Chapter 6: Nothing To Hide
Cummings and Olsen ducked behind a tree when they heard the shooting. "Wonder what they are shooting at? ." Olsen asked
"I don't know, but it sure isn't us because they are firing on the other side of camp. Lets get out of here becauseI don't want to be out here when the Krauts come out to look for whatever it is." Cummings answered.
They made it to the stump just in time to see Carter climb into the tunnel. When they were sure the coast was clear, they went down into the tunnel also.
"Here Newkirk, this is all I could get." Carter dropped a bag of hair at his feet and started to change his clothes.
"We can do better than that." Cummings said with a smile as he dropped their couple of bags.
"What kind of 'air is that?" Newkirk asked picking up a bundle of hair.
"Horse. We went to the Holtz farm and had him give his horses a hair cut." Olsen answered with a laugh while changing back into his regular uniform. "We might want to get topside. There was some shooting and they are probably going to call a surprise roll call."
"Were they shootin' at you blokes?" Newkirk asked concerned
Carter shook his head "I don't think so. They were shooting at something on the other side of camp."
"Lets get topside then and fast." Newkirk stated.
HH HH HH
"Klink, I want an immediate roll call to make sure everyone is here." Hochstetter ordered
"Shultz, get everyone in formation for roll call." Klink ordered as he silently prayed Please don't let it be one of my prisoners. There has never been a prisoner shot here and I don't ever want one shot here.
"Jawol" Shultz saluted and did as ordered. Shultz started counting the prisoners and stopped when he saw Hogan's space empty. Before he could even ask about Hogan's whereabouts, Klink demanded a report. "Sir all present except for Colonel Hogan." Shultz answered
"HAH! I knew it. Hogan knew that Eva would eventually name him as Papa Bear and set up this distraction to escape." Hochstetter had such a joy radiating from him that it was scary.
Shultz saw movement behind Hochstetter and stepped to the side to get a better look. What he saw brought a smile to his face. "Um Major, please take a look behind you." Shultz suggested
Hochstetter and Klink turned around and saw Hogan and Eva sitting on the steps to the Kommandantur talking.
Klink walked up to Hogan. "What are you doing? Did you not hear Sergeant Shultz call for a special roll call?"
"Yes I did. It is just that I haven't been dismissed yet so I decided to stay here." Hogan answered innocently.
It took all of Hogan's self control to hide the smile and laugh he had over watching Hochstetter deflate.
Hochstetter walked up to Hogan and shook his fist in his face. "Don't worry Hogan, I will get you in my grasp soon. Either I will get Sleeping Beauty to talk or you will slip up. One way or the other you are mine. You might as well confess and save us all a lot of time and pain."
Hogan stood up showing Hochstetter that he was not scared of his threats. "I have nothing to hide from you Major. That was seen to at Dulag Luft. Whatever confessions you beat out of someone will be lies. You have been after me for so long that you are afraid to give up and admit that you were wrong. That is why you keep looking for someone to agree with your imagination."
Smack! Hochstetter backhanded Hogan out of frustration. Klink stood there with his mouth open. I better separate these two before Hochstetter gives Hogan something more lethal. "Take her back to her cell and Hogan you are free to go back to your barrack."
After a moment Hogan broke his gaze with Hochstetter and gave Klink his normal salute and went to his barracks.
HH HH HH
Hogan's men scattered quickly and tried to act casual when they saw their CO head for the barracks. They knew it was hard for Hogan to put up with the abuse and humiliation especially when he could leave anytime he wanted. Most of the time, Hogan was playing a game with Hochstetter, but every once an a while, Hochstetter would change the odds to his favor.The mendid their best to not add to his discomfort so they pretended that they did not see what had happened.
Hogan walked in and saw a card game going on at the table, LeBeau getting the ingredients together to cook, Carter was sweeping the floor and Kinch was reading a book upside down. Hogan appreciated the effort. "Newkirk, shouldn't you be finishing up on a certain outfit?"
"Oh! Right gov'nor." Newkirk laid his cards down and went to the tunnel entrance. "Kinch, if you don't mind, could you come down for a fittin'?"
Kinch laid his book down and followed Newkirk. Hogan stopped them. "Newkirk, while you are at it, I want you to take apart the bullet proof vests that we have and put the stuff on the inside of the outfit. Just in case." With that Hogan went into his room and closed the door.
Everyone one looked at each other. "C'mon mate." Newkirk motioned to Kinch.
HH HH HH
That night after roll call, Hogan headed for the entrance to the tunnels. "LeBeau, I want you to accompany me tonight for my meeting with Tiger...just incase I needback up because of patrols."
"Oui." LeBeau followed Hogan to the tunnel and both of them dressed in black.
Newkirk went into the tunnels also and started working on the outfit again. "How is it coming Newkirk?" Hogan asked as he checked his pistol
"Just about through Sir. Sir do you need me to go with you?" Newkirk asked
"No, you need to have it finished for in the morning." Hogan answered and headed for the emergency exit with LeBeau.
