The cold air did nothing to alleviate Hogan's headache. His mind raced out of control. The prior night's activities repeated in his mind like a bad penny arcade that refused to stop. The men did not want morning roll call to last too long. Schultz was stammering. A certain fraulein was missing and that was something Klink would realize. Yet the nurse exited her barracks and joined the formation.
"Fraulein, you were almost late," said Schultz.
Saunders shrugged, "Sorry. It was a late evening."
As Schultz's eyes widened, Hogan said, "It wasn't all that late. All I got for my trouble was one lousy glass of wine."
Schultz stammered, "But Colonel Hogan, what about Signorina Marcella?"
Hogan said, "Well! She called me maiale Americano."
Garlotti said, "Oh boy."
Carter asked, "What does that mean?"
Saunders replied, "American pig."
Carter said, "Gee, I didn't know you knew Italian."
"Spend enough time in any Army hospital and you pick up a few things," Saunders casually said.
Carter sported a broad grin and cried, "Figlio di puttana!"
As Saunders gasped, Garlotti went to Carter, smacked him on the head, and snapped, "Never say that in front of a lady!"
Carter asked, "What's it mean?"
"Knock it off," said Hogan. "Schultz, big shot six o'clock. All present."
"I know how to count," Schultz proudly said. He quickly pointed his finger at the different men and smiled. Turning around to greet the Kommandant, he cheerfully reported, "All present, Herr Kommandant."
The men suffered the blusterous morning announcements and constant reminder that they were no longer participants in the war. Hogan was not surprised that Klink wanted to see him after roll call. Obviously, Klink knew Melsbach was dead. Burkhalter must have received a report. He followed Klink into his office and remained standing as Klink sat behind his desk.
Klink said, "Nobody tells me anything. The Gestapo shot General Melsbach last night as a traitor to the Third Reich. You knew about this but didn't say anything."
Hogan exclaimed, "What was I supposed to do? He wanted me to help get him to England. After that song and dance routine he did, he starts shooting wildly."
Klink cried, "Ridiculous! He was supposed to convince you that your side is wrong!"
Hogan posed, "Then why did the Gestapo shoot him?"
"General Burkhalter is furious," said Klink. "Hogan, you know more than what you're telling me."
Hogan said, "Trust me, I'm very confused. I wish I hadn't gone last night and that's the truth. If your side keeps killing its own generals this war will be over before you know it. Ah, I can just picture those American tanks rolling into Berlin!"
"That's not funny, Hogan," Klink sternly said. "Are you certain you don't know anything else?"
Hogan said, "He wanted me to help him to England. I said no. He went nuts. I thought he was going to shoot me."
"Dismissed," snapped Klink.
The meeting failed to satisfy Hogan's curiosity. Burkhalter's involvement remained an unsolved puzzle. The general orchestrated the meeting. Hogan returned to the barracks and saw Newkirk had the Queen of Clubs tucked in the fold of his hat. It was a strange game for the men to play. Baker handed a piece of paper to Kinchloe, who read it and handed it to Hogan.
Papa Bear: Regrettable you were forced into situation. Outcome unfortunate but operational threat eliminated. Advise London once unit ready to proceed with future assignments.
Hogan smiled, "Kinch, no, Baker: inform London Papa Bear standing by for next assignment."
"Yes sir," beamed Baker.
If Hogan were lucky, the Underground was free to resume normal operations without the constant dark cloud of instant betrayal that recently plagued all efforts. No one liked the idea of such treachery but the notion of being aggressively hunted proved paralyzing. At least one bridge must be fully repaired and in operation again. Carter was not the only man craving a good explosion.
Hogan looked at Saunders and asked, "Where'd you learn to sing like that?"
Saunders shrugged, "Everyone thinks you sound wonderful even if you only have a fair voice as long as you flash the cleavage and wiggle the curves."
Schultz entered but not on any special task. He was simply checking on the barracks. He watched the peculiar game. Hogan said, "Boy that was some floorshow last night."
Schultz's face lit up with a smile, "Signorina Marcella Cecilia Bartoli!"
Hogan cocked his head and said, "Maybe she'll give you a private audience."
Schultz looked at Hogan, then Saunders, and then cried, "Fraulein! That was you!"
"I'm too old to be a lounge singer," Saunders nonchalantly said.
