Chapter 29-Klink Shares a Secret
Klink paced back and forth nervously in his office with his hands clasped behind his back, and had been doing so since just after Guthrie left his office after receiving a phone call from a 'concerned citizen' informing him he had seen a man fitting von Herwarth's description in town at the Hofbrau right now with a woman, and had called Gestapo headquarters but was told that he was the person to contact regarding the investigation.
Fearing it might be a ploy to distract him, Guthrie asked questions about the couple that only he knew the answers to, and the caller gave the correct answer each time. The caller was in reality Gustav who had been given a complete description of von Herwarth and Christina by Hogan who suspected Guthrie would not buy the story at first and would want proof before acting on the tip. Satisfied, the Gestapo Major smirked in a way that chilled Klink's blood as he wrote the information down. After hanging up the phone he tore the page off of the pad and folding it, stuck it in his jacket.
"Klink, I will be leaving camp for a few hours and going into town. My quarry has been spotted and this time he will not escape. And once I get him and the bitch he is with, I will come back for the American Colonel and Corporal Newkirk. And after I've dealt with them, I will return for you and your Sergeant." Then, without another word spoken, Guthrie grabbed his cap and stormed out of the Kommandantur, ordered two Luftwaffe guards into the back seat, climbed into the front passenger seat himself, and ordered the driver to drive him into Hammelburg.
His departure from camp was observed by Kinch watching through the periscope hidden in the water barrel outside barracks two. The minute the car disappeared through the front gates, he lowered the periscope which was connected to the sink in the barracks. He glanced at Newkirk.
"Let's go," he said.
Newkirk knew what Kinch was referring to as he jumped to his feet. "You got everything, mate?"
Kinch patted the pocket of his pea green jacket. "Right here," he said with a grin. He glanced over his shoulder at Carter who was still seated at the table. "Keep an eye on the Colonel," he advised the young man before cracking open the barracks door and waited until the searchlight had past the barracks before he and the Englander quickly sneaked out the door and glided across the compound keeping to the shadows.
Tired of pacing, Klink went to the window looking through the frosted glass staring out into the quiet compound as if hoping the answer to his problems would be found out there somewhere. It was then he saw the door of barracks two open and two of Hogan's men, Sergeant Kinchloe and Corporal Newkirk, sneak out and blend into the darkness, keeping to the shadows. He continued watching until they disappeared from view. His eyes narrowed as he turned away from the window and started wondering why would two of Hogan's men be out of the barracks after lights out had been issued. He saw them disappear in the direction of the guest quarters but couldn't be certain. Then again, he didn't really want to know, especially if it concerned Major Guthrie. After all, Guthrie was his problem as well as Hogan's so did he really want to know? Then, a slight smirk appeared as he grabbed his cap off the coat rack and headed out the door. This gave him the perfect excuse to pay Hogan a visit and inform him of Guthrie's plans under the guise of asking why two of his men were out of the barracks.
It was a short time after Kinch and Newkirk had left that the door to Hogan's quarters opened and Hogan, assisted by LeBeau, slowly walked into the common room.
"Boy, Colonel," said Carter, his face brightening. "We were sure worried about you."
Hogan allowed a weak smile to appear. "I was worried about me too, Carter." He slowly sat down at the table as the Frenchman poured his commanding officer a cup of hot coffee. Hogan took a sip of the dark brew, then closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Carter and LeBeau exchanged worried looks; then, LeBeau put a hand on the officer's shoulder.
"Mon Colonel, are you all right? Are you in pain?"
"I'm all right," Hogan lied, keeping his eyes closed The headache was fierce. Right now all Hogan wanted to do was climb back into bed, pull the covers over his head, and sleep until the liberation came. Was that too much to ask? Probably. He opened his eyes when he felt somebody nudging his arm. Looking around, he saw LeBeau with one hand outstretched and two aspirin in his open palm, the bottle in his other. With a faint smile Hogan took the two aspirin and popped them into his mouth followed by a drink of coffee. Pushing the coffee cup aside, Hogan folded his arms on top of the table and laid his head down on top of his arms, closing his eyes. "Wake me when Kinch and Newkirk get back," he mumbled closing his eyes.
