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Between The Lines
Chapter 19
Newkirk stepped off the last rung of the ladder and turned to face LeBeau. "Louis, meet Corporal Withers."
"Bonjour. Have some coffee. It will warm you up." Looking the young Corporal up and down, he held out the other two cups to his friends.
Last into the tunnel, Carter complained, "Lots of patrols out tonight and no cloud cover." Shivering, Carter eagerly reached for the coffee.
Looking around, Withers was speechless. He looked back at the ladder and then into the tunnel again. "We are underneath that POW camp?"
Smiling, Newkirk nodded. "That's right," Newkirk answered, taking a mouth full of warm coffee as he pulled his cap off.
"Amazing. They're never going to believe me."
"London will debrief you when you get back, but this is a secret you keep until after the war, mate, or you'll put us in front of a firing squad."
LeBeau tapped Withers on the arm. "Follow me. Kinch is our second in command and he is waiting for us, in the radio room." LeBeau took off down the tunnel, followed by Withers, while Carter and Newkirk went to change out of their 'black business suites' and get back into uniform.
Kinch and Baker were doing a routine check on their equipment before London radioed, when LeBeau and Withers arrived.
"Kinch, Baker, meet Corporal Withers."
"Welcome, Withers." Kinch shook the young corporal's hand. "I'm Kinch. You'll be moving on tomorrow night. The last leg moves you to the coast where you'll be picked up by sub. In the meantime, you will be our underground guest. You won't know what camp you're under and under no circumstance leave the tunnel. Understood?"
"Whatever you say. I'll just be glad to get back to London."
Carter and Newkirk quietly returned and took up positions along the wall of the radio room.
"What outfit were you with?" Kinch asked.
"617 Squadron out of Scampton in Lincolnshire. I was the tail gunner. We were hit through the belly. Two guns were gone and the other two jammed. Shells were ricocheting off the starboard wing and then our petrol tanks blew. We had to bail. I don't know what happened to the others. Some partisans found me and passed me on to a group who said they could get me out of Germany. I didn't know what I was doing but, I wasn't in Germen hands so I figured that was a good thing. And here I am." Looking around the room, he added, "Thanks to all of you, I'm not a prisoner."
"Well, we are and if you all don't mind, I'm going topside and climb into my bunk." Newkirk headed out the door.
Carter followed him. "Sounds like a plan to me, too. Goodnight."
Kinch looked at LeBeau. "Louis, you want to show Withers where he's going to bed down?"
"Oui. Come on, Corporal Withers. I'll get you some food and then you can get some sleep too."
Kinch turned back and called to Withers. "Oh, Withers, just one more thing. Hang around your bunk until one of us returns in the morning. There's something we want you to take to London with you. I'll explain tomorrow."
Withers nodded and turned to follow LeBeau down the tunnel.
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Somewhere in Germany
A Lysander, a small maneuverable plane, was flying under a full moon. The Lysander, affectionately called a 'Lizzie', was stripped of guns, armor, and other unnecessary equipment and had room for one agent passenger, known as a 'Joe'. Tonight's Joe was returning to Germany from a briefing in London.
Coming in for a landing in a field, the plane skipped then skidded in the wet snow dusted grass coming to a semi stop. The door flew open; the Joe jumped out and disappeared into the woods. The plane turned and, racing down the field, lifted off for its return flight. The Royal Air Force Moon Squadrons were England's Ace in the hole for clandestine operations, flying in the moonlight when conditions were favorable.
A small group of four, waiting in the dark, flashed their light, and two short flashes of light responded. Emerging from the shadows, Tiger and her crew silently led the Joe to a small road where a second contact was waiting on a motorcycle and the two disappeared into the night.
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Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF)
London
Operation Kismet
General Tilman Walters, US Army, picked a file up off of his desk and glanced through it. SHAEF had just had a late night meeting with German Scientist, Doctor Otto Von Tillermaan, and set a plan into play.
Tillermaan had been a double agent for four years and was trusted at the highest levels… on both sides. He was a Behaviorist with degrees in cognitive and social psychology, data analysis, and experimental design and wrote and read academic papers to stay on the cutting edge in his field. He had secretly become disillusioned with the current regimes practices and when approached to be a double agent in the late 30s agreed. Tillermaan had written a few books on ESP as a side interest and found validation in a few individuals that piqued his interests. His books soon found their way into the higher echelon of the Schutzstaffel in a disturbing way. The scientific approach to this discipline was replaced with mysticism, and some say occult practices, by some of the ranking members of the SS.
