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"These photos are great, Colonel," Kinch said, squinting at the negatives that had been quickly made down in the tunnel. "Tiger did a great job."
"She sure did," Hogan said from the door to the Barracks, where he had continued keeping an eye on the proceedings. "She's gone above and beyond the call this time," he added.
"What's going on outside, Colonel?" Carter asked.
"Louis's waving his arms around. It looks like he and Newkirk are about to get into an argument. I think that means they're done." He straightened. "Kinch, get ready to make that call."
"Right, Colonel."
"Carter, you watch the door." Carter nodded. "I'm going to get Juliet off the balcony." And with a final look back at the film Kinch was holding, Hogan opened the door, and headed out of the barracks.
When he got closer to the group, he could see that there was more going on than Le Beau and Newkirk pretending to be at odds over the closing photos; the Germans all seemed to be arguing as well. And at the center of it all was Hochstetter.
"This woman must come back with me to Gestapo Headquarters…schnell!" he was practically shouting, pointing impolitely at Tiger, who had been helped down from the Panzer and was now standing in between Le Beau and Newkirk. "We have waited long enough."
"No one is debating your right to have her, Major," Burkhalter was saying. "I am simply reminding you that if it is your job to maintain security while General Werden is still here, then your responsibilities are not yet completed."
"What seems to be the problem, gentlemen?" Hogan asked, approaching the Germans with something akin to lightness. Here comes the tricky part.
"Hogan, you are not required, please return to your barracks," Klink dismissed him.
"I am sure the General will appreciate that the tanks are on their way out now; he was not pleased with my having to be here at all!" Hochstetter continued, completely ignoring Hogan's presence.
"Can't stop the German Army, Major," Hogan interjected.
"What is this man doing here?" Hochstetter seethed, throwing a warning glare in Hogan's direction.
The American felt his stomach muscles contract as he caught the look; something about Hochstetter always made him uneasy, even when they were far from the torture chambers of Gestapo Headquarters which sat pushed far back in Hogan's memories. "Anything I can help with, Kommandant?" Hogan asked, stalling for time. Come on, Kinch—hurry up with that call! "Or can I have my men back now?"
"Take your men, Hogan," Burkhalter said. "They have served their purpose."
"Don't forget my white bread," Le Beau said to Klink.
"I am sure you will be recognized for your helpfulness, Corporal Le Beau," Klink replied.
"What about my helpfulness?" Newkirk asked, noting Hogan's silent order to keep the conversation going.
"Herr Kommandant," came the voice of Schultz from behind them. The group turned around to see the Sergeant puffing his way over to them in what appeared to be the fastest trot he could manage. "Herr Kommandant, there is a telephone call for you."
"Well, take a message, Schultz, can't you see I'm busy?"
"But Herr Kommandant, the Major said he was calling from Berlin—he sounded very important," Schultz insisted.
"Berlin?" Klink mused.
"Ja, Herr Kommandant. The Major said he was calling from the Headquarters of the Abwehr."
"The Abwehr?" burst Hochstetter. "Klink, we will all answer that call." And he started off toward Klink's office, not waiting for the others to catch up.
"Schultz, take Juliet back to Barracks Four. The rest of you prisoners, return to your barracks," Klink ordered. Schultz politely led Tiger away. Hogan nodded at her, Newkirk, and Le Beau, and followed the Germans.
"Colonel Klink speaking, Heil Hitler!" the Kommandant was saying as Hogan entered the office unannounced. "Yes, Major Beckhaus…" He turned and looked at the others in amazement. "Yes, Major—from Admiral Wilhelm Canaris himself!"
"Head of the Abwehr, you know," Hogan muttered under his breath to Burkhalter. "Must be a very exciting day for you, sir."
Burkhalter pulled away from Hogan, annoyed, but too distracted by the call to respond, or even to notice that the senior POW was someplace he probably shouldn't be.
"Yes, Major—oh really?...." Klink's face took on an astounded expression. "Juliet? Are you sure?" Klink looked briefly at Hochstetter, then turned away. "Yes, Major, he has been here the whole time. Yes, for security purposes." Hochstetter suddenly brought his full attention to the call as he realized he was the topic of conversation. Trying to pull in closer to hear what was being said, he was thwarted by Klink, who unwittingly kept swiveling back and forth in his chair. "Yes, of course, Major, we will comply with the orders of the Abwehr immediately…. Certainly, Major….You're welcome, Major…. Yes, we are pleased with our No Escape record here," Klink said, a proud smile bursting onto his face. Hogan looked at the ceiling. "Thank you, Major. Heil Hitler!"
