No ownership of the Hogan's Heroes characters is implied or inferred. Copyright belongs to others and no infringement is intended.
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Kinch popped his head into Hogan's office and opened his mouth to speak, but stopped when he caught the senior POW once again staring out his window. Hogan's mind seemed to be a million miles away—or at least four and a half miles upwards, in a plane that he could only see in his memories, and his nightmares. He seemed to sense someone's presence, and soon lowered his head with a sigh but didn't turn around. "Yeah?" he asked quietly.
"The men have dug from Barracks Nine almost all the way to where Newkirk started digging the other day," Kinch said.
"Good. Tell them to stop for the night," Hogan decided, still unusually subdued; "they've done enough for one day."
"Right." Kinch hesitated. "Colonel, Smallwood was just trying to get to you. He didn't know what he was talking about."
Hogan turned toward the Sergeant and offered a small smile. "I know."
Kinch tried a light laugh that failed miserably. "For a minute, I thought you might really have a go at him there."
Hogan nodded, thinking back all too clearly. "It wouldn't have done anyone any good. And who knows? Maybe these eagles are misplaced." Kinch shook his head. Hogan sighed. "I'm just tired, Kinch. We're all tired. Go get some shut-eye. There's plenty to do in the morning."
Kinch nodded. "Right. Good night, Colonel."
"Good night."
Kinch turned and walked out, closing Hogan's door behind him. He yawned and stretched thoughtfully as he headed toward his bunk. "The Colonel is pleased?" Le Beau asked, already under his blanket.
"I think so," Kinch said. "Hard to tell with the mood he's in."
"He is still upset?"
"Still staring at the sky."
"Bloody Smallwood," Newkirk grumbled.
"We all think like that once in awhile," Kinch said. "You know: 'Could I have done anything different to stop from being shot down?' Colonel Hogan asks himself that often enough without any reminders from someone like that British traitor."
"He'll show Smallwood," Carter predicted. "Colonel Hogan always wins. This guy won't know what hit him!"
"I hope so, Carter," Newkirk replied, looking toward Hogan's closed door and imagining the Colonel brooding at his window. "Otherwise he might just think that useless turncoat is right."
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"How are our experts?" Hogan asked the next morning. He poured a big cup of black coffee and took a long drink, hoping it would unfog his mind from a restless night.
"They're great, Colonel," Carter answered. "The Krauts put the flyers and the Underground agent in Barracks Four and treated them like kings. Hochstetter even checked up on them once or twice to make sure they were okay."
Hogan shook his head in amazement. "Today's the day to act. We don't know what Smallwood might have said or agreed to while he was out on the town last night with the Krauts."
"The fellas were at it again first thing this morning," Carter said. "They've got everything ready."
"How about you?" Hogan asked.
"Oh, yes, sir," Carter said. "I've got it all set up just the way you asked, boy—uh, Colonel. Everything'll go just the way you want it to."
"And everyone knows what their jobs are?"
"Le Beau checked with them before roll call."
"Excellent. It's time to set the wheels in motion."
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Hogan looked around as Le Beau, Kinch and the "experts" supervised more digging in the cordoned off area near Barracks Ten. He turned to Schultz when he didn't see what he expected. "Hey, Schultz, where's Smallwood this morning? Don't tell me he decided to defect back to the Allies."
Schultz gave a small chuckle. "No, Colonel Hogan. He is talking with Colonel Stigler and the other officers he came with in the Kommandant's office."
Hogan felt his heart drop into his stomach. "Talking? With Colonel Stigler?" Schultz nodded. "Excuse me, Schultz, I have to talk to our translator." Hogan went down and whispered to Le Beau, who nodded and turned to the "experts" and started speaking in rapid French. Then Hogan went back to Schultz.
"What did you tell them?" asked Schultz, as he watched the French men hop down to where a handful of prisoners were digging and start gesturing wildly toward a so far untouched area.
"Who knows, Schultz? I don't understand French." Schultz got a bewildered look on his face that Hogan did nothing to dispel, as he had hoped it would appear there in the first place. "I'll be right back, Schultz. Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
Schultz frowned, deep in thought. "I don't think I'd want to do anything you wouldn't do," he muttered as Hogan strode away. "Would I?"
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Hogan burst into the barracks, startling Newkirk. "Get the coffee pot," Hogan ordered. "Smallwood's talking with the Krauts in Klink's office."
Newkirk didn't waste a second, and by the time the listening device was plugged in, the conversation was in full swing.
"The complexities of this electronic calculator are enormous," Smallwood was saying. "It's not just the sum of its parts. It is much, much more than that. Only a trained, experienced scientist would be able to make sense of the components, even if I wrote it all down for you."
"Ensuring the future of his own hide," Hogan observed. "Clever. Because the Krauts won't know any different, even if he's lying. Yet."
"Give us the basics, Herr Smallwood. Major Lugsden is ready to write it all down as you speak," Stigler said.
"You must once again promise me my safety," Smallwood said.
