Chapter Twenty-Nine: Unpleasant Surprises
"Newkirk…Newkirk, wake up."
Wilson was shaking Newkirk by the shoulder. It was the following night, or morning rather, around one o'clock. Wilson shook Newkirk a little harder, and the Englishman groaned.
"Wazgoinon?"
"Get up, Newkirk."
"Bugger off, Mum," muttered Newkirk, burying his face in his pillow.
"No, Corporal," growled Wilson. "You get up. Perkins is here. He says he's got to talk to you."
Newkirk rolled over, and looked up at Wilson. "Wot's wrong?"
Wilson rolled his eyes. "Don't ask me, ask him." He jerked his thumb over his shoulder to Private Perkins who was standing at the end of Newkirk's bed. Wilson helped Newkirk sit up, and laid a pillow behind him so that he could lean back against the headboard. Usually, Newkirk would have probably pushed him away, but he was looking at Perkins so intently, that he hardly seemed to notice.
"Wot's the barney, mate," asked Newkirk.
"The Billy Lehmann came back from a leave today," said Perkins, taking a step towards Newkirk. "'E come in about an 'our ago."
"This late," asked Wilson.
"Most guards who go out on leave come back durin' the night, cause they make some long trips," explained Newkirk.
"Anyway," continued Perkins. "Me an' Curtis got into the tunnel an' went up to the guards' barracks. We 'eard 'im on the dog. 'E sounded like 'e was talkin' to some china or someone. 'E said stuff like 'e collected 'is bees an' met up wif 'is skin. Said 'e'd been in some ruddy town called Wässerman. Then, 'e 'ung up, an' 'ad a bowler wif the other three tea leaves."
"Lemme guess," said Newkirk. "It was all a pack o' porkies."
"Spot on, mate," said Perkins. "'E told 'em that 'e spoke wif 'Ochstetter. Unfortunately, they didn't say much. Probably thought it was a bit risky 'round all the other guards. All 'e said was that 'e told 'Ochstetter everythin' an' that the next batch is comin' tomorrow at 2300."
Newkirk smiled. "That's it!" He looked at Wilson. "Mum, go get the Colonel!"
Wilson looked at Newkirk. He was completely baffled at the conversation he had just witnessed. He had gotten the bit at the end where Hochstetter was involved. But everything else had gone straight over his head. He was so baffled, he did not even get mad at Newkirk for calling him Mum. He jumped up and ran to the tunnel entrance which was underneath a 'cabinet' on the far side of the room. He ran through the tunnels until he got to the main tunnel room, where Kinch was sitting dutifully at the radio workbench. Kinch jumped up when he saw Wilson run in.
"Joe," he exclaimed. "What's wrong? Is Newkirk okay? Joe, speak to me!"
"I didn't even get time to answer the questions," said Wilson. "Never mind! Go get Colonel Hogan! Perkins came in. Said something about Hochstetter and Lehmann and such."
He had barely finished when Kinch disappeared upstairs. It was barely a minute later when Hogan and the others came down.
"Is Newkirk okay," blurted out Carter.
"He's fine," said Wilson. "They found out something else about Hochstetter. I would tell you more, but I have no idea what they were saying."
"C'mon," said Hogan.
They all ran back to the infirmary. But when Wilson climbed out of the tunnel, he stopped dead in his tracks. Hogan and the others climbed out after him, not noticing anything amiss until they also looked up. Everyone was frozen in place.
Perkins was standing over Newkirk, with a gun to his head. In the doorway of the infirmary was Corporal Lehmann. Newkirk was still, and scared stiff. This was exactly the kind of scenario he had feared. Here he was at gunpoint, and his mates in a sticky wicket themselves, and he could do nothing but lay there. Lay there and pray that the worst did not happen.
Lehmann smiled and walked from the doorway. He came to stand beside Perkins.
"Well, we did it," he said.
"You traitor," spat Newkirk. "Is this somethin' new, or 'ave you always been grass for Jerry?"
"Me conscience went wif the food," retorted Perkins.
"You ruddy bastard," exclaimed Newkirk. "We're all starved!"
"Be quiet Engländer," said Lehmann. "If it were not for you, we would not be here. For that, I thank you."
"What are you talking about," asked Hogan.
"I am sure you realize that it was a set up from the beginning," he said. "At least in all of this business about four guards being bribed with food. In actuality, there was only one man being bribed with food, and it was this Private."
"What about the other guards," asked Wilson.
"I told them that I had found a food source, but said it was rather small, and that they could not tell anyone about it," explained Lehmann. "And as for that conversation you think Perkins and Curtis heard, it was all a lie that he told you so that you would go get Colonel Hogan."
"So wot about Curtis, Arcenau, an' Blackwell," asked Newkirk. "Are they grass too?"
"I am not sure what you exactly mean by grass, but they were not in on this," answered Lehmann. "They, in fact, had no clue, just like my fellow guards. Perkins told them a lie, just so that it would be more realistic for the rest of you. As for that, I had not really expected for Colonel Hogan and his entire staff to be here."
"Glad we could please you," said Hogan.
"Perkins, you're dead when I get me 'ands on ye," said Newkirk.
Perkins chuckled. "You can't get your 'ands on me, mate," he said. "In case ye 'aven't noticed, I'm the one wif the gun."
"Don't call me mate," said Newkirk. "Cause I ain't."
