Carter held his breath when he saw Kielholz whirl around with his rifle in hand. He stayed behind the tree, mentally translating everything he heard Kielholz and Langenscheidt saying to each other. How did they find Melina? Carter asked himself. Langenscheidt said 'we will keep you safe.' Does he know why Melina ran away? I hope she didn't tell him or Kielholz about us!
When he heard Kielholz say they needed to keep going, Carter waited until he heard the rustling of grass and bushes to tell him they were indeed moving along. He then peered around the tree, seeing the guards and Melina walking away from the stream, toward the northeast edge of the woods. Carter waited a little bit longer before leaving his hiding place and jogging up to the stream.
The stream was at a very shallow point, making it easy to cross. Carter could hear Kielholz and Langenscheidt talking about how they needed to hurry before the rest of the guards noticed they were missing. Hurry with what, though? Where are they taking her? He wasn't worried about the two guards hurting Melina. After Schultz, they were probably the "tamest" out of the entire staff at Stalag 13—well, Langenscheidt was. Kielholz didn't hesitate to almost get in a fight with Newkirk when the British corporal took his wallet. Newkirk wasn't doing it to be malicious; it was more of a demonstration to Carter and some of the other new POWs to prove he was as good a pickpocket as he said he was.
Despite that little incident, Kielholz was what Hogan described as "harmless," though not nearly as docile as Schultz. There was a part of Carter that was afraid to ever tell Kielholz, even when the war was over, that he was the one who planted the bomb on the bridge that injured the German's older brother. There was no telling how Kielholz would react. He wouldn't go running to the Gestapo if he learned about the existence of the tunnel system, but he had moments where he was emotionally volatile and could get in the way.
That didn't mean he hadn't been helpful in the past. Kielholz wasn't easily bribed like Schultz, but he would do favors if it meant getting something to help Langenscheidt. With that thought in mind, Carter started to wonder if maybe he could just approach the two and take the girl. I don't think just approaching them outside of camp would be a good idea. Who knows how they would respond to seeing me "escaped," Carter thought. I should still see where they're taking her.
He was more careful about where he stepped, but stayed close enough behind in order to listen to the guards' conversations, just to see if he could get a hint as to where they were going and what their plans were with Melina.
"Which barn should we take her to?" Langenscheidt asked. "I know there is one on the hill overlooking Hammelburg, but the roof is full of holes and I'm not sure if it will rain soon."
"I was thinking about the one on the same road as the Christmas tree farm," Kielholz replied. "That one is still in good shape."
"It's too early for Christmas trees," Melina said.
"Well, obviously they don't have trees now."
"They sell other plants at different points of the year," Langenscheidt explained. "Oh, watch for that root sticking out, sweetheart. Don't trip."
Carter watched Langenscheidt lift the girl over the root, which was low enough for her to have stepped over. He's really taken to her, Carter thought. He paused, waiting for them to disappear, then kept following them.
Eventually, the woods began to thin out, leaving fewer places for Carter to hide. He hung farther and farther back, until the two guards and Melina walked out into a gently sloping field covered in long and unruly grass. Down the hill was a small barn surrounded by a broken and rotting fence. So they're taking her there. Seems easy enough—just wait for the guards to leave and then get the girl. Carter crept after the group, sticking to any piece of shrubbery big enough to hide him. As he got closer he continued to listen to the guards' conversations, and one sentence in particular nearly made him curse aloud.
"We should collect some food for her now," Langenscheidt said. "There are edible plants around here."
"Good idea, Karl," Kielholz added. "Do you like berries, Melina?"
"I do, and so does Edgar," Melina replied.
"Right. Berry-picking it is, then."
Carter let out a quiet groan. I can't be out here all day while they're picking berries. I'll have to come back tonight when the guards are gone. He turned around to make his way back to Stalag 13, trying to get the image out of his head of Kielholz and Langenscheidt frolicking in the woods looking for berries, though it did amuse him. Part of him hoped his plan would be simple—go to the barn that night, get Melina, take her back to the tunnels—but another part of him was whispering to him that it wasn't going to be so simple.
When Carter arrived at Stalag 13, he found LeBeau cooking for Paul and Helen, and Newkirk stitching up clothes for them to take to England. "Where's the colonel?" Carter asked.
"Up top," Newkirk replied, taking a needle out of his mouth. "Did you find the girl?"
"Yes and no."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I know where she is, but I can't get to her."
Newkirk's face paled. "The Gestapo got her?"
"No. Kielholz and Langenscheidt."
