The T.V. show, Hogan's Heroes, belongs to CBS and was a Bing Crosby Production. No ownership of the Hogan's Heroes characters is implied or inferred, and no infringement is intended.

This story is the result of the Plot Bunny Challenge posted on Smartgroups to take another's "bunny" and write a story. Let's see if you can guess what my bunny is about. I will reveal it at the end of the last chapter.

Chapter Four

Crossed Swords

"Hey Schultzie, open the door for us, would ya?" Newkirk asked, struggling to keep up his end of the load.

Hogan stood in the background, watching as Newkirk, Thompson, and Edwards, followed by a dutiful Schultz, carried the makeshift boiler into the maintenance hut to be fixed. As the door closed behind them, Hogan turned, placing his foot on the bench outside of Barrack 11. Then, taking one last look around, he leaned across his knee, setting phase one into play.

Carter took the cue and began walking with a small picture viewer up to his eye, deliberately bumping into the patrolling guard. "Oh sorry, I didn't see you," Carter apologized with a wide smile on his face.

The guard, Corporal Kohler, looked questioningly at the small object in Carter's hand.

"Hey, you wanna look?" The tiny three-inch long viewer was thrust at the guard, who took it hesitantly in his oversized hands, while glancing over his shoulder making sure no one was watching. Slowly, he pulled it up to his eye and peeked inside. Kohler tore the picture away from his face and looked briefly at Carter, before again indulging himself.

The picture inside the viewer was what the Americans called a morale booster… of the feminine persuasion, and guaranteed to take a soldier's mind off the war. That's right, take your time, get an eyeful, just don't go taking it to Klink. He thinks it's still locked up in his desk. But the Kommandant can't call Newkirk a thief for taking it; after all, Klink took it from Paulsen when they brought him into camp.

Carter looked past the guard to see Kinch slipping into the restricted building housing the water tanks for the kitchen, and guards' showers.

"Ja." Kohler smiled, and murmured in broken English, "It…i…is… good."

"You like that, huh, big fella," Carter grinned, "Yeah, it's pretty good all right!" he added, giving Kinch time to close the door. "Well, I'd better get going and you'd better, too. We don't want Klink to catch you."

Kohler stiffened as the name "Klink" registered. He quickly pulled the picture away from his eye, thrusting it back at Carter. Being on duty, Kohler was risking a severe reprimand, a reprimand that could end up on his permanent record. "Ja!" he answered tensely, and motioned Carter on.

As the guard move away, Carter sauntered over to where Hogan still stood with his foot on the bench, observing the successful completion of phase one. "How long will Kinch need, Colonel?"

"I don't know exactly" Hogan answered, his eyes still on the guards milling around the compound. "He'll open the window an inch when he's done." Then looking at Carter, he finished. "When he does, signal Anderson."

"Right, Colonel!" Carter nodded, as he sat down on the bench outside of Barrack 11. Putting his picture viewer up to his eye, he nervously cleared his throat and began watching for Kinch's signal.

Hogan smiled, as a red blush colored Carter's cheeks. Reaching out he patted the young Sergeant on the shoulder. "Kinch shouldn't be long Carter, then you can give that…" Hogan pointed at the viewer. "…back to Newkirk."

Carter, looked up while smiling nervously and nodded. Turning back to look around the viewer, he watched for Kinch's signal.

Still smiling, Hogan slipped his foot off of the bench he had been leaning on, and stretched lazily while looking around. A small cluster of men had begun to gather a few feet away and he casually went to join them, leaving Carter alone to continue his vigil.

It wasn't long before the, watched, window slowly opened. Carter quickly shoved the viewer into his pocket, removed his hat, and dragged his arm across his forehead.

Private Anderson took in a deep breath. He had been watching nervously from the window in Barracks 11 for Carter's signal.

There it is! Anderson placed his hand over his heart to keep it from jumping through his chest. Okay I'm on! I can do this. I can do this.

This was Anderson's first excursion into the world of deception. And the first time he had been asked to help with any of the schemes that went on in camp. He felt like a kid going on his first date, both scared and excited at the same time. Throwing a towel over his shoulder and tossing a piece of soap, he marched out of the barracks. Please, just don't shoot me! Whistling loudly, he conspicuously approached his destination.

It didn't take long for him to catch the attention of a nearby guard, who curiously watched Anderson, until it finally donned on him what the prisoner was attempting to do.