Carter declared, "That's right."
As Saunders laid down her hand of cards and started to stand, Hogan hastily moved to the table and snapped, "Stand fast!"
Newkirk said, "Hey look! The bird has the Queen of Spades."
Carter earnestly said, "I'm sorry. You're just too nice a girl to be wiggling her behind in front of a bunch of strangers."
Saunders sat down and said, "Sergeant Carter, I understand. Forgive my temper."
Schultz shrugged, "I know nothing, I see nothing, I hear NOTHING!" With the final moan of exasperation, the guard left the barracks.
Hogan said, "Signorina Marcella Cecilia Bartoli is on her way back to Italy."
"Until she's needed again," said Saunders. "Of course, you never know when Mademoiselle Adèle Juliane Paquet might favor a visit."
LeBeau smiled, "I love duets."
"Knock it off," sighed Hogan. The realization of having a woman constantly around proved irritating. He remained uncertain about the previous night. He wanted a return to normalcy, as much as possible considering his assignment to Stalag 13. Baker returned and confirmed London received the status update.
Schultz returned, encouraging the men to go outside for the exercise period. Hogan had no reason to object. If the men remained voluntarily confined for too long, they would miss out on any comings or goings at the strange hub known as Stalag 13. It attracted unexpected visitors in part because it was a prisoner of war camp, a non-target of bombing missions.
It also attracted a curious neighbor who casually trotted to the Kommandantur. Hogan wanted Wagner gone. He rarely had difficulty with the previous infantry commander or his training operations. The nurse loudly asked if Wagner had any messages for her, clearly having sport with his accusations. Wagner simply laughed.
In addition to causing problems with operations in the woods, Hogan was concerned the affect Wagner was having on Klink. The Kommandant changed character whenever Wagner was around. Despite a sluggish career, Klink did have service medals. He must have performed brave deeds at some point during his life. Wagner elicited the best of Klink, and that was something Hogan could not afford.
The note carefully palmed in his hand, Hogan thanked Kinchloe. London did have an assignment. Doctor Wendell Hahn was arriving eighteen hundred hours and expected to remain a few days at a local hotel. Hahn was a leading expert on synthetic fuels using coal as a primary ingredient. Germany desperately needed synthetic fuels to maintain the war effort. Tiger was on her way, which made Hogan smile.
The first time Tiger visited camp, Hogan did not immediately warm up to her. He was too angry with London for sending in a woman to an all-male camp. Her passion and dedication to the cause changed his perspective. He trusted her. London wanted Hahn to switch sides or suffer denouncement. Hogan did not need Tiger's assistance but appreciated it nonetheless. He smiled as he considered a delightful daydream.
Newkirk asked, "What with him?"
Kinchloe smiled, "Tiger's coming."
Hogan snapped out of his daydreaming and said, "I thought you were playing football."
"I fail to understand how an oversized egg that you're not allowed to kick became a pastime in the colonies known as football," Newkirk badgered.
Kinchloe left the two men, his task complete. He sought out Baker and pulled him from the latest game of volleyball. He was concerned because of recent events but not disappointed. The younger man was a good soldier. The two began walking about the camp without a planned itinerary.
Baker said, "You're angry."
"Nah, I'm not angry," said Kinchloe. "I know you had orders not to tell Colonel Hogan."
Baker said, "I didn't tell you."
"I know," sighed Kinchloe. "Look, sometimes good men get caught in situations they don't want to be in."
Baker said, "Colonel Hogan almost pulled me."
"Yeah, but he didn't," said Kinchloe. "He's angry that some out of control yahoo is interfering with our operations. We've had bad luck before, but ever since that unit arrived in our front yard it's been nothing but bad luck."
Baker shrugged, "Maybe I'm not good enough for all this."
"They gave you their codes," said Kinchloe. "They think you're good enough. I know you're good enough. Stop doubting yourself."
"They want me to look after her," sighed Baker.
Kinchloe said, "And what's wrong with that? We all got to look out for each other here. That idiot almost got her killed last night. That's not your fault. Oh, he'll put the blame on Colonel Hogan because he wasn't supposed to be there and she'll parrot it because she don't know what else to do. The point is you knew something was going down and kept your mouth shut instead of telling Colonel Hogan what was up."
Baker said, "I get that now."
