Different branches of the Gestapo continued to push James' wanted picture around like the plague. While it had been Klink who first put the call in to the secret police, Major Klaus and Captain Marx took over most of it. No way were they letting that bumbling idiot take the glory for catching their prisoner. If the Gestapo did it at least then they would rough the boy up a bit. Stalag 13 was practically a day spa for those prisoners.

"I want that boy found," seethed the Major after yet another Gestapo officer reported there was no trace of James. The officer was dismissed after being barked at to work harder. Klaus banged his fist on the desk. While James had ran away, they had found their new lodgings. Outside the men were currently constructing new barracks.

"That's the third one today," muttered the Captain. He watched from the window as the prisoners worked. "Could it be possible the queer is already dead?"

The Major shook his head. "We would have found a body or part of it at least. I think he's moving somewhere through Germany."

"How, Herr Major? These men out here are in better shape than he was, and they can barely push a wheelbarrow."

The Major stood and went to look out the window. He stood across from his Captain to watch the men. All wore clothes that hung off them like dresses and looked years younger than they were.

"I think he's getting help from somewhere. More specifically, I think he's getting help from someone at Stalag 13," the Major mused.

"You mean that Colonel Hogan?"

"Of course. Something rubbed me the wrong way about that man…."

"But how would he be helping the prisoner? He's still in Stalag 13," the Captain said. Klink would be making a fuss if finally someone escaped.

The Major shook his head and shrugged. "I don't know. But I have a sinking suspicion that's who's been helping our little friend."

A knock at the door interrupted their conversation. The officers looked at each other before the Major gave the order to come in. The door opened to reveal a Gestapo officer escorting a portly working-class man in overalls.

"Herr Commandant, this man may have seen the prisoner this morning," reported the officer, pushing the man forward.

Major Klaus took two large steps toward his desk. He was ready to follow this man to the ends of the earth if it led to the successful capture of the pansy. "Where? Where have you seen him?" asked the Major, banging his palm on the desk.

The man flinched at the violent approach. The hat he held in his hands became crumpled as he fidgeted with it. "I-I think I saw him this morning at the inn," the man explained. "But I'm not really sure."

"What do you mean you're not really sure? Either you saw him, or you didn't!" the Major did not have time to investigate false leads. They were almost as bad as no leads.

"Well, Herr Commandant, I was eating breakfast, so I only got a glimpse of him. But he had bandages over his eyes, and he was with some other man," the worker explained.

The Major and Captain looked at each other. So someone was helping the boy. Maybe not Colonel Hogan himself, but a possible connection from outside Stalag 13.

"Draw the bandages on here," the Major instructed, setting down a wanted poster in front of the man. He also placed down a pencil.

The worker tentatively picked up the pencil and started to black out the eyes with one large bar. "The hair was better kept as well," the man added once he was done. The poster looked the same except for the missing eyes.

"And what did this friend look like? The one that was with the boy?" the Major pressed.

The worker shrugged. "Like any other man? He had black hair and grey eyes. Kind tan as well."

"Will that be all, Herr Commandant?" asked the Gestapo officer.

The Major waved his hand and answered yes. As a small reward, he told the officer to allow the man one pound of potatoes from the prisoner's rations. Once the door shut behind the two, Klaus turned to his Captain, eyes wild.

"Do you think it's James and Colonel Hogan?" the Captain asked.

"If it is, then Stalag 13's perfect record has just been blemished," the Major remarked. "Nein, I don't think it's Hogan, but I do think it's James working with someone that knows Hogan."

"I can call the artist and have him redo the picture and make a second one of the other man," suggested the Captain.

"Nein, don't bother. If they were smart enough to obscure half of the boy's face, they're smart enough to know a change in wanted poster," the Major reasoned. "Let our Gestapo officers know to be on the lookout for a boy with bandages over his eyes. Also let them know to start spreading the information by word of mouth. I doubt the two are cocky enough to chit-chat with random strangers."

"Jawohl Herr Major. Anything else?"

"Make sure this information does not reach Colonel Klink or Stalag 13. I want to see how well our escapee can do without that bastard Hogan."