"Halt!"

Anderson stopped at the door of the building housing the showers and watched the guard approach him.

"Nein!"

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Anderson extended his hand to the door handle and stuttered, "I…I just want to take a quick…"

"Nein!" The guard repeated grabbing the errant prisoner by the collar and pulling him back.

Anderson, unprepared, stumbled, flailing his arms and giving a startled yelp.

The prisoners, that had been gathering off to the side, moved in, adding to the commotion, and drawing more guards from their routine rounds to control them. The added commotion quickly turned into a chorus of voices and shoving.

Under cover of the diversion, Kinch slipped out of the building he had infiltrated, his pockets and jacket a little lumpier than before he entered, and made his way to the maintenance hut.

Hogan watched and waited for Kinch to disappear inside, and then hurried to make it to the, orchestrated, disturbance ahead of any physical violence that might erupt on the part of the guards.

"Hey, hey, what's going on?" Hogan shoved his way to the center of the jostling mob, and the role-playing began. "Anderson, what are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to take a shower, Colonel."

Hogan held out his hand for the soap and towel, which Anderson appeared to reluctantly hand over. "You know we can't take showers whenever we want. Besides the boiler's broken, you'd be an ice cube before you finished. Now come with me!" Hogan stepped between the offended guard and Anderson. "Sorry, I'll take care of this. Tell the Kommandant I'll see to his punishment."

The guard looked at Hogan and then back at Anderson before nodding his agreement. "Verboten!"

"Ja, ja," Hogan placated. "Verboten. All right you guys break it up! Anderson, this way!"

After a safe distance Hogan whispered, "Good job, Anderson,"

"Thank-you, sir. Now that it's over, it was…kinda fun!"

Hogan smiled. "If Kinch accomplished his task, the fun's just beginning!"

"Yeah, how long before they'll notice, sir?"

"It won't take long." Hogan looked at his watch, and turned to face Anderson, for the guards benefit.

"And another thing!"

Anderson slammed to a stop and snapped to attention, shocked at the sudden change in his commander's demeanor.

"The Kommandant could commit you to the cooler for breaking the rules, and me with you for letting it happen. So the next time you feel the need to go against regulations, remember that!"

"Yes, sir," Anderson answered, regaining his composure and falling back into his role.

"You've just earned yourself two weeks KP duty, mister. Dismissed!"

"Yes, sir! Thank-you, sir!" Snapping to attention, Anderson saluted. Hogan returned it…with a covert wink.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

"You sent for me, Kommandant?" the American Colonel asked as Schultz ushered him into Klink's office.

"Yes, Hogan, sit down. I was just told by our cook that there is no water in the kitchen. What do you know about this?"

Taking off his cap, Hogan dropped it on Klink's desk. "I was just on my way to tell you when Schultz came and got me." Hogan looked innocently at Klink as he plopped in the chair, "There's no water going into the kitchen."

Klink's jaw clenched. He looked down at his desk and rubbed his forehead trying to lessen his headache. Between Hochstetter getting him up in the middle of the night, and the cook complaining about the lack of water, his head felt as big as a melon. Slowly and deliberately, he tried again to get a straight answer from his suddenly dense prisoner.

"I know that!" Klink paused, and looking tiredly over at Hogan, asked, "What I want to know is the reason there is no water."

"Because the pipes are rusted through!" Hogan picked a pen up off of Klink's desk and began taking it apart. "My men discovered it when they traced the water line back…" Hogan stopped explaining, and frowned at the two pen parts he now held in his hands. "Huh, these won't go back together." Looking up, he announced, "They came apart… they have to go back together. Uh, where was I …oh yeah, the leak. My men discovered it when they traced the line back." Hogan began forcing the two pieces of pen back together.

Klink leaned forward in his chair, "Your men discovered it? Ha, more likely your men broke them. And how did they know there was a leak to begin with? Was the ground wet?"

Holding a now together pen, Hogan grinned and held it up triumphantly.

"Give me that!" Klink slammed the pen down on the opposite side of his desk.

"No, the ground was dry." Hogan leaned back in his chair, and looked around Klink's office.

"Maybe I'm not making myself clear." I can hardly think myself, with this headache. Klink closed his eyes and rubbed his temple. "Colonel Hogan..." Opening his eyes Klink continued. "What I want to know…Colonel Hogan, don't look at the floor, look at me."