Tillermaan had been watching Knefler from a distance while he worked with the Luftwaffe. Knefler had managed successfully to work with the Luftwaffe doctors testing their experimental truth serum, but Tillermaan found the experimental 'brain-washing' endeavors barbaric and was instrumental is slowing the program down and putting project Monarch on the back-burner. That is, until the SS decided to experiment on expanding the mind and exploring what they called 'The Souls Journey Outside of the Physical Restraints of the Body by Artificial Means'. Tillermaan tried to explain that not enough was known about the phenomenon, as it currently occurs, to delve into trying to induce it artificially. But patience is a four-letter word to the SS. So he agreed to head their program, thinking he could at least offer some control to the level of danger involved in the testing. So operation Monarch was revived and would include a classified SS program.
The Schutzstaffel chose the American Colonel Robert Hogan for their test subject based on his stamina during previous testing. It was felt he most resembled the endurance of the SS.
General Kaltenbrunner SS retained Colonel Knefler as their 'field' agent in charge of preparing and bringing their subject in for testing. Colonel Knefler SD held a degree in psychology specializing in behavior modification. He was the field officer assigned to Colonel Hogan for much of his previous testing and was excellent at observing and discerning what a man was thinking and feeling. It seemed almost an innate ability. He liked a challenge and Colonel Hogan was it.
Tillermaan had kept London informed of Hogan's progress during operation monarch and managed to send copies of his medical records to London for two reasons. First: to keep them abreast of scientific advancements and second: so they could decide whether Colonel Hogan was compromised in his thinking and should be removed from their undercover operations of rescuing fliers and aiding the underground efforts of sabotage.
General Walters was now in charge of Operation Kismet. He wanted to remove the German Oberst Knefler and bring him back for war crime trials after the war. If that was not possible. then he wanted him eliminated.
The operation at the prison camp was compromised. And although information had been radioed, it was unclear whether his men could relay it to Colonel Hogan. Unable to contact the Colonel commanding the operation, it was going to be a tentative operation at best. This would be a 'Hail Mary' mission.
General Walters remembered the time he spent at Stalag 13 installing radar for a bombing mission. He felt this mission was a little more personal than he should have. He momentarily lowered his head and sighed. Godspeed gentlemen.
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Stalag XIII
The morning sun shone on the guard tower, casting a long shadow into the compound. Morning roll call was over and the prisoners had all returned to their barracks when a lone staff car approached the gates. The driver handed his papers to the guard, who saluted the officer inside the car and then made his obligatory phone call. Returning to the car, he motioned the driver ahead and, coming to attention, saluted again. Colonel Knefler casually saluted the soldier and picked up his cap and briefcase.
Kommandant Klink, emerging onto the porch, watched the black staff car come to a stop. The driver's door popped open, and a young corporal opened the passenger door.
"Colonel Knefler, welcome!" Klink quickly descended the stairs, offering his hand.
"Kommandant, good to see you again. I wonder if I may impose on you for the use of your quarters so that I might freshen up."
"Of course, I will take you there myself. I'll have some breakfast brought while you freshen up." Klink continued, "General Burkhalter is in the officer's guest quarters. He arrived yesterday. I know he is anxious to see you."
"And I am anxious to speak with you both. A lot has happened since I was last here. You have had your hands full, Kommandant."
Klink's smile faded, and he admitted, "Yes, we have been 'busy'." Klink climbed the steps to his quarters and opened the door. Stepping out-of-the-way, he ushered Knefler inside.
Knefler touched the brim of his cap and nodded. "I will come to your office when I have eaten and washed up. Hopefully you will have time to finish any pressing business you have in the mean time."
Nodding, Klink turned and slowly walked off toward the office. His steps felt heavy. Turning Hogan over to Knefler again weighed on him. He'd seen the effects of their testing before.
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Guest Quarters
Burkhalter's driver shoved the black boot on his foot as Burkhalter gave it a tug. Standing, he wiggled the rest of the way in and reached for his coat. This was his first night in the newly built officers' guest quarters. Klink had added a larger stove to make it more comfortable. And Hogan and his men had built-in a few special features of their own.
The fire that destroyed the former officers' guest quarters had been brought about when prototype Anti-Aircraft Artillery brought down an Allied plane too close to the stalag and the debris fell on the camp, burning the old building to the ground.
Major Hochstetter had suffered a broken leg and was rescued by Colonel Hogan. A moral decision Colonel Hogan made in the heat of the moment, a non-event in Hochstetter's eyes.
