Chapter 7

Hogan lay on his bunk in the darkness, unable to sleep. He had tossed and turned for more than an hour, getting more and more frustrated with each turn. Finally, he gave up and jumped out of his bunk. Leaving his room, he walked quietly through the barracks, careful not to disturb his sleeping men. He opened the door to the barracks and stepped outside.

After closing the door behind him, he stood still and waited for the searchlight to find him. When it did, he made the motions to indicate that he intended to use the latrine. As he walked across the compound, the light followed him. When he came out of the latrine, the light was there, waiting to escort him back to the barracks. When he reached the door, he turned and waved, as if he were thanking the guard for the escort.

But he didn't feel thankful – he felt like a caged animal. Even though he had been a prisoner before, he always knew that he could come and go from the camp when he needed to. Now that was taken away from him and he was stuck – stuck behind the barbed wire and machine guns.

He walked back through the snores of the men sleeping in their bunks and returned to his room. He climbed up in his bunk and let out a big sigh. Why bother trying to sleep? It's no use. I can't quit thinking about this plan to escape. I've been over it many times. It's risky, but I've done riskier things than this.

But he knew what was bothering him. He was not used to waiting. With very few exceptions, he made his plans and then acted on them. This time, he was unable to do that. He had the plan, but he now had to talk to Hochstetter to ensure that the necessary diversion was put into place. Then he would have to try to talk Klink into allowing another work detail. Other than that, the plan is foolproof.

Hochstetter. That was the other thing that bothered him. In order for the plan to work, he needed Hochstetter's help. It felt to him like he needed Hochstetter's blessing – and that really annoyed him. He still had a deep down hesitation of trusting the Gestapo Major, but had decided that the hesitation stemmed from his previous experiences. Everything he had seen from Klink and Schultz told him that those previous experiences didn't mean anything.

As he lay in his bunk, Hogan heard the low drone of Allied bombers on their night runs. The higher whine of the German fighters and the steady boom of the anti-aircraft fire told him that there would be many good men who would not make it back home. It saddened him to know that he and his men would not be going out and trying to round up as many downed flyers as possible and sending them back to London.

He heard the rumble of the bombs hitting their targets and remembered the bright flashes he would see when he would fly his missions. He recalled the lights on the dark landscape as the fires consumed the buildings of the cities below. Hogan knew that some of the targets were factories and other military targets. But he also knew that many of those lights that the pilots were seeing tonight meant that ordinary Germans were being killed – innocent people, losing their homes and their lives. Innocent? Maybe – but they were the ones that allowed that madman to come to power and start this war.

Hogan heard a lonely train whistle in the distance – like a cry in the night. He was suddenly sitting upright in his bunk, listening to a series of explosions. He was surprised that he woke up – he didn't remember falling asleep. Those explosions aren't from falling bombs, he thought. Hochstetter – it must be him and his organization. They must have hit another target tonight. Hogan heard shouts in the camp compound, and then the sound of trucks driving away. It looks like Klink will expend resources trying to catch the saboteurs. Maybe this is something else that we can take advantage of.

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Roll call the next morning was difficult for Hogan. He had finally fallen asleep, but not before watching half the night go by. He stood in line with yawns threatening to split his face in two. It seemed an eternity until Schultz dismissed the prisoners, and Hogan decided to spend some time outside in the fresh air waiting for Hochstetter to show up.

While he waited on the bench outside the barracks, he went over his plan for the hundredth time. Everything hinged on the help from Hochstetter. Without the diversion, Hogan would have no chance of getting past the guards into the woods. He knew what he wanted Hochstetter to do – but would the Major agree? He would find out shortly.

He saw the staff car drive through the main gates and stop in front of the Kommandant's office. Hochstetter briefly glanced at Hogan as he got out of the car, and then went into Klink's office. In a few minutes, the two men emerged, followed by Schultz. Hogan stood up and started across the compound, meeting Schultz halfway.

"I'm ready, Schultz," Hogan said. "Let's get this show on the road."