Hogan whipped his head up, as Klink snapped his fingers. Well, that didn't take long. Frustrated, Kommandant? Good!

"That's better. Now, try to stay with me on this. What I want to know is how your men knew to trace the pipeline back." Klink poured himself a glass of water from the canister on his desk.

"Oh, well why didn't you say so? They couldn't get any water pressure in the pipes."

Klink shook his head and, opening his desk draw, took out a tin of aspirin. "I still don't see how they knew that was due to a leak in the pipes? The water tower could have been dry, or a valve could have been shut off," He tossed the aspirin into his mouth and downed the water, as his head began to pound harder.

"Well, because the pipes were broken there was no water coming through them, and since there was no water coming through them …"

Klink could feel his headache growing with each word assaulting his ears. "Stop! I don't care about the water pressure…or the leak! Just fix it!" Klink grabbed his head.

"We can't fix it." Hogan took his cap from Klink's desk and brushed it off.

"What do you mean you can't fix it?" Klink sighed, his eyes half closed, he leaned tiredly on his desk.

"Well, that is why I was coming to see you." Hogan shined the brim of his hat on his sleeve.

"I thought you said you were coming to see me to tell me there was no water going to the kitchen?" Klink asked, totally confused.

"No, that was why you sent for me. You already knew there was no water in the kitchen, and you wanted to know if I knew why." Giving up, Kommandant? I hope so, just follow my lead. "There wouldn't be much sense in me telling you what you already know!" Hogan stopped, and looking closely at Klink, asked, "Are you sure you're feeling all right, Kommandant? You seem to be having trouble following what I've been telling you."

Klink stared at Hogan, his mouth hanging open. If you think I'm not listening? You should try being on my end of this conversation! "Truthfully, I was feeling better before we started talking. So why were you coming to see me, if it wasn't to tell me there's no water going to the kitchen?" Looking back up at Hogan, he found his senior POW trying to flip a tack, using a paper clip, into the pencil holder on his desk. "Hogan, pay attention!"

"Huh?" Hogan looked up with a start from his improvised 'tiddley winks'.

"How do you expect me to follow what you're saying when you keep getting distracted? Now, leave the top of my desk alone!" Klink moved his pencil holder to the other side of his desk with the recently banished pen.

"Sorry!" Hogan threw the paper clip down. "What was the question? Oh, yeah, why was I coming to see you? I wanted to tell you something you needed to know," Hogan stopped.

Klink looked at Hogan, and with false patience, lowered his voice, saying, "Yes, go on. What did I need to know?"

"That we need more pipe," Hogan announced.

"You need more pipe?" Klink questioned.

"To repair the line," Hogan answered helpfully, and then continued explaining, "So we can replace the pipes that have rusted through."

Klink stared at Hogan for a moment, analyzing what he had just been told. "I guess that makes sense, so why do I have a feeling you're trying to get away with something."

Hogan, appearing stunned, straightened in his seat. "I was just trying to be helpful, sir. But if you don't want us to repair it…" Standing, Hogan put his hat on his head.

The thought of having to deal with the cook again made Klink's head feel like it was going to explode. "No, no, you can repair it. Just tell Sergeant Schultz what you need and I'll write out the requisition."

Mission accomplished! Hogan breathed in deeply"Yes, sir, if that's all I have a few remaining details to take care of before we make that list." And before we send Schultz, into town with our message for the underground.

"I certainly hope so…I mean, yes, that is all. You're dismissed."

"Thank you, sir." Flipping off a sloppy salute, Hogan turned to leave.

"And Hogan…" Klink began.

"Yes, sir?" Hogan turned back.

"Try to get more rest. You seem to be having trouble staying focused and…it could interfere with the smooth operation of my camp."

"Me?" Hogan exclaimed. "You…"

"That is all!" Klink waved. "Disssmisssed!"

Hogan once again turned to leave and, smiling to himself, barely took two steps toward the door when it burst open and Major Hochstetter barreled in.

"Colonel Hogan," The Gestapo Major stopped short "You've saved me the trouble of sending for you." Hochstetter sneered and circled Hogan.

"Major Hochstetter!" Klink dropped both arms down on his desk, and with a shake of his head, asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I just came to interrogate my prisoner…and to have a little talk with Colonel Hogan." Looking at Hogan, Hochstetter ordered, "Sit down."

