What happened? Hogan awoke and realized it was almost time for morning roll call. What happened to evening roll call? What about dinner? It was unlike the Krauts not to conduct the ritualistic roll calls. He stood and stretched. The room felt unusually cold. He realized the stove went out so he tossed in a couple of pieces of wood and lit a fire.
It would take a few moments for the room to warm, so Hogan donned his robe. He had to take care of morning business. As he walked through the barracks to the latrine, he noticed most of the men still slept. The alarm clock known as Schultz failed to wake the men. The main room was warm. Someone tended the stoves.
LeBeau quietly said from his bunk, "The Krauts won't be coming for another hour, Mon Colonel."
Hogan asked, "Why not?"
LeBeau replied, "Burkhalter's way of thanking us for helping fight the fire." He sat up and continued, "I'll start breakfast."
Hogan asked, "Is Burkhalter still here?"
LeBeau replied, "He left last night. Oh, and Colonel, most of the guards are resting too. That infantry unit loaned some men to guard the camp."
"I see," said Hogan. "Was someone doing bed checks?"
"Just the usual Krauts but Schultz went to bed hours ago," replied LeBeau. "Langenscheidt was here not too long ago. He even apologized for waking me. Maybe he isn't a pig after all."
Hogan nodded. His morning business felt urgent so he tended to his need. After, he checked the water. Good, the Krauts must have replenished the tower and turned on the water in the barracks. He walked back into the main room and saw several men stirring.
LeBeau said, "We're not supposed to take showers but we're allowed to use the wash basins. The water truck has been working all night. We really drained it dry."
"Fires will do that," said Hogan. He turned to Kinchloe and said, "Kinch, after you clean up, check the radio."
Kinchloe said, "Yes sir."
The barracks came to life as men arose. The Krauts rarely extended kindnesses. If Klink thought extra sleep served as reward enough for fighting the fire, Hogan determined the men deserved more. Thin soup and black bread would not suffice. Hogan recalled what Saunders said about sickness from smoke inhalation: coughing, shortness of breath, hoarseness, red eyes, and headaches. Despite a few coughs, some of the men dared to light cigarettes.
As Hogan dressed, he smelled the sweet aroma of coffee. LeBeau proved more than a gourmet chef. The Frenchman understood the needs of the team. Hogan joined the men and heartily drank his coffee. LeBeau served breakfast and the men enthusiastically ate.
Kinchloe said, "I reached London. They're glad to hear we're alright and have no orders at this time."
"Good," said Hogan. "The Krauts will probably want volunteers to help with clearing the woods. Yes, we're going to volunteer. We need to know what it's like out there if we're going to re-open the store."
The men cleaned up as best as possible considering the no shower order. While clean uniforms might prove problematic for a few days, they could count on clean underwear. Someone had insight to include that provision in the Convention.
Schultz finally arrived, "Alle raus! Roll call!"
Carter cried, "It's too early!"
Schultz snickered, "Jolly jokers. Maybe you got too much sleep!"
Hogan said, "Alright, let's go."
The men filed out of the barracks and formed ranks. Then several of the men supplied wolf whistles as Saunders joined the formation. Hogan realized the nurse ignored the no shower order. As well, she had powdered her face and sported bright red lipstick. She could have been an Army nurse poster come to life.
The men decided to have good sport with Schultz as he tried to do the count. Hogan said, "Alright, knock it off and let Schultz do his job."
"Jolly jokers," said Schultz.
Klink came out of his office and Schultz ordered the men to attention. The Kommandant demanded a report with characteristic vigor. Then Klink began a lengthy oration. The water tower was half-empty but water trucks would continue to replenish it. Temporarily, water restrictions remained in effect. Showers and laundry had to wait. Water priority meant use first for food, medical purposes, and toileting.
As a reward for their hard work fighting the fire, breakfast was backobst with sausage, white bread, and butter. If the men worked hard assisting with forest maintenance, Klink would arrange a special dinner. He released the men for breakfast.
While Hogan's men had already eaten, to refuse the meal would have drawn unnecessary attention. Typically, the bread and soup did little to satisfy let alone oversaturate stomachs. As they filed through the mess hall, the smell of sausage overwhelmed their senses. Going through the line, backobst turned out to be a porridge sweetened with fruit. The butter appeared freshly churned. They even smelled the warmth of the bread.
The Germans only provided two meals a day – if one could call bread and soup a meal. The Red Cross packages helped sustain the men. Men on work details earned money in the form of military scrip, redeemable at the commissary for a variety of products including food.
Hogan had a system of importing food. If his men were not well fed, most would have little incentive to remain voluntary prisoners. Such practical materialism outweighed the idealism for the greater good of helping other prisoners escape Germany. As Hogan looked around the mess hall, he saw contented men. This differed from the normal view of men tolerating a situation.
After breakfast, the men assembled for the work detail. Rather than compiling all of the prisoners, Hogan asked for volunteers. Klink's promise of a special dinner encouraged many. As the men marched out of the camp, they sang the Army Air Corps Song.
Off we go into the wild blue yonder
Climbing high into the sun;
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At 'em boys, give 'er the gun!
Down we dive spouting our flames from under,
Off with one hell of a roar!
We live in fame or go down in flame,
Nothing'll stop the Army Air Corps!
Minds of men fashioned a crate of thunder
Sent it high into the blue
Hands of men blasted the world asunder,
How they live God only knew!
Souls of men dreaming of skies to conquer
Gave us wings ever to soar
With scouts before and bombers galore,
Nothing can stop the Army Air Corps!
Here's a toast to the host of those
Who love the vastness of the sky,
To a friend we send the message
Of his brother men who fly.
We drink to those who gave their all of old,
Then down we roar
To score the rainbow's pot of gold.