Schultz glared at Hogan, but said nothing about the familiarity of his address. The Sergeant escorted Hogan to the waiting staff car. Klink glared at him as the approached.

"You seem eager to leave today, Colonel," Klink stated.

Hogan shrugged. "Not really," he replied. "But since I don't have much say in the matter, I might as well get it over with."

Klink smiled. "You have no say in the matter," he replied.

Hogan stared back at Klink. "The lab rat rarely does," he retorted.

Klink laughed heartily. "I like that analogy, Colonel Hogan," he said. "You are a rat and this is your cage."

Hogan started chuckling. "Never underestimate a cornered rat, Kommandant," he said.

Klink frowned, unsure of the meaning of Hogan's statement. After a moment, he turned and walked back into his office.

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When they arrived at Gestapo headquarters, Hogan was led to the interrogation cell. After being left alone in the room, Hogan sat down and removed his hat. He poked around under the lining and removed the crude map of the clearing that he had made from his men's observations.

Hochstetter entered the cell and sat in the other chair. "Well, Hogan, are you in a better frame of mind this week?" he asked.

"I'm fine," Hogan replied. "I also have another plan for an escape that we need to discuss."

"Oh? And will you get second thoughts on this one, too?" Hochstetter asked.

"Funny," Hogan commented dryly. "We have a lot to talk about and not a lot of time, so let's get to it."

"All right, Hogan," Hochstetter said. "What is this spectacular plan of yours?"

Hogan pulled the map from his pocket and laid it on the table in front of Hochstetter. He proceeded to tell the Major his idea to slip out while on a work detail, and the fact that he would need a diversion from Hochstetter and his organization.

"You need what from me?" Hochstetter asked.

"I need a diversion to distract the guards while I slip out," Hogan answered.

Hochstetter gave a wry laugh. "I suppose you want me to show up and ask the guards to look the other way?" he asked. "I'd be shot in a second."

Hogan smiled. "If that would help me get away, it would be perfect," he said. "But I was thinking of something a little more, to use your word, spectacular."

"Such as?" Hochstetter asked.

Hogan told him.

Hochstetter's jaw dropped. "You have got to be kidding," he muttered. "Do you realize how dangerous that kind of thing would be for my men in broad daylight?"

"All I need from you is to set it up for us," Hogan replied. "We'll take care of the rest when the time comes."

Hochstetter shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe you came up with this as a plan to escape," he said. "It's not like you to be this daring."

Hogan's smile broadened. "You'd better get used to it Major," he replied.

Hochstetter's brow furrowed. "Hogan, may I remind you that being reckless can be fatal," he said.

"I prefer to think of this as brash and unexpected," Hogan replied. "We'll catch them off-guard."

Hochstetter glanced at the map on the table in front of him. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "You know, it could work," he commented.

"It will work," Hogan corrected. "It has to work."

Hochstetter was silent for a moment, still gazing at the map. "Explain again what you need," Hochstetter said finally. "I want to make sure I have it straight."

Hogan began explaining. He pointed to specific places on the map where he wanted things set up. He answered Hochstetter's questions and was pleased that the Major seemed to grasp all of the details.

"I'll have to visit the site and see what we can do," Hochstetter said when they had gone over everything. "I'd have to make sure everything is hidden but easily accessible. I can do that and fill you in next week. But now, our time is done for today. You must be getting back to camp."

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Hogan entered the barracks and found the men waiting for him.

"How'd it go?" Newkirk asked.

Hogan shrugged. "So far, so good," he replied. "Hochstetter was interested in the plan and is going to scout the site to see about the diversion."

"Do you think he'll help us?" Carter asked.

"I'll find out next week," Hogan said.

"So nothing is going to happen before then?" Kinch asked.

Hogan shook his head. "The plan is impossible without the diversion," he replied. A huge yawn interrupted him. "I'm going to get some rest now. I didn't sleep well last night."

"See you at roll call, Colonel," LeBeau said.

Hogan walked into his office and closed the door behind him.

