Newkirk rushed out, heading to the barracks to get the needed papers. He brought them back to his colonel, who took them and using a clipboard, filled them out and signed them with a flourish. With a boyish grin on his handsome face, he handed the papers back to Newkirk. While he filled out the papers, Klink watched him with growing concern, noticing that Hogan's eyes seemed to close on their own volition far more frequently than before. Before he could utter a word about his worries, Newkirk held out the clipboard with the papers out to him and asked him to sign the papers right alongside Hogan's signature. Not having to think about it, Klink grabbed the offered pen and signed all the pages where his signature was needed. Once that was done, Hogan asked Newkirk to also sign as a witness. Then he ordered his man to take these papers to the new interims camp Kommandant, Major Wayne. With a nod, Newkirk was on his way.
Now alone with his former senior POW officer, Klink ventured further into the bedroom and took a seat in a chair beside the king-sized bed. Again realizing how tired and exhausted Hogan must be, Klink said gently, "Why don't you just lie down and get some rest while you still can. I am sure your men will come and get you when the time arrives to leave. Until then, I think it would be better for you to allow your still hurting and healing body to get as much rest as possible, Hogan."
Accepting the former Kommandant's words of advice and feeling truly exhausted beyond belief and also still hurting, Hogan moved from a sitting position to a prone one and turning onto his right side, closed his eyes in relief and moments later fell asleep; his even and slow breathing a sure sign that he was in dreamland.
Klink got up from his seat and grabbed the comforter, covering Hogan gently with it, keeping him warm. Smiling at the sight of his former senior prisoner of war officer sleeping like a little kid and looking just as innocent, Klink shook his head and quietly left the room, closing the door softly behind him.
Hours later it was already dark and the core team members were all set to go. They had their belongings as well as those of their commanding officer, leaving nothing behind. After a hearty round of goodbyes from their bunkmates, they left Barracks Two and headed out to the guest quarters to get their CO. LeBeau pulled the short straw and now had the luck to be the one to wake his commanding officer from his sleep. He shook him slightly on his shoulder to rouse him. Unfortunately for LeBeau, Hogan was wide awake immediately and before he knew what was happening, the colonel had him in a stranglehold and held a pointy knife close to his vulnerable neck. LeBeau shivered in fright and begged, "Please, mon colonel…it is only me, Louis LeBeau; your friend. I am not going to harm you."
Shocked at what he had nearly done, Hogan let go of LeBeau and put the knife away, apologizing the whole time. LeBeau waved it off. "It is fine, mon colonel. You only tried to protect yourself and I can never fault you for that, Sir."
Now the others came closer too and Newkirk added, "We are all set to go, Gov'ner. Just needed to collect you and then we'll be on our way to England."
Hogan had collected himself and was more awake now too. Throwing the covers off of him, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and started to get up. But he was obviously too fast, as a strong bout of vertigo hit him unexpectedly and he wavered. Newkirk and LeBeau grabbed him on both sides and steadied him. "Easy there, Gov'ner. You shouldn't move too fast, especially after you got that harsh knock to your noggin, Sir."
Nodding only slightly as to not aggravate his hurt head, Hogan allowed his two men to assist him getting up, more slowly this time, allowing his body time to adjust. Finally standing on his own two feet again, the colonel was ready to leave with his men, more than glad to leave this dismal place behind. Just as they are about to head out, Klink and Schultz stood in their way, blocking the exit.
Slightly annoyed at being hindered from leaving, Hogan spoke up, "What is this about, Colonel Klink? Have you changed your mind about turning me in to the Gestapo?"
Klink shook his head. "No Hogan, I haven't changed my mind. But I have something to ask of you. Please take me and Schultz with you to England. I don't want to be put on trial for war crimes I did not commit. And poor Schultz, he wouldn't survive being taken captive. Have a heart, Hogan; let us go with you and your men."
Having heard those pleading words, Hogan exchanged glances with his men and at seeing them all nod; he cleared his throat and said, "Fine, you can come with us. Pack your things and come to Barracks Two. But please, pack lightly. That goes especially for you Schultz. Understood?"
Both men nodded and went their separate ways to pack up; Klink just headed into his own quarters and Schultz hastily headed over to the guard's barracks. Once they had both packed their few belongings, they went to Barracks Two. Inside they were met by Hogan and his command team; everyone else had already left the barracks to mingle with the other prisoners.
