Hogan lay in his bunk. He heard Crittendon snoring from the other bunk. With all the activity occurring outside of camp, he had Kinchloe radio London a temporary cessation of operations. London was distressed. Sometimes they forgot they dealt with prisoners of war inside a camp. If ever there was a time Hogan wanted to go out and blow up something, tonight was the night.
Usually, Hogan did not feel the need to post guards inside of the tunnel system. Baker often staffed the radio at night. With the operations shut down, Hogan asked the sergeant to monitor the different frequencies. Hogan worried, as a commanding officer should. He wanted the emergency tunnel exit locked but made the decision against it. If Brody and Collins made it, he needed them to enter quickly lest they expose the tunnel to the enemy.
Hogan did not want the two men wandering about the tunnel system. Yes, he wanted Saunders out of his camp. She simply did not belong. If she just disappeared, the Krauts would tear apart every board inside Barracks 3 looking for her escape path. They knew she had not been around long enough to dig a tunnel system. There was too much activity outside the camp to bring in the emergency plane.
Damn those hotshots! Why did that plane have to go down near his camp? Hogan could not sleep. When he managed to doze, the slightest unusual noise stirred him back to consciousness. Even the camp dogs seemed restless, barking at strange hours. The air raid siren blew. Hogan knew the process. All of the searchlights would be turned off and the guards would mobilize to secure the inside perimeter.
Hogan was not privy to all air operations over the region. If something was targeted nearby, London informed him as a matter of courtesy. More than likely the raiding party targeted Dusseldorf or another city within the military district.
Hogan sat up: the guards would turn off the searchlights. He grabbed his robe and stumbled in the darkness. Kinchloe was tired but got out of bed so Hogan could enter the tunnel. Sensing trouble, Newkirk and Carter followed. The tunnels were pitch black. Hogan saw a few of the fat lamps lit. Baker was making the rounds with a flashlight. Hogan took the flashlight and made his way to the tunnel exit. He pressed his finger to his lips and the men understood. He turned off the flashlight.
Nothing. After a few moments, the lights turned on indicating the air raid danger passed. Hogan inspected the tunnel exit. Everything was safe and secure. Hogan shook his head. Maybe Brody was not coming. Was he overreacting?
Newkirk said, "Bloody hell, mate, you've got the jitters."
Hogan said, "Back to bed." Maybe he did have the jitters. He returned to his room and tried sleeping. It was no use. His adrenalin pumped. Skilled operatives knew how to operate in the dark. He often seized the opportunity when the searchlights went off during air raids. Maybe they broke in a different way. Maybe they were not even coming tonight.
London did not tell him Brody was coming. Hogan feared it because Burkhalter believed it. What if the general was wrong? Hogan was usually a good judge of character. Burkhalter believed it enough that he enlisted the aid of the local infantry to patrol the woods.
Sleep finally came. Hogan did not know how long he slept when the gunshots erupted. They were nearby. The barracks came alive as men wondered what was happening. It sounded like an entire company engaged in a fight. As suddenly as it started, it stopped and all was quiet. Then began the confused shouts of the guards coupled with sounds of frantic running and a truck in motion.
LeBeau manned the sink periscope as Crittendon entered the main room. Hogan went back into his room and set up the coffee pot. Kinchloe stood in the doorway. Carter nervously flitted about while Crittendon told him to stay put.
Kinchloe said, "Doesn't sound like anyone's in Klink's office."
LeBeau said, "Klink's on the compound. So is Burkhalter."
Hogan asked, "What are they wearing?"
"Nightclothes," said LeBeau. "Klink's trying to button his coat."
As Hogan put away the coffee pot he said, "Damn. What the hell is going on out there?"
Carter said, "I think someone wants up from the tunnel."
Hogan scrambled to the main room as Kinchloe activated the ladder. Baker hastily climbed up and said, "We've got company."
"Everybody except Baker stay put," snapped Hogan as he started down into the tunnel. His heart raced. Baker led Hogan down the escape tunnel. He saw Wilson rendering first aid to Brody, who was lying on the floor barely conscious. Collins stood nervously, trying to catch his breath.
