Carter held his breath as Major Mueller stormed through their building, destroying everything in his way. If they were as destructive in Barracks Two, they might find the whole operation. And without Colonel Hogan to talk their way out of trouble, they could all end up in the cooler. Or worse. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He snapped them open again when he felt someone brush up against him.
"Stand at attention." Schultz growled, then whispered. "The dogs can smell fear."
Carter nodded. It was what Colonel Hogan had always told him. Don't show any emotion. Don't stand out in any way. Just blend into the shadows and keep your mouth shut until the Gestapo guys get bored and go away. Well, the Colonel called them something other than the 'Gestapo guys,' but he got the message anyway.
"Very well." Mueller paced in front of the prisoners. "At the moment, all is in order. See that it stays that way."
"You have nothing to fear, Major…."
Mueller turned on Klink. "You're right, Kommandant. I have nothing to fear."
"Uh, yes, Major." Klink gestured towards the door. "If you'd like to come this way."
Carter waited for the place to empty of Germans, then helped the others clean up. The fellows in his new home were all nice, but he still missed being with his friends. He kept waiting for Newkirk to say something sarcastic or for LeBeau to mumble in French. He even missed seeing the Colonel disappear into his office with Kinch to evaluate the situation after a visit from Hochstetter. That used to make him jealous – that he didn't get to be in on all the secret meetings – but now he would do anything to see the two whispering together.
He sighed as he steadied a broken chair while Sgt Matthews – the barracks handyman – tried to repair it. Everything was different now that the Colonel was gone. Fights broke out in the compound, guards were all over the place and everyone was on edge. The worst part for him was the nights. He'd gotten used to sleeping through the sound of Kinch going up and down the tunnel ladder, through Newkirk and LeBeau slipping out on unauthorized excursions into town, through the Colonel scheming in the next room. What he couldn't get used to was sleeping in the relative quiet of his new home. Oh, there were some snorers and some men who mumbled in their sleep, but the sounds of rebellion were gone.
"Achtung!" Cpl Virdon trudged into the barracks. "By order of the Kommandant, all prisoners will fall out immediately for a special formation."
"What's the score?" Carter tried to entice their guard with a candy bar, but he simply shook his head and backed out of the building. It was no surprise – Virdon had never been bribable. But he was manageable. That had been the Colonel's rating system – bribable, manageable, tolerable and transferable. He wondered if Major Anders would be able to talk Klink into shipping out the Nazi guards like the Colonel had. Newkirk told him not to expect anything from their new C.O., but he was an Allied officer. He couldn't be all bad. Still, the Colonel had always told him to trust Newkirk when he was away. Unless Newkirk started talking about girls and gambling, that is.
A shiver of dread passed through him as he remembered a conversation he'd had with the Colonel while they were waiting in a borrowed truck for Newkirk and LeBeau. It had been one of the rare times that the Colonel had used his first name. "Someday I'll be gone, Andrew. When that happens, I want you to remember three things: Obey Kinch. Trust Newkirk. Listen to LeBeau. Do that and you'll be fine."
"You waiting for an engraved invitation?" Matthews smacked his arm, pointed to the door.
Carter shook himself from his reverie, fell into place in line. He glanced over at Kinch's barracks and down the rows of men to Newkirk and LeBeau's buildings. Normally the three would wave at him, but none of them noticed him this time. They were all watching the guard towers. He glanced up to see what had caught his friends' interest, but he couldn't see anything to worry about.
"Prisoners of the Third Reich." Carter peered across the compound at Klink, who was at his traditional place in front of Barracks Two. He was surprised to see Major Anders standing in Colonel Hogan's old spot. How had he been able to talk his way out of the cooler so soon? "I have been informed by Major Mueller that Major Hochstetter has been either killed or captured….."
Klink's words were lost as the camp broke into cheers. It was several moments before the barracks guards were able to restore enough order for the Kommandant to continue. " I realize that many of the discipline problems during the last few days have been in response to your Colonel's treatment at the hands of Major Hochstetter. I propose to grant a general amnesty for the violations since Hogan's transfer and I have ordered all prisoners released from the cooler…." Klink paused for another outburst of cheers. "However, from this moment on, Stalag 13 will be ruled with an iron hand. All infractions of the rules will be dealt with swiftly and severely. I believe that if he were here, your Colonel would join me in urging all prisoners to cease and desist from any disruptive behavior."