"Bloody hell." Newkirk let out a sigh. "And what were they doing with her? How did they find her?"
"They must've encountered her in the woods," Carter said. "I have no idea what they were doing in the woods, but they found her." He shrugged. "They're taking her to an abandoned barn on the same road as the Hammelburg Christmas Tree Farm."
"I am not even going to pretend I understand those two. What do they expect to accomplish taking a little girl to a barn?"
"I wish I knew. I followed them until I found out where they were going—" Carter stopped when he heard the bunk bed ladder lowering, and saw Hogan climbing down. "Colonel, I found the girl, but we have a bit of a problem."
"What kind of problem, Carter?" Hogan asked.
"Kielholz and Langenscheidt found her. They're taking her to the barn near the Christmas tree farm."
"That explains why I haven't seen them around camp."
"I think we should wait until tonight to get her. They're foraging for food for her at the moment, and I couldn't stick around."
"We'll have to make it fast. We're going to be moving Paul and Helen out tonight so they can catch the sub to England." Hogan folded his arms over his chest, thinking. "You and LeBeau get the girl. Newkirk and I will pick you up on that road with Paul and Helen and take them to the checkpoint."
"Right, sir."
Hogan was quiet for a moment, then asked, "Any idea why Langenscheidt and Kielholz were out in the woods today?"
"No, Colonel. I was searching the woods and saw them with the girl. I kinda feel bad because Langenscheidt's treating her like his own daughter."
"He'll have his own kids one day, and Melina already has parents who misses her very much."
"I understand, sir," Carter said with a nod. "We'll get Melina back to her parents."
Kielholz placed a handful of blackberries into Langenscheidt's helmet, which they were using as makeshift basket. "I found these, and there are some cloudberry bushes a bit further in the woods."
"Nice work," Langenscheidt replied. "Honestly, after my accident, I did not think I would ever need to apply any of the survival training I was taught."
"I kept mine in the back of my mind, but I knew almost none of the foraging tips I was taught would apply when I knew I was being sent to North Africa." Kielholz looked down at the helmet. "I think this is enough for now."
Melina came up behind Langenscheidt, holding up a red berry. "What about this, Karl?"
"No, no, no, drop that!" Langenscheidt gently took the berry from her. "That is a yew berry. They are poisonous."
"Sorry." Melina looked a little embarrassed.
"There is no need to apologize. I am glad you showed me first."
"We should head up to the barn, now," Kielholz said. "Surely Schultz and the others are looking for us."
When they went up the hill to the barn, Kielholz carefully pushed the barn door open, nervously looking up and making sure they didn't break. When he was satisfied, he turned to look at Langenscheidt and Melina. "I know this won't be the most comfortable, but it is the best we can do."
Melina nodded. Her lower lip quivered. "Will I be alone?"
"You will have Edgar."
"I meant a person. I don't want to be alone."
"Unfortunately, we can't stay. Not overnight," Langenscheidt said. "Just head west through the forest if you need us. We will be in Stalag 13."
"That is only in emergencies," Kielholz added. "Otherwise, stay here. We are giving you the opportunity to send a message to the Underground from here."
"How do I know this isn't a trap?" Melina asked.
"We would have handed you over to the Gestapo by now. Something like this is too complicated and inefficient. You can trust us."
"What about water?"
"You can have my canteen and—" Langenscheidt searched his pockets, "two chocolate bars. Chocolate goes very well with berries."
"I haven't had chocolate in forever!" Melina eagerly took the bars. "Thank you, Karl!" Her smile quickly faded. "Why can't you stay? Please?"
Kielholz could see the heartbreak in Langenscheidt's eyes. "You can't stay."
"Erich…" Langenscheidt trailed off. "I-I know I should not, but—"
"No. I am not explaining this to Klink."
"Tell him I'm at the hospital."
"He will call the hospital, find out you aren't there, and send out a search party. The dogs will track you here, and find the girl. What if Hochstetter has already alerted Klink to the fact that she is missing? He will turn her over!"
"Klink isn't that much of a coward. I don't think he would want to see an eight-year-old girl handed over to the Gestapo."
"I am still not in favor of you staying here all night. Besides, even if Melina wasn't involved, you will get in serious trouble for lying about being in the hospital."
Langenscheidt hung his head in defeat. "Alright. I will still bring her some food and paper for her message later tonight. Can you watch out for me?"
Kielholz sighed. "Look, you know I am not opposed to you caring about her. I just don't want you getting in trouble and suffering the same fate as her parents. Yes, I will watch out for you, and I will tell you when you are getting too reckless."