He was just beginning to fall into a deep sleep when the door to the barracks opened and Klink walked in, closing the door behind him. His eyes immediately fell on Hogan and he stepped forward; but a determined LeBeau and Carter stood between him and the Colonel.
"Colonel Hogan cannot be disturbed, Kommandant," Carter said.
"Oui," LeBeau agreed. "He is not feeling well."
"Get out of my, cockroach," Klink bellowed. "You too, Sergeant Carter. This is an urgent matter I must discuss with Hogan."
"Has the camp been liberated, Kommandant?" Hogan mumbled not moving.
Klink was rapidly becoming annoyed. "Of course not. Don't be ridiculous."
"Are the barracks on fire?" Hogan murmured sleepily.
"No."
"Then go away," was the American's reply.
"Hogan, this is urgent. I have news that affects both of us concerning Major Guthrie that you should know about."
A groggy Hogan opened his eyes and sat up, gingerly touching the bandage on his temple. He looked up. "It's okay, fellas. Something I can do for you, Kommandant?" he asked in a tired voice. Seeing Klink's hesitation, Hogan gave his men a look and they both scurried away with LeBeau murmuring a string of obscenities of which Hogan had a fairly good idea about what. "What's on your mind, Kommandant? Pull up a bench and tell your friendly enemy officer all about it and stop getting your swastika in a knot."
Klink glanced around. "I'd rather discuss this in private. Please Hogan."
"Fine." Hogan slowly got unsteadily to his feet and with Klink following, walked in the direction of Hogan's small private quarters and went inside with the door closing. Hogan plopped down on his lower bunk and looked up at Klink who continued pacing. "Have a seat, Kommandant before you wear out a path between my desk and the door."
Klink stopped pacing finally and leaned against Hogan's desk facing his American counterpart, hands crossed in front of him. "Hogan, you and I have a common problem; Major Guthrie."
Hogan rolled his eyes in exasperation. "I thought it was something important," he said trying to make light of the situation. Then he saw Klink's face and let out a deep breath. "All right, Kommandant. What has Major Nightmare done now?"
"He got a phone call in my office earlier this evening from someone who says this von Herwarth and some woman he's with were seen in the Hofbrau even as we speak." As Hogan listened, he thought he saw a shadow on the window. He closed his eyes for a moment and shook his head. When he looked again it was gone. His gut told him either he was imagining things because of his head injury, or somebody was outside listening to his and Klink's discussion.
Hogan feigned innocence. "So? Why is that a problem for you and me? Seems to me the sooner he finds this von Herwarth the sooner he'll pack up and leave our happy little home and go back under the rock from which he crawled."
Klink threw up his hands in frustration. "You don't get it, Hogan. Guthrie told me the day before yesterday that when he leaves here in a few days he is taking you with him and handing you over to the nearest labor camp." He watched Hogan for a reaction but the American's face was unreadable. Then today he says he will take both you and Corporal Newkirk with him when he leaves here." He again waited for Hogan's response. However, the American seemed preoccupied as he looked past Klink and thought for a moment there was a shadow outside his window again. Rubbing his eyes with one hand he looked again and the shadow was gone.
Hogan looked at Klink with narrowed eyes. "Sir, what aren't you telling me? Did Guthrie say something else that's got you scared?"
"Just before he left this evening, he promised that after he's dealt with this von Herwarth, and you and Corporal Newkirk, he's coming back and seeing that Schultz and I are both transferred to the Russian front." He threw up his hands again in exasperation. "Hogan, what are we going to do?"
Both of Hogan's eyebrows arched in mild surprise. "What are we going to do? Kommandant, in case you've forgotten, he's one of yours."
Klink gave Hogan a look. "This is no time for the Hogan wit. We have a serious problem. Guthrie is deadly serious about sending you to a labor camp and now Corporal Newkirk as well probably because he spoke back to him. And now he wants to send me and Schultz to the Russian front. Poor Schultz would never survive there longer than an hour at the most." He began to pace again.
Hogan chuckled and then winced at the motion. "Oh, and you would survive longer? C'mon, Kommandant. At most, you might survive thirty minutes longer than Schultz."