Kinchloe said, "Look, the colonel don't see us as coloreds. He sees us as important members of his team. I don't know what went down with that Collins idiot but he played you, man. I don't want you kicking yourself in the ass. You can always come to me. Haven't you noticed that whenever Collins is around people seem to die?"
Baker said, "I hadn't thought of it like that."
Kinchloe said, "Colonel Hogan knows it's a risk and he takes chances but not foolish ones. This ain't the white army or the black army – it's Hogan's army."
Baker smiled, "Thanks, Kinch."
Kinchloe said, "Hey man, no problem. Don't be young and dumb."
It had to be said and Kinchloe knew he had to be the one to say it. Hogan was colorblind yet failed to understand what men like himself and Baker went through as black men. Kinchloe suffered discrimination his entire life. Even in camp, he faced it daily, and not just from the Krauts. Sometimes, he wondered why his country decried bigotry and hate overseas yet ignored it within its own borders.
#HH#
It felt good skulking around the woods. Despite the snow, Newkirk relished the idea of meeting Tiger at the designated point. The woods were deserted. Part of him wanted to be with Carter, Kinchloe, and LeBeau planting dynamite on the bridge. He found his place along the road and crouched behind some bushes. The car should be along in a few minutes.
It was a crazy war. Newkirk wanted it concluded. He thought about violating orders and returning to England just so he could get back into the air. He was not a coward. He wanted to fight. Some of his more endearing talents remained highly frowned upon in the RAF. Strangely enough, those same talents made him an asset to Hogan's team.
A lone car slowly approached with headlights flashing. Newkirk signaled with his torch and the vehicle stopped. He cautiously approached the passenger door and smiled when he saw Tiger. Looking at the driver, he realized Danzig was back in town. He said, "What a lovely sight."
Tiger chided, "That's not the recognition code."
Newkirk smiled, "Who could forget a good looking bird like you?"
Danzig scoffed, "You've been a prisoner too long."
"You'll get no argument out of me on that," retorted Newkirk. "Come along, love. The governor's waiting." Newkirk opened the car door just as a distant explosion lit up a small portion of the sky.
Danzig asked, "What was that?"
Newkirk replied, "Oh, just the Adolf Hitler Bridge going up again."
Tiger said, "Sometimes I think you are all a bunch of overgrown boy scouts."
"We need our hobbies," Newkirk sulked. "Best be off. Jerry will be running hounds looking for the fox."
The two made their way through the woods. Newkirk felt relief that no patrols crossed their path. He hoped the other team could say the same. The dark moon refused to offer any light on the woods. Maybe that was why Wagner preferred training his men during the brightest phases of the moon. Perhaps he hoped to encounter werewolves.
The camp looked normal, which was always a relief. Newkirk led Tiger to the tree stump and saw her safely inside the tunnels. He harbored no ill will as Hogan enjoyed a not so quick kiss with Tiger. After politely coughing, he asked if the sabotage team returned.
Hogan said, "Not yet."
"I'll wait for them if you'd like," Newkirk offered. The small voice inside of his head berated the words. He was the one that escorted in Tiger, not Hogan. Officers have all the luck! No, quit thinking like that. There were plenty of times he went into town and had good luck with the birds.
"Thanks, Newkirk," smiled Hogan.
Officers have all the ruddy luck…
#HH#
The best part of Carter's job was pressing the plunger. The three men cheered as the bridge blew just as the train reached center. They quickly made their lam. Carter's heart raced with fervor. It was one of the few times he cherished his Lakota heritage. The Sioux tribes used to be nomadic until confined to reservations. When Custer discovered gold on Sioux territory, the government attempted renting land from the Lakota. Sitting Bull refused to yield.
Carter was stuck between two worlds: part white and part Lakota. He found it easier to pass as white. Many of his elders despised the boarding schools that forced assimilation into white Christian society. Any efforts of practicing sacred traditions or even speaking the true language resulted in brutal punishment. His grandfather once imparted to him that the one good thing about the boarding schools were that they taught him how to survive in the white world but he never forgot the Lakota way.
The cold rarely bothered Carter. He had a strong spirit. He embraced his Lakota family. They loved him as a tribal member and did not care that he was part white. His cousin refused to tolerate the word Indian. It was offensive. His cousin affirmed that it reeked of white stupidity. Hey Columbus! You're not in India! That's where you'll find Indians. You should have kept going.