"Oh, why don't you two just be quiet," said Lehmann. "Corporal, just face it. This time, you and your pals lose." He looked at Hogan. "You were just outwitted, Colonel."
"By who," asked Hogan. "I can hardly see this coming from just you. Did you have help?"
"You are right there," admitted Lehmann. "This is not my scheme. It was Major Hochstetter's. You see, he and I met a while back. I originally tried for the SS, but was drafted into the Luftwaffe. However, Major Hochstetter noted my desire to be in his branch."
"I'm sure he was thrilled," said Hogan.
"Hardly," replied Lehmann. "At least not until he needed me. Once he realized that I would cooperate, he recruited me. I get a few extra things every now and then for keeping an eye on you and your men. However, I must admit, you are a clever crew. I have always noted a lot of suspicious things, and have reported them to Hochstetter, but you are careful, and I have yet to get some hard evidence on you. But this, well, this is perfect. I just watched you climb out of a tunnel. And Perkins here has told me how well your system runs."
"Why didn't you just go to Hochstetter straight away when Perkins told you everything," asked Carter.
"Because Major Hochstetter anticipated that you may know if he said something," answered Lehmann. "It would be hard for Perkins to dictate everything to Major Hochstetter or myself, or anyone for that matter, without someone getting suspicious. So, we created a scenario where I could witness something, both externally and internally." He smiled. "So, do you have anything else to say? I am about to sound the alarm, and uncover one of the greatest things ever discovered in Germany."
"How about how much you all failed," said Kinch. "That you couldn't catch us for a year-and-a-half?"
"Yes," said Lehmann. "It might be embarrassing some, but not for me. It will be embarrassing for the Luftwaffe. As for me, I will move right into the Gestapo, and probably become an officer."
"Is that another thing that Hochstetter promised you," asked Hogan.
"It is Major Hochstetter to you, Hogan," corrected Lehmann sharply. "And something you might want to look at, is that everything the Gestapo promised would happen, has happened."
"Ha," said Newkirk. "You mean all the bloodshed they've caused?"
"Be quiet," blurted out Perkins. "Say another word an' I'll end your miserable life right 'ere."
Newkirk must have believed him because he shut his mouth quickly.
"'Is miserable life," shouted LeBeau. "What about yours? 'E is the better man. You are selling out your own people."
"My own people," asked Perkins. "I never 'ad anyone back there in England. All those bloody toffs back there just looked down on me an' me mates. They wanted us gone, off the streets, in a prison somewhere, or playin' servant to them. They thought we were trash. So then they sent us to fight!" He looked at Newkirk. "Isn't that right? They didn't care about any blokes like us. If anyone's a traitor, it's you Newkirk! You're turnin' your back on the people back at 'ome that knew ye an' understood ye. Instead, ye've been foolin' around wif these toffs." He waved his and at Hogan and the others.
"They're good men," spat back Newkirk.
Perkins actually appeared that he was going to shoot, and everyone held their breath. But Lehmann held out his hand to Perkins. "Don't Private. We want them all alive. Major Hochstetter needs all of them to get the whole story."
"You got lucky," said Perkins to Newkirk.
"You didn't," said Newkirk. "Don't you see? They're goin' to get rid o' all o' us in the end. You may just want food, but don't you understand that we'll get shot? An' every other man in this camp as well. An' maybe even some o' the guards. Do you want to be personally responsible for the deaths o' over a thousand men?"
That seemed to confuse Perkins some. "That's a lie!"
"No it isn't," said Hogan, stepping forward. "You're the one who's been fed lies. Hochstetter probably made it sound all great, but it isn't. We're spies. You know that! You've known it from the beginning! And you know what'll happen if we get caught."
"Caught," said Perkins. "You're caught now! There's nothin' you can do anymore."
"No, I guess there isn't," said Newkirk, rather sadly. He looked directly at Perkins. "I thought you were good, but I guess I was wrong. You just pulled the wool over me eyes this time."
Perkins lowered his gun some, looking at Newkirk. He then looked backed to Hogan and the others. "Oh God," he whispered. "Wot 'ave I done?"
Then, it all happened so fast, it startled everyone. Perkins looked to Lehmann, who must have thought Perkins was messing things up, because he was raising his pistol to Perkins. Two shots were fired simultaneously, and both Perkins and Lehmann stumbled backwards. Lehmann hit the floor, clutching his chest. Perkins looked at him briefly, then at Newkirk, then at Hogan, then at the bullet wound in his side, and lastly at his own pistol. Then, he raised the pistol to his head.
"NO!" Newkirk tried to jump up, and Hogan took a quick step forward, but there was nothing they could do.
Perkins slumped over onto the ground, lying beside Lehmann. They were both dead.
Everyone was dead quiet, and then the alarm outside went off. The shots had obviously been heard, and now the guards were rushing to find out where they had come from.
"Colonel," cried Wilson. "You have to get back to the barracks!"
Hogan looked back at Wilson, and then at Newkirk, who looked very shocked.
But Newkirk looked at Hogan. "'E's right. You'd better go quick."
Hogan and the others just nodded and then ran climbed back into the tunnel. Right before Hogan went down, Wilson grabbed his shoulder.
"Take this with you," said Wilson. He handed Hogan a warm pistol. Hogan looked at Wilson, startled, but didn't ask any questions. There wasn't any time. He jumped down into the tunnel, and ran after the others to the barracks. Behind him, Wilson closed the trapdoor, and locked it securely.