"Thank you, Erich." Langenscheidt knelt in front of Melina and Edgar. "I will be back later, I promise."
The rabbit stretched his neck out to nuzzle Langenscheidt's face. Melina looked Langenscheidt in the eye. "I'm glad he likes you." She then set Edgar down to hug Langenscheidt, and didn't let go for some time. Her voice cracked when she said, "I want Papa."
"I know," Langenscheidt replied, squeezing her tightly. "I'm sorry I cannot bring him back."
The return trip to Stalag 13 was silent. Kielholz kept looking over his shoulder to see Langenscheidt looking at the ground as he walked, and occasionally sighing heavily. "We are doing the best we can," Kielholz said.
"I feel like there is more we can do. I just don't know what," Langenscheidt replied.
The sadness and pondering faded when the two were let back in the gates, where they were greeted by a stern-looking Colonel Klink. Even Schultz looked disappointed, which was quite rare for him.
"Corporal Langenscheidt, Corporal Kielholz," Klink started. "You left earlier today to return somebody's pet rabbit?" The commandant looked incredulous.
"Yes, Colonel," Kielholz said.
"You were told to be quick about it, and we are—" Klink looked at his watch, "two hours later. That is not quick to me. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves for wasting time and making other people do your jobs. And do you know what else? It makes me look bad! What am I supposed to say to General Burkhalter if he comes and finds out you two are missing from your posts? You get sent to the Russian Front, and so will I."
Behind Klink, Schultz was shaking his head.
Klink kept talking. "As punishment, you two will be separated from each other for the rest of the day. Langenscheidt, you will be cleaning the latrines and the showers for the next week, and Kielholz, you will wash my car and the entire motor pool. I want everything to sparkle like new. Now, do you have anything to say for yourselves?"
Kielholz bit his tongue when he realized everything that he wanted to say was vile and spiteful.
"If you have nothing to say, then your punishment begins now. I don't want to see you sitting next to each other, or even at the same table during your evening meal. Dismissed." Klink turned on his heels and headed back to his quarters.
"You heard the commandant," Schultz said. "Split up and get to work."
Kielholz held back his curses until he was nudged toward the motor pool. As he was filling a bucket of soap and water to clean Klink's staff car, he noticed Sergeant Kinchloe approaching from the corner of his eye.
"Hey, Kielholz. Everyone was wondering where you were," Kinchloe said.
Kielholz snorted. "Can't do anything nice for anyone without being punished for it."
"What happened?"
"Karl and I found a white rabbit outside the fence. We thought it belonged to someone, so we went into Hammelburg and asked around to see if anyone had any idea whose it was. No one in their right mind would think that would take under an hour to do. Now, we have to do work usually given to the prisoners, and we are not allowed to be around each other for the rest of the day."
"That sounds kinda childish if you ask me."
"It is probably because Karl and I spend the majority of any given day together. What better way to punish us than to separate us?"
"True. I take it you're not allowed to have help?"
"Colonel Klink did not specify, but I would assume not. This is my punishment, not a regular cleaning."
Kinchloe was quiet for a moment, putting his hands in his pockets and rocking on his heels, looking up at the clear blue sky. He then looked back down at Kielholz and asked, "Were you at least able to return the rabbit?"
"We were. I will consider that an accomplishment."
"Well, at least you did something nice, even if Klink doesn't want to recognize it. That'll be his loss when it comes time for Burkhalter to consider promoting him again."
"You know, I told Fleischer something similar." A weak smile crossed Kielholz's face, but quickly faded. His thoughts turned to Langenscheidt and Melina. I won't be able to watch out for him if he still tries to bring food to her tonight. He turned back to the car, squeezing his eyes shut as he prayed that Langenscheidt didn't try anything reckless that night.
A half-moon was the only light guiding LeBeau and Carter as they snuck through the woods, which had come alive with the sound of crickets and owls. Carter scouted ahead, listening for anything out of the ordinary. So far, nothing. Business as usual.
"So, Langenscheidt and Kielholz just left the girl in the barn?" LeBeau whispered as he crept up behind Carter.
"I guess so," Carter whispered.
"Why? She cannot live there. That seems cruel."
"I don't think they had another option. They probably planned on going back to her at some point."
"Still. I would try harder so that poor child is not living in a filthy barn."
"They can't exactly bring her to camp. Besides, we're going to get her, and she won't have to live in a barn any longer."
They stayed silent as they continued onward, constantly scanning their surroundings. The forest seemed significantly less welcoming and tranquil at night, and always had been. Carter was comforted somewhat by seeing the open night sky when they left the forest, into a field of tall grass, waving gently in a cool breeze. "We're not too far off now," he whispered.
