Chapter Eleven: London
Carter couldn't help it; he was a bundle of energy while he waited with the others for Captain Hook to arrive. His foot swung and his fingers tapped as he sat on a log and kept watch for the fishing boat. But he wasn't the only one. His friends just mistakenly believed that they hid their nervousness better. Newkirk kept reaching into the pocket where he normally keep his cigarettes, Baker frequently rolled his neck and shoulders while LeBeau shifted from one foot to the other. Hogan appeared calm but his eyes kept darting from his men to his "prisoners" to the surrounding area. Only the Germans sat still. Well, Schultz continued to prove that he could nap anywhere while Klink had moved being from shocked and offended to moping and resigning himself to his fate.
"Ride's here," Olsen announced, pointing out to sea.
Carter jumped to his feet. "Can you believe it? After all these years of sending men to the sub, we're going to ride in it!"
Schultz jolted from his slumber. "A submarine! Colonel Hogan, I am too old to go underwater."
The officer smiled. "Nah, you're never too old to try new things."
"But I am too fat to ride in a submarine!"
"That may be true," LeBeau teased.
"Don't worry, Schultzie," Carter said. "We wouldn't leave you behind. I've never ridden in a submarine, either. Do you think they'll give us a tour?"
Newkirk groaned. "This is an escape, not a pleasure cruise."
The American shrugged to hide his hurt. "I can get excited or spend all my time worrying if Kinch and the others are okay. Aren't you excited? You're going home! I wonder how long we'll have to stay in England before they'll send the rest of us home."
"Gentlemen," Hogan said, his voice full of warning.
Carter closed his mouth and instead focused on tracking the fishing boat as it drew closer and closer to shore. It came to stop a couple of feet away and Hook stepped out onto the deck and waved for the men to hurry.
Reaching out, Carter grabbed Schultz's arm and led the guard into the water. The German flinched as the waves hit his boots and then tried to take a step backwards. "I think I should stay here."
"Too late for that, Schultzie," LeBeau said as he grabbed the guard's other arm and the two POWs worked together to push, steer and cajole their charge forward.
Ahead of them, Carter saw that Newkirk and Hogan had "convinced" Klink to board and then the four of them somehow got Schultz hauled over the railing. When Carter jumped up, he didn't have much time to take in his new surroundings because Hook ordered them to hide under a tarp. The scent of dead fish was overwhelming but thankfully, the ride was short.
When the boat engines shut off, Carter peeked out from his hiding place and spotted the top of the submarine breaking through the surface of the water. The hatch soon opened and a sailor threw a rope to Hook, who used it to pull the boat closer to the sub.
One of the sailors jumped across to the boat and shouted for the first man to cross. Olsen bravely stepped forward. One sailor held onto the back of his shirt and ordered the POW to grab onto the rope then jump across to the sub where two more sailors quickly grabbed his arms and guided him to the ladder.
Baker was next and Carter tried not to think about how the waves lapped his feet or the way the wind whistled. The normally calm and collected radioman pumped his fist in the air when he, too, reached the safety of the submarine.
"Colonel Hogan," Klink declared, "you're crazy if you think that I am going to-"
"Kommandant-" Hogan began.
"Don't worry about it, sir," the sailor interrupted as he signaled to his companion on the sub. "He's not the first unwilling German we've ferried across these waters." Suddenly, a large sailor stepped onto the boat, picked up the protesting officer and carried him to the other side.
Carter had to admit that he was impressed, but Schultz looked like he was going to faint. "Colonel Hogan," the guard complained.
"Sorry, Schultz," Hogan said, "there's not a man alive who can carry you. Just close your eyes and let these men guide you."
For a second, Carter was convinced that Schultz would never move. But with his eyes screwed shut and with sailors guiding him the entire way, the former guard safely made his way across, which meant that Carter now had no excuse. I can do this.
He gripped the water-soaked rope with all his might and tried to ignore the cold waves and icy wind. Instead, he focused on the warm and steady hands and voices guiding his movements until he stepped onto the ladder and then descended, on his own power, into the sub.
Wow! he thought; taking in his surroundings; he couldn't believe it. He reached out a hand to touch the metal surface of the walls. This was real; they'd made it! He walked over to Baker who slapped him on the back while grinning from ear to ear. Carter smiled back before turning to watch Newkirk, LeBeau, Hogan then the other sailors join them.
A naval officer approached the escapees as the engines started up and the vessel began to submerge. "Welcome aboard, I am Captain Barrington. Follow me to the lounge and my men will take your prisoners to the brig."
Hogan stepped forward. "Thank you, Captain, but that won't be necessary. They may complain but our Germans are tame. But I will need access to your radio."
"I'm afraid that's impossible, sir, wait... have we met? Your voice is familiar."
Hogan grinned. "Papa Bear, at your service."