Gunfire. Something was wrong. Carter looked for his friends. Kinchloe and LeBeau were right behind him. Carter was Little Deer Who Runs Swift And Sure Through Forest. He knew these woods. He was not going to let down his friends. He found what he was looking for and diverted his friends into the small hole on the side of a mound. He tucked himself in and the three made do with the tight squeeze, not saying a word as several pairs of legs ran past. The trio had to make do silently lest they be found.
Patience was a virtue Carter lacked but he had to practice it now. Hogan once cracked a sour joke about Krauts spraying the woods caused lead poisoning. Carter needed a happier thought. Yes, childhood – wrong, he thought. Some of his friends wanted to play cowboys and Indians while others preferred wagon burners and pioneers. He was always the Indian or the pioneer, depending on which group of children played. Just once, he wanted to be the wagon burner. He could not change the past; only do things that would affect the future.
Carter thought about his decision to join the Army. The Lakota embraced strength, which was manifest in the hunt and warrior activities. Strength required practice, patience, and perseverance. His people understood cooperation and teamwork. His uncle shared with him a meaningful proverb. It is observed that in any great endeavor, it is not enough for a person to depend solely on himself.
The men respected rank. Carter earned his. He remained humble enough to allow Kinchloe the dignity of being Hogan's second in command. If he subjected himself to the pettiness of demanding that position, he would lose all respect from the team. Kinchloe was the best man. It pained him when Newkirk forgot the respect. Carter did not always understand as he straddled two worlds. Newkirk came from yet another world, as did LeBeau.
Through their differences, each contributed valuable skills that made the team stronger than any one man. Carter accepted that. He knew in his heart that the team made a difference in the worst of the wars. The tap on his right shoulder returned him to the moment.
Kinchloe whispered, "All clear?"
Carter carefully exited the crowded cave. Despite the lack of moon, he saw clearly. His ears tuned to the forest vibrations. He gently sniffed the air. Somewhere nearby was a deer, quietly foraging. He turned to Kinchloe and said, "Only a deer."
LeBeau asked, "Boy or girl?"
"Even I can't tell from this distance," said Carter.
Kinchloe said, "Come on. Colonel Hogan will be worried."
Without another word, the three men continued their return. Carter knew they were overdue by at least half an hour. He suspected Hogan was in his room staring at his watch. Carter valued his commanding officer's care for the men. He knew young officers who cared to the point of mental exhaustion and older officers who tallied the wounded and dead with seeming indifference.
At last, they made it to the tree stump. The camp revealed nothing out of the ordinary. The three men descended into the familiar tunnel. As soon as the hatch closed, they shared a collective sigh of relief. Newkirk snapped, "Where have you been? The governor's worried sick to death!"
Kinchloe replied, "At ease, soldier. We stopped to gaze at the stars."
Newkirk griped, "That's not funny, Kinch."
Carter snapped, "Lay off. The Krauts were spraying the woods."
LeBeau said, "Yeah, they probably figured we'd hit the bridge as soon as it was finished but it went down and we got away."
Newkirk apologized, "Sorry, guys. You had us all worried."
"Come on," Kinchloe smiled. "The Colonel's waiting for a report."
LeBeau shrugged, "Too bad we didn't catch that deer. I could have made Civet de Cerf."
Carter asked, "What's that?"
Kinchloe said, "Roughly translated, it means braised venison."
Carter asked, "Is it any good?"
LeBeau said, "Please! I'm a chef. I wouldn't offer to make it otherwise. The bucks are especially delicious."
The three men made their way into the barracks and, as Carter expected, Hogan immediately came out of his room to greet them at the tunnel stairs. Kinchloe professionally rendered a report. Hogan promised that next time they blow up the bridge, they would wait a few days longer. The Krauts were wise to the routine.
It was a good day. Carter silently thanked Wakan Tanka, the Great Spirit, for watching over him and his friends. He promised to remember him more often. He heard Kinchloe whispering a prayer thanking Jesus for taking care of his friends. LeBeau was also whispering, but Carter did not know French.
A thought entered his mind. Carter envisioned the deer in the woods. It was not a good day for me to die. A fawn came up alongside the deer, old enough that its spots faded away but too young to survive on its own. The message must be for LeBeau, thought Carter.