Over a hill, they spotted the barn in question. There were some other farms and houses on the road, their windows pitch-black. Some weather vanes turned in the wind, but aside from that, there was no movement. After looking around one last time, Carter and LeBeau dashed toward the barn.
The doors were closed. As quietly and slowly as they could, Carter and LeBeau pushed the doors open, letting moonlight spill inside. The barn was completely empty, aside from patches of old hay. Under the loft were two sleeping figures, and a white rabbit with them.
Tiptoeing inside, Carter bit back a curse when he saw Langenscheidt curled up with Melina in his arms. LeBeau mouthed a curse in French. "How are we supposed to get her out with him here?"
"I don't know," Carter whispered. "I guess just try to move her without waking either of them?"
LeBeau began gently pulling Melina out of Langenscheidt's arms. Carter kept his fingers crossed that Melina was a deep sleeper, as well as Langenscheidt. When Melina was free, Langenscheidt turned onto his stomach, burying his face in his arms, still fast asleep. Carter didn't release his breath just yet. They still had to get out of the barn.
"Get the rabbit," LeBeau whispered.
Nodding, Carter picked up the rabbit, murmuring to it that everything was alright as the animal stirred a little. "Let's get out of here, Louis." Without hesitation, the two left the barn, breaking into a run when they spotted a staff car coming up the road.
"Who are you?! Let me go! Where's Karl?!" a small voice shouted.
Carter looked over his shoulder to see Melina had woken up, and was struggling in LeBeau's arms.
"We are with the Underground," LeBeau said. "We came to rescue you, and bring you back to your parents."
"How do I know you are not lying?!" Melina kept squirming.
"We'll show you. Just relax, okay?" Carter replied.
"What did you do with Karl?!"
"He's fine! Stop fighting!" LeBeau snapped. He nearly tripped as he struggled with the girl, as the hill leading down to the road was uneven and covered in rocks and soft spots where animals had been digging underneath. The walk was less than a hundred yards, but felt much longer as Carter kept turning around to make sure Melina didn't escape.
The staff car came to a screeching halt in front of them when they reached the road. Newkirk rolled down the driver's side window. "You got the girl?"
"And her rabbit," Carter said.
Melina continued struggling with LeBeau until the back door of the staff car was opened, and Helen called, "Melina! Stop that! These men are helping us!"
"Mama!" Dropping from LeBeau, Melina jumped into the car, enveloped in a hug by both of her parents. "Mama, Papa! You're alive!"
"Of course we're alive, dear!" Paul kissed his daughter's forehead. "Why did you run off this morning? We were worried sick! We thought the Gestapo would find you."
"I tried to send a message to Papa Bear. I sent Edgar to the tree stump you told me about." Melina's face reddened, and tears filled her eyes. "I was trying to save you and Mama."
Paul smiled a little. "That was very brave, and very dangerous at the same time." He sighed. "At least we are together again. That's all that matters. Are you hurt anywhere?"
"No, Papa."
"Good." Paul looked at Newkirk and Hogan up front. "How can we ever thank you?"
"After the war," Hogan said. "Drive on, Newkirk."
"Right, sir." Newkirk pulled away from the side of the road, and began heading to their destination.
Now Carter felt like he could breathe a sigh of relief. As they drove, he looked over at Melina and her parents. "How did you survive the day?" he asked. He already knew the answer, but he wanted to hear it from Melina herself.
"Two guards from your camp found Edgar, and then they found me," Melina said. "They were quite nice."
"Melina, you know you are never supposed to talk to people in those uniforms," Helen said sternly. "They could have hurt you."
"But they didn't, Mama. They wanted to help. They were even going to let me try sending a message again, and they gave me chocolate and a place to sleep, and one of them even came back so I wouldn't be alone."
"I don't believe it."
"But it's true!"
Helen sighed. "We will discuss this another time, Melina."
"Who found you in the woods?" Hogan asked, looking over his shoulder.
"Their names were Karl and Erich," Melina said.
"I certainly wouldn't tell them about our whole operation, but they aren't bad people. You're lucky they were the ones who found you." Hogan gave a slight smile to Helen. "They can be trusted with children. Don't worry."
"I still don't like the idea of my daughter being with them," Helen replied, shaking her head.
Carter expected Melina to argue, but she remained silent for the rest of the trip.