A toast to the host of men we boast the Army Air Corps.
Off we go into the wild sky yonder,
Keep the wings level and true!
If you'd live to be a gray haired wonder,
Keep your nose out of the blue!
Flying men guarding our nation's borders,
We'll be there followed by more,
In echelon we carry on!
Nothing'll stop the Army Air Corps!
Hogan carefully observed the landscape. The immediate perimeter around the camp remained intact. The fire had not backtracked to the camp. Krauts worked on erecting new telephone poles and stringing new lines. The initial fire perimeter required clearing of fallen trees and brush. They recovered trees suitable for burning in the stoves, loaded the trees onto a truck, and guards transported the wood back to camp. They collected brush and burnt it in fifty-gallon drums.
The forstmeister supervised the operation, accompanied by several civilians. It was the wrong time of year to plant new trees. For a while, Hogan and his men would need to navigate around the cleared areas. He mentally noted the positions, as did his core team. The burnt out Junker remained but the bodies already recovered. Hogan noticed a team of Luftwaffe stripping engine and other parts.
Hogan knew he must remain focused. He needed to go to Dusseldorf. The perimeter was large enough to hinder foot travel through the woods. Travel by car should be safer, he thought. Where to hide the car? He realized he neglected to arrange requisitioning a car from the motor pool. It seemed unlikely that Klink would take off while so much work remained. Hogan should have remained at camp to plant the idea in Klink's mind to take a break.
A car came down the road blaring its horn incessantly. Men in the road cleared way for the Gestapo staff car. What was the Gestapo doing? Hogan looked at his team and knew they had the same question.
Carter said, "That can't be good."
Newkirk asked, "What do you suppose is going on?"
Hogan said, "I don't know. Newkirk, take a fall. Fake a twisted ankle and get back to camp. And don't overdo it."
"Right sir," said Newkirk. He took a few steps toward a fallen tree. Carefully, he staged a fall and let out exaggerated calls. This drew the attention of both prisoners and guards.
Schultz approached and said, "Newkirk, you sound like a monkey howling in the jungle."
Hogan said, "Schultz, I'm surprised at you. Can't you see he's hurt? He needs to go back to camp."
"I think it's broken, Colonel," said Newkirk.
"Let me see," said Schultz. He labored to stoop down on one knee and said, "Roll up your pant leg." Newkirk complied, faking some whimpers. Schultz looked and said, "You're faking it."
"I swear it's broke," said Newkirk.
Hogan said, "Aw come on Schultz. He needs medical attention."
"Fine," said Schultz. "Take him to the truck. I'll have Langenscheidt take him to the infirmary."
Newkirk easily played the wounded pigeon. The infirmary, however, was the last place he wanted to go. He knew he had to seize an opportunity to spy on the Gestapo. While Hogan had audacity and credentials to barge into the Kommandant's office, Newkirk only had audacity.
It was a short trip back to camp. When the truck stopped, he heard shouts in German. The damn Jerries will ruin everything, he thought. As a guard raised the tarp, Newkirk felt briefly blinded by the light. When his eyes adjusted, he saw several guards along with Wilson and Saunders waiting.
Wilson asked, "What's wrong?"
"I twisted me ankle, I did," replied Newkirk.
"Ease him down gently," said Saunders.
Did Newkirk detect a tone of suspicion in her voice? He said, "I might be feeling better."
"Get him onto the stretcher and carry him inside," said Saunders.
Being stuck inside the infirmary was not what Newkirk wanted. He had his orders from the governor and the bird was interfering. If he made a scene, Jerry would know he was up to no good. He reverted to his wounded pigeon routine until he was inside the infirmary and the Jerries left.
Newkirk said, "I can't stay, love."
Saunders said, "Sergeant Baker is eavesdropping. You should be thankful Colonel Hogan uses a coffee pot as an amplifier instead of a teapot." Newkirk stared quizzically at her. She added, "Sergeant Wilson told me. Now then, do you want a miraculous recovery or would you prefer to pull a Tiny Tim?"
Newkirk said, "I've always been partial to Dickens."
Wilson said, "I'll get the crutches."
Olsen rushed into the infirmary and said, "The Kommandant is coming."
Saunders said, "I'll wrap it."
As she started wrapping Newkirk's ankle, Klink entered with Major Hochstetter. Klink snapped, "Report!"
Saunders replied, "It's a simple sprain, Herr Kommandant. We can take care of that here. Now then, Corporal, you'll need to practice with the crutches."
Hochstetter barked, "Hurry it up, Fraulein. I have many questions for you."
Saunders said, "Name: Maria Saunders. Rank: Lieutenant Colonel. Serial number: N-731626. It's been a pleasure chatting with the Gestapo. Have a nice day."
Hochstetter cried, "BAH! Take her to the Cooler!"
Klink timidly said, "She is my prisoner, not yours. General Burkhalter has so ordered it."
Hochstetter said, "For now, yes, but the Gestapo will prevail. We always do. You can cooperate now and I'll remember it or you can cooperate later and I'll REMEMBER THAT TOO!"
"She does not leave this camp," Klink said. "Hurry it up, Fraulein."
Newkirk knew Klink feared the Gestapo. He surmised that Klink would try to contact Burkhalter as soon as the Jerries repaired the telephone lines. Meanwhile, he could do nothing to stop an interrogation.
Saunders smiled, "All done. Corporal, try to relax. All is well."
Newkirk watched as Saunders grabbed her cape and went with the Jerries. Wilson said, "We've got to get word to Colonel Hogan somehow."
Newkirk turned to Olsen and said, "Olsen, can you get out and warn the governor?"
Olsen said, "I'll try."
Wilson said, "Don't go crazy. Just tell the Krauts you're replacing Newkirk and make one of 'em take you to the work detail. Keep it simple, stupid."