Chapter 14
Andrew Carter crouched in the underbrush beside Colonel Hogan, waiting for the Gestapo patrol to pass. This was the third patrol they had come across since they left their hiding place, and Hogan was becoming more frustrated with each encounter. So far, they had been successful in avoiding detection, but at this rate, Carter knew it would take them most of the night to reach their rendezvous point.
Finally the patrol wandered out of site, and Hogan again began to carefully make his way through the scattered branches and crunching leaves. It seemed to Carter that every step they took made a sound that could be heard all the way back at Stalag 13.
"I wish it was summertime," Carter commented softly. "These leaves make too much noise! I don't remember them being this bad this afternoon."
"Shhh," Hogan admonished. "We'll be fine as long as we're careful and don't make any unnecessary noises." He glanced back at the Sergeant and added, "Besides, we're almost there."
Carter nodded. He was glad that they were almost out of the woods, so to speak. It had been a stressful day – the escape and getaway, the interminable waiting and now the Gestapo patrols. I wonder why we're running into the Gestapo patrols, he thought. If Hochstetter is trying to help us escape, why is he sending patrols into the woods? Carter could think of several reasons why, but none of them were very reassuring, so he stopped thinking about it and followed Colonel Hogan through the woods.
After what seemed like hours, they came up to the clearing containing the barn in which they were supposed to meet Hochstetter's agent. Carter wondered if she would be there, or if Hochstetter would be there. What would they do if nobody were there? They had enough trouble getting here – to have to turn around and go back into hiding would be difficult. Not only that, Carter was beginning to get hungry. He and Hogan hadn't had anything to eat all day.
Colonel Hogan stopped at the edge of the woods and waited – Carter stopped beside him. They crouched down and scanned the area, looking for any signs of movement around the clearing. Carter could see a faint light flickering inside the barn – a good indication that their contact was inside.
They stayed motionless for several minutes, listening to the nighttime sounds of the woods. They heard the chattering of a raccoon and the sounds of rodents scurrying through the fallen leaves. Once, everything went silent and Carter heard the hoot of an owl overhead.
Finally, Hogan said, "Let's go," and started to walk cautiously towards the barn. Carter followed Hogan, glancing backwards as if he expected an army to suddenly jump from the woods where they had been. It seemed to take forever for them to reach the barn.
As Hogan was reaching for the handle of the door, they were surprised by the sound of a weapon clicking a round into the chamber. Both men jumped and looked towards the sound. They saw that Major Hochstetter had stepped out from beside the barn and was aiming his luger at them.
"Well, well," Hochstetter said grimly. "Look at the tasty morsels that have stumbled into my web." He grinned a humorless grin that sent chills up Carter's spine. "You are late, Colonel Hogan."
Hogan eyed Hochstetter warily. "We had to avoid the Gestapo patrols you have out there," he replied. "I wasn't expecting that."
Hochstetter shrugged. "I don't know why you weren't expecting them," he replied. "You are, after all, an escaped prisoner."
"That's right, we're escaped prisoners," Hogan agreed. "And you arranged for us to meet Erika here."
"Now why would I do a thing like that, Hogan?" Hochstetter asked.
Carter began to get nervous. The way Hochstetter was talking, he knew that they had been led into a trap.
"You know why," Hogan countered calmly. "We're helping you get rid of Klink so you can take over Stalag 13."
Hochstetter chuckled. "Yes, that's right," he responded. "You did escape from Klink so that I could take over the camp. After all, he was getting to be too powerful in this area. I couldn't let him take away all of my control."
"And then you would be free to operate your Underground unit with our help from the camp," Hogan prompted.
Again Hochstetter chuckled. "My dear Colonel Hogan," he said. "I am a loyal Gestapo officer. Capturing two dangerous escaped prisoners, who killed their Luftwaffe Kommandant while trying to escape, will be quite a feather in my cap!" He laughed again. "I will take over Stalag 13, Colonel Hogan," he continued. "And let me assure you that the Underground will not be operating in this area while I am in control."
"But, but," Carter stammered. "But you helped us escape!"