One of the sailors who had helped them cross, shouted, "Wait, you're Papa Bear? You're not joking?"
"Anson!" Barrington snapped.
The sailor cringed, "Sorry, sir, it's just that we have a bet going as to if or when we'd have Papa Bear ride in our sub."
Newkirk chuckled. "Who won?"
Anson opened his mouth to answer but his CO had had enough. "Later," Barrington ordered. "If you're asking to use our radio, I can presume that London doesn't know you are here."
"No, Captain. And I'd prefer not to surprise them."
"Very well, sir, follow me. My men will see to yours."
Carter watched the officers disappear and Anson asked them to follow him. As they walked, Carter struck up a conversation with the young man, asking about the sub and all that he saw. Once they were seated the sailor leaned in and whispered, "I probably shouldn't, but there's been one thing that's been bugging me."
"Ask."
"Why did you need a pizza recipe?"
Carter laughed. "Why, did you have a bet on that one too?"
The sailor had the decency to look embarrassed before he replied, "Well, now that you mention it..."
It was time.
Kinch looked out at the second group of twenty-seven men gathered in the radio room. In just a few moments, they would escape and either find their freedom or face a long and dangerous road. It was more difficult the second time around, Kinch realized. The information he shared was almost identical to his briefing the night before, but today felt different.
And the truth was, it was different. The first group of escapees knew that as long as they evaded the soldiers searching the area, there would be a plane waiting to take them to England. This group could only hope. Hope that the group last night had met up with the plane. Hope that the Germans hadn't noticed. Hope that London had listened and agreed to send more planes. Hope that the desk officers believed that the risk was worth the reward. Hope that, even in Hogan's absence, Stalag Thirteen could pull off one last impossible mission.
Wrapping up his briefing, Kinch said, "If all goes well, you'll be eating breakfast in London. If the plane doesn't arrive, don't return. Scatter and head west any way you can. Any questions?"
There were none and the scene that followed was almost identical to last night. The remaining POWs left to say their goodbyes and then met him at the foot of the ladder where Kinch once again shook each man's hand and wished them luck.
Only this time when the last man left, Kinch walked back down the tunnels to meet with another group of twenty-seven. The second of three that he would be sending tonight. The third of the eleven groups total that it would take to empty these tunnels.
And with every step he took, he choose to believe. Believe that this was not goodbye. Believe that London had pulled through. Believe that he would see everyone - even Hogan - again.
If Newkirk could capture the energy Carter was radiating from every pore in his body, it would equal only a fraction of the nerves dancing in the pit of his own stomach. He could hardly believe that this moment was happening. He had been convinced, and had prepared himself for the probability that, this day would never come. But here he was and, in just a few moments, he would set foot on English soil for the first time in five years.
A cigarette - that's what he needed. Just a couple puffs to settle his nerves; to calm his shaking hands. Blimey! He almost jumped out of his boots when he felt a hand rest on his shoulder.
"You ready?" his CO asked.
Words should have tumbled easily from his lips but he found he couldn't speak. The others didn't say anything but they noticed. LeBeau reached out and squeezed his arm while Baker gave him a reassuring nod.
Newkirk took a deep breath when the submarine shuddered and the engines shut off. He watched while a sailor climbed up the ladder and opened the hatch. And his heart leapt when the sailor stepped out onto the dock, calling for the next man to follow.
Everyone moved back and waited for Newkirk to go first. He didn't know whether to curse or thank them, but he walked forward and grasped the rungs of ladder. Instinct propelled him upwards until soldiers grabbed his arms and helped him onto solid ground.
Stepping further onto the dock, his sea legs swayed a little before he turned his attention away from the guards to the familiar coastline. Rocks, he'd seen rocks like that before. And the early morning fog hovering above the ground. The air! He breathed in deeply. The air tasted different. Tasted like home. He had forgotten that air could taste like that.
Sinking to his knees, Newkirk touched the ground while tears filled his eyes. Nothing felt real. But this was real. He was home. He was home!
"I am not staying in this camp a second longer. Move out of my way!"
The voice of an angry POW echoed through the tunnels while Kinch pushed through the sea of men as fast as he could. The crowd parted when he neared the emergency exit where he spotted Foster, Addison and Greenberg blocking the exit from a group of three Americans who stood before them with clenched fists and set jaws. Unfortunately, Kinch didn't knows these prisoners very well and only recognized the men by sight. They were from Barracks Five, if he was correct, and they had only been in the camp a couple months. He would have to handle this situation very carefully.
"Gentlemen, what is going on here?"
The men turned and the man in the center said, "Tell your lap dogs to move out of our way. We're leaving."
"I understand it's cramped down here. But if you just wait-"
"Wait?" the shorted one cried. "Wait for what? To starve or be shot? No, I rather take my changes out there than hide in the tunnels like a child."
