Chapter 8
LeBeau and Carter were making good time picking their way through the dark forest. It was an exceptionally clear night, and the moon, although not quite full, was doing an excellent job of lighting their path. They were wearing civilian clothes for the meeting, and had both chosen dark colors to act as camouflage. Not a word had passed between them since leaving the camp, but as they neared their destination, LeBeau finally spoke up.
"Carter," he said quietly, "You know the Colonel had no choice, don't you? Newkirk needs to be back in London right now, where they can take care of him."
"I thought I was doing a pretty good job of taking care of him," Carter mumbled.
"You were, Mon Ami," LeBeau replied, trying to console him, "But we're in a dangerous place; it's not safe for him to stay here in his condition. You wouldn't want Newkirk to get hurt, or even killed, would you?"
Carter took a deep breath and let out a sigh. "No, of course not, Louie," he conceded. "But I still don't understand why he couldn't just stay in camp, and take care of all the stuff that he used to do; like sewing uniforms, and forging papers, and making up disguises, and…"
"And how is he going to manage that," LeBeau interrupted, "When he doesn't remember how to do any of those things?"
"I know," Carter responded, barely above a whisper. "I…I just don't want him to go, Louie." A single tear ran down Carter's cheek, and he reached up and roughly wiped it away.
"Neither do I, Andrew," LeBeau replied softly, hating to see his friend so despondent. He was having his own internal struggle trying to come to grips with losing Newkirk, but he was determined to be strong; at least for now. Not just for Carter, but because they still had a job to do.
As they came in sight of the barn where the meeting was to be held, they stopped and glanced around quickly; looking for any sign of trouble. Seeing none, they headed quietly toward the barn. Just before they reached the big door leading into the abandoned building, LeBeau reached over and grabbed Carter's arm.
"Andrew, are you sure you can go through with this?" LeBeau asked, wondering if he should have Carter stay outside.
"Yeah, Louie," Carter reassured him as confidently as he could, "I'll be okay."
LeBeau nodded. "Well then, let's get this over with." He opened the door and they stepped inside.
"What do you mean, 'a trap'?" Hogan asked, feeling another knot forming in his stomach. Only this one was the all-too-familiar knot of worry.
Fritz Schuman inhaled deeply and began to explain. "We only found out we had a traitor in our midst a short while ago, Colonel Hogan. When we brought him in and started questioning him, he first admitted to aiding in the re-capture of the five escaped prisoners from Stalag 4. After more…how should I put it...'intense' questioning, we found out that he's informed the Gestapo about the meeting tonight, and one of their officers will be making an unexpected appearance in the hopes of capturing the great 'Papa Bear'. So you see, not only are your men in danger, but also our agent that is there to meet with them."
"Well, we'll just have to go and rescue them, won't we?" Hogan said, looking at Kinch. "Don't worry, Fritz," he added, turning back to the underground leader and putting his hand on the older man's shoulder, "We'll get them out of there."
"I hope so, Colonel," Fritz replied. "And now I have to get back; we have a lot of things to take care of."
"I understand," Hogan told him, "It looks like we do, too."
As LeBeau and Carter entered the barn, they didn't see anyone initially, so they walked in a bit further, searching intensely with their eyes. Suddenly LeBeau saw movement, and he stopped dead in his tracks. The figure came closer, and he smiled wide… it was Gretchen!
"Mon Cheri," LeBeau exclaimed, "I'm so happy to see you again!"
"Oh, LeBeau," Gretchen replied in a strained voice, "It's you!"
"Please, call me Louie," LeBeau told her, reaching for her hand.
"Louie," she said, looking worriedly into his eyes, "I'm so sorry…"
Just then LeBeau and Carter both heard the sound of a gun's safety catch being released directly behind them. "Don't move!" A voice shouted; and then, "Hands in the air! Turn around slowly!"
They did as they were told. Once they had turned, they found themselves face to face with a Gestapo Major, flanked by two guards. And all three men had guns pointed directly at them.
The Gestapo officer smiled coldly. "I am Major Steiger," he said, introducing himself, "And I am here to capture the elusive 'Papa Bear' once and for all." He scrutinized the men before him carefully, and then added, "Unfortunately, neither of you match the description I was given; so you must be working for him, correct?"