"A safe passage to Switzerland, Herr Smallwood. We understand your importance in this project; there is nothing we can do with it, without you."
"And once I have trained your own scientists in this work? How do I know you will not dispose of me after my usefulness is over?"
Hogan shook his head. "He's a traitor, dealing with ruthless men, and he's looking for them to say 'Cross my heart'."
"I'd rather take my chances with a ruddy patrol or three," agreed Newkirk.
"Herr Smallwood," Stigler said smoothly, "we have been all through this. We are men of honor, leading a country that is in need of strong, intelligent men like yourself. How could we pass on such brilliance and nobility of spirit to our youth if we simply dispose of those who help us once they have given us their very best? No, Herr Smallwood. We do not act in such a way. Besides, how do you know that you won't have more to offer us after this first project? Perhaps you would like your own lab, so you can continue in such great works?"
"Smooth operator," Hogan muttered.
"Very well," Smallwood conceded. "What you say makes sense. I am only coming to you because I understand that this war will turn, in your favor. And I do not see the sense in working for losers. They cannot further scientific progress."
"Very good," Stigler said cordially. "Now, please, on with your information."
"Intercepted messages are punched into ordinary teleprinter paper," Smallwood began. "The machine has fifteen hundred circuits in it—that is absolutely extraordinary, as they should blow instantly; imagine using that many, trying to scan five thousand characters per second! But it does." Smallwood seemed to be warming to his subject, which clearly fascinated him.
Hogan stood up abruptly, nearly knocking over the stool he had been sitting on. "That's it," he said as Smallwood continued speaking. "It's time to draw his attention elsewhere. Get down to the site, now. You know what to do."
"Right, gov'nor."
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Hogan made his usual unannounced entrance into Klink's office about two minutes later. "Good morning, Kommandant," he said cheerfully. "I thought you'd like to know—" Hogan stopped as he looked around the room at the several pairs of eyes staring at him, as though noting their presence for the first time. "Oh. Sorry, Kommandant. I didn't know you had company."
"Can't you see we are very busy here, Hogan?" Klink asked. Hogan quickly took in the room. The tension was so thick he thought he would hit it if he tried to move around too fast. Klink was sitting at his desk, stiff as a rod; Smallwood was a ball of tension, his fists clenching and unclenching, his arms moving non-stop; another man, whom Hogan guessed was Major Lugsden, was sitting perched near Klink's desk, sheaf of papers and pen in hand; two other men who had accompanied Smallwood into camp were hovering against a wall. Stigler seemed to be the only one completely at ease; he was sitting comfortably in the chair in front of Klink's desk, facing Smallwood. It was an electric room, and Hogan decided to be a spark.
"Sorry, Kommandant," Hogan said again. "I just thought you'd want to know that the experts have told Louis they think they're pretty close to a big find out there."
Hochstetter suddenly burst into the office, his pistol drawn. "Hogan," he growled, "I told you that you were to stay out of here! You are under arrest—"
"Hogan, Major Hochstetter, we have no time for this this morning—" Klink fumbled.
"They are?" Smallwood put in. "They are close?"
Hogan turned to the Englishman and swallowed hard. Failed flyboy echoed in his head as he looked Smallwood in the eye. We'll see, he vowed silently now. He pulled his arm out of Hochstetter's tight grasp. "You're interested in archaeology, Smallwood?" Hogan asked coolly.
"I have many interests," Smallwood replied. "Archaeology is one of which I am particularly fond."
"Well, it's too bad you're so busy, then," Hogan replied lightly. "They can't hold up their work just because you're talking. I'll just go back to the site, Kommandant, and have them put aside anything they find." Hogan offered a quick salute to Klink and turned to head back out the door. "Excuse me, Major," he offered to Hochstetter, who was about to follow him out and drag him off for questioning somewhere.
"Wait, Hogan," Smallwood called.
Hogan stopped and turned back. "That's Colonel Hogan to you," he said evenly.
Hochstetter lowered his pistol but blocked the door.
Smallwood looked to Stigler. "Please. Gentlemen. This is a most important historical discovery. I would like very much to be there when it is unearthed. It is happening right now—can we postpone this discussion at least long enough for me to have a look?"
Stigler looked dubiously at his companions. "Really, Herr Smallwood, we must start getting down to business—"
"Just this first find," Smallwood pressed. "You can see that I am going to give you the information. I have already begun to do that this morning! My mind will be fully on the discussion at hand if I am only allowed to see this one small thing." He paused, waited. No answer from the Germans. "Please."
Stigler considered, then sighed. "Very well, Herr Smallwood. We shall have Major Hochstetter accompany you for your own safety."
Great, thought Hogan.
"Hogan," Smallwood said. Hogan raised an eyebrow but did not answer. "Colonel Hogan." Hogan nodded slightly. "Please tell the archaeologists to wait. I will be there very shortly."
Hogan said nothing, but moved past Hochstetter to leave the office. I knew you would.