"And you can take that risk," Kinch said, "tonight. I'll juggle things around and send you all out with the first group."
The third POW snorted in derision. "You really believe London is sending those planes?"
"I do."
"You're a bigger fool than we thought. I think they only sent one," said the POW whom Kinch figured to be the ringleader. "They needed to know what happened to Colonel Hogan so I'd bet good money that the first group got out. But since they learned he wasn't on that plane and that he's not stuck here with us, they have no reason to come back for the rest of us. Can you tell us with certainty that when it's our turn, there will be a plane at the rendezvous point to take us to England?"
Shifting tactics, and aware that the concerns raised by these men were almost certainly shared by a good portion of the remaining POWs, Kinch raised his voice and admitted, "You're right. I have no way of knowing what happened to the others. And I don't know if London sent any planes or if there will a plane waiting for you when it is your turn. But what I do know is this: it should be impossible for an entire prisoner of war camp to fly out of Germany, but ever since I set foot in this camp, I have seen impossible things come true every day.
"Now I know that Colonel Hogan is the reason we accomplished as much as we did, but he wasn't the only reason." Kinch shifted his stance so that he wasn't just addressing the men in front of him but the dozens listening intently in the tunnel behind him. "Every man in this camp played his part. So I am giving you a choice. You can leave now and try an ordinary escape. Or you can wait and see if we can pull off one last impossible mission before this war is over. And if you're right and I'm wrong you've only delayed your exit by a couple hours. Then stepping forward, he looked directly into the troublemakers' eyes and asked, "Will you wait?"
The tunnels were silent while Kinch dared to hope that his gamble would pay off. He barely breathed until the three barracks' mates looked at one another then the leader replied, "We'll wait."
The initial moments after arriving in England passed by in a blur. Before Hogan could register that he had safely made it to London, soldiers descended on them, the Germans were taken into custody, and he was separated from his men and driven to HQ. His escort didn't talk and Hogan used the drive to prepare himself for the day ahead. If he wasn't careful, he would get caught in a series of meetings with higher-ups and he promised himself that he would insist that his energy needed be spent coordinating resources for his men that he had left behind. He didn't know what he would be able to do from England, but he could not simply debrief and close this chapter of his life until he learned what had happened to every last man.
After a few minutes to freshen up, he was escorted into an office where General O'Malley was waiting. As soon as they exchanged salutes, O'Malley said, "Hogan, you gave us quite a scare. When your radioman sent the Humpty Dumpty code, we were convinced that was the last we would ever hear of you or your men."
"I have good men, sir, and a particularly stubborn group of them insisted on coming after me. Now, I know we have a lot to discuss, but I first need to know about the status on the ground. Have you heard from your sources of mass captures or..." He trailed off, unable to voice aloud the other likely scenarios running through this head.
The General gestured towards a chair. "Sit, Colonel. Can I pour you a drink? Or get you something to eat? You look famished."
"General..."
"Will you sit if I tell you that I know exact location of every single one of your men?"
Hogan sat. Had he really just heard the General say what he thought he had heard? That wasn't possible, was it?
"Two days ago, we received a radio transmission from Stalag Thirteen, asking us to send a Gooney Bird to a specific location to pick up some men. The codes checked out, so we decided it was worth the risk. Twenty-seven of your men met that plane and it arrived in London that night. Sergeant Major Anderson was aboard and was able to give us information about your capture and the status on the ground. He also passed along a rather ambitious request from your Chief of Operations."
Leaning forward, Hogan's mind raced while he processed what he had just heard. Kinch was active and safe! At least he was as of two days ago. "What was the request?"
"We learned that, due to the situation on the ground, your men were unable to evacuate the camp as ordered and instead decided to hide out in the tunnels. Their request was to evacuate the entire camp by plane to England. Three planes rescued an additional eighty-one men last night and we hope to send another three birds out tonight."
"Where are they? Can I see them?" Hogan couldn't believe his ears. Never had he imagined a scenario in which some of the men he had left behind would beat him to England. Never had he dreamed that it would be possible for every single man to get away safely!
"Your men are currently being housed at an airbase northeast of London. Once we are finished here, you will join them. By the way, I am counting on you to come up with an explanation for a sudden influx of hundreds of escaped POWs that doesn't compromise our operatives still in Germany."
"Of course, sir. How long will it take to get everyone out?"
"Three more nights. And, Colonel, understand that I authorized this rescue because I believed the risk was worth the reward. But if a group of escapees miss their flight or a plane doesn't make it back, I will have to assume that the remaining prisoners have been discovered and scrap the mission."
Hogan nodded. "I understand." He didn't like it and would probably fight it if they had to cross that bridge but he understood. His men were as safe as they could be at this moment and that would have to be enough for now.