Chapter 7: Peter Pan's Flight
"Shultz! Why didn't you tell me your family is the one adopting Robert?"
"I asked him not to." Klink responded with a smile on his face. He was glad that Maria approved of his choice.
Maria went up to Klink and gave him a hug. "Thank you so much Kommandant" This time Maria had tears of joy. She went up to Shultz and his wife and gave them a hug also. "Thank you for agreeing to take care of Robert."
"It is our pleasure. I am sorry about the circumstance though. " Mrs. Shultz said.
"I appreciate it. I don't know how I can ever thank you."
"Just make it to the end of the war so he can be with his momma again."
"Maria I will be back for you tonight after evening roll call."
Now might be a good as time as any. "Kommandant, you had the explosion as an excuse to bring be here the last time. I don't want to get you in trouble by anyone getting suspicious. If you trust me and keep the guards away from the north side of camp, I'll sneak back in. Just have Sergeant Shultz at the cooler."
"Why should I?"
"I have a feeling that you know there is no way I would escape, and I am not referring to Robert. And you know that I can get in with out being seen."
"All I know is that if you wanted to escape you had many opportunities to do it and you didn't. Very well. You better be there in the morning."
"I will Kommandant."
"Sorry Maria, but it is time for us to leave." Mrs. Shultz said.
Maria gave Robert one last hug and kiss. "I will always love you Robert." Then she handed Robert over to Mrs. Shultz and they left.
The next morning during roll call, Shultz went into the cooler and saw Maria sitting on a bunk in one of the cells. He was relieved to find her there. "Time to go." Maria got up and fallowed Shultz outside. When she stepped outside of the cooler, all the prisoners started cheering. Maria walked over and took her place in line.
"Now Maria, I hope you have learned to stay in the barracks after lights out and to stop picking fights?" Klink asked Maria in front of everyone.
"Yes Sir I have."
"Let this be a lesson to everyone that I will not tolerate any infraction of the rules. You are dismissed.
After they were dismissed, Maria walked up to Newkirk. "Glad to see you are doing better."
"Thank you. I take it you are Maria."
"What? You know me Peter. What is going on?"
"Sorry Maria I didn't tell you the other night. I didn't have much time. Newkirk has amnesia." Hogan answered.
"I'm sorry to hear that. Any thing I can do to help?"
"Do you know anything about amnesia?" Newkirk inquired.
"A little. I was involved in a situation along time ago when someone tried to kill me and I got amnesia."
"Kill you?" Hogan asked shocked
"Yes. I was with my dad and his friend out one night. They were police officers and they worked undercover. I went with them one night to help out. Someone told the bad guys that we were cops. They killed my dad and his friend.. I was injured badly and left for dead. The bullet just grazed my skull. When they heard the cops comming, they threw me over a cliff. When I hit the water I came to, but didn't know who I was. Luckily the policegot there when they didand got me out. Some of the tings they were telling me about my family didn't seem right. I had other memories that they weren't telling me. Eventually as time went on, I started to remember."
"Do you remember everything?"
"Unfortunately. Especially everything from that night. I remember it like it happened yesterday."
"I'm sorry that had to happen to you. Maybe you can help Newkirk with regaining his memory. Now we have to get ready for the surprise Red Cross inspection."
KOMMANDANTUR
"Kommandant Klink, we are with the International Red Cross here on a surprise inspection. I am Josef Tapscott, this is Donna Rice my assistant and Major Richard Boyle."
"What a pleasant surprise. You will find everything in order here and happy prisoners. You have my full corporation."
"Good. Please have the prisoners in formation in thirty minutes for inspection. Then we will be interviewing a few of them to get an idea of how they are being treated."
"Happy to help. Shultz!" Shultz walked in the door "Get the prisoners in formation in thirty minutes for inspection."
"Jawol Herr Kommandant." Shultz saluted then left.
Thirty minutes later…
"Kommandant Klink, I did not realize that Germany had a co-ed Stalag? Why is there a female prisoner standing with the male prisoners?" Major Boyle inquired.
