Act Four

Scene One

Chapter 21

An uneasy truce settled on the camp. Some of the heckling continued, but there were no more physical incidents involving the guards. And for that, almost everyone was grateful.

The next morning, Klink got a call from Chief Krueger. Eighteen Nazi supporters were joining the Wehrmacht and needed to be sworn in. And needed to be escorted to the nearest Wehrmacht unit. Which was no problem at all. As Klink had expected, Schuster and Wendorf from the morning shift and Thalheimer from the evening shift offered to accompany the volunteers. Another eight guards volunteered to go with them and join the fighting.

So, shortly before noon, Klink was on the top floor of the Hauserhof Hotel, which now functioned as the Rathaus, swearing in the men. And shortly afterwards, the eleven Wehrmacht guards and the eighteen newly inducted soldiers were following a couple of high pass residents down a steep trail to the valley below.

"Good riddance to them," Krueger said under his breath as he saw them start on the trail.

Monsignor Geisler was more charitable. "They may never return, Herr Krueger."

Krueger harrumphed loudly. "With all the trouble they've caused, I hope not. Excuse me, Monsignor; I am not as forgiving as you."

"We will all need forgiving in the future, Herr Krueger," reminded Geisler. "Perhaps we should practice it ourselves."

Krueger had the grace to keep silent, but the expression on his face was far from acquiescent.

That afternoon, the remaining men and boys in Hammelburg and the surrounding countryside gathered in the church to swear their oath of loyalty. Not, as some of them had feared, the oath to Adolf Hitler. Instead, Klink had substituted it with the oath he'd sworn years before to the Germany he still loved. An oath that none of the men and boys had trouble taking.

After the oath-taking, Gruber and Schultz handed each man and boy their individual orders, orders which told them to serve Hammelburg and Germany the same way they had throughout the war.

"Well, that's over," Scheinfeld said with relief.

"For now," said the more pessimistic Hausner as the remaining male population of Hammelburg left the church. "I find myself wondering what we do now."

"We carry on," Scheinfeld said.

Krueger shook his head. "I think we need to do more than that. The Allies will be coming here in time, even if the Panzers do not."

Klink, overhearing, agreed with him. "I suggest you assemble the Town Council. You have two vacancies that need to be filled. And it might be wise to consider what to do when the Allies arrive. Or before the Allies arrive."

"Are the Allies that close?" Bauer asked.

Klink looked at him soberly. "Perhaps, here, they might be. Guten Tag, meine Herren."

The five men looked after him with puzzled expressions.

"Now what the devil does that mean?" Krueger asked.

Bauer looked thoughtful. "We will find out soon enough. But his suggestion is a good one. We do need to make plans."

Hausner nodded. "Agreed. Tomorrow morning — is nine all right with everyone?" They nodded. "Good. We will assemble the Council and talk. Until then, meine Herren."

...

The camp finally settled down from the excitement of the past few days. Or so Hogan thought. Until . . .

"Colonel." Kinch came up from the tunnel after dinner. "Message from the Underground. There's a small plane coming in at 2100. It'll land in the field," his finger pointed on the map, "here."

"What's the mission?"

"Just said there are two people in it, and they'll fill us in."

"Okay. LeBeau, Carter, you go meet them." He glanced at his watch. "You'll get there just in time."

"Yes, sir," Carter said as they headed toward the ladder, following Kinch into the tunnels.

"Company now, sir?" Baker asked.

Hogan shrugged and winced as he pulled his arm. "We'll find out soon enough."

...

Carter came down the tunnel first, wearing a smile big enough to split his face.

"What are you so happy about?" Hogan asked with irritation; his arm was sore again. "Did you pick up the passengers?"

"Yes, sir." Carter continued his silly grin.

"And?" Hogan demanded.

"Haven't changed a bit, have you?" said a loud cheerful voice.

Hogan's face went through a variety of emotions — surprise, disbelief, then joy. "Mike? Mike!"

He nearly ran to greet the tall, blond man with the infectious grin. Forgetting his arm, he grabbed Mike's arms tightly. And let go just as fast as an unexpected pang shot down his arm, and he winced. "Sorry, bum arm at the moment."

Mike smiled ruefully. "To match my bum leg." He tapped his right leg. "Still not a hundred percent."

"How have you been? I'm glad you're in one piece."

"It's a miracle I am," Mike said with less enthusiasm. "The OSS had given me up for dead last year. I was caught in the battles on the eastern front. Let's just say it hasn't been the best year of my life."

"I know the feeling," Hogan murmured.

"Uh, Colonel," LeBeau interrupted. "There's someone else to see you."

"Who?"