Major Anders must have made some comment because Klink abandoned his speech, seemed to be arguing with his Senior POW and then curtly dismissed the whole formation. Carter stared across the compound, wishing once again that he was still at his old barracks and privy to all the small dramas that surrounded the C.O. Living in his new barracks was as boring as living in Bull Frog.
"Carter!" Kinch hurried up to him. "Are you ok?"
"Sure." Carter considered the question. "Oh, you mean because the Gestapo went through our barracks?"
"Yeah. Some people find that a little unsettling."
"Well, yeah, it was kind of …unsettling…I guess I was kind of scared, but Schultz reminded me of what Colonel Hogan always said about showing fear and…"
"Schultz?" Kinch shook his head as he glanced from Anders to Schulz. "We're all going to have to start wearing team shirts. I can't tell the good guys from the bad guys anymore."
"Well, Colonel Hogan always said that Schultz…."
"Everyone ok here?" Newkirk and LeBeau joined their friends. "The filthy buggers made a fine mess of our barracks."
"They took all our wine." LeBeau shook a fist at the invisible agents. "Some day…"
"Ok, ok." Kinch put a restraining hand on LeBeau's shoulder. "As long as everyone's safe, we can deal with the rest later."
"What's this about?" Newkirk nodded at Schultz, who was pointing out their small group to Anders. "You don't suppose old Schultzie is selling us out, do you?"
"Impossible! He knows he'd get no more strudel."
"Well, something's up." Newkirk frowned as Schultz and Anders headed towards them.
"Ok, everyone keep calm." Kinch stepped between his friends and the intruders.
"Kinchloe." Anders halted several paces away. "I understand that Hogan had his so-called staff provide maid service for the Krauts."
"We've done some cleaning, yes." Kinch's voice was carefully neutral. "In exchange for extended privileges for the camp as a whole."
"Well Klink wants his quarters cleaned and I don't have any soldiers to spare." Anders smiled coolly. "Guess that leaves you four."
Kinch instinctively reached back to restrain Newkirk and LeBeau. "We'll get right on it, Major."
Anders turned without a word and returned to his barracks.
"Why that…!"
"Newkirk!" Schultz caught the Briton as he tried to follow Anders. "Come with me. The Kommandant is waiting."
"Well, you just tell him to keep waiting. It was one thing to play char-maid for the governor, but if Klink thinks…"
"Please." Schultz gave Kinch an imploring look. "Come to the Kommandant's quarters."
"Ok, Schultzie." Kinch nodded at the others. "We're coming."
"What?" LeBeau side-stepped the group. "I'm not going to be any Bosch servant."
"Louie." Kinch lowered his voice, drew the others close. "Look how nervous Schultz is. Something's up."
"Yeah? So?" Newkirk clung stubbornly to his anger. "It's what the Colonel would call an inter-Kraut affair. It has nothing to do with us."
"Maybe." Kinch herded the small group behind Schultz. "The only way we'll know for sure is if we go check it out."
"I don't mind. " Carter shrugged as the others glared at him. "Well, there are worse things to have to clean up. Like a barn or a chicken coop. I mean…"
"Carter." Newkirk caught himself chuckling despite his foul mood.
Carter couldn't help feeling uneasy as they passed the newly-vigilant sentries outside of Klink's quarters. He'd come here before, with the Colonel. The guards had either ignored them or joked with them. Now they aimed their guns at their hearts.
"Gentlemen. Come in." Klink met them in the living room, ushered them to his couch. "Have a seat."
"Kommandant?" Kinch approached the man warily. "You wanted some cleaning done?"
"No. I …" Klink faltered. "I wanted to speak to you privately. Without Major Anders."
"Oh." Kinch quickly scanned the room before taking a seat. Schultz was the only other German present, but he was staunchly guarding the exit. "All due respect, Kommandant, but you know we can't tell you anything other than name, rank and serial number. And you already know those."
"I did not call you here to interrogate you." Klink stood at the window, his attention divided between the camp and his guests. "I won't pretend to be sorry that Major Hochstetter is gone…" Klink ignored the group's comments. "The evidence at the scene points to Russian commandos. There were bits of uniforms, Soviet weapons – even Russian graffiti scrawled on the walls." Klink carefully avoided eye-contact with the prisoners. "The Major's replacement is skeptical, but for the moment he has cleared Stalag 13 of any part in the affair."