Hogan felt himself tense as he stepped back to put some distance between himself and the Gestapo Major. They say the best defense is a strong offense, let's try a frontal attack. "So, have you had any luck finding the accomplice you've been looking for, Major?"

Hochstetter glared at Hogan. And then smiling through gritted teeth, and in an overly calm voice, again ordered, "Sit down, Colonel Hogan." Grabbing the chair next to Klink's desk, he placed it front and center. "Now!"

Hogan looked at the chair and frowned, before lowering himself into it. Then, nonchalantly crossing his legs and folding his hands in his lap, he jauntily asked, "Well, Major, we haven't had one of our little heart to hearts in a long time. What can I do for you?"

Please, Colonel Hogan, don't do anything foolish. Klink silently begged.

Hochstetter pursed his lips and, looking down, studied the floor as he walked over and leaned against the edge of Klink's desk. Without looking up he began, "Herr Baum's contacts seem to have vanished into thin air like phantoms," Hochstetter looked at Klink's riding crop lying next to him on the desk, and picking it up, flexed it between his two hands. "I don't believe in ghosts." Releasing one side of the riding stick he jabbed it into Hogan's chest proclaiming, "I have a feeling you know more than you're letting on, Colonel Hogan!"

Hogan looked down at the affront, and then with cold glaring eyes looked directly at Hochstetter. "You saw me here last night. Until you arrived setting off the sirens and letting the dogs out, I was sleeping."

"Perhaps," Hochstetter answered, as he slid the riding crop up to just below Hogan's 'Adam's apple'.

Moving his hands to the arms of the chair to keep from snatching Hochstetter's horsewhip out of his grasp, Hogan's knuckles blanched white.

"Major Hochstetter, you are always making accusations but you never have any proof." Klink nervously jumped to his feet, coming to a stop next to Hogan.

"True, Kommandant, I have no proof…," Hochstetter answered, still staring at Hogan,

"I knew it! Then I must ask you to stop stirring up my prisoners." Klink interrupted. He had one eye on Hogan, watching for the familiar flash in the American's eyes that warned he had had enough.

Still pressing into Hogan's neck with the whip, Hochstetter added, "…yet! But what I do have is a prisoner in the cooler that I am about to interrogate. Does that worry you a little, Colonel Hogan?"

Hogan looked at Hochstetter questioningly. The pressure on his neck was becoming more and more uncomfortable and he fought not to cough. "Why should it worry me? You're the one that has to answer to Berlin for failing to find…whoever it was you were looking for."

Hochstetter's jaw tighten at the mention of Berlin, and Hogan reaffirmed, "I've been right here."

Hochstetter leaned toward Hogan as he bellowed, "You, Colonel Hogan, are failing to convince me, that you weren't the one who met Baum last night. The trail led in this direction." Hochstetter tapped the leather stick under Hogan's chin.

Hogan, grateful the leather crop was no longer pressing into his throat, raised his chin in avoidance of its possible return. "I don't know how other POW camps are run, but Kommandant Klink frowns on us just getting up and leaving."

"So you say," Hochstetter purred. Then, dragging the riding crop across Hogan's neck, the Major traced the path a blade would make while cutting a throat.

Hogan pulled back slightly, irritably aware of the insinuated threat, and imagined himself grabbing the whip away from Hochstetter and ramming it down his throat!

"American humor! But he's right." Klink laughed nervously. "Nobody walks away from my camp." Puffing up with pride, he added, "I run a model prison camp. There are no escapes."

Hochstetter made a noise between a laugh and a growl as he dragged the tip of the riding crop up the side of Hogan's face. "Yes, I've heard that before, but perhaps there will be a different story after I talk with my prisoner." The look on Hochstetter's face turned cold.

Snap! – The swagger stick cracked against Hogan's cheek.

"Ugh!" The American Colonel jerked, turning his head to the side, as his hands reflexively left the arms of the chair and balled into fists. The sting of the strike spread out across his cheek, gradually changing to heat. Only pure gut-wrenching self-control stopped him from making contact with the egotistic maniac standing in front of him.

"Major Hochstetter!" Klink, admonished, as he took an impulsive step toward Hochstetter thinking to snatch his riding crop away. However, self-preservation won out and, he stopped himself in time. He quickly changed his focus to Hogan, afraid of what the American might do, and was surprised, but pleased, to see him still sitting in his chair.