Hogan found himself in an embrace with a warm, soft body and lips that kissed him heartily. After a few moments of delight, and Mike's less than pleased voice saying, "Hey, you're supposed to be my wife!", Hogan pulled back to look at the girl he held. "Helga?"

"Surprise!" Helga Teitelmann, Klink's first secretary, said with a smile. She snuggled closer. "You kiss as well as ever, Colonel."

"I try to keep in practice."

"You." Helga pulled away from him. "I know you do."

Hogan pulled her closer, ignoring the pain in his arm. "I missed you."

"I doubt that," she said tartly. And then smiled. "But it is nice to see you again."

"How did you hook up with this reprobate?"

Mike put a possessive arm around Helga's shoulders and pulled her away from Hogan. Helga, amused by the rivalry between the two men, stepped away from both of them.

"After I left here in May of 1943 to visit my aunt in Berlin," she said, perching on a stool, "and saw the horrible things that were going on, I knew I had to help the Resistance."

"You could have helped here," Hogan protested. "Hell, you closed your eyes to a whole lot of things."

"Ja. But at the time, I didn't realize just how much went on. Besides, I thought I could be more useful in Berlin. And I was," she added smugly.

"Which is why she's with me," Mike said more seriously. "Her people decided she was in danger, so they got her to Leipzig. When I needed to leave Germany, they figured a married couple would stand a better chance with the cover they set up."

"You're married to this bum?" Hogan shook his head in sympathy. "Poor girl."

"Only on paper, as I keep telling him."

"Okay." Mike got down to business. "Where's this package we're supposed to pick up and take to Switzerland?"

Hogan shook his head. "Don't have a clue."

Mike stared at him. "You don't? Didn't you arrange this trip?"

Hogan started to shake his head and was interrupted by a dry voice saying, "He didn't; I did."

Mike and Helga turned to stare at the tall, lean man in the Luftwaffe uniform.

"Kommandant Klink," Helga said weakly.

"Fräulein Helga," Klink said as he walked over. "You are looking well."

"Uh, danke, Herr Kommandant," she said with confusion. "I, uh . . . " She looked at Hogan uncertainly.

"Kommandant, this is Mike Anders, an old friend," Hogan said. "Mike, this is Kommandant Klink."

"Herr Anders," Klink greeted with a nod.

Anders had lost his smile. "What the hell is going on?" he demanded.

"It's a long, long story," Hogan began.

"Which he doesn't have time to tell," Klink said smoothly. "I am sorry to interrupt the reunion, but you are on a tight schedule. You have a map to give me?" Klink held out his hand.

"Not you. I was told to give it to one person only," Mike said in an unexpectedly harsh voice.

"Yes, yes, yes," Klink said impatiently. "'Let our alliance be combin'd, our best friends made, our means stretch'd; and let us presently go sit in council'. And your response is, 'covert matters may be best disclose'd, and open perils surest answered'.(1)"

Mike reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a map. "I still don't believe it," he murmured to Hogan as Klink opened the map and laid it on the table.

"Corporal LeBeau," Klink said, "please bring Binyamin down here. And tell Sergeant Wilson you need enough bandages to wrap broken ribs. Sergeant Carter, Schultz is in my quarters. Tell him I need my kit and please bring it down to me. And Corporal Newkirk, if you could find a civilian shirt and coat that would fit Binyamin?"

"Yes, sirs," echoed in the room and the men scattered.

Klink pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket and picked up apencil. "Listen carefully. You must follow the flight plan exactly. If you do not, you will probably die." Klink bent over the map; Anders did as well. "You will take off at precisely midnight."

Mike checked his watch. "Doesn't give us much time."

"I know," Klink said. "While your plane has Red Cross markings, that is not a guarantee of safe conduct. However, both sides have been told to watch for a Red Cross plane that is carrying important Swiss personnel to Switzerland."

Anders stared at him. "Both sides?"

"Yes. Pay attention, please. You will take this heading, down to this point, just north of Köln(2). Then you will take this heading west." He scribbled it on the map. "This will be the most dangerous portion of the trip. The space between Köln and Aachen is in flux. You will broadcast your position to both sides using these frequencies." Another note on the map. "While I cannot guarantee that there won't be any trigger-happy soldiers on either side, their commanders have been told to cooperate with you. Hopefully, the danger zone won't last for more than half an hour. Once you are safely in Allied space, you will proceed to a small airfield near Liege. Here." He circled it on themap. "They are expecting you and they will refuel your plane. Fromthere, you will fly over Belgium, Luxembourg, and France, using this route." He traced it on the map. "Finally, you will reach Swiss territory. You will land in Basel where representatives of Baroness Mathilde Dietrich will meet you. The Baroness is highly influential, so no one will interfere with you." He pulled a packet from his jacket. "This is the paperwork you will need in Basel. Do not let it out of your hands."

