Stalag 13, Tunnels under the camp
December 23, 1943, 0110 hours

Colonel Hogan was very annoyed. He had grumbled the whole way back to camp and answered any questions with short, seemingly angry responses. Newkirk had scurried up to the barracks as soon as he could after their return, wanting to stay out of the Colonel's way. Kinch had relieved Baker from the radio responsibilities, which let a relieved looking Baker head up to the barracks as well.

Kinch watched Hogan as he paced around the small open area of the tunnel, trying to calm himself down.

"God damn amateurs," he mumbled repeatedly.

"Colonel, do you think they will stop what they are doing?" Kinch asked.

"Who the hell knows," Hogan blurted out. "They don't even know what they are doing."

Kinch was quiet. Hogan looked over at him as he sat on the stool by the radio gear. "Sorry, Kinch," he said. "I guess I'm just a little too upset by this."

Kinch weighed his response carefully, hoping that he wouldn't upset the Colonel any further. "I don't think it's just Hans Wagner that has you upset," he answered.

Hogan stopped pacing and stood across the table from Kinch. "Look, I know what you are getting at, and the answer is no!" he said with hostility. "So Lisa has stopped writing to me. It's my problem and I will deal with it – myself!"

"All right, Colonel," Kinch replied evenly. "But it is eating you up inside, and you have been snapping at everyone all day today."

Hogan sighed and sat on the empty stool in the corner. "I know, and I'm sorry about that," he replied. "But I can deal with this myself."

"No, I don't think you can, sir," Kinch countered, waiting for an expected eruption from Hogan. When none came, he continued, "You can't even see that it's not just mail from Lisa that has stopped, but mail from your parents and your sister as well." Hogan looked up at Kinch quickly as the Sergeant spoke. "All of this is affecting your mood, and I might add, your ability to think rationally. Maybe that's what Hochstetter had in mind."

Hogan looked at Kinch through narrowed eyes. "What does Hochstetter have to do with this?" he asked.

Now it was Kinch's turn to start pacing. "I haven't had a chance to tell you yet today," he said as he rose from his stool. "I asked Schultz to ..."

"You told Schultz?" Hogan asked loudly.

"No," Kinch replied. "As I was saying, I asked Schultz to see if he could find out why you were not getting mail from anyone, not just Lisa. He just told me today what he found out from the mail courier."

"Which was?" Hogan asked impatiently.

"Which was that Hochstetter has ordered that all mail to you and all mail from you be given to him," Kinch replied. "In a sense, he has cut you off from the outside world, sir."

Hogan sat quietly for a few moments. Kinch could tell that he was realizing the scope of this news. "So, I immediately think that everyone has stopped writing to me," he said at last. "And at some point in the near future, my family ... my wife, thinks I have stopped writing to them. Do you realize what they will think?"

Kinch nodded. "I imagine that Lisa will be just as distraught as you are," he said softly.

Hogan took off his crush cap and threw it against the tunnel wall. "That son of a bitch!" he yelled. "That God damned son of a bitch! What would he hope to accomplish by this?"

Kinch knew that it was a rhetorical question, but decided to venture an answer anyway in the hopes that he could force Colonel Hogan to focus on the problem instead of the consequences. "I can think of two reasons, sir," he replied. When Hogan looked at him, he continued, "Since he suspects you of being involved in the Underground, he could be looking through your mail to find something incriminating."

"And the other reason?" Hogan asked, starting to calm down.

"And the other reason is that maybe he thinks that by cutting you off from the outside world, it will cause you so much stress that you slip up and give him the evidence he is seeking," Kinch replied. "Hochstetter really isn't as dumb as he seems."

Hogan snorted. "Yes he is, Kinch," he retorted. "Even the Washington Nationals can win the American League pennant every now and then, but that doesn't make them a good team."

Kinch chuckled. "I suppose you may be right," he replied. "But this time he's gotten to you."

Hogan sighed. "And now that I know the truth, I am strong enough not to let it get to me," he said.

"I still think you should ..." Kinch said.

"Kinch, I am getting tired of you telling me that," Hogan snapped.

"I know, and I am getting tired of asking you," Kinch replied smiling.

Hogan smiled back. "No, not now," he said, softening his tone. "In time, I know I will have to, but I don't think now is the right time."

Kinch said down on his stool and exhaled loudly in frustration. "Then I think the men have a right to know the real reason why you are not getting any mail," he said.

"You haven't told them?" Hogan asked.

Kinch shook his head. "Only Schultz knows," he replied. "And he's so upset about it that I don't even think he would tell anyone."

Hogan chuckled. "Schultz keeping a secret? He must be upset," he said. "You are right though, you all do deserve to know the truth." He caught Kinch looking at him expectantly and quickly added, "About Hochstetter stealing my mail."

"Colonel, they will have to know about Lisa too," Kinch said softly.

"In time, Kinch," Hogan replied. "In time."