Klink stopped pacing and looked at the American. "What a terrible thing to say to an enemy officer, Hogan." Then he appeared puzzled. "Why would I last thirty minutes longer than Schultz?"
Hogan shrugged his shoulders. "He's a bigger target, Kommandant." The shadow was back again. This time however, Hogan was positive somebody was outside his window listening to what was being said. All joking aside, he sighed. "Sorry Kommandant, but I'm afraid I can't help you with Guthrie. I have my own problems protecting my men from that maniac. In case you haven't noticed he has an intense dislike for the Jewish prisoners in this camp of which I am one. He also has a dislike for anyone who speaks back to him like Newkirk did."
"What about me and Schultz?"
"You don't really believe General Burkhalter would allow a lowly Gestapo Major to have you and Schultz transferred to the Russian front, do you? With your perfect record of no escapes? Not on your life. Besides, he hates the Gestapo more than you do."
Klink's face brightened. "You're right, Hogan. The General would never allow me to be transferred and run the risk of a mass escape from Stalag 13 after I'm gone."
"Of course he wouldn't. But in case he does, make sure you get a seat by the window. I hear the view is spectacular as the snow falls."
Klink shook his fist. "Hrmph!" he muttered before turning and storming out of Hogan's quarters and out the barracks door slamming it closed..
Hogan waited a minute before forcing himself to his feet and approaching the window in his quarters. Unlocking it he swung open the windows and peered out into the darkness but didn't see anybody. Then looking down he could make out the impression of footprints directly under his window. He quickly went to his footlocker, retrieved a flashlight and returned to the window, shining the beam directly on the footprints in the soft ground and instantly recognized that they were not from a pair of American boots. Turning off the flashlight he looked out into the empty compound realizing that he was glad he hadn't told Klink of his plan to get rid of Guthrie as their spy was listening outside his window and obviously would report to the Gestapo Major. He closed and locked the window just as there was a knock on his door.
"Come in," he said looking around. He relaxed when the door opened and Kinch and Newkirk walked in. Before anybody could speak, Hogan put a finger to his lips indicating quiet and then motioned for them to follow him into the other room. Once they were all seated around the table, Hogan looked at them. "How'd it go?" he asked.
"Piece of cake, sir," Newkirk replied with a grin. "He'll never find the ruddy thing."
"What's wrong, Colonel?" Kinch asked seeing Hogan didn't appear to be listening to what they were saying.
"Did Klink say something that upset you, mon Colonel?" asked LeBeau.
"Klink was here?" asked Newkirk. "Blimey, what the hell did he want?"
Hogan quickly related to them his conversation with Klink and about the shadow he spotted outside his window, and ending with the footprints he noticed directly below his window.
Newkirk's eyes widened in terror. "What? You and me sent to a bloody labor camp? Gov'nor, you and I both know we probably wouldn't last a bloody week in one of those God awful places."
"Not to mention what happens to the rest of us?" LeBeau added dismally. "In case you've forgotten, mon ami, there are other Jewish prisoners here in this camp. If he succeeds in removing the Colonel, the rest of us will be next." He looked at Hogan. "He must be stopped, Colonel."
"Not to mention if he succeeds in getting Klink and Schultz transferred out of here we're going to be in a whole peck of trouble and so's our entire operation," Hogan chimed in with a weary sigh. "I'll bet anything our spy is the one who was outside my window when Klink was here. That's why I told our Kommandant I couldn't help him with getting rid of Guthrie. I couldn't take a chance. But I'll tell you one thing, that footprint was not made by an American-issue boot." He paused momentarily. "Gentlemen, I believe our spy is one of the guards and we need to find out which one and soon."
"We didn't see anybody when Kinch and I were returning to the barracks," Newkirk said. "Nobody except the usual guards on patrol anyway."
Hogan tapped a finger on the table. "There are no new guards assigned here so it has to be one of the ones we know and that worries me."
"Think it could be someone who knows about our operation, Colonel?" asked a worried Carter.
"That's what worries me," Hogan answered as the brass band began it's drum solo in his head again. "If it is that person could expose us at any time to Guthrie and we'll all be used for target practice by the Gestapo. But the fact that we haven't yet been arrested by Guthrie or even visited by Hochstetter tells me whoever it is might not know about our operation or is biding his time."