"The Colonel seems worried about his plan," LeBeau stated.

"He bloody well should be," Newkirk exclaimed. "He'll be taking an awful risk trying to slip away from that work detail in broad daylight."

"Come on guys," Carter said. "He's just going over every detail so that he's not surprised by anything. He does this before every mission."

The room fell silent after Carter finished speaking.

"Carter, how do you know what he does?" Kinch asked.

"Yeah, and what missions are you talking about?" Newkirk added, hopping down from his bunk to stand beside the table where Carter was sitting.

"Um, I'm just repeating what I heard someone say about the Colonel," Carter replied nervously.

"You heard someone say that, did you?" Newkirk asked. "Who?"

Carter nodded. "I heard it from one of the guys on his crew when I was back in London," he replied.

Newkirk said nothing but kept standing beside Carter, eying him suspiciously.

"Look, Carter," Kinch said. "That was a long time ago. We've been with him in this camp for more than a year and we have never seen him this nervous about anything."

"He never gets nervous?" Carter asked.

"Of course he gets nervous," Kinch replied. "Everybody gets nervous. But he's acting very different from what he normally does."

"I'll say," Newkirk added. "Take this plan for starters. He's always been against something so …" Newkirk paused, searching for the right word, "something so bold. And yet, he comes up with a plan that is pretty much a slap to Klink's face. He even got a little sassy with Sergeant Schultz the other day on the work detail."

"He did?" LeBeau asked.

"Oh yes, it was brilliant!" Carter exclaimed. "He got old Schultz so confused." Carter stopped talking, aware that the rest of the men did not consider it funny. They were all looking at him curiously. He laughed nervously.

"I can't blame the Colonel for being nervous," Kinch said, shifting his attention away from Carter. "He's the one who'll be shot at if the guards spot him sneaking away."

"He'll be fine once we start putting the plan in motion," Carter said, trying to be reassuring. "I mean, being nervous is a strange thing. You get yourself all worked up before you have to do something big, worrying about everything that can go wrong. But when the time comes, you forget all of those worries and just do what you're supposed to do." Carter paused to catch his breath. Remembering the mission where he had to pretend he was in the Wehrmacht once he was seen by a German patrol when he was in a German uniform, he continued. "Boy, I remember the time when I had to fool a bunch of people into thinking that I was someone else – I was so nervous …" He felt the eyes of everyone in the barracks upon him and stopped talking. Uh-oh, Andrew. I think you screwed up now, he thought. When are you ever going to learn to keep your mouth shut?

"You want to tell us about that?" Kinch asked.

Carter nervously shook his head. "Maybe later," he said. "I think I need to get some fresh air." He stood.

Newkirk put his hand on Carter's shoulder and shoved him back down into the chair. "Why don't you tell us about this bunch of people you had to fool?" he asked. He voice was menacing.

"What's there to tell?" Carter replied. "It was awhile ago." He looked at the faces of the men who were gathered around him. He felt a shiver go up his spine – he knew that he was in trouble and he had better find a way out of it – quickly! "Guys, why don't I wait until the Colonel is here?" he asked. "I'd hate to have to tell the story twice." The men were silent, staring at him intently. Carter felt himself start to sweat. "In fact, why don't I go and get him now?" Carter stood quickly and darted towards Hogan's office door.

Carter was quick, but Kinch was quicker. He blocked Carter's path and let the Sergeant run right into him. As Carter bounced off Kinch's chest, Newkirk grabbed Carter by the shoulder and spun him around.

"Guys, guys," he pleaded. "I know what you're thinking and you're all mistaken!"

"No, pal," Newkirk replied. "You're the one who's made the mistake." Taking a step closer, he said, "I think your whole story is a lie."

"Not all of it," Carter replied in a trembling voice. As soon as he said it, he knew it was the wrong thing to say.

"Well, Sergeant Andrew Carter … if that is your real name," Newkirk said. "I think it's time we heard the truth." He grabbed Carter's arm.

Carter closed his eyes and braced himself for the blows that he expected to come next.