LeBeau was the first to respond. "I don't know what you're talking about, Major. We were just passing through, and wanted to find a place to sleep for the night."
"Now why don't I believe you?" Major Steiger replied, looking at LeBeau suspiciously. "Perhaps it's because you and this underground agent…" he reached forward and grabbed Gretchen's arm, pulling her roughly next to him, "Recognized each other!"
"You leave her alone!" LeBeau shouted angrily, ignoring the guards, who had moved a step closer to him.
Major Steiger held up his hand. "Relax…LeBeau, is it?" He replied calmly, "I'm not going to hurt your little Fraulein here," he reached up and ran his finger lightly over her cheek, and then shoved her forcefully at LeBeau, who had to catch her to keep her from falling. "I only plan on keeping you all here long enough to attract the, 'Big Fish', yes? I'm sure that when you don't return, he will come looking for you."
LeBeau exchanged a quick glance with Carter, which didn't go unnoticed by the Major.
"And now, I suggest the three of you have a seat," Steiger said, gesturing toward the bales of hay that were stacked up against the far wall, "We may be here for a while."
As soon as Fritz left, Hogan sprang into action. "Kinch, contact the sub and tell them we won't be able to make the rendezvous tonight," he directed, and then started heading over to where they kept the civilian clothes. "Then I want you to change," he continued, already picking out a nondescript shirt and trousers for himself, "You're coming with me."
"What about me, Colonel Hogan?" Newkirk interjected. Up to now he'd been hanging back, just taking in the scene that was occurring before him. But when he realized that Hogan was actually going to try to rescue LeBeau and Carter, he found himself wanting to help.
"Oh, Newkirk," Hogan said absently, as though he had forgotten the Corporal was there, "I'm afraid we'll have to wait a little longer to get you back to London. Why don't you go up to the barracks and get some sleep? We can try again tomorrow night."
"No, Colonel Hogan," Newkirk replied, "That's not what I was askin' about…I want to come with you."
Hogan looked at him, surprised. "You want to come with us? Newkirk, do you know how dangerous this is going to be?"
Newkirk took a deep breath. "I know," he responded, "But my mates are in trouble. Colonel Hogan, you've got to let me 'elp you get them out of there!"
Hogan stared at Newkirk. He saw fear in his eyes, but there was determination in them as well. It took only a moment for him to decide. "All right, Newkirk," he said, "We could use an extra person. But you have to do exactly what I tell you, understand?"
"Yes, Sir!" Newkirk agreed.
When the three of them had finished changing clothes, they headed through the tunnel to the emergency exit; Hogan leading the way. Just before they climbed up, Hogan turned to Newkirk. "I want you to stick close to me; if you see me duck down, you do the same. And try to keep as quiet as possible, got it?"
"I got it, mate...uh, I mean, Colonel Hogan," Newkirk replied, his nervousness getting the better of him for a moment.
"You sure you want to do this, Newkirk?" Hogan asked him, giving him one last chance to back out.
"I'm sure," Newkirk answered, more confidently than he felt.
Hoping he wouldn't regret it, Hogan replied, "Then let's go."
Hogan, Kinch, and Newkirk made their way through the woods, following the path that the other two men had taken. When they reached the barn, Hogan motioned toward a thick row of bushes that were near the back of the building. They moved over to them silently and crouched down. Once they were hidden from view, Hogan raised his head slowly and scrutinized the surrounding area. He didn't see anything out of the ordinary, but he did notice a small gap in the wall of the barn; big enough to get a look through. He motioned for Kinch and Newkirk to sit tight, and crept up to the barn, kneeling to put his eye up to the hole. He peered in, and saw LeBeau and Carter sitting on a pile of hay, talking to an attractive girl who was sitting between them. He strained to see the rest of the interior, but his field of view was restricted, so he stood up and returned quickly to his two men, once again crouching behind the bushes.
"What did you see, Colonel?" Kinch whispered.
"Just LeBeau and Carter," Hogan whispered back, "And a girl…she must be the underground agent they were supposed to meet."
"Maybe we got here before the Gestapo," offered Kinch.
