Author's note: a scene tagged onto the end of "Is There a Traitor in the House?"
Debriefing
The debriefing took place in the Colonel's quarters.
Lines had been delivered perfectly,
The interview had been broadcast,
The message had been decoded,
And the factory had been bombed.
An unqualified success.
Hogan regarded the Englishman,
With intense satisfaction.
Despite reservations,
Despite temptations,
The Corporal had done his duty;
The Colonel expected nothing less.
~0~
Newkirk grinned in acknowledgement.
He had not let the guv'nor down
Despite a challenging assignment,
Despite a double, perhaps triple, betrayal,
Despite unthinkable, personal
Consequences post-war.
LeBeau regarded the Englishman,
With intense sadness.
He wasn't fooled by his expression.
He understood the high price to be paid,
And the simple, devastating truth;
Newkirk expected nothing more.
~0~