Chapter Four – Carter Again
Newkirk and LeBeau were following Carter through the Stalag 13 compound.
"The last time I remember having the ring was in this area," Carter said, searching the ground as he walked. "The next thing I noticed, I didn't have it on anymore."
"What's so special about this ring?" Newkirk asked. "You said that you and Mary Jane weren't married yet."
"It's not a wedding ring, Newkirk. It was given to me by my grandfather when I graduated high school," Carter explained. "He said it would give me good fortune as I traveled through life."
"It must not have worked," LeBeau commented. "After all, you've ended up here."
"But it could've been worse," Carter pointed out. "I could've died when my plane was shot down."
"Well listen to bleedin' Mary Sunshine here," Newkirk retorted sarcastically.
As they were searching the ground, a voice startled them. "You fellows looking for something?" asked the voice. The three men from Barracks Two looked up.
"We're sure not looking for the likes of you, Anderson," Newkirk replied. "I'd expect to find you over by the latrines with all of the other bad smelling sewage in this camp."
Sergeant Anderson frowned and looked at his barrack mates who were gathered around him. "You watch your mouth, you stinkin' limey, or I'll …"
Newkirk straightened up. "You'll what?" he asked daringly.
"Guys, can we keep looking for my ring?" Carter asked. "I'd like to find it."
"So you lost a ring, eh?" Anderson asked. As he talked, he made several showy gestures to draw attention to his hands.
"Hey, that's my ring!" Carter exclaimed as he noticed the shiny object on Anderson's finger.
"Ah, but you are wrong, my friend," Anderson said smoothly. "It's my ring since it's on my finger."
"And where did you get it?" LeBeau asked.
"It's an old family heirloom," Anderson explained. "It's been in my family, oh I'd say about two or three hours now."
"Then it is my ring!" Carter exclaimed.
"Like I said, friend, it's on my finger," Anderson corrected.
"Come on, Sergeant," Carter pleaded. "That ring was given to me by my grandfather."
"My heart bleeds for you," Anderson smirked. His friends around him snickered, and Anderson gave one of them a nudge with his elbow, obviously pleased with the situation.
"That's not the only thing that'll bleed of you don't give it back," Newkirk replied through clenched teeth.
Anderson glared at Newkirk before speaking. "Look, I'm a reasonable man," he said smoothly, causing Newkirk to snort derisively. "I'm sure we can come to some sort of arrangement."
"What do you want for it," Carter asked.
Anderson smiled. "Well now, let's see," he said. "I think I could be persuaded to part with it for …" He paused while making an obvious show for his friends. "Let's say two packs of cigarettes."
"What?" echoed Carter and LeBeau together.
"And two chocolate bars," Anderson added.
"You're balmy!" Newkirk commented.
"Hey, this is business," Anderson said smiling.
"It's bloody highway robbery, that's what it is!" Newkirk exclaimed.
"I can't help it if it's got great sentimental value," Anderson replied.
"Sentimental value?" Newkirk retorted. "You just found the ring a few hours ago!"
Anderson laughed. "I didn't say it had value to me," he said. "But it does to him." He gestured towards Carter. "He doesn't have to pay the price," he said with a slight shrug. "Of course, he doesn't have to have the ring either."
"I think you are half right, as well as a half-wit," Newkirk said. Anderson stopped laughing and glared at the Englishman. "He doesn't have to pay anything, and he does have to have his ring back," Newkirk finished.
Anderson's eyes narrowed. "Are you threatening me, Newkirk?" he asked.
Carter noticed that Anderson's friends had spread out a bit. They looked tense, as if they were ready to spring into action. He glanced at Newkirk and LeBeau, who also looked as if they were ready to fight. "Look," he said, trying to prevent trouble. "I just want my ring. You'll have to wait until I get my Red Cross package before I have what you want."
Anderson said nothing for a moment before smiling. "Then come back and see me when you get it," he said. He started to walk away, gesturing to his friends to follow. "But if you wait too long, the price might go up." As he turned and resumed walking, he said over his shoulder, "After all, I might have grown attached to it by then!"