Hochstetter smirked. The taunting gleam in his eyes aimed directly at Hogan.

Sweat ran down Hogan's temple as he clenched and unclenched his fists in frustration. Gritting his teeth against the sting, he glared at Hochstetter, fighting back his willingness to play into Hochstetter's web. Just one punch, that's all I want…

Don't do it, Hogan! He's baiting you. I can't protect you if you assault a German officer. Klink thought, as he watched Hogan flex his hands one last time before again gripping the arms of the chair.

The muscles in Hogan's jaw tensed. Keep it under control, he ordered himself. That's what he's after. One aggressive act and he'll have me. I'll be at the mercy of the Gestapo. He swallowed his pride and almost breathlessly, repeated, "Like I told you, Major, I've been right here."

"Bah!" Annoyance showed on Hochstetter's face. Come at me, Hogan! You know you want to.

The skin on Hogan's left cheek tightened and burned as a welt puffed up under the riding crop.

Hochstetter admired the welt, caressing it with the end of the leather crop, still trying to provoke Hogan into action. Maybe I'll give you one on your other cheek, too, he thought, before denying himself the pleasure and whipping the riding crop back down to his side. "Keep Colonel Hogan available, Kommandant. I may want to talk to him later."

Klink headed for the door. "Colonel Hogan will be here, where he always is, but if you plan on interrogating my prisoner, you will have to get permission from General Burkhalter. Colonel Hogan is Luftwaffe property, and as long as he is in my possession, he is under my protection." Klink opened the door and looked at the Gestapo Major.

Property? The word ate at Hogan and he shot a fiery glare at Klink.

"Interesting choice of words Kommandant! But possession can change in the blink of an eye. It only takes the word of a loyal German citizen…or the confession of a traitor to the Fatherland." Hochstetter threw Klink's riding crop down on the desk. "We are moving Baum to Berlin tonight on the Berlin Express, until then I will be trying to get at the truth. After that I may be back to finish my discussion with Colonel Hogan. And I won't need General Burkhalter's permission." Hochstetter stormed out of the room.

"I'm sorry, Colonel Hogan, I…" Klink began, as he walked back to his desk.

"Am I dismissed?" Hogan's anger was evident. Gritting his teeth to keep from saying more, he snapped his eyes up from where he had been staring at the front of Klink's desk.

Respecting Hogan's need to deal with his humiliation in private, Klink answered, "Yes, Colonel Hogan, you are dismissed."

Hogan stood to leave.

"Colonel, Hogan, don't do anything foolish!"

"Who me? What can I possibly do from a POW camp?" Hogan hissed as he went for the door. If there weren't so many lives depending on me I'd show you who's property, Kommandant! You' wake up one morning to an empty prison camp and I'd be dropping bombs on Berlin by breakfast!

"Oh, Hogan …" Klink began. "I still want the water back on in the kitchen and I expect you to see that your men get it done." That ought to keep you out of trouble for awhile, Klink thought.

Hogan did not answer and Klink did not press it. Instead, Hogan grabbed the door handle, and without turning to offer a salute, stormed out.

The outer office was deserted and he paused before reaching the outer door to touch his, now partially numb, cheek, and to shake off some of the anger consuming him. Pulling his hand away, he expected to see blood, and was relieved to find none.

Must not have broken the skin. That's something at least.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he took a settling breath and stepped outside. The cool air soothed his burning cheek and he stopped on the porch to let the fire in both his cheek and heart die down. Someday, Hochstetter, someday we'll have our showdown! Regardless of who wins thise war. After a few more seconds, he stepped off the porch to join his waiting men.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

"Has he come out yet?" LeBeau asked rounding the corner of barrack five. Then seeing the Gestapo staff car stopped cold, "Oh no! Hochstetter's back?"

"Yeah, the Colonel hasn't come out yet, but Hochstetter has, and he headed to the cooler. No doubt to try and find out who his prisoner contacted last night," Newkirk answered, leaning against Barrack Two and taking another drag from his cigarette.

Carter looked up from the bench he was sitting on and asked, "I thought the Colonel was just going to talk Klink into sending Schultz into town for the pipe and be back."