"Maybe." Hogan appeared to be thinking. "All right, here's what we're gonna do. Kinch, you and I are going to go in there and get them out." He reached behind him and took out a gun that he had hidden in the back waistband of his trousers. He then nodded to Kinch, who did the same, producing a gun of his own. Newkirk's eyes went wide.
"You've got guns?" He exclaimed in a loud whisper.
"I told you this would be dangerous," Hogan replied quietly. "Now, Newkirk, I want you to stay put. After we get everyone out of the barn, I'll send them to meet up with you here, and if the coast is still clear, we can all head back to camp."
"And what if somethin' goes wrong, Colonel Hogan?" Newkirk asked worriedly.
Hogan leaned in close and stared intently at Newkirk. "Then I want you to go back to camp the way we came, and pretend you don't know anything about this. There's another guy in the barracks that knows how to work the radio, and if we get caught, he'll need to get word back to London. Under no circumstances are you to follow us in there; do you understand?"
"But…" Newkirk started to protest.
"Do you understand?" Hogan repeated firmly. His tone let Newkirk know that his instructions were final.
"Yes, sir," Newkirk whispered, accepting Hogan's order.
Hogan caught Kinch's eye. "Let's go," he said, and the two of them stood up and headed for the door.
"I'm so sorry, Louie," Gretchen was saying to LeBeau when Hogan had peeked through the gap in the wall. "That Major was here when I arrived…there was nothing I could do to warn you."
"I know, Gretchen," LeBeau reassured her. "It's not your fault." He glanced over to where the Gestapo Major had hidden himself and his guards, hoping to surprise Papa Bear when he arrived. "Filthy Boche!" He muttered under his breath, and then looked back at Gretchen, concerned. "Did he hurt you?"
"Nein, Louie," she answered, "I'm all right."
"Well if you ask me," Carter said, joining the conversation, "We're gonna have to find a way out of here ourselves. Colonel Hoga…I mean, Papa Bear isn't going to know we're here, anyway, so I don't think he's going to show up." Carter thought about it for a moment. "Hey, maybe if we wait until they're not looking, and make a break for the door, and…"
"And what, Carter?" LeBeau interjected. "Did you notice their guns? Do you really think we could sneak right by them?"
"No, I suppose not, Louie," Carter acquiesced.
Just then they noticed the barn door open slightly, and saw a figure slip through the opening. It was followed by another, and when they were both inside, they shut the door quietly. The two figures approached, glancing around furtively, and when they got closer, LeBeau and Carter recognized them immediately.
"Colonel Hogan," LeBeau whispered fiercely, "It's a trap…look out behind you!"
Hogan and Kinch spun around, just in time to see Major Steiger appear out of the shadows.
"I wouldn't do it, if I were you!" Steiger exclaimed, pointing his gun at Hogan, and then shouted, "Drop your guns, now!"
Hogan and Kinch slowly leaned down and placed their guns on the floor. Major Steiger smiled and said, "Very good, Papa Bear, you are as smart as I've been told you are. I believe we have a great deal to discuss, you and I, and I'm sure Gestapo Headquarters will be an excellent place to do just that."
"Look, I don't know what you've been told," Hogan replied, switching over to his best German, "But you've obviously been misinformed. We were just on our way to apply for work at the new munitions factory, when we saw this place. We were only planning to rest for a few minutes."
"Nice try, Papa Bear," Steiger answered in English, sounding amused. "But I am not fooled; I know who you are. Now, if you come with me willingly, I may let your accomplices go; otherwise, I'm sure we can find room for them at our Headquarters."
Hogan glanced at his men, and the poor girl who had unwittingly been involved in the whole affair. "All right," he responded, "I'll go with you. As long as you let them go."
"Excellent!" Major Steiger exclaimed, then turning to the guards, ordered, "Go get the car and bring it back here at once!"
Newkirk was watching nervously from his hiding place behind the bushes. He saw Hogan and Kinch enter the barn, and waited for them to bring out the occupants and send them in his direction. After a minute passed, he heard shouting coming from inside, and crouched lower; trying to make himself invisible behind the row of bushes. He waited and waited, and just as he started to lose patience, he heard the door open. He raised his head and peered into the distance, and saw two German guards walking out of the barn.
Oh, bloody hell! He thought to himself. They've all been captured, 'aven't they? What the bloody hell do I do now?
8