean, of course not . . . I mean, it will be my pleasure to . . . ."

"Shut up, Klink!"