"Why that ruddy thief," Newkirk commented. "He shouldn't be allowed to get away with this."
"Come on, Carter," LeBeau said. "Let's go back to the barracks. I've got two chocolate bars you can have. And I have a few cigarettes left from my last package."
The men began to walk back towards Barracks Two. Carter was silent, looking at the ground dejectedly. He had been in the camp less than a month, and this was the first sign of trouble that he had encountered.
After a few steps of silence, Newkirk said, "I've got something to take care of before heading back to the barracks. I'll meet you there." He veered off from the others and walked away like a man on a mission.
When they returned to the barracks, Carter sat on his bunk looking at the floor while LeBeau related the incident to the other men. After a few moments of indignant comments, several of the men tossed cigarettes or chocolate bars on the table.
Kinch threw in an unopened pack and said, "You can have this pack, Carter. I'm trying to cut down anyway."
Carter looked at the pile on the table, speechless. He swallowed hard and looked at the men in the barracks. "Gee, thanks fellas," he said hoarsely.
Just then, Newkirk burst into the barracks, holding something shiny in his hands. "Here Carter," he said breathlessly. "I got your ring back."
Carter's eyes grew wide. "You did?" he asked. "But how?" He looked at a smiling Newkirk and noticed that his right eye was puffing up and starting to darken. "You're eye looks terrible!"
Newkirk's smile broadened, making his eye close completely. "You should see the other chaps," he said. "They look even worse!"
Carter's mouth fell open. "You fought all of them?" he asked. "Just to get my ring?"
"Aw, it was nothing," Newkirk insisted. "They aren't as tough as they think they are. I ran up against tougher blokes on the streets growing up." He tossed the ring towards Carter.
Carter caught the ring and put it on. "Thanks pal," he said to Newkirk. "I owe you a lot for this."
"You don't owe me anything, Andrew," Newkirk insisted. "That's what friends are for."
Carter smiled. "You just wait. Someday you'll be in trouble and I'll repay you by helping you out of it," he said. He grabbed his gloves from under his mattress and began to put them on.
"Why are you putting your gloves on, Andrew?" Kinch asked.
"I'm going to wear them all the time now so that I don't lose this ring again," Carter replied.
"Even in the shower?" Newkirk asked with an impish grin.
Carter glanced over at Newkirk and realized he was teasing. He tossed a glove at him and just missed hitting him in the face. The glove sailed by and headed towards the door to Colonel Hogan's office. At that moment, the door opened and Colonel Hogan stepped out into a face full of Carter's glove.
----- ----- -----
The man in a black suit and hat stopped in front of Carter's table, interrupting his thoughts. "Colonel Carterhof?" he asked. "My name is Otto Baum. May I join you?"
Carter looked up at the man and blinked, trying to regain focus. "Of course, Herr Baum," he replied. "I'm so glad that you were able to find the time to join me. Can I get you a drink? A beer? Schnapps, perhaps?"
"Ja," replied Otto. "A beer would do nicely."
Carter looked around for Marlene, the barmaid, and found her staring in his direction. Even from a distance he noticed a small blush when she discovered that he had caught her staring. He smiled and motioned her over.
"Would it be too much trouble to get a beer for my friend?" he asked her. "And another for myself, as well."
"Of course, anything for you, Colonel," she replied suggestively and walked away.
Otto smiled. "Well, it looks like you've got an admirer," he commented lightly.
Carter smiled back. "I noticed," he replied. "This is good, as it will help with my plan."
When Marlene returned with the beers, Carter asked, "Could you see that we are not disturbed? We have some very important business to discuss." He paused and glanced around the room. "Very important business for the Fatherland," he added, subtly brushing the insignia on his black SS uniform.
Marlene's face grew serious. "Of course, Colonel," she replied. "I will make sure you are not bothered. Would you like to move over to the table in the back corner? It is more private there."
Carter looked around the sparsely populated room. "No, I think this will do fine," he replied. "If I need anything, I'll let you know." After a pause, Carter gave her a warm smile. "And if I desire the pleasant company of a beautiful fräulein, I'll let you know."