Klink hung up the phone and looked at the others. "Well, Klink, don't keep it
to yourself like a boyhood secret—what did the Major have to say?" Burkhalter
demanded.
"He says the Abwehr is aware of Stalag 13's perfect record, and that Admiral Canaris is impressed with me!" Klink said, still awed.
"And when he wasn't clucking about you, Klink, what was it he said about Juliet?"
"Now that's the strange part," Klink said. "He said that she is part of a—" For the first time, Klink noticed Hogan in the room. "Colonel Hogan, you are not needed here."
"Fine—you guys never tell me anything," Hogan complained. But he took his leave quickly, and hot-footed it back to Barracks Two.
He entered the hut and went straight to his quarters, where Carter and Le Beau were listening in on the coffee pot bug that led to Klink's office. Hogan gestured toward the listening device with his chin, silently asking for an update as the raised voices reached his ears. "They are arguing about Tiger being a member of the Abwehr's Intelligence Unit," Le Beau said. "Hochstetter does not believe it."
"Well, Hochstetter's a smart man," Hogan said. "He knows intelligence and the German Army don't go together." He furrowed his brow as the arguing continued. "What did Klink say?"
"He said that Major Beckhaus told him Tiger was sent to keep an eye on Hochstetter to make sure the Gestapo is keeping up with its job to support the German Army."
Hogan shook his head approvingly. "I'm sure that went over well."
"Like a ton of bricks," Carter said.
"…will not believe that unless I can confirm it myself," they heard Hochstetter saying. "I will call Gestapo Headquarters."
Burkhalter's voice came next. Even without seeing him, Hogan knew the expression the man would be wearing: one of disdain and condescension. "What do you think the Gestapo is going to tell you?" he asked. "You were not supposed to know they were checking up on you, Hochstetter. The answer will be in Berlin, not in Hammelburg."
"Now there's a clever Kraut," Hogan praised sarcastically. "Let's see what's going on in Berlin today." And he turned and headed down to the tunnel, where Kinch was sitting at the radio, and Newkirk was beside him at the microphone, headsets on. A light started flashing on the switchboard panel, showing a call coming out of Klink's office. Hogan watched as his men went into action.
"Ja, Abwehr Headquarters. Kapitan Vos here," Newkirk said in his raspiest German. Hogan laughed to himself. Kinch shook his head. "Ja, Major Hochstetter, of course we have a Major Beckhaus here…. Nein, Herr Major, it would be no trouble at all." Newkirk looked at Hogan and shrugged. "One moment, bitte."
Kinch took the headsets from Newkirk, and then launched into his best German. "Ja, Major Hochstetter, I am surprised to hear from you…. Of course, Major, but we do not make it a habit to tell the people that we are observing…that we are observing them. The Abwehr has its own agenda….Major Hochstetter, it is not your place to worry about what the Abwehr is doing. If you have any concerns, I suggest you discuss them with the man who handed down the orders, Admiral Canaris!" Kinch's voice started growing hard and angry. A smile crept onto Hogan's face as he watched the transformation of this mild-mannered radio operator. If only Hochstetter knew he was being bullied by a pussy cat. "Jawohl, Major, I am sure you meant no disrespect to the Admiral…. Ja, so you will let the woman go as she pleases…. Danke, Major. Heil, Hitler," Kinch finished, pulling the plug out of the switchboard.
He looked sheepishly at Hogan and Newkirk. "It's not my fault he got uppity!" Kinch said.
"Nice work," Hogan said.
Le Beau and Carter came down the ladder. "Hochstetter is livid," Le Beau told Hogan. "He cannot believe that someone was spying on him."
"Never spy on a spy," Hogan said. "So what's happening now?"
"They are going to tell Tiger she can go."
"Once they stop arguing long enough to get there," Carter added.
"Good," Hogan said. "Le Beau—get over there before the Krauts do and make sure Tiger stops here before she goes out. We need to get these pictures back to her so she can get them to the Underground."
Le Beau didn't wait to be told twice. "Oui, Colonel."
"The rest of you, just watch the fireworks… you've done your bit. Almost too well."
"Sir?" Newkirk questioned.
"A little more attitude and you'd have been stolen to work at Vogue magazine."