"So I did, Sergeant," Hochstetter replied. "So I did. And now I must also be the one to capture you."
"So it was all a trick!" Hogan exclaimed.
Hochstetter gave a small shrug. "It is wartime, Colonel," he replied. "One must use all possible avenues to subdue the enemy. Now if you will please come with me."
Hogan remained still and motioned for Carter to do the same.
"Come now, Colonel," Hochstetter said. "Whether I capture you alive or dead is of no concern to me."
Carter glanced at Hogan. The Colonel was unmoving – simply staring at Hochstetter. Carter looked back at the Gestapo Major. He had an evil smile on his face as he pointed his firearm at the Allied prisoners.
Suddenly Carter saw movement behind Hochstetter – a figure, clad entirely in black was moving towards him. Hochstetter sensed the approach and turned to see who was approaching – but it was too late. Carter saw a brief flurry of activity and then Hochstetter hunched forward. The Major staggered a few steps backwards towards Hogan and Carter and then fell to the ground, landing on his back. Carter looked down and saw a knife buried deep into Hochstetter's chest.
Hogan bent down and ran his hand along Hochstetter's neck feeling for a pulse. "He's dead," he commented. He stood and looked at the figure hanging back in the shadows. "I don't know who you are," he said. "But you have very good timing!"
The figure stepped out of the shadows. "Ah, but you do know me, Colonel Hogan," the man said.
Carter gasped in surprise as he recognized the man. "Baker!" he exclaimed. "You're alive!"
Baker laughed. "Of course I'm alive, Andrew," he replied.
"But Newkirk said you were killed trying to escape," Carter continued.
"He was just pulling your leg," Baker replied.
"But…" Carter sputtered.
"Shhh," Baker said, putting his finger to his lips. "Not so loud. There are others out here that would love to capture you. I would suggest that you get away from here as quick as you can." Baker looked around the area quickly. "In fact, I must be going now." As quickly as he appeared, Baker disappeared into the shadows.
Carter simply stared at the place where Baker had been – his mind swirling with unanswered questions. How did Baker survive getting out of camp? Where has he been since he got out of camp? Why did Newkirk tell me that he had been killed trying to escape? And if nobody else knew who I was, how come he knew my name?
"Carter, let's get going," Hogan said, shaking Carter's shoulder. Carter remained fixated on the spot where Baker had been a moment earlier. Hogan shook his shoulder again. "Carter, it's time to go. Come on, Carter."
Carter was startled by another shake on his shoulder. He sat bolt upright, gasping for air and looking around the darkened cave. Hogan was kneeling next to him, shaking his shoulder. "Carter, it's time for us to go."
Carter looked around, slowly gaining awareness of his surroundings. "What?" he asked breathlessly.
"It's time for us to make our way to the rendezvous point," Hogan said softly. "You've been asleep for the past couple of hours."
"Asleep?" Carter asked. "Then I must have been dreaming?"
Hogan nodded. "And judging from how restless you were, it must have been one hell of a dream," he replied.
Carter struggled to stand and stretched his cramped limbs. "I dreamt that this was all a trap by Hochstetter," he said. "And he was about to shoot us but Baker killed him first."
"Baker?" Hogan asked.
Carter nodded. "Sir, do you think there's a chance that this is a trap by Hochstetter?" he asked.
"I've thought about that," Hogan admitted. "But in this case, my instinct is telling me that it's not." Hogan shrugged. "Though I could be wrong. But we don't have much of a choice now."
Carter brushed the dirt from his clothes. "No, I guess not," he replied. "But if you feel it's safe, then I feel better. You've never steered us wrong before."
Hogan chuckled grimly. "Then why are we in this cave?" he muttered. He started walking towards the entrance. "Come on, let's get moving."
-
Captain Fritz Gruber sat at the desk in the adjutant's office adjacent to his quarters. He was still fuming from the events of this morning.
