Chapter 7 – Help at Last

Carter pored over the map Astrid brought. As best he could make out, they were approximately 15 kilometers from Stalag 13. That's nearly 10 miles. A pretty decent distance on foot. He shook his head. He didn't feel good about leaving Newkirk but there were no other options. He had to make sure the plans made it back to the stalag. Where on earth is the doctor? He turned to head out the door and nearly ran over Astrid's mother. "Oh excuse me ma'am! I didn't see you there."

"May I see Petzi mein herr?" She reached her arm out towards Newkirk.

"Well, I guess it's okay." He guided her to a chair beside the bed, wondering where Astrid was.

"Oh danke, danke. Petzi. My Petzi. I knew you would come home one day." She reached out to gently caress Newkirk's face. "But you are hurt." She turned her tear filled eyes up to Carter. "How did my boy get hurt?"

Carter fumbled for words. "Uh, well, ma'am he was, uh, wounded in action."

"Fighting the Russians?"

"Uh, yes ma'am. I suppose so."

"Were you with him?"

Carter forgot he was still dressed as an infantryman, with Newkirk's blood staining his pants and coat. "Yes ma'am. I was with him." Astrid where are you? He heard the front door open. Please let that be the doc. Please.

Astrid and a tall older man came in the bedroom. "Mother! What are you doing here? You should be sleeping!"

Carter almost fainted with relief. Thank God he's finally here! The doctor approached Astrid's mother and gently took her by the shoulders. "Katrin dear. You must get up. Let me examine this young man."

"What took so long?" Carter couldn't keep the frustration out of his voice.

"Uncle had to go to his office to collect his surgical tools," Astrid answered. "Come mother. Let us heat some soup. He will need to eat when he wakes up." She glanced down at Newkirk and sighed.

"Manfred, please take good care of my Petzi."

"Petzi?" He took a closer look at the man in the bed and raised his eyebrows in surprise. "I see how she could mistake him for Petzi." He set his medical bag on the nightstand and took out a stethoscope. He addressed Carter as he checked Newkirk's heart and respiration. "What happened?"

"He was shot in the head. His breathing has been shallower than normal, and as you can see, his left eye is swollen and bruised."

The doctor removed the bandage and examined the wound. "It appears to be a deep graze wound. There are some embedded bullet fragments that will have to be removed." Manfred checked Newkirk's eyes. "His left eye is not responsive. That is not good. It could indicate possible intracranial bleeding. Has he regained consciousness at all?"

"No sir."

"Very well young man. If you please, I would like to complete the examination in private."

Carted nodded and left. He headed to the kitchen. "Astrid? When can we contact Papa Bear?"

She looked up from the stove. "We are nearly finished here. Then I will go back to town. Has Uncle said anything?"

"No he's still examining Peter."

"Very well. Mother, I must leave for a little while. I will be back soon."

"Yes my child. I will go watch over Petzi."

"Would you not rather go back to bed?"

"No. I wish to see my son. I have missed him so." She headed to the bedroom, calling to her brother. "Manfred I come to see Petzi now!"

Carter helped Astrid with her coat. "You are sure you wish to stay?" she asked.

"Yes. I don't want to leave Peter before I absolutely have to. I have a feeling the Col-, uh, Papa Bear is going to order me back to the stalag."

She nodded. "I will return shortly."

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Kinch had been dozing and nearly fell out of his chair when the radio suddenly burst to life. "Nightingale to Papa Bear. Nightingale to Papa Bear. Come in Papa Bear."

"Papa Bear here Nightingale. We read you, over."

Hogan jumped up from the cot where he had been catching some sleep. Kinch handed him the mike.

"The plans have been delivered. We are instructed to get the contact out of the country before the plans may be transmitted to London. Unfortunately, one of your men has been wounded. He is receiving medical attention but cannot be moved right now. He is in a safe location. Request further instructions."

Hogan shot a worried look at Kinch. "Acknowledged Nightingale. Which of my men has been wounded?"

"The Englander, Papa Bear."

Hogan sighed and dropped his head into his hand. "How did this happen? Any word on his condition?"

"He was shot in the head and has not regained consciousness yet. The doctor is with him now. Your man Andrew said he would give you all the details."

Hogan's stomach knotted up and he had to swallow hard. "Thanks. Hold on Nightingale." He spoke to Kinch, "We're going to have to come up with a story to explain their absence. Go get Louis." Kinch took off.

"Nightingale, inform my other man to return to home base and bring the contact with him. We will take responsibility for getting him out of the country. Please keep us informed regarding our wounded man. We need to get him back as soon as possible." He didn't voice the obvious. Head wound! Will Newkirk survive this? Hopefully Carter would have some better news for them.

"Understood Papa Bear. Nightingale out."

"Papa Bear out." Hogan wrapped his arms around himself. Damn! Damn! Damn!

LeBeau came in at a run, followed by Kinch. LeBeau was frantic, "Colonel, please tell me Newkirk is all right!"

He shook his head. "They don't know his condition. He hasn't regained consciousness and he's apparently at a different location."

"Mon Dieu! What can we do?"

"The only thing we can do is sit tight for now. I've ordered Carter to come back with the contact. We've got to get him out of the country before we can transmit the plans. We'll regroup when he gets back."

"What about roll call Colonel?" asked Kinch.

Hogan paced as he spoke. "If Carter gets on his horse now, I'm hoping he arrives before roll call."

"What if he doesn't?" asked Kinch.

"Then we'll have to have a backup plan. The problem is, we don't know where he's starting from. There's no way of knowing how long it'll take."

"So there is a chance André may not arrive before roll call?" LeBeau asked.

Hogan nodded. "Since Newkirk's been wounded, I'll have to report both he and Carter as escaped for now. That'll lead to something we really don't need - Kraut patrols combing the woods while Carter is trying to get back with that contact. I also need to come up with an explanation for Klink. Newkirk was visibly upset when he stormed out of the barracks this morning; I'm sure some of the guards noticed. Maybe I can tell our illustrious Kommandant that he was homesick and just took off, and that Carter went after him to bring him back."

"I hope Klink buys it Colonel. And I hope Andrew gets back here before roll call."

"So do I Kinch. So do I."