"Maria is a special case. She was original place here by the Gestapo. After some discussion, it was determined to keep her here as an experiment. General Burkhaulter and Richeführer Goering decided to use her to keep the prisoners more docile."
"How" inquired Miss Rice.
"If there are any escapes, she will be punished along with the ones who escaped. If any of the men break the rules, Maria will be punished with them also. So far it has been working. Only one escape attempt since she has been here."
"Intriguing. I would like to interview her first." Josef stated.
"Certainly. Maria come here please."
"Yes Kommandant?"
"These people are here from the International Red Cross. They would like to ask you a few questions. You may use my office."
Maria and the three people from the Red Cross went into Klink's office. The men went into Maria's room to listen in. "This will be a good chance for Maria to discover which one is Peter Pan." Hogan commented to the others.
"For the record please tell us your full name, rank and serial number." Donna said.
"Maria Angel Crockett, Civilian."
"How unusual. Why did the Gestapo place you here?" Inquired Josef.
"Major Hochstetter wanted to use me to control Colonel Hogan the senior POW."
"Does Colonel Hogan cause problems for the Gestapo?"
"No Sir. Major Hochstetter has a grudge against Colonel Hogan for some reason."
"How has life been here for you?"
"Okay. Kommandant Klink has a hand off rule concerning me. Everyone follows it with no problem. The men are glad to have a female in camp. Now when they put on a play, one of them doesn't have to play the part of a woman."
"What was the most recent play the prisoners put on?"
"It was called Peter Pan's Flight. I played Wendy. Since everyone here is an airmen, it had a unique twist."
Donna's ears perked up " I love Peter Pan, he is my favorite character. What is your favorite scene?"
I am taking it that you are Peter Pan then. "When Wendy gives Peter Pan a special gift."
"Mine too."
"Can we get back on topic ladies?" Major Boyle asked sternly.
"Yes sir." They responded.
"We will arrange to have you transferred to a female civilian prison camp."
Oh no! I can't let them do that. "This might sound weird, but if you don't mind I would like to stay. I have heard other prisoners talk about what happens in those civilian camps. Here people pretty much leave me alone. The only ones that bother me are the Gestapo. But here I have the protection of the Luftwaffe and Geneva Convention."
"Since you are not in or working for the military, you are not protected by the Geneva Convention." Maria looked at the floor. Darn! That's right. Even though I am working for the military, it has to be kept a secret. How can I change that? "You still want to stay here? You don't mind them using you to control the prisoners here?"
"Yes I want to stay. The prisoners here, from what I have seen, are cowed. Usually the only time there are escape attempts is when the Gestapo start throwing their weight around."
"I see. Well you shall stay then. If you change your mind, have Kommandant Klink please contact us. Is there anything you would like to tell us? Know that all complaints and comments are kept anonymous."
"We could use more rations and supplies. It is taking longer and longer to get the Red Cross packages."
"Anything else?"
"No."
"Thank you for your time. You're dismissed."
Maria got up and started to go back toward barrack two when Donna stopped her. "I would like to talk with you more later. I am interested in knowing more about what it is like for you here. Is there some place we can talk?"
"Yes I have a private room in barrack two. I can be found pretty easy."
"I will stop by after dinner then."
Maria walked into the barracks and was greeted by everyone. "Good job on discovering who Peter Pan is." Hogan congratulated. "Now we just need to figure out how to get the information to her."
"No problem. She is coming by later for girl talk."
Everyone just smiled. "I would like to get in on that conversation," commented Newkirk
Everyone laughed. It was nice to hear Newkirk start to sound like himself. After dinner, Donna showed up with Josef. "I want to get more information on life for a female here, while Major Boyle inspects the camp."
Great this isn't going to be easy. Maria talked about life at camp and that once you learned what to do and not do, it wasn't that bad. Josef listened intently and found it fascinating to hear how well she had adjusted. When they got ready to leave, Maria brushed Donna as she opened the door for them. During the brush, Maria put the film in Donna's pocket.