There was a sound in the adjacent tunnel. "This is unbelievable," Binyamin's voice said. "You men did all of this?"

"In eight months," LeBeau said with pride.

"Amazing." Binyamin stepped into the radio room as Carter appeared with a bread-size box. "Wilhelm." Binyamin smiled at him. "What is going on?"

Klink straightened and looked at his friend. "It is timefor you to leave," he said gently.

"Was? Nein, there is no need."

"Yes, there is," Klink continued in the same gentle voice. "You are not one of the POWs; you have no legal standing here. And," his voice dropped, "your family is waiting for you."

Binyamin paled. "My family? They live?"

"Your parents, Rudolf and your nephew — yes, they live."

Emotion twisted his face. "I did not dare hope." Tears made their way down his cheeks. "I thought . . . " He turned away.

Klink turned back to the map, emotion tightening his voice. "Are the instructions clear?"

Anders nodded soberly. "Yes. But how do I get out of Switzerland?"

"You can arrange that with Allen Dulles(3); I believe he's in Berne." Klink picked up the map and handed it to a surprised Anders. "Before you leave, there is something else that must be done. Sergeant Carter, the kit, please."

Carter came over and put the box on the table. Klink opened it. It was a makeup kit worthy of a Hollywood master.

"Binyamin," Klink said gently. "There is not much time, and this must be done."

Binyamin straightened and blew his nose. "Jawohl." But tears still shimmered in his eyes as he turned back to Klink.

"Sit here, bitte." Klink pointed to a stool. Binyamin complied.

"What are you doing?" Hogan asked.

"A precaution. Binyamin, please remove your shirt." Klink was opening small jars of makeup. He looked at Binyamin's tattooed arm appraisingly. He picked up a small jar and a brush. Using the brush, he lightly spread the makeup over the tattoo. He picked up another jar and began blending the makeup.

"Where did you learn that?" Hogan asked.

"I spent part of my misspent youth in theaters," Klink said, still working on getting the right mix of flesh tones. "Be careful using the arm; it will rub off if you use it too much. That should do it." He put the jars back in the kit and looked at LeBeau. "Where are the bandages?"

"Sergeant Wilson said he had to get them out of some boxes," LeBeau said uncomfortably. "He'll bring them down."

"He'll what?" Hogan began. "Carter, stop him before he — "

"Sorry, Colonel," Wilson said from the entrance. "Didn't know I . . . " He cleared his throat as he saw Klink. "I guess I'm not supposed to be here."

"Too late for that," Hogan said with annoyance. "Sorry, Kommandant."

Klink waved a negligent hand. "The bandages, please."

Wilson walked over with the bandages. "What are you doing, sir?"

"Herr Stein was caught in an Allied bombing," Klink said pedantically. "And his ribs have been broken. He is returning home to Switzerland to recuperate."

Wilson shrugged. "Sounds good to me." He handed the bandages to Klink. Then he noticed the others in the room. "Anders! Helga." A grin. "A night of surprises."

"I'll say," Anders murmured and turned to Hogan. "I was gonna ask when you recruited him, but given that he knows what's going on and you don't, maybe I should ask when he recruited you."

Hogan shook his head. "More complicated than that. How did you get here?"

"I called Teppel for help when I got to Berlin." A rueful smile. "I thought he went rogue on me. I was picked up by an SS colonel who turned out to be working for the Stage. Though how the hell Teppel knew how to contact the Stage . . . " His voice faded as he looked at Hogan, then at Klink. "Oh, my God," he whispered.

"I told you it was complicated," Hogan murmured.

"You're moving in exalted circles, Robert." He watched as Klink finished with the bandages.

"I am sorry for the discomfort," Klink was saying. "But if you are seen, they must think you have broken ribs."

"I will be fine," Binyamin said, starting to get up.

"No, there is more." Klink turned back to the kit, taking out a small bottle and another brush. "This will lighten your hair." He dipped the brush into the jar. Using the brush, he added blondish highlights to Binyamin's black hair. "It will take severalwashings, but it does come out. And the final step." He turned back to the kit and replaced the bottle and brush. Then he took out a small case and opened it.

"Contact lenses!" Anders exclaimed.

"Stolen from a lens-maker. Very useful." He turned back to Binyamin. "Your eyes are too dark to change completely, but they can be made lighter. They will take a little getting used to. Tilt your head up and look at the light." Klink carefully inserted the lenses into Binyamin's eyes. "How do they feel?"

"Strange, but not painful."

"Do not rub your eyes while wearing the lenses; they can damage your eyes. Fraulein Helga," he took a tiny bottle from the kit, "if his eyes become dry or the lenses become uncomfortable, put a couple of drops into his eyes." He handed her the bottle.

"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant."