Baker said, "We secured the exit."
"Back into the tunnels," Hogan snapped. "Move it! We can't stay here." Was he compromised? He snapped, "Start filling in the tunnel." The men reacted best to clear, concise orders. Filling in the tunnel was a precaution. Brody groaned as men hastily carried him. Hogan dare not bring the two men into the barracks.
"They'll pay for this," hissed Collins.
Hogan threw Collins against the wall and said, "You idiots are compromising my men's lives and countless others who rely on our operation. What the hell are you doing?"
Brody weakly said, "I'm not leaving without her."
Hogan said, "Right now you're not going anywhere. You're an ass. Wilson, do what you can for him." He hurried back to the barracks and sent down additional men to help fill the tunnel. He paced the room.
Crittendon said, "Bad show tonight?"
Hogan sat at the table and said, "I've got a wounded general and an arrogant major down in the tunnels. I've no idea if the Krauts found the entrance."
LeBeau said, "They're all still running around out there, Colonel."
Kinchloe said, "Colonel, what's the next step?"
"An officer always knows the next step," laughed Hogan. "We're in big trouble, Kinch. For now, we stay put."
Crittendon calmly said, "Jerry might not know."
Hogan said, "But then again he might know everything. Two hundred lives are counting on what happens tonight."
Crittendon said, "Hogan, all it takes is one moment of doubt at the wrong junction. Then you find yourself stuck behind a desk for twelve years, unable to get back what you once had no matter how hard you try. I may outrank you but this time I will not interfere. You need to solve this little puzzle and I know you can."
Hogan looked at Crittendon, the buffoon, the idiot, the man suddenly giving sage advice as a father gives a son. Something stalled Crittendon's advancement through the ranks. Hogan always assumed it was because the man was a joke. The British advanced officers on a schedule, earlier if the man proved meritorious. They also retained a man at rank if he suffered a humiliation. Even the longest in tooth remained at rank. Crittendon should have been an air commodore or possibly even an air marshal by now. Crittendon returned to the small office.
Kinchloe said, "He tasks you."
Hogan stood and said, "We're not wallowing around in pity. We play this to the end. Radio London; send a message to Bulldog. I want a propaganda air raid, no live eggs. I want the message to say we'll be back. See if they'll toss in drawings of the 82nd logo too."
Kinchloe nodded his head and said, "Right-o, Group Captain."
#HH#
Morning roll call – Hogan almost did not think he and his men would survive the night. The woods crawled with Wagner's men. The camp guards remained on heightened alert. Hogan stopped his men from the tunnel filling assignment. They only managed fifty feet but he hoped that was enough if the entrance was discovered.
Collins remained in the tunnel with Brody, who suffered an abdominal wound. Both men were out of the game – physically as well as mentally. Hogan wished he had a camp doctor. Klink brought one in from time to time to conduct the various physicals as required by the Red Cross. Wilson did his best but conceded he needed assistance.
Hogan allowed Saunders to go to the tunnels, a calculated risk. These men were her team and chain of command. She owed no loyalty to Hogan. Yet she had been a combat nurse for twenty-five years. She managed to remove the bullet and did some surgical sewing, but dressed the wound so that a surgeon could go back in and do a proper job.
There was no tomfoolery at roll call, something that Schultz appreciated. He was tired but had fallen asleep while guarding the nurse. Hogan politely reminded Schultz of the count when the guard seemed to stumble on his own accord. Then Klink emerged from his office demanding a report.
"All present," said Schultz.
"Very good," said Klink. "Fraulein Oberst, it might be of interest to you that your unit is somewhere out in the woods attempting a rescue."
Saunders scoffed, "They don't know the meaning of the word fail. I highly doubt they're out there. I think you're chasing ghosts and goblins."
Klink looked at Hogan and said, "Someone was outside the perimeter."
Hogan said, "Wasn't me. I would have kept going." The comment evoked nervous laughter.
Klink said, "Whoever it was, the man was injured."
Saunders said, "Oh, well then yes, you may be right. They won't think of it as a failure to evacuate an injured man, just a temporary postponement of the mission. They'll be back." Klink looked at her. She continued, "I can bide my time."
