The next morning, Guiseppe Maggiore returned to the prison camp to deliver the special order of fish. After making the delivery, he came to Bonacelli's office for refreshments, just as if it was his normal weekly delivery.
"Colonel Klink called just a little while ago to let me know that he should arrive within the hour," Bonacelli told Guiseppe, as soon as the door had closed behind them. "What I want you to do when they get here is to get up to leave, but go outside and linger in a doorway, close to where I showed you where they will park. As soon as Vasta lets me know they're at the main gate, I'll go out to meet them. I'll divert Klink's attention while you hurry the men to where you've parked the truck by the kitchen. Once you have them inside the truck, leave by the service entrance as usual."
"Everything is in place," Guiseppe assured him. "I even have the cook in the kitchen bribed to look the other way. I always bring a little something for him when I make my fish deliveries, so he is happy to see things my way."
The men chatted about mundane matters for the next twenty minutes or so, as they waited for Klink and his stowaways to arrive.
Finally, Vasta tapped at the door, then came in to announce, "Colonel Klink's staff car just came in through the main gate."
"Thank you, Vasta," Bonacelli said, "I will go out to meet him."
Guiseppe rose from his seat as well. "I must be going, then, Aldo. I will see you soon."
The two men went out the front door of the building together. Guiseppe turned to the left and quickly made his way to the designated doorway to wait, just around the corner from where the German staff car would park. He would wait until he heard Bonacelli escort Klink inside the building.
Soon, he heard a slight squealing sound as the German car came to a halt.
"Welcome, Colonel Klink, to Capizio," Major Bonacelli greeted, as soon as Sgt Schultz had opened the car door for his commanding officer. "Please, come into my office, where my aide already has refreshments waiting. He will show you and your sergeant to your quarters later."
"Thank you, Major Bonacelli," Klink replied. "It has been a long journey and I could use something to drink." Before following the Italian major inside, he spared a quick glance at the camp compound and the barracks behind them, which were separated from the administrative buildings by a tall barbed wire fence. He was satisfied to see that the Italian prison camp did not appear to be as large as Stalag 13.
No sooner had the two men disappeared inside the building, than Guiseppe peered around the corner of the building. Two men, one tall and one short, threw the tarp back from the top of the car and carefully climbed down, seemingly oblivious to the German sergeant, who had remained by the car after the two officers had gone inside. The German had his back to Guiseppe, so he motioned urgently to the two men to follow him without delay.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Hogan and LeBeau wearily climbed down from their cramped hiding place after they heard Bonacelli invite Klink inside, then heard the heavy door close behind them.
He looked where Bonacelli told him his contact would be waiting and, sure enough, there was a heavy-set Italian man in a black turtleneck with brown belted trousers and a black watch cap, beckoning at them to hurry.
Schultz turned in time to see th exchange. Looking at Hogan, he said, "I see nothing! Shoo, shoo, go along with him now before someone ELSE sees you! I cannot help you if that happens!"
"Don't worry, Schultz," Hogan assured him. "We'll be back and under the tarp by the time Ol' Blood and Guts is ready to go back to Stalag 13. Try to relax and have a good time while you're here. At least you'll be eating well for a change!"
And, with that, the two prisoners scuttled quickly to where the man was impatiently waiting. They were now dressed similarly to him, which would help them not to be immediately noticed.
The Italian motioned for them to keep quiet and follow him.
Hogan and LeBeau obeyed wordlesslly, and the group slipped quietly down an alley. At the other end, a small delivery van with a fish logo painted on the side stood waiting.
At the back of the van Guiseppe unlocked the doors, then motioned the men inside. In a low volce he said, "There are some canvas sails in there. Cover yourselves with them until we get out of camp. We aren't going far, so you won't be in there long."
LeBeau nodded in understanding, then translated into English. Hogan gave the Italian a sign of acknowledgment, before they clambered inside to hide under the sails.
The two prisoners kept still and quiet as Guiseppe drove off, then slowed to a halt at the back gate. Fortunately, there was no search of the vehicle and they were soon waved through the gate and on their way.
Within a few miles, the truck stopped again. "It is all right," Guiseppe told them as he opened the doors in back. "You can come out now."
Hogan and LeBeau found themselves in another alley, close to the door of what Hogan's nose told him was a fish market.
"You two wait here while I return the keys to my friend, Bruno. I'll be right back, then we'll be on the way to my boat to go to San Lucca."
He returned a moment later, ready to move. "Let's get to the boat, then we'll talk a bit on the way to San Lucca. We're not far from the harbor."
Ten minutes later, the group was aboard a small fishing boat heading south. Once they were under way, Guiseppe introduced himself. "I am Guiseppe Maggiore, cugino of the man you are to meet, Quinton McHale."
"I am Louis LeBeau," the Frenchman replied. "And this is Colonel Robert Hogan who, unfortunately, doesn't speak a word of Italian."
"Pleased to meet you both!" Guiseppe said, smiling broadly at both men in turn. "It is good you both have dark hair, as it will help you blend in better and avoid attracting the attention of Germans."
"Yes, and our clothes," LeBeau agreed, laughing, then quickly translated for Hogan.
Hogan gave a brief smile to their host, but then returned to business, impatient to get on with it. Turning his attention to LeBeau, he said, "Ask him what the plan is and when we'll meet McHale."
Guiseppe smiled indulgently when LeBeau translated Hogan's questions. These Americans, always in such a hurry!
"Right now, we are going to my home in San Lucca, where you will be staying," he explained. "My Teresa will have a good, hot meal waiting when we get there."
LeBeau quickly translated, but when Hogan opened his mouth to talk, the Italian held up one hand to indicate he wasn't finished yet.
"We will take the boat down to Voltafiore tomorrow," he continued. "The reason we go tomorrow and not today is that I need to keep to my usual fishing routine and Tuesday is the day I head south to do my fishing."
"We understand," Hogan said, bowing to the inevitable, after LeBeau quickly translated. "LeBeau, here, is an excellent chef, but I'm guessing your wife is even better."
The Frenchman gave Hogan a look of mock indignation before translating, but dutifully repeated the words in Italian.
The trip south to San Lucca, was uneventful, without them encountering any German patrols, either in boats or on the shore. Guiseppe had instructed them on what to do if a German patrol boat did approach them but, fortunately, the precautions turned out not to be necessary.
Hogan relaxed somewhat, but remained watchful while trying to enjoy the boat ride. The three men chatted amiably during the trip, with Guiseppe telling them how him and Bonacelli had come up with the idea.
The trip to San Lucca was shorter than the two prisoners had expected. As they tied up at the pier, Guiseppe told them, "Relax, you are behind Allied lines now."
It was a short walk from the pier to the Maggiore home, where Signora Maggiore had a hot meal waiting.
"Welcome to our home gentlemen," Teresa Maggiore said in English. "I know you must be hungry."
"Oh, I'm so glad you speak English," Hogan told her with a genuine smile. "Your husband and LeBeau have been talking in Italian all the way down the coast and I've felt a bit left out."
"Ah, my Guiseppe is quite the talker," she replied, smiling back. "He never meets a stranger!" Turning to include LeBeau, she continued, "Let us eat and relax for now, before the children get home from school. You can get a good night's sleep here before going down to Voltafiore tomorrow."
"Thanks, we'd be delighted," Hogan said, lured by the inviting aroma of the food. "I think a good night's sleep is just what the doctor ordered."