Unfair Exchange: The Invitation

Gertrude had no problem convincing her brother of her change of heart regarding her going with him on his inspection tour of Stalag XIII. All she had to do was invoke Klink's name and he was eager for her to join him. As they drove to the camp, Albert only wanted to talk about what a good match she and the Kommandant would make. Gertrude half listened to him, giving him an "uh-huh" and "I see" at times she when thought was appropriate. Most of her attention was on how to deal with the Maria Hoffman problem. While she was worried about the security risk Maria posed, Gertrude was also worried about the young girl's welfare. Frau Linkmeyer knew firsthand how vicious and cold-blooded the Gestapo was. To her they were Lucifer's soulless hellhounds, born in the deepest fiery pit of perdition. Men without, morals, conscience or pity, who took great pleasure in the pain and terror they inflicted on their helpless victims. She knew what a rush such power gave to men like that and the lengths they would go to retain it.

As the car drove through the front gates, she saw Klink in his usual place in front of the Kommandantur. His fawning and kowtowing starting even before the car had fully stopped. She gave her head a small shake in wonder. Since she had gotten a small glimpse of the real man during her last visit, she was perplexed as why he would willingly want to be perceived as a simpering fool. Perhaps this is his camouflage, the way he survived this terrible war. Gertrude wondered what scars the man silently bore that made him the way he was.

General Burkhalter began to shout orders to Klink in rapid succession. The Kommandant could not keep up with them all, which served to infuriate the General. Gertrude used this as an excuse to retire to the VIP quarters. She needed time to think and make contact with the courier. Besides, her brother would tell her any gossip he picked up during his inspection and her presence might hinder that process.

Gertrude waited by the window in her quarters waiting to catch the eye of her inside man. Surely, he must know she was in camp by now. She patiently waited, knowing he would make contact only when it was safe to do so. She turned from the window and began working on Albert's papers, careful to make discrete mental notes on troop movements. While the General would not be so foolish to let her peruse battle plans and troop movements, by carefully reading the supply requisitions and the depots where the supplies were to be dispersed she was able to get a general idea of the movements and locations of the Army Group B, along with the 15th and 7th Armies. She carefully committed the details to memory.

Albert came arrived in time for the lunch that Feldwebel Schultz had brought from the officer's mess. They ate together quietly both absorbed in their own thoughts. Albert finally broke the silence by telling Gertrude about an earlier conversation he had with Klink. She frowned at her brother but held her tongue. Last thing she wanted was to get into an argument with him. Let him think what he wanted, it could always serve her later on if she needed an excuse to be here without her brother.

Afterward lunch was over; the General reviewed her completed work and let her know how appreciative he was of her efforts on his behalf. Gertrude felt a pang in her heart for betraying her brother in this fashion but brushed it away as she felt this was the only way she could save him. She had lost enough people to this war and she refused to lose any one else. She attempted to pry some camp gossip from him but he was too preoccupied with his annoyance at Klink's bookkeeping to answer any of her questions. As he turned to leave, she noticed a loose button on his jacket. Since he was going to be in conference with Klink for the rest of the day, reviewing the gigs he had noted on his inspection, Gertrude volunteered to fix the button so it would not fall off.

Sitting on the couch, sewing Albert's button, Gertrude heard a knock at the door. Expecting to see her contact, she beckoned the visitor to come in. She was surprised to see it was none other than Colonel Hogan. She lifted one eyebrow in surprise but continued her sewing.

"Is Colonel Klink here," Hogan asked.

"No, he is in his office with my brother," she replied, not looking up from her work.

"Oh, I thought someone said they saw him come in here."

"This is the last place he'd want to be," Gertrude said wanting him to leave before her plans got side tracked. The stakes were too high to allow this meddling American to derail them with his endless machinations.

Instead of taking the hint, Hogan took off his cap, crossed the room and sat down on the arm of the sofa, next to Gertrude. She frowned at his careless abuse of the Kommandant's furniture and doubted he ever sat on the arm of his mother's furniture. Well, at least not twice. His choice of seating was not lost on her. By sitting on the arm of the sofa, he towered over her, giving him the position of power with her having the subordinate role.

"Colonel Klink talks about you all the time," Hogan began without preamble.

Not this again, she thought to herself. He can't come up with any new material? "Really, I thought the Bald Eagle talked never talked about anybody but himself."

"Well in your case he makes an exception. He thinks you're clever, forceful, efficient, thrifty."

"He has to say those things. I am not a beautiful woman," Gertrude returned as she tried to cut the thread with her teeth because he had her too befuddled to know where she had set her scissors. Hogan leaned forward, picked up the scissors from the coffee table and cut the thread for her.

"Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder."

What a bunch of garbage. What is he up to? "Yeah, yeah, that's what I keep telling everyone," Gertrude said tiring of the game. Feeling vulnerable and uncomfortable sitting next to the American, Gertrude got up in the hope that Hogan would remain where he was and she could put some distance between the two of them. Unfortunately, Hogan decided to follow her. Stopping near the bedroom door, Gertrude decided it was best to humor him and hope he would quickly leave. She turned at faced Hogan, unwilling to retreat any further.

"I hope I'm not violating a confidence, Frau Linkmeyer, but uhm…..I really think Colonel Klink is crazy about you," Hogan said as he smiled down at her.

Lair! What is your game, Hogan? Gertrude thought it best to play along and try to figure out what the Colonel was up to. "Why doesn't he tell me so himself? Is he too shy to mention it?"

"Not exactly shy, I'd call it yellow. It comes to the same thing," replied Hogan.

"What is he afraid of?"

"Your brother is a general."

"Albert?" Gertrude chuckled at the absurdity of Hogan's remark. Her brother would jump at the chance to marry her off, even to Klink. She decided to reply with some nonsense of her own. "Generals are harmless, except of course to the men who do the fighting."

Hogan snickered at her joke. "Yeah, you got something there." Hogan glanced at his watch and suddenly took on an air of a man in a hurry. "Well, I got to be getting back to the barracks. I really came over to see the Kommandant. I'm glad we could have this little talk, Frau Linkmeyer."

"So am I," Gertrude said smiling at the realization for some reason Hogan wanted her and Klink together. Somehow, she doubted Hogan was a romantic. She was intrigued as to what the man was plotting. Before she could consider the matter further, the phone rang. As she went to answer it, she noticed Hogan had stopped and was waiting, almost expectantly.

"Hello," she said, answering the phone.

"Frau Linkmeyer please," requested an unknown male voice.

"Yeah, this is Frau Linkmeyer." Gertrude saw out of the corner of her eye, Hogan had stepped closer, apparently not caring if she knew he was ease dropping or not.

"Ah, Frau Linkmeyer, I am a friend of Oberst Klink and he asked me to give you a very important message."

"Why doesn't he call me himself?" Better yet, just walk next door and talk to me. Something is wrong here.

"The Oberst would like to see you at the Hauserhof in Hammelburg tomorrow night."

"Oh he would, would he?" If Klink wanted a romantic meeting, why not ask to meet him where he took me before. Why chose a Hotel? Something is wrong. I suspect Klink is not behind this call but I had better play along, especially since Hogan seems so interested in this conversation.

"Yes, and please do not tell anyone."

"Tell the Oberst I will meet him as he asks."

"Yes, Frau Linkmeyer," the voice said before severing the connection.

Gertrude hung up and turned to find Hogan at her shoulder. "The Kommandant wants me to meet him alone," Gertrude said, watching for Hogan's reaction.

"Love will find a way," Hogan replied.

"Ja, Klink is not my idea of husband material but in wartime you have to substitute for everything," Gertrude said watching Hogan closely.

"Well actually Ol' Blood and Guts is a loveable type."

"Colonel, you really need to talk to the Red Cross about a prisoner exchange." Noting the confusion on his face, she continued. "You have been here too long."

Gertrude turned and walked into the bedroom. She could hear Colonel Hogan chuckling as she closed the door. Well at least I know he isn't a complete bore, the man does have a sense of humor. She began to wash up and then changed out of her drab utilitarian brown dress into sometime more appropriate for dinner. She looked at her favorite lavender paisley and decided she would wear it tommorrow when she went to her meeting with Klink. As she touched up her makeup, she realized the voice had not said when Klink wanted to meet her. Since Klink was supposed to be in a meeting with her brother for the next three days, she reasoned he would want to meeet her at 1700 like the last time. She paused in applying the rouge to her cheek. Why take separate cars? It did not make any sense to her. Finishing she put on her hat and coat and went to the motor poor. If he wanted to meet with her, then he could supply the gas. She decided tommorrow she would brow beat the young man in the motor pool into giving her a car.

The next evening as she got ready for her 'date' she felt not only nervous and excited but perplexed. She was so confused over her conversations yesterday afternoon, she had left her purse on the side table next to the door. She was about to turn around to retrieve it, when to men in Luftwaffe uniforms, flagged the car down.

What now? Gertrude thought to herself.

Next: Unfair Exchange: Kidnapped!