Hogan said, "Sure. They sound like a swell bunch of guys. What about the rest of us?"
Saunders said, "Oh relax. You can come too. There's room for everybody."
Klink snapped, "Enough!" Then he said, "Hogan, you would like to fantasize about such a gallant rescue but you are not a princess and those men are not knights in shining armor. No one escapes Stalag 13. No one!"
Saunders said, "I'm the Princess of Maryland. Bow down before me!"
Hogan shrugged his shoulders and said, "Well, princess outranks baron, isn't that right Baron von Klink?"
"Ha, ha," Klink sarcastically said. "You are all confined to the barracks. Have a nice day."
Crittendon said, "You are denying the men breakfast?"
"Consider it a temporary postponement," Klink teased. Then he said, "You don't want to be in the compound when the shooting starts again. Dismissed!"
Not that breakfast was a serious loss but Hogan knew he was going to have to make it up to the guys. He had food stores in the tunnels but LeBeau did not have the time or resources to cook for two hundred men. The men grumbled but knew they could manage.
There was nothing to do but wait. Hogan received word London agreed to the propaganda mission. He needed to get those two men out of his tunnels. He listened by way of coffee pot. Wagner's men had been spooked when several mannequins dropped out of trees after someone stepped on a tripwire. They knew someone was in the woods playing games.
Hogan rolled his eyes as Klink boasted that the Americans just could not pull it off but Burkhalter disagreed. These particular Americans were tenacious and cunning. The two listened to the various radio reports from Wagner. There was nothing. It was as if the men simply disappeared.
The air raid siren blew. Hogan hoped it was his requested raid. He used the periscope to look outside and smiled. He said, "It's raining leaflets."
Carter said, "Aw, we're gonna have to clean that all up, you know."
Hogan said, "Tell it to your shop steward."
Saunders said, "I trust this will wrap up things nicely."
Hogan said, "The sooner we get those men out of camp, the better. I really want to blow up something. How's the Bad Kissingen Bridge looking these days?"
Carter said, "I think they're almost finished rebuilding it."
Newkirk said, "There's that new munitions factory. It isn't fully operational yet."
Wilson came up from the tunnel and said, "Colonel, I think the general isn't doing so well. He's burning up."
Both Hogan and Saunders said, "Damn." Then Saunders said, "Maybe you should have asked for a medical drop of penicillin." Hogan said nothing as she went into the tunnel.
LeBeau said, "Maybe Schnitzer can get his hands on some."
"He won't be here for two days," said Hogan. "It won't be much longer. Once things cool down out there, we'll make a run to the hospital."
Newkirk said, "And just how are we supposed to get in?"
"I'm sure we can figure out a way," said Hogan.
#HH#
Finally released from the barracks, Schultz ordered the men to clean the camp. Hogan read one of the leaflets. It was simple with a picture of the double A symbol representing 82nd Airborne with a message, "We'll be back." Another leaflet had a message, "Death from above." Another leaflet showed a picture of Brody near a British landmark holding a copy of the day's newspaper. Hogan thought that was a nice touch. It was enough for Burkhalter to suspend operations in the area.
Everything was falling into place. He detailed men to dig out the tunnel. Now he needed a way to get out those men. Hogan understood that fever meant infection. Antibiotics proved scarce. Stalag 13 had a minimal infirmary. Red Cross POW medical kits did not contain such things.
Hogan decided it was time to pay the friendly Kommandant a visit. With Burkhalter out of the camp, Klink would be more accommodating. As Schultz distracted Klink, Hogan carefully stole a cigar in his usual manner. Yes, things returned to normal.
Klink said, "This recent nonsense has put me behind schedule. What do you want?"
Hogan said, "A certain nurse is upset."
Klink said, "Bah. Her unit failed. Colonel Wagner chased them away. What a waste of time. They've been in London for hours."
Hogan said, "I'm sure you'll be reminding her about that for a long time to come."
Klink said, "I am not a cruel man. I like the fraulein. I'm even growing accustomed to her presence. Did you know that Colonel Wagner respects her unit for trying to rescue her? While he didn't capture them, he did stop them."