"Kommandant, if you suspect that we…"
Klink waved off the protest. "I assured Major Mueller that my prisoners were all here –rioting – at the time of the raid."
"Well…" LeBeau shrugged. "It was a busy night."
"Ja." Klink stared out the window. "You know, I used to stand here and watch Hogan's window. There was often a light on late at night. I assume that was when your escape committee met."
"Escape committee?"
Klink shook his head. "There was no point in going over there night after night. He always had some excuse --- dance lessons, hygiene lectures, some obscure celebration. More than once I considered moving him to the cooler permanently, but he would have found a way to annoy me from there."
"Begging the Kommandant's pardon, sir…" Newkirk tried to sound nonchalant. "You sound like you miss our Colonel."
"Miss him?" Klink laughed bitterly. "I miss my orderly camp. I miss sleeping without worrying about having my throat slit during the night. I miss being able to work in my office without a guard outside the door."
"Well…" Newkirk turned on the persuasive charm. "There's one sure way to get the camp back to normal. Just transfer…"
"Just transfer Hogan back here now that Major Hochstetter is gone." Klink leaned against the window frame. "I'm afraid that's why I've called you here. I've tried to contact Stalag 3, but I haven't been able to get through. Apparently the Wehrmacht has ….executed a tactical retreat… and …. the front has shifted…"
"Stalag 3 is behind the lines." Kinch's voice shook. "You don't know where Colonel Hogan is."
"Ja. Perhaps he's been liberated or the camp has been moved."
"Or a camp-full of unarmed prisoners is caught in the crossfire." Newkirk was on his feet, heedless of Schultz' immediate movement towards him.
"I'm sorry. I thought – as his staff – you should know. " Klink made brief eye-contact with the men, quickly turned back to the window. "It was never my intention to put your commander in the line of fire. After Hochstetter's latest interrogation….I believed I was acting in his best interest." Klink paused, summoned an authoritative tone. "I'll keep you informed of the situation. I think you should know that I've ordered reinforcements to prevent any repeat of last night's chaos. I have no wish to see any of my prisoners harmed, but I will do what I have to to maintain order. I believe that you four have considerable influence on the others – I trust you will use it to prevent any needless bloodshed."
"Yes, sir. We'll do what we can." Kinch herded their group towards the door. "We appreciate you keeping us informed, sir."
"Yes, sir. We appreciate it, sir." Newkirk spat out the words as soon as they were away from the guards. "Bloody bootlicker."
"Newkirk!" LeBeau hissed.
"Listen to me, Corporal." Kinch spoke between clenched teeth. "We need Klink to get Colonel Hogan back so we're going to do whatever it takes to keep him happy. If that means licking his boots, than that's what we're going to do. All of us. Is that clear?"
Newkirk cursed at the man, then spun on his heels and stomped away.
"Newkirk…" Carter started after his friend, but LeBeau caught him.
"Let him go."
Kinch took several deep breaths, then whispered. "I'm going to contact our friends. They'll be able to find out what's going on in Poland."
"But the tunnel…" Carter glanced towards Barracks Two. "Klink let Major Anders out of the cooler."
"I know. It can't be helped." Kinch headed across the compound, stopped to confer with Langenscheidt.
"LeBeau…" Carter looked helplessly at his remaining friend. "What are we going to do?"
"Not here." LeBeau led him to a secluded area.
"Newkirk didn't mean anything. I know he didn't."
"He's upset. We all are."
"Can't you do something?" Carter plopped onto a bench. "I hate it when everyone fights like this."
"I know." LeBeau patted his friend's shoulder as he took a seat beside him. "It will get better, Andre. Don't worry. "
"Right." Carter nodded. "Just as soon as the Colonel gets back."
"Oui." LeBeau studied his hands. "Then all will be well again."
Carter noticed Newkirk leaning against the barracks directly across from them. He tried to wave his friend over, but the man pretended he didn't see him. He was about to go talk to him – or try to, at any rate – when he noticed Kinch walking towards them. He jumped to his feet as the radioman approached them. "Did you get through to London? What…?"
Carter gasped as Kinch grabbed him and muffled him with his hand. He'd never truly realized how strong the man was until he pinned him against the wall of the nearest barracks.