The red in Marlene's cheeks deepened when she heard the compliment, and she shyly looked at the floor. "Danke, Colonel," she said. She quickly retreated, almost running into a couple of Luftwaffe officers as she glanced back towards Carter.
Otto chuckled. "So tell me about the trouble," he said quietly.
Carter explained what had happened and how Newkirk was also a prisoner in Gestapo Headquarters. He also explained the plan that he had come up with to rescue both Greta and Newkirk at the same time.
"Do you think that will work?" Otto asked after Carter had finished.
"It's the only thing I could think of on short notice," Carter replied.
Otto took a sip of his beer while thinking about the plan. "I have to admit, they won't be expecting this," he commented. He glanced over at Marlene, who was busy carrying two large steins of beer to the Luftwaffe officers. "But do you think she'll go along with it?" he asked, nodding slightly towards her.
Carter smiled. "You heard her," he replied. "She said she'd do anything for me."
Otto gave a small chuckle. "I don't think this is what she had in mind," he said smiling. After a momentary pause, he said, "Very well, Colonel Casanova, let's give it a try."
Carter motioned Marlene over without bothering to check to see if she was looking. He was confident that no matter where she was in the room, she was keeping an eye on his table. Sure enough, she quickly appeared at his table.
"Jawohl, Colonel?" she asked. "Can I get you something else?"
Carter smiled at her. "Marlene, how would you like to do me a personal favor?" he asked.
A small frown appeared on her face. "I beg your pardon, Colonel," she said. "But I'm not that kind of a girl!"
Otto snorted into his beer, causing Marlene to glance in his direction. She tossed her head and started to walk away.
"Nein," Carter said. "Please do not go away. That's not what I meant."
Marlene stopped and turned around, but didn't return to the table. "And what exactly did you mean, Colonel," she said. The emphasis on his title told Carter that he was in danger of losing her confidence.
He reached into the breast pocket of his uniform and removed his ID wallet. Opening it up, he held it out for her to examine. "I am from the Sicherheitsdienst, and I need your help," he said.
Marlene slowly stepped forward and examined the identification papers. After looking at them for several seconds, she stepped closer to the table. "I'm so sorry, Colonel Carterhof," she whispered. "I just assumed …"
Carter waved at her to stop. "Perfectly understandable, my dear," he said. "I'm sure a beautiful fräulein such as yourself receives a great many unwanted suggestions." He could see the red returning to her cheeks and he knew that he had won her back.
"Some not so unwanted," she said shyly, "as they are premature." She refused to meet his eyes as her cheeks burned deep red.
Carter's smile widened and he slid a chair back from the table. "Here, sit down," he said. "Let me explain how I need your help."
Marlene glanced back at the bar nervously. "I'll get in trouble if I sit down," she said. "I might lose my job."
Carter laughed. "Nonsense," he exclaimed. "If there's any trouble, I'll take care of it."
Marlene hesitated another moment and then sat down. Carter began explaining about his two undercover agents who were being held at Gestapo Headquarters on suspicion of being spies. All the while, Marlene stared at him intently, not missing a single word of his explanation.
"And because they are undercover, you can't just go in and order them to release your agents?" she asked. Carter nodded. "How can I help?" she asked. "Certainly you can't expect them to release the agents to me?"
Carter laughed. "No, my dear," he said smoothly. "It is a little more complicated than that." He explained what he wanted her to do.
"Do you think you can get four or five of your friends to come along with you?" he asked. "Your story will be much more effective if there are more of you."
Marlene nodded vigorously. "I live in a boarding house with fifteen other girls," she said. "I can get some of them to help me out."
"Excellent," Carter replied. "We can begin after you are off work." He paused, thinking of something else to ask. "One more thing. Do you have a problem with handcuffs?"
A coy smile spread across Marlene's face as she rose from the table. "Now Colonel," she said. "Don't you think we should wait until after we rescue your agents to talk about that?" Now it was Carter's turn to blush as she quickly retreated from the table.
Suds flew onto the table as Otto snorted into his beer and began laughing. "Colonel Casanova at work!" he exclaimed.