Hogan said, "Well now I have to put up with her tantrums about the lack of medical supplies."
Klink said, "She's just acting out because they failed despite her earlier confidence."
Hogan said, "You haven't had to put up with it yet."
As Klink laughed, Saunders stormed angrily into the office despite Langenscheidt trying to keep her out and she slammed a piece of paper onto Klink's desk. She snapped, "I expect you to fill this requisition. I'll not tolerate a shabby medical operation under MY watch."
Hogan said in a singsong manner, "I told you so."
Klink said, "Now see here, Fraulein. I'm in charge of this camp, not you." Hogan looked at Saunders' face. Was she going to cry? Klink continued, "I, uh, oh come now! This is most unbecoming!" Hogan tried very hard not to snicker. Klink said, "I see no harm in a few of these things."
Hogan said, "They'll be back. Death from above, you know."
As Saunders stood at attention she said, "Thank you." She left, with Langenscheidt looking very puzzled.
Klink sighed, "They were so close. They won't be back. This camp is just too tough. Schultz, go to the hospital and see what you can manage. Really, now, penicillin! They won't let us have that I'm sure. Bandages, fine, medical scissors, acetylsalicylic acid?"
Hogan said, "Aspirin."
"I know that," Klink growled. "I suppose you want to go too."
Hogan said, "Send Wilson. He's the medic – unless you want Schultz to take out the fraulein for a lovely afternoon car ride."
"Don't get funny," said Klink. "Schultz, take Wilson."
Schultz said, "I'd rather take the fraulein."
"Now!"
Hogan smiled. He was back in command. He returned to the compound and watched the staff car pull around to the front. With a little tomfoolery, Newkirk easily managed to get inside the boot with his bundle. Schultz made Wilson get in the back seat. Then he watched as the staff car left camp.
Saunders approached him and said, "I hope this works."
"Newkirk's good," said Hogan. "He'll get the penicillin."
Saunders said, "I need to get back to him."
Hogan looked at her and said, "I understand. Come on."
Whatever animosity Hogan had with the strange Merry Men, it faded quickly. The men suffered defeat. Brody suffered the fever and Collins looked crestfallen. Saunders made do with the makeshift bed and what little medical supplies the prisoners managed. There was nothing more to be said, or so he thought.
As he tried to return to the barracks, Collins followed him. Something bothered the man. Hogan asked, "Something on your mind, Major?"
Collins said, "We lost two men. Now it appears that the general isn't going to make it."
Hogan said, "Do you know what your problem is? You don't play well with others. You're effectively neutralized at the moment. Now that I can do my job without your interference, I can do something about the situation. I have a man going into town to get penicillin. The Underground is arranging to get you and General Brody out of here – alive. Maybe in the future you'll better appreciate cooperation."
Collins shook his head and said, "Fair enough. There will be a next time for me. As for the general, well, I'm sure General Bradley will rein him in. This isn't the end of the Merry Men."
Hogan said, "Just a temporary suspension of operations." Maybe some good came out of this situation after all. He asked, "Did General Bradley really sign her orders attaching her to your unit?"
Collins laughed, "Yes, but don't make too much out of it. General Brody orchestrated the entire thing. It gives her an added sense of importance. She's fearless, Colonel Hogan. She's nursed men in trenches and covered patients when the enemy launched artillery barrages. She can get into places with the flash of a smile."
Hogan said, "You love her."
Collins said, "I can't."
"Then the general," said Hogan.
"He can't," said Collins.
Kinchloe arrived and stood briefly before Hogan asked for a report. A staff car arrived for Crittendon. Hogan nearly forgot the man was still in camp. He returned to the barracks and walked with Crittendon to the car.
Crittendon said, "I take it things are going well."
Hogan said, "Yes."
Crittendon said, "A good commanding officer knows when to let his subordinates do their job. Take care, Colonel Hogan."
Hogan said, "You too, Group Captain Crittendon."
He stood and watched as the car departed camp. LeBeau said, "At least he didn't cause any trouble this time."
Hogan said, "No. I think I may have underestimated him."