"Shut up!" Kinch hissed in his ear. "This isn't a game! Don't you understand that?"
"Kinch!" LeBeau tugged on the black man's arm.
"Let him go!" Newkirk shoved Kinch away from the younger man. "Take on someone your own size."
"Stop it!" LeBeau pushed his way between the two combatants. "Do you want to get us all tossed into the cooler?"
"Look!" Carter pointed wildly towards the approaching guards. "You've got to stop!"
Kinch backed away, his hands held before him. Newkirk glowered at the gathering Germans, did the same.
"It's ok." Carter waved away the intruders. "They were just rough-housing."
"Oui. No problem here." LeBeau took Kinch and Newkirk each by an arm.
The guards didn't look convinced, but they backed off anyway. The men breathed a collective sigh of relief as they found themselves alone again.
"I'm sorry, Kinch." Carter whispered in the awkward silence. "I didn't mean to be so loud."
"I shouldn't have been so rough." Kinch backed away from the small group, leaned against a wall. "But better me than the Gestapo."
Newkirk scoffed.
"He's right." LeBeau maintained a position between Newkirk and Kinch. "You must be more careful, Andre. You would not enjoy a visit to the Gestapo."
Carter nodded. "I won't do it again. I promise."
"Carter…" Kinch swallowed. "I could barely handle seeing the Colonel after Hochstetter got done with him. I don't think I could keep myself from strangling someone if they tortured you."
"It's ok." Carter reached for Kinch. "I'll be really careful from now on. I promise."
"All right then." Newkirk mumbled as he lit a cigarette. "What did our friends have to say?"
Kinch cleared his throat, lowered his voice. "The Russians have pushed through Poland. London's heard reports that thousands of prisoners are being marched into Germany."
"Marched?" LeBeau scowled. "Can't they be liberated?"
Kinch shook his head. "Not without putting them in more danger."
"Well, we just have to tell Klink and…" Carter bit his lip as three scathing glares hit him. "Oh, well maybe that's a bad idea."
Newkirk rolled his eyes. "So what do we do now?"
"There's nothing we can do." Kinch exhaled loudly. "Except wait."
"Fine. Well, I'm doing my waiting inside." Newkirk tossed his cigarette butt onto the snow and plodded towards his barracks.
"Oui." LeBeau tugged his coat closer. "Come have some wine. It'll warm you up."
"I thought the Krauts took it all."
LeBeau cursed.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean…" Carter sighed as LeBeau stalked towards his building. "Jeez. Everything I say lately is wrong."
"That's ok. Everything I do lately is wrong." Kinch clenched his fists, slowly opened them. "I'm sorry. I would never have hurt you. Not intentionally."
"I know that." Carter whistled. "Boy, you sure are strong though. I wouldn't want to get in a fight with you."
"No. You wouldn't. And you wouldn't want to spend ten minutes with the Gestapo either. " Kinch gestured Carter back to the bench. "You've got to promise me something, Andrew. "
"Sure. Anything."
"Promise me that you'll believe in the existence of evil. Really believe in it." Kinch laid his hand on Carter's chest. "In here."
"I do. I know all about the Gestapo."
"That's not good enough. You've got to believe that there could be spies or turncoats among us. You've got to believe that Klink -- and even Schultz – would execute you if they had orders."
Carter shook his head. "They wouldn't. I know they wouldn't."
"Carter…" Kinch sighed. "Never mind. Let's go see if Louie will make us some decent grub, ok?"
"Sure. I'll go get Newkirk and meet you there." Carter ignored Kinch's exasperated look as he hurried away. Someone had to keep them all together until the Colonel got back. He just prayed that would be soon.
* * * *
"Carter!"
Carter halted. One of Anders' men was strolling across the compound towards him. Cpl Marsden had gone on Colonel Hogan's 'no-tell' list when he'd refused to take a direct order from Kinch. He'd gone on Carter's avoid list when he heard what he did to a family of mice he'd found living by the Rec Hall.
"Major Anders wants to see you." Marsden grinned maliciously.
"Ok." Carter reluctantly followed Marsden to Barracks Two. He was shocked at the condition of his old home. The Gestapo had left nothing unbroken in their search for contraband. "Boy. This place sure is a mess."
"Major Mueller was convinced that he'd find a tunnel." Anders circled Carter. "Why is that?"