"Colonel, staff car pulling in," Olsen said over his shoulder from his post by the cracked open barracks door. "It's Guthrie, sir, and he's staring in this direction."
Hogan and the others looked over their shoulders at the Sergeant. "What's he doing now?" asked a worried Hogan. He was not in the mood to tangle with Guthrie right now and secretly hoped the Major, if he came to barracks two, would fall into a hole caused by a tunnel collapse before he got there.
"He's just standing beside his staff car, Colonel," Olsen explained. "Uh oh. Sir, he's heading this way." Olsen quickly and quietly closed the door and scurried to his upper bunk.
Hogan chuckled as the brass band began to play louder. He and the others didn't have long to wait as the door to the barracks flew open, and an enraged Major Guthrie stormed in slamming the door behind him, his hand coming to rest on the butt of his weapon. His eyes focused on Hogan and the staring match began.
"Carter, how many times have I told you to lock the bleedin' door after evening roll call? Anything ruddy thing's liable to walk in after dark," Newkirk said his eyes never straying from the Major who gave the Englander a dirty look before returning his stare at Hogan.
"Sorry," Carter apologized sheepishly. "Guess I forgot."
The other prisoners were quiet as they watched what was unfolding in front of them but ready to aid their commanding officer if necessary.
Guthrie strode directly up to Hogan until he stood toe-to-toe with the American. A smirk slowly appeared.
"Very well played, swine," he snarled. "You played me for a complete fool sending me on a wild goose chase to the Hofbrau."
Hogan raised his eyebrows. "I did? When and how did I do that? The phone's been out of order for days around here," he said sarcastically.
Guthrie chuckled and then without warning roughly seized Hogan by his shirt collar and yanked him up from his seat, bringing his face close to his; the team jumped out preparing to pry the Major's hands off their commanding officer but a look from Hogan made them pause. This was between him and Guthrie and he didn't want any of his men to be hurt or worse. Guthrie viciously backhanded the American. Hogan saw colors in front of him but controlled himself.
"You think you're so clever don't you, Schweinhund? Well, let me tell you something. I am going to enjoy taking you and this English swine to a labor camp and watch them break you until there is nothing left but an empty shell, and then they will break that shell into little pieces. I will see to it! As far as the English swine, he will be worked until he drops from sheer exhaustion and then worked some more until he can't stand up anymore. And then he will be shot while you watch."
Hogan remained silent but his eyes never wavered from the Major's face.
"And then after I'm done with the two of you, I shall return for that imbecile Klink and the fat guard. The Russian front is too good for them but they won't last long enough for it to matter anyway. And finally, I will see that this camp is 'rearranged'," Guthrie added.
"Rearranged?" Hogan asked already suspecting what it meant.
"Ja. I will see to it that all the swine here are segregated except for those like you and the Frenchman. Those like that…" his eyes falling on Kinch. "…will be executed immediately since pets are not allowed in prison camps."
Kinch's rage was building and he started to get up but a subtle shake of Hogan's head stopped him; that and LeBeau's hand on his arm.
"Big plans, Major…" Hogan remarked trying not to let how he felt show knowing he could show no fear to this man. "Be a pity if something or someone interfered with those big plans of yours."
"Are you threatening an officer of the Third Reich, swine?"
Hogan smirked. "However you want to interpret it, Major."
Still holding onto Hogan's shirt with one hand, Guthrie removed his weapon from his holster with the other and tapped the muzzle against the bandage covering Hogan's temple. "I promise you, the next time you get shot in the head it will not be a graze. But I have other plans for you and your English mongrel, Colonel."
Hogan merely arched an eyebrow questioningly.
"Tomorrow after evening roll call, you, the English mongrel and I are going to meet with von Herwarth. You are going to set it up. Make sure he brings the journal and that bitch he stole from me. If he is late, or doesn't show at all, both you and your corporal will pay the price." He smirked cunningly. "The game's over Colonel, and face it, you have lost." Guthrie then re-holstered his weapon and thrust Hogan roughly away before he abruptly turned and stormed out of the barracks, again slamming the door.