Knowing there was no time left to explain, Hogan just walked over to the bunk bed and activated the hidden lever, opening the entrance into their tunnel system. Schultz had already seen it a few times and wasn't too surprised to see it again. Klink on the other hand couldn't believe his eyes as the lower bunk bed lifted up and its underside turned into a ladder leading down. With his usual boyish grin, Hogan made an inviting gesture to the two Germans, "After you, gentlemen."
A bit uncertain of what would await them, Klink and Schultz came over to Hogan and made their way slowly down. Then Newkirk, LeBeau, Baker and Carter followed. Hogan was the last down the ladder and he closed the bunk entrance securely, before joining his men. Turning to Carter, he asked, "Are all the charges set throughout the tunnels? Has all the sensitive material been burned or otherwise destroyed, so there won't be found?"
Carter answered his CO with his usual enthusiasm when it came to explosives, "You bet, boy...ehm, I mean, Sir. They are all set and on timers. This whole system will be blown to Kingdom Come in about half an hour. And the sensitive material has been destroyed, like you ordered, Colonel."
Nodding, Hogan turned to the others, "Alright, let's head out men. Do you have everything you need? 'Cause we can't turn around if you suddenly remembered something you forgot to take. This is a one way trip. There is no turning back once we move out; it will be for the final time. This is it, men. The war will be officially over for us. We are heading home…finally." Looking at his men, one by one, Hogan added, while pushing them gently onward, "Get a move on, guys. No time for dallying. The plane will be waiting for us; but only for about fifteen minutes. If we aren't there by then, they leave. Got it?"
All of the men, including Schultz and Klink, nodded in confirmation. At a fast clip they headed to the emergency tunnel exit, the tree stump. Baker was the first one up and out of the tunnels, followed by LeBeau and Newkirk. Then Klink came up, followed by an eager Carter. The last ones down there were now Hogan and Schultz. Schultz looked skeptical at the ladder. "Will it hold my weight, Colonel Hogan?"
Not really sure, but unable to reveal his own worries, Hogan replied, "I'm sure it will hold. Now move it, Schultz! I don't want to be blown up!"
Spurred on by Hogan's last words about an explosion, Schultz rallied all of his courage and started climbing up, getting encouragement from Hogan below him and his men urging him on from above.
After seemingly endless minutes, Schultz reached the top of the ladder, Hogan close behind him. His men gave Schultz a hand in getting out of the stump, which wasn't easy with his considerable weight. At last, everyone was out of the tunnel and ready to go. Grabbing his gun, which he had hidden on his person, Hogan took the lead and headed out to the meeting point with the plane. Two of his men, Newkirk and LeBeau crept up close to him and walked with him side by side. Reassured that he had help to get along if he needed it, Hogan continued on doggedly. Schultz and Klink stayed in the middle with Baker and Carter in the rear, always on the lookout for patrols.
After a short hike for about two and a half miles away from camp, the small group reached the landing site. Taking out a big flashlight, Newkirk exchanged the Morse code signal with the plane crew. They signaled back and a few minutes later, the plane, a C-47 Skytrain landed safely in the field and came to a stop, its engines still running. Hogan, his men and Klink and Schultz ran up towards the plane and jumped onboard. Schultz needed help of course, but they managed to get him into the plane. Once they were all aboard, Hogan strutted to the cockpit and exchanged a few words with the pilots. Then he came back and took a seat, strapping himself in for the flight to London. His men and the two Germans followed his example and everyone sighed with obvious relief that this part of the war was over for all of them.
Klink and Schultz had been wise enough to change into civilian clothes when they packed their belongings and had left the uniforms behind. The only things that Klink had taken with him were his medals that he had earned for his bravery in the first war. Therefore, they had no problems being allowed onboard the plane with Hogan and his men, as the crew believed them to be part of Papa Bear's team.
Hogan's men were talking animatedly with each other, especially Newkirk and LeBeau. The two were exchanging names of women in their little black books. Carter only talked about his final return to his big family in Bullfrog, North Dakota and Baker just took it all in, not fully in the mood to share any happy feelings. He dreaded the homecoming, knowing he would be ridiculed and shunned out again because of his skin color. He hoped against all hope that he somehow can stay under the command of Colonel Hogan, the only officer who had accepted him for who he is, not caring about his skin color. He looked over to his CO now and saw that he too was immersed in his own thoughts. Judging by his drawn out face and serious expression, those couldn't be happy thoughts. Baker prayed that whatever awaited them and their CO wouldn't be too bad. All of them deserved a break after everything they had been through.