"Jeez, sir. I wouldn't know what a Gestapo agent is thinking."
"Don't play stupid with me, Sgt." Anders forced Carter to meet his eyes. "I want to know where the tunnel is. Right now."
"Tunnel, sir?" Carter stammered. "I don't know about any tunnel."
"I see." Anders took a step back. "I was beginning to think that Hogan might have been a good officer, but I guess he really was just a yellow turncoat."
"Colonel Hogan is a great man! He'd die before he'd sell out."
"Then he was a spy?"
" I didn't say that. I just…"
"Make up your mind, Sgt. He was either a spy hero or a spineless coward."
"He.." Carter fidgeted with the zipper on his flight suit. Colonel Hogan and Kinch had given him long lectures on want to do if he was interrogated by a Kraut officer, but no one had ever told him what to do if an American major grilled him. He knew he had to obey Anders, but he'd seen the Colonel lie to superior officers for the good of the operation. But still…."
"For the last time, where is the tunnel?"
"I…" Carter shook his head helplessly. Then he did the one thing the Colonel had always told him not to do. He shot a nervous glance at Kinch's bunk.
Anders didn't miss it. He hurried to the bunk, gestured for his men to follow. "Here? Where?"
"With respect, sir." Carter stared miserably at his feet. "I can't."
Anders hurled a string of verbal abuse at him while he and his men yanked and banged and kicked the bunk bed. It was only a matter of moments before one of them hit the right spot and the secret door sprang open. "Holy shit!"
Carter collapsed onto his old bed and buried his face in his hands. Colonel Hogan would never forgive him this time. Never.
"I'll be damned. He really was a spy." Anders clambered out of the tunnel and towered over Carter. "Where's the radio code book?"
"I don't know."
"Sgt…."
"I swear, Major. I don't know. I didn't have anything to do with the radio."
"Who did?" Anders swore in frustration, turned to Marsden. "Bring me Hogan's damn lackey. And his frog. And his Brit. Now."
Carter winced at the thought of facing his friends. He'd rather be beaten by Hochstetter than be hated by the rest of the team. He couldn't bring himself to look up as the door banged open and Marsden ushered Kinch, Newkirk and LeBeau in.
"You boys have some explaining to do." Anders voice was ice. "And then we'll deal with your punishment."
"Reminds me of my dear old da." Newkirk mumbled.
"Andre? What's wrong, mon ami?"
Carter shook his head, slid away from LeBeau.
"Just what the hell were you four trying to prove?" Anders spat out the words. " I can have you all court-martialed and shot right here."
"Begging the Major's pardon, sir." Kinch spoke cautiously. "We had standing orders from London to protect the secrecy of the operation."
"Not from me, you morons." Anders stalked around their group. "I want to know what's going on and I want to know now."
"Yes, sir." Kinch's voice was devoid of emotion. "Our orders from London are to aid downed airmen in returning to Allied territory and to relay information gathered by the local Underground."
" So much for minding the store." Newkirk didn't try to hide his disgust.
"How many people know about this? Is the whole camp in on this little joke?"
"No, sir." Kinch suppressed a cough. "Colonel Hogan classified the operation as 'need to know' only. The prisoners that arrived after the operation began have only a vague idea of the situation, unless they have skills that we could use. Most of the prisoners who were here before the Colonel arrived know more because they helped dig the tunnels."
"And when were you intending to inform me?"
"With due respect, sir --Colonel Hogan gave standing orders that all new prisoners are assumed to be spies until proven otherwise."
"You dare to assume anything about me?" Anders shouted at Kinch. "I want the radio codes and I want them now!"
"Yes, sir."
Carter's stomach twisted as he watched Kinch retrieve the code book from his coat lining and surrender it to Anders. He bit back his surprise when he heard the radioman explain that the recognition code was 'Baby Bear.' He forced his face to go blank and refused to look at anything other than the floor.
"Alright, now all of you – get out of my sight and stay out of my sight." Anders headed for the tunnel, signaled for his men to follow him.
Carter hoped the others would forget about him in their haste to get away from Anders, but they halted by the door.
"Come on, Carter."
"I can't. You don't know…"
"Not here." Kinch whispered as he pulled the younger man to his feet.
Carter let himself be led outside and offered no resistance when Kinch towed him to a secluded area behind the delousing station. He deserved to be beaten after what he'd done. He closed his eyes and bit his lip. At least he could take his punishment like a man.
