A/N : A short chapter but I had a little spare time on my trip so I thought I would go ahead and post it. Hope you enjoy it.

CHAPTER 11

Reinhardt was furious. He had just received notice from Colonel Klink that the Englander, Newkirk, had escaped again! Did Klink have a revolving door in that camp? Prisoners seemed to come and go at will. Reinhardt stood up and began pacing his office deep in thought. He had men watching all the suspected Underground people so if Newkirk contacted any of them for assistance, Reinhardt would know immediately but only if he contacted someone in or around Hammelburg. He turned and studied the map on his wall. Where would the Englander go? What route? Switzerland was the obvious destination; it was the only neutral country left for all practical purposes, but would he go by foot? Train? Reinhardt had already sent men to watch the trains and distributed photos of the escaped prisoner but Reinhardt believed Newkirk to be an especially wily one and not likely to make the mistakes that tripped up most escapees.

Reinhardt sighed and started to turn away from the map then froze. He blinked a couple of times as a thought hit him – the Zimmer farm! Although they had burned the farm, including Frau Zimmer and her son, they had left the body of the girl lying in the barnyard. Newkirk had been devastated by their deaths and Reinhardt wouldn't put it past him to try and return to the farm and bury the girl. Reinhardt smiled and reached for the telephone. With any luck, they would have Newkirk back in custody within a few hours but he would not be returning to Stalag 13.

Newkirk woke up to total darkness. He sat up, his heart beating wildly until he finally remembered where he was – the root cellar on the Zimmer farm. He took a deep breath and released it as he leaned weakly against the pile of potatoes behind him. Then he laughed softly. He was definitely getting too old for this foolishness! He felt around until he found his electric torch and checked his watch. It was 3:00 pm. He sighed. He knew he needed to get going soon. He had debated about whether or not to try taking the trains but decided against it. That would only have worked if he had boarded one shortly after his escape and before Reinhardt sounded the alert. Now the stations around Hammelburg would be swarming with Gestapo. He might be able to try farther out but now he needed to get out of the area as quickly as possible. His eyes widened and he cursed softly as he suddenly realized the danger he was in. Surely it would occur to Reinhardt to check the Zimmer farm! Why hadn't that occurred to him earlier! He never should have stayed here after burying the Zimmers. Bloody hell!

Newkirk scrambled to his feet and swung the torch around as he frantically gathered his belongings and threw a variety of food into his rucksack. He didn't know where he would find more so he'd better take what he could now. Shouldering the heavy pack, he cautiously approached the root cellar door and listened carefully. Except for the whistling of the wind, all seemed quiet. Holding his breath, he slowly pushed open the door and looked out. It was a gray, drizzly day with a raw bitter cold that seeped into a man's bones. Newkirk shivered and stepped out into the wind. The river was to the west. That would lead him out of the woods eventually. He wanted to avoid the roads as long as possible. He felt his stomach flutter with nervous tension. He had no reason to believe the Nazis had arrived but something just didn't feel right. He mentally shook himself for being such a nervous Nelly and started towards the woods.

He hadn't made it twenty feet when he heard the sound of a vehicle coming up the road. He whirled around and spotted a truck rumbling up the rutted farm road towards him. He didn't think they had spotted him yet but it wouldn't take long. Damn! He knew it was useless, but Newkirk turned and fled deeper into the woods, slipping and sliding on the wet leaves and tripping over dead branches. He had to find someplace to hide and fast! Panting heavily, he looked wildly about him but saw nothing but trees and more trees. Cursing to himself and his stupidity, he simply kept running. Then he heard the dogs. Now he knew it was only a matter of time. Short of throwing himself in the river, there was no way to hide his scent but perhaps that was his only choice. He could drown or die from hypothermia in the freezing water or he could surrender to Rheinhardt and his goons. Not much of a choice, he thought grimly but veered towards the river nevertheless.

He might have even made it had he not tried jumping over a fallen tree and instead of landing on solid ground, he found himself trapped in a large tangle of briars. Desperately, he tried to untangle himself from the thorns while all the time he could hear the dogs getting closer and closer, their baying chilling his blood. Blood from numerous deep scratches trickled down his face and into his eyes as he struggled to get clear but it seemed as if the for every thorny branch he pulled away, two more took its place. His actions became more and more frenzied as the first of the Alsatians appeared of the top of the ridge, its handler barely able to control the snarling animal.

Newkirk finally pulled himself free of the briars and scrambled to his feet to flee but it was then the dog launched itself at him sinking its teeth deep into his leg. Newkirk screamed in pain and tried to push the dog off him. Laughing, the Nazi handler watched the dog maul Newkirk a moment or two longer before finally calling the dog off. Newkirk lay panting on the ground, his wounded leg throbbing with pain, warm blood soaking the fabric of his trousers. It wasn't long before two more dogs arrived howling and barking with excitement. Newkirk slowly gathered himself together and struggled to his feet and with a sigh of resignation turned to face his captors.

Behind him now stood Captain Reinhardt, his Luger aimed directed at Newkirk's heart. Three more men in addition to the dog handlers, stood arrayed behind the captain, their rifles held at the ready all watching Newkirk intently.

"Good afternoon, Corporal," said the captain pleasantly. "So nice to see you again."

"Can't say the feeling's mutual. Sir" growled Newkirk irritably as he swiped at the blood still trickling down his face. He glared as one of the SS men yanked the rucksack from Newkirk's back. "Watch it, mate!"

Reinhardt watched impassively. "We had an agreement, Corporal. I am most disappointed that you did not uphold your part of the bargain."

"What agreement?" spat Newkirk. "I never made no bloody agreement with the likes of you!"

Reinhardt stepped closer, shaking his head is dismay. "Oh but you did, Corporal. You were to inform me of any of Colonel Hogan's plans regarding escapes or sabotage and in return we would not send you to a labor camp plus Herr Zimmer and his son would perhaps be allowed to live a bit longer. But, by escaping all agreements are off."

Newkirk's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Waddaya mean by that?"

"Obviously, you will not be returning to Stalag 13 but will now serve as a coal miner in Poland. I'm afraid the turnover in those mines is very high and they are constantly in need of new workers." Reinhardt smiled coldly. "Your days of easy living are over, Corporal. Compared to the mines, life in the POW camp is like a holiday resort. You will be sorry you ever left."

Newkirk's jaw tightened. "And the Zimmers?"

Reinhardt stared coldly at his prisoner. "Let us just say that the whole family may soon be reunited."

He gave a jerk of his head and two of the soldiers converged on Newkirk and began to drag him to the waiting truck. Newkirk slipped out of their grasp and turned to face Reinhardt once more. He lurched forward and grabbed Reinhardt's lapels. "I will kill you, you Nazi bastard," he hissed furiously, "and sendin' me to some bloody labor camp won't change that!" The guards quickly grabbed him once more and hauled him roughly back to the truck.

Reinhardt straightened his coat and frowned irritably as he watched his men manhandle the Englander into the truck. He was annoyed that he had lost his contact within Stalag 13 but so be it. Newkirk was worthless to him now. There would be other opportunities, but men like this British corporal must be punished as a lesson to others. It wasn't likely Newkirk would last more than five or six months, few did in those mines. Well, at the very least it would be one less Allied soldier for the Gestapo to worry about. Reinhardt smiled to himself and climbed into the cab of the truck. Perhaps the day hadn't been a complete loss after all.