"Oui, that was the plan, but we weren't expecting Hochstetter back so soon," Louis answered, looking at Carter, who was kicking at a rock to relieve his nervous energy.

Newkirk glanced from his friends back to Klink's office. "Heads up, ere he comes." Tossing his cigarette butt, he joined the others as they walked toward Hogan.

"Any problems with Klink, Colonel?" Newkirk asked.

"No, everything's set up. Klink will send Schultz for the supplies."

LeBeau's eyes landed on the angry red welt on Hogan's cheek "That pig," LeBeau hissed.

"Forget it!" Hogan snapped. Then he asked, "Did Hochstetter go directly to the cooler?"

"Yeah, Colonel. Is he starting his interrogation?" Carter asked.

Hogan turned and looked toward the cooler and nodded without answering. He had spent time with Hochstetter there himself, and knew what was happening. Hang on, Baum. We need a little time.

"Mon Colonel, are you all right?" LeBeau asked, ducking around to stand in front of Hogan, trying to read his face.

Hogan glanced at Louis frowning. "I'm fine! It's Baum that's going through Hell." He quickly turned away from LeBeau's scrutinizing eyes and faced Carter, "Carter, are your noisemakers and smoke bombs ready?"

Carter, distracted by the realization of what had been going on inside of Klink's office, hesitated, "Yes, sir." He couldn't help staring at the red mark on Hogan's cheek.

"Don't just stand there staring at me, get that list of supplies you need together and give it to Schultz. Where's Kinch?" Hogan asked in a clipped voice.

"He's down in the tunnel, Colonel, getting the message ready for the Underground," Newkirk answered.

Hogan nodded and shot another quick glance at the cooler, before looking at Carter. "Carter, get our message box and meet me and Kinch downstairs." Hogan headed for the barracks…and a few minutes alone.

Louis watched as Hogan carried on like nothing had happened and his own fury rose within him. A string of French words spewed forth in a rush as Louis expressed his anger.

"I don't know what you just said, but I agree," Carter looked over his shoulder in time to see Hogan absentmindedly rub his injured cheek before jerking his hand away so as not to be seen, and disappearing into Barracks Two.

"Come on, the gov'nor will sort it out. We've got work to do." Bloody Krauts! Newkirk swore to himself. "You better get going, Andrew. You don't want to keep the Colonel and Kinch waiting. We have to get that box with the message for the Underground, secured to the truck before Schultz leaves."

Carter nodded, "Right, Newkirk."

"Louis, let's make up that list for Schultz." Newkirk gave LeBeau an encouraging pat on the shoulder."

"Oui, mon ami, and then I'm going to stick pins in my Hochstetter doll!"

Newkirk pulled back and looked at LeBeau, questioningly, "I didn't know you practiced voodoo Louis?"

"I don't." Louis mumbled, "But for Hochstetter, I'm willing to learn!"

Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Later in the tunnel.

"There, that ought to do it. Carter, you, Newkirk, and LeBeau get this in place under the truck." Hogan handed the container holding their message to Carter.

"Yes, sir, right away!"

As Carter hurried off, Kinch took the opportunity to debrief his commanding officer. "So Hochstetter went down to beat a confession out of our contact; do you think he'll sell us out?"

Hogan shook his head. "It was dark. We didn't make any introductions. He only knew me by Papa Bear and he hasn't seen me here. Now, what other information he has that he could tell, I don't know, and we can't ask London as long as that radio detection truck is in the compound. "So, just to be safe, we've got to get him away from the Gestapo." Hogan grew quiet and in a whisper added, "If he can just hold out until tonight."

Kinch could see the pain in Hogan's eyes. The knowledge of what was happening a few hundred yards away, but not being able to do anything to stop it ate at his commanding officer. "Do you think our diversion will cause enough commotion to pull off some of those SS guards from the transport truck? Kinch asked.

"Mmm." Letting loose of his own haunting memories of time spent with the Gestapo, Hogan took a sip of coffee and nodded. "Hochstetter will have to leave some of them here to guard us. That should lower the guards around Baum, and help the Underground get Baum off that truck before they get him to the Berlin Express."

"And," Kinch continued, "when Hochstetter finds out what happened, he'll move his troops and the radio detection truck out of camp and to the other side of Hammelburg. Allowing us to radio London," Kinch nodded.

Hogan looked at Kinch, "And leaving Hochstetter holding the bag!"