"Andrew." Kinch laughed softly. "Open your eyes."
Carter shook his head.
"He didn't bring you back here to knock you silly." Newkirk smacked Carter with his cap. "Though God knows someone should."
"But you don't understand." Carter hesitantly opened his eyes. "I gave away the tunnel. You have to beat me up."
"Later, Andre. After the war. Right now we have more important things to do."
"But, I don't understand." Carter glanced from man to man. "Don't you hate me?"
"Anders is an Allied officer, Carter. It was only a matter of time before he found out about the operation." Kinch frowned. "I had hoped we could keep it quiet till we found out more about the Colonel, but I knew eventually he'd ask one of us point blank and we'd have to tell him. There was nothing you could do."
"Well, actually, I didn't tell him anything." Carter shuffled his feet in the snow. "I just sort of looked at Kinch's bunk and..."
"Carter!" Newkirk shook his head. "How many times has the governor told you to stare at the floor during an inspection?"
"I know, but…"
"Alright. That's enough." Kinch leaned against the delousing station. "Let's try to go down with a little dignity."
"Go down?" Carter stared at Kinch. "What do you mean?"
"He means that's the end of us. Our part of the operation." Newkirk lit a cigarette. "Well, it was a fine lark while it lasted."
"Oui. It was magnifique." LeBeau turned to Kinch. "But what was that you said about 'Baby Bear'?"
"Yeah." Carter forced himself to keep his voice down. "What's that mean?"
"It's a code, isn't it?" Newkirk saw the truth in Kinch's broad grin. "You and the governor are pulling something, aren't you?"
Kinch chuckled. "It's a code that tells London that the Colonel is gone, a new officer is in charge and we don't trust him. As soon as they hear 'Baby Bear calling Goldilocks,' they'll send an urgent message to maintain radio silence for 48 hours."
"Blimey!" Newkirk exchanged relieved looks with LeBeau. "What happens after 48 hours?"
"London will contact the Underground to try to get the name of the new officer. They'll do a background check on Anders and either approve him or scuttle the operation." Kinch shrugged. "Either way, it's out of our hands."
"Well, that's it then." Newkirk scanned the barbed wire perimeter. "I guess there's nothing left to do but pack."
"Pack? You mean you're going to escape?" Carter shook his head. "But the Colonel will be back soon. We can't leave now."
"Andre, you know none of us would abandon mon Colonel, but he…." LeBeau put his arm around the young American. "Come to Paris with me. I'll introduce you to a beautiful girl who will make you forget all about Bull Frog."
"What's he going to do with a French bird?" Newkirk tugged Carter away from LeBeau. "Now, London, that's the only place to go. I'll take you to my favorite pub and introduce you to this friendly little serving wench who'll…"
"Alright." Kinch used his command tone. "We're not going anywhere until we know for certain where Colonel Hogan is. And if we do escape, it's going to be straight back to Allied Headquarters."
"Leave it to you to take the fun out of everything." Newkirk winked at Carter. "Never mind, we'll nip out after all the saluting and.."
"Newkirk." Kinch gave up, exasperated.
"Seriously, guys." Carter turned hopefully to his friends. "Do you think the Colonel will be mad at me about the tunnel?
"It's alright, Carter. The Colonel knew we couldn't refuse to tell an officer about the operation. That's why he set up the 'Baby Bear' code. So London could deal with any bastards that came along. " Kinch frowned. "Anyway, he'll be too busy dressing me down for letting Klink drug him to worry about you."
"What could you have done? Taken on all the Krauts with your bare hands?" LeBeau sighed. "Anyway, at least you never doubted mon Colonel. I was so sure he'd betrayed us…"
"All right, mates. So we've all screwed up. The important thing is that we're still a team." Newkirk looked hesitantly at Kinch. "Right?"
Kinch nodded. "Right you are, mate."
"In that case…" Newkirk dug into his pockets, held a watch out to Kinch. "I think this is yours."
"Hey!" Kinch started to put the watch on, halted with a frown. "It's broken."
"Yeah, well…" Newkirk cleared his throat. "Guess we'll all be digging latrines once the governor's back."
Kinch couldn't suppress a laugh. "You know, Peter, your escape plan is sounding better and better."
* * * *