"Corporal Newkirk has a different shirt for you. If you please, Corporal," Klink said, placing the case and the other items back in the kit. "I'll leave this down here, if you don't mind."

"Fine with me," Hogan said. "Newkirk, put in the wardrobe room when we're finished, will you?"

"Right, sir."

"I believe that is everything," Klink said, glancing at his watch. "It is time you left.

"Wilhelm," Binyamin said in an emotion-filled voice, "come with us. Bitte."

Klink shook his head slowly. "It is not yet over."

"But soon it will be. Colonel Hogan," he appealed.

Hogan shook his head. "He won't listen to me."

"You are tired; you have done enough!" Binyamin persisted.

"Binyamin." Klink touched his arms gently. "I will leave when it is time, and not before."

Binyamin lifted his hands to Klink's arms. "Promise me you will stay safe."

Klink smiled faintly. "I promise you I will try."

Binyamin hugged him fiercely. "Then," he said softly, and added more words in Hebrew, words that the others knew were a prayer. At the end, LeBeau's soft voice said, "Amen."

"Amen," echoed the others.

"Amen," Klink whispered. "Go quickly."

Binyamin nodded and stepped away, fighting back tears. "Danke, Colonel Hogan. If your men had not found me, I would not be alive."

Hogan smiled faintly. "Don't mention it; saving people is our specialty. LeBeau, Carter, take 'em back to the plane."

"Yes, sir," Carter said. "If you'll follow me."

With a backward glance at Klink, Binyamin followed.

Anders threw an arm around Hogan's shoulder. "Buy you a drink when you get to London."

Hogan smiled. "Take care, Mike."

"Sir," Anders walked over to Klink, "thank you. I owe you my life."

Klink shook his head. "Deliver Binyamin safely to Basel."

"I will, sir." He shook Klink's hand. "I hope to see you again in a safer world." He bowed slightly.

Helga was saying her own fervent goodbye to Hogan. "Will I see you again?"

"That depends," Hogan said with a smile. "Send your telephone number when you get settled."

Helga laughed and kissed him again. "Auf Wiedersehen, Colonel." Then she walked over to Klink and looked up at him soberly.

"Auf Wiedersehen, Fräulein ," Klink said with a slight bow.

"I thought I understood men, Herr Kommandant." She shook her head. "I was very wrong." She stepped closer to him and kissed him lightly on the lips. "Auf Wiedersehen." Then, to his surprise, she kissed him more fully. She ended the kiss slowly, almost reluctantly. "Stay safe, Kommandant."

He stepped away from her and nodded. "Auf Wiedersehen, Fraulein."

She smiled in farewell and left, followed by a grinning Anders.

Slowly, the others drifted away. Wilson, with a nod goodbye, went back down the tunnel. Baker, manning the radio, settled himself on a stool, a book in his hand. Kinch and Newkirk headed up the ladder to their barracks.

Hogan joined Klink who was still looking down the tunnel. "Why didn't you go with them?"

"The plane isn't big enough."

"I'm serious," Hogan persisted.

Klink was silent as he began walking down the tunnel to the entrance to his quarters. "Why didn't you leave when you had the chance?"

"And leave Crittendon in charge? No way."

"If he weren't in charge, or earlier this year?"

"I have a job," Hogan began. "No. I have a responsibility to these men. They believed in me. They followed me when they had no reason to. I owe it to them to stick it out."

"That's as good an answer as I can give you."

"But it's different for you. You can run your operation from any place; it doesn't have to be here. How many people would know that you aren't in Germany?"

"I would know," Klink said softly and left.

A couple of days later, Hogan received a message that the plane had reached Basel safely. Binyamin had been reunited with his happily stunned family; Anders was in London, as was Helga.

At Stalag 13, the routine of the last few weeks continued, the men wondering when the Allies would appear. Surely, it was just a matter of time . . .

...

March 1 — The U.S. Ninth Army and First Canadian Army force the Panzer Lehr Division out of Mönchengladbach. Various units of the Allied armies continue their advance toward the Rhine.

March 2 — The Allied armies reach the Rhine, north and south of Düsseldorf. The 83rd Division captures Neuss, across the Rhine from Düsseldorf.

March 3 — The Germans on the west bank of the Rhine begin withdrawing. Hodge's First Army captures Krefeld, northwest of Düsseldorf.

March 4 — The U.S. First Army crosses the Erft River, advancing on Cologne.

And the war continued its relentless march toward Stalag Luft 13 . . .

1 William Shakespeare: Julius Caesar, Act 4, Scene 1

2 Known as Cologne in English.

3 Allen Dulles, officially a member of the U.S. embassy in Berne. His real role was as an OSS operative who had a number of important contacts with the German Resistance. In 1953, he became the first civilian director of the CIA.