He had been happy when he heard about the events at the clearing – two prisoners escaped and Colonel Klink was badly injured in the explosions that had been set off to cover their disappearance. He had been stuck in Stalag 13 for two years under Klink, with no hope of advancement. By all rights, Klink should have been promoted and sent to Berlin. But the Kommandant had resisted all attempts at promotion and remained at Stalag 13 – eventually becoming the most powerful authority in the area. Gruber had been stuck as his second-in-command, patiently waiting. As long as Klink was there, he would remain a Captain.
And now Klink was out of the way! Not only had the Colonel suffered a successful escape attempt, he was now out of action for the foreseeable future. Gruber was now in charge – and he wanted all the power that Klink had. He knew that finding the escaped prisoners would guarantee him the recognition that he had deserved for the past two years.
He pounded his fist on the desk in frustration. Damn that Hochstetter! Hochstetter had come into camp ordering him around – and Burkhalter had allowed it! And to add insult to injury, Burkhalter was even sending another Colonel to take over the camp. Talk about a slap in the face! He wouldn't even give me a chance to show him how well I could run the camp.
And then Hochstetter had ordered him to move all of his search parties to the west and north of the camp. Without the support of General Burkhalter, he had no choice but to comply. But he didn't want to abandon the area east of camp. No matter what Hochstetter had said, Gruber still felt that the prisoners would not have traveled far during daylight, and would have found a place nearby to hide until dark. And Gruber wanted more than anything to find Colonel Hogan – and find him before Hochstetter could assume any more control of the camp.
So Gruber had ordered all of his search parties to areas north of the camp – except one. He left his best search party to search the areas that Hochstetter wanted to keep him out of.
Gruber smiled. And if Colonel Hogan is still in that area, as I suspect he is, my men will find them. And once I recapture Colonel Hogan and the American Sergeant with him, Burkhalter is bound to give me the support – and the authority – that I rightly deserve.
-
Newkirk sat in the guest chair in Klink's office. His feet were propped on the corner of the desk and he was puffing on one of Klink's cigars. He had remained in the Kommandant's office since Hochstetter had sent for him – supposedly under interrogation by the Gestapo Major.
The two had talked about what would happen next. That evening, when Hogan and Carter made their way to the barn to meet with Hochstetter's agent, Hochstetter would also be there. With Klink out of action and Colonel Weingarten on his way to camp, Hochstetter knew he needed to "capture" Hogan as soon as possible. Once Hogan was back in custody – recaptured not by the Luftwaffe guards but by the Gestapo – Hochstetter would have all the leverage he needed to retain the top authority in the area. And once Colonel Weingarten did arrive, Colonel Hogan could begin to set up his operation.
"Will you be bringing Colonel Hogan back to camp tonight?" Newkirk asked, taking a large puff on the cigar and blowing a plume of smoke towards the ceiling.
Hochstetter shook his head. "I'll have to keep the two men at Gestapo Headquarters for interrogation," he replied. "When Colonel Weingarten arrives, I will arrange for them to return to Stalag 13."
Newkirk's brow furrowed. "Do you think that's necessary?" he asked.
Hochstetter nodded. "For a couple of reasons," he replied. "First, I don't trust Gruber. I suspect that the first thing Colonel Weingarten will do is to transfer Captain Gruber and Sergeant Schultz out of camp."
"Not Schultz," Newkirk replied.
Hochstetter looked at him curiously. "Why leave Schultz here?" he asked.
"I have a feeling that Schultz will be useful," Newkirk replied, examining the burning cigar. "What's the second reason?"
"There will be a roundup of the Underground following Hogan's capture," Hochstetter responded.
"You'll go after your own people?" Newkirk asked, putting his feet to the floor.
Hochstetter shook his head. "No, not my people," he replied. "But there are certain informants that have been causing my people some trouble, and I think it's time to take care of them."
Newkirk smiled. "You're really cleaning house," he commented.
Hochstetter glanced at the clock on the wall and stood. "That's right," he said. "And it's time for me to get started."
Newkirk stood and stretched. "I suppose I should be going back to the barracks," he said. He chuckled as he added, "And recover from your grueling interrogation."
Hochstetter laughed as he opened the door to the outer office. Leaning his head out, he ordered the Gestapo guard to escort Newkirk back to the barracks.