After they left, Colonel Hogan came up to Maria "I guess we are going to have to find another way to get the film to her."
"No we don't."
"How?" Maria just winked "You do have many talents."
The following day...
A car with international markings drove into camp. "Hay Colonel, we got company." LeBeau yelled down in the tunnel where Colonel Hogan was talking with Kinch. they went upstairs. As soon as they got the trap door closed, Shultz walked in.
"Colonel Hogan and Maria, Kommandant Klink wants to see you now."
Hogan and Maria looked at each other and shrugged then fallowed Shultz. "Yes Kommandant you wanted to see us." Hogan said cheerfully.
"This is Corporal Walker from the US Air Corps. He is apart of the international governing powers.He is alsoa recruiter."
"I don't follow Kommandant.Are some of the Luftwaffe wanting to join the Allies?"
"No Colonel. It has been brought to my attention that since Maria is not tied to the military in any way, she is not protected by the Geneva Convention and Corporal Walker is here to change that."
Klink must have been listening in to the conversation I had with the IRC, or they brought it to his attention "Are you saying that I have to enlist into the military in order to be protected?"
"No ma'am. All you have to do is sign a contract to be a civilian employee of the US Air Corps." Corporal Walker stated.
"I know this is kind of unusual. I did some research and do to the circumstances, they are making this exception." Klink stated
"So if she does sign this contract, what will that mean for her?" Hogan asked
"She will remain a prisoner, but will then be protected by the GC." Walker answered
"What about after the war?"
"She will take on the duties as a civilian liaison."
Hogan got a smirk on his face. "I think it would be more beneficial for her to enlist in the Air Corps."
Maria just glared at him and then smiled in return. "Only if I can be a General. I don't like starting at the bottom. Would that be possible Corporal?"
"Umm well ma'am, I am not for sure, but I don't think so."
"I guess I have to settle for door number two." I really didn't feel like enlisting again. Once is enough. Maria signed the papers.
"Thank you Ma'am. Good day Colonels"
"I still think you should have taken door number one."
"The only reason why you want me to do that is so you can order me around."
"Well…"
"Please take that conversation elsewhere." Klink interjected. Some times I forget what side I am on.
A couple days later, Kinchwalks up to Hogan. "Message from London Colonel. They said packages and film received. Leroux taken care of. Good work."
"That's nice of them Colonel." Carter commented.
"At least it isn't another assignment. We deserve a brake after all of that." Hogan settled down in his bunk to take a nice nap when Shultz walked into the barrack.
"Colonel Hogan, Kommandant Klink would like to see you in his office."
"So much for my nap." Hogan got up and fallowed Shultz. As he walked by Helga, he gave her a wink. She gave him a smile in return. "You wanted to see me Kommandant."
"Yes Hogan. I want to show you that I am a man of my word. I was able to sell the rocking chair and purchased a few items for your men." Klink handed Hogan a big box. Inside was writing paper, pencils, decks of cards, toiletries, thread, sowing needles, books and magazines
"Thank you Kommandant. I will get the men working on another piece of furniture."
"You are welcome Hogan. I have purchased some loaves of white bread to repay for your men helping at my dinner party."
Hogan just held his head down. I can't believe after all Klink has done for us, I still didn't believe him. He isn't that bad.
"Something a matter Colonel?"
"No Kommandant. Thanks."
"I have also heard there is a Red Cross package shipment on its way. Should be here in a day or two. You are dismissed Colonel."
"Thanks again." Hogan didn't come to attention, but gave a decent salute and left.
As Hogan stepped off of the porch at the Kommandantur, he was almost hit by a black staff car. He recognized those flags, Gestapo. Major Hochstetter stepped out of the car. "Watch it Hogan. I don't want you to dirty up my car." Then he walked inside. Hogan rushed back to the barrack to find out what Hochstetter was doing there.
"Men we may have a problem, Hochstetter's here." Hogan sat the box on the table and everyone went into Maria's room to listen in.
"Klink you will notice that your restraining order has been resented. Here is my paperwork placing Hogan and Maria in my custody."