Burkhalter returned to the table and swallowed the last of his coffee, before putting on his cap and strolling out the door.
He couldn't help looking over at the cooler as he walked. The normally cocky American was much quieter at dinner last night. Choosing to shy away from food that was harder to swallow and concentrating on the soup and coffee. He kept rubbing his eyes as if he was having trouble focusing. He also appeared to be warm, fanning his jacket several times throughout the course of the evening. He definitely showed some symptoms from the medication. I don't know if it was the medicine or good judgment that kept his tongue still.
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Klink's Office
Coming to a stop in front of Klink's desk, Schultz asked, "You called for me, Kommandant?"
Yes, Schultz, take some breakfast to Oberst Knefler in my quarters and see to his needs. Looking up, he saw General Burkhalter coming into the office as Schultz left.
"Ah, good morning, General. I hope you found the new guest quarters comfortable."
"Yes, Klink, they were quite comfortable. Did I hear right? Colonel Knefler has arrived?"
"Yes, he is in my quarters freshening up. He would like to see both of us." Klink picked up his humidor and offered a cigar.
"I don't mind if I do."
Klink held the lighter for the General and Burkhalter puffed until he had a nice glowing ember on the end of the cigar.
"Answer his questions, but don't talk too much, Klink. Luftwaffe's business and camp operations are not why he is here. His focus should only be on Colonel Hogan."
"Yes, Herr General. I understand."
"Do You? He is very good at reading people, even when they are not talking. That is why he is as highly valued as he is by his superiors."
Klink nodded his head nervously. He shared some secrets with Hogan that he didn't want known… by anyone. Hogan's condition last night at dinner did not fill him with confidence. He was definitely not himself. The ordeal he had suffered combined with the effects of the medicine left him quieter than usual and somewhat distracted. Klink hoped his hoarse voice and raw throat accounted for most of it.
Burkhalter puffed his cigar and commented. "Are you all right, Klink? You look far away in thought."
Klink straighten the papers on his desk and organized his pen and pencil. "Yes, Herr General. I'm just thinking about camp business for the day." It was getting easier to lie. He'd had lots of practice lately.
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The Cooler
Hogan awoke to the sound of Corporal Kohler opening his cell and Langensheidt bringing his breakfast in. The young Corporal smiled and nodded.
"Time for breakfast, Colonel Hogan," Langensheidt announced.
"Danke." His voice almost sounded normal this morning. A good night's rest seemed to have helped a lot. Throwing his legs over the side of the cot, he sat up and stretched. He could see the sun coming in through the high windows outside of his cell. His watch said eight thirty. He slept through roll call. I guess that's one advantage of being in the cooler. I wonder how the boys did bringing in that flier last night. It must have gone off okay. There were no sirens. I don't like not knowing what is going on.
Looking at breakfast, he debated on whether to eat it or not. The coffee was calling to him, though. He took a sip while watching Kohler and Langensheidt exchange information in the hallway. Langensheidt shook his head. Hogan had a good idea what Kohler was sharing. After the exchange of information, Corporal Kohler went off duty.
Not feeling any effects from the coffee, Hogan took another drink. "Any news from the outside world, Corporal?"
Langenscheidt smiled uncomfortably, as if considering the question. Not knowing whether he should share Knefler's arrival. He hadn't been told not to. He was not necessarily sharing military secrets, so he rationalized it would do no harm. He approached the cell and leaned on his rifle. Hogan joined him at the bars.
"Kommandant Klink received…"
Just then, Schultz stepped off the stairs. "Is this how you stand guard, Langenscheidt? You are standing too close to your prisoner."
Snapping to attention, Langenscheidt moved back while Schultz took his place next to Hogan's cell.
"I don't bite, Schultz." Hogan complained, and then added, "At least not without provocation."
"Please, Colonel Hogan, he has to follow his training. It could save his life someday."
Hogan nodded and smiled. Occasionally, the soldier showed in Sergeant Schultz. Especially when it came to taking care of the men under his command… or watch.
Looking into Hogan's cell, he observed, "I came to pick up you tray but you have not eaten."
Looking back at his tray, he shrugged his shoulders. "Once bitten, twice shy, Schultz."
"Colonel Hogan, it is okay. I supervised it myself. Colonel Knefler is here. You need to eat." Schultz confided.
Hogan straightened as he asked, "When did he arrive?"
"About seven thirty this morning. I just left him. He is eating his breakfast. You should do the same."
Looking back at his tray, he nodded. "You may be right. You are the only one I am willing to trust, Schultz. If you say it is okay, I'll eat."
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