Kielholz wandered around the mess hall the following morning looking for Langenscheidt. At the table where the two usually sat, Corporal Steinhauser and two other guards were in their place. "Steinhauser, have you seen Karl at all?" Kielholz asked.
"He was in the showers when I saw him," Steinhauser replied. "He seemed pretty upset, too."
"Watch my food, then." Kielholz set his tray down and jogged out of the mess hall to the shower building. Inside, he found Langenscheidt sitting on the floor, knees drawn up with his head rested on them. His face and eyes were red and wet with tears. "Are you alright, Karl?" Kielholz knelt by his friend, concern rapidly building inside him.
"She… She's gone," Langenscheidt sobbed. "I-I went to the barn last night to keep her company—I couldn't bear the thought of her being alone, b-but I woke up this morning and she was gone. She and the rabbit."
"What do you mean? Melina disappeared?"
"Vanished. I searched up and down the road, and in the woods, but there was no trace of her." Langenscheidt sniffed, and tried taking in a breath. "She must have gotten up and ran away at some point during the night, but I don't know what could have possessed her to do that."
"Maybe she was conning us," Kielholz suggested. "She probably never trusted us and took her first opportunity to run without us knowing."
"Maybe, but I don't think so. That can't be the case."
"We will never know now."
"If she ran off, I'm worried something terrible will happen. She's just a child, not an agent." Langenscheidt clenched his fists tightly, and continued to insist that they needed to find Melina.
"I hate to say this, I really do, but this is out of our hands. We don't know where to even start looking, and we can't have anyone getting curious as to what we're doing, otherwise we will have people getting involved that we don't want involved." Kielholz sighed, and his gaze softened. "I'm sorry. The best we can do is hope and pray that she is alright."
Langenscheidt nodded. "It doesn't feel right, though."
"No, it doesn't. I feel like we failed her."
Another nod. "If… If this ever happens when I have children, I would go to the ends of the Earth to find them."
"As would I." Kielholz looked down at the floor. "We should go before someone realizes we have disappeared again." He stood, holding out his hand.
Langenscheidt took his hand. "At least we showed her that we aren't all bad."
"Yes," Kielholz said, nodding. "I just hope she doesn't start blindly trusting everyone she meets who looks like us."
As they left the showers, Kielholz noticed movement in the corner of his eye, and spotted Carter and Kinchloe watching them outside Barracks Two. I really hope Hogan and his crew had nothing to do with any of this. He knew the prisoners would never hurt a child, and as Langenscheidt had mentioned the day before, he had seen them get involved in things no average POW would, and let it go largely because it would be more trouble for him than it was worth. Then again, Kielholz couldn't just walk up and ask. They would never tell, and he doubted they would until the war was over.
"Langenscheidt looks really depressed," Carter said as the two guards left the shower building. He rubbed his eyes, only having gotten a few hours of sleep after the group returned from dropping off Melina and her family to the checkpoint, where an Underground agent would continue them along their route to England.
"You and LeBeau really found him in that barn with the girl?" Kinchloe asked.
"Yeah, and, miraculously, we didn't wake him up. Melina didn't wake up until we were almost at the car, and she was furious until she saw her mother."
They were quiet until the guards disappeared into the mess hall, then Kinchloe said, "At least we can thank them for keeping her safe until we found her. I mean, we can't thank them in person, but I think you get what I mean."
"I do," Carter replied. "I just feel bad because it seemed like Langenscheidt was really taken with her."
"Yeah, but you heard Hogan yesterday; Langenscheidt will have kids of his own one day, and Melina has parents who were worried about her. Langenscheidt's connection was not going to be long-lasting."
Carter shook his head. "Do you think he'll get over it?"
"I think he will in time." Kinchloe snapped his fingers. "Actually, I know what might help, but we'll have to wait a few days for it."
"What?"
"Have her send him a letter."
Several days later, Carter wandered the compound with a piece of paper in his hand. He casually approached Langenscheidt, who was patrolling around the camp infirmary. He tapped the guard's shoulder, then held out the paper. "You didn't get this from me."
Langenscheidt gave him a confused look. "Beg pardon?"
"Trust me." Carter smiled and winked at him.
Curiosity getting the better of him, Langenscheidt opened the paper. On it was a crude drawing of a rabbit, and the following: "Hello, Karl! I am writing from somewhere Mama said not to tell you about, but I can tell you that I am safe and you do not have to worry about me. Thank you for helping me and keeping me safe. Edgar misses you, too. Lots of hugs, Melina."
Author's Note: Special thanks to Abracadabra and DeathThouShaltDie for their feedback. I look forward to next year's Write-A-Thon!