Chapter 5: Sending the List

Late the following afternoon, Kinch came up from the tunnels. He walked over to the table, where Carter and Newkirk were sitting. "Message from London," he stated, handing Carter a paper.

Carter read the paper. "They're not giving us much notice. Guess I'd better get busy," Carter declared.

"What is it?" Newkirk wanted to know.

"London wants us to blow up an ammunition train. Tonight," explained Carter. "I'll have to get the supplies together. You and I will handle the job, Newkirk. Kinch, you'll need to stay behind with the Colonel. He's co-operating, naturally. But London would blow a fuse if we left him unguarded."

"Understood," Kinch agreed.

- - -

Under the cover of darkness, Carter and Newkirk stealthily approached the tracks. Carter started laying the charges while Newkirk kept watch nearby. When Carter was almost finished, Newkirk softly warned, "Patrol. Hide."

They scurried quietly away from the tracks and hid behind some nearby bushes. Moments later the patrol walked by where they had been. In the darkness, the patrol failed to notice anything amiss. Once the patrol had wandered a bit further away, Newkirk whispered, "Back to camp?"

"No," Carter whispered back. "Almost four hours till the train comes. London wants this job done. We'll wait a bit."

Newkirk was skeptical. "And if we're caught? Or they discover the explosives?"

"Better here than wandering about. This dark, they shouldn't spot us or the explosives."

Newkirk shook his head, with a smirk. "Ever the optimist."

After that, the two waited silently to see if the patrol returned.

- - -

Over three hours later, Hogan and Kinch were anxiously waiting for Carter and Newkirk to return. Kinch was seated at the table in Hogan's quarters, watching Hogan pace the floor. They had closed the shutters, hoping the light wouldn't be noticed.

"What can be taking them so long?" Hogan wondered. "They should have been back nearly two hours ago."

"Carter was going to lay all the charges himself," Kinch replied. "That's bound to take extra time."

Hogan frowned. "Maybe. Even then, they should have been back long before now."

"Give them time. They'll be here."

Stopping his pacing, Hogan crossed his arms defiantly and declared, "If they're not back in fifteen minutes, I'm going after them."

"London ordered--"

"I'm going after them," Hogan insisted. "With or without you. The choice is yours."

"I'm going," Kinch stated. "I'm not going to let you have all the fun."

Hogan looked at his watch several times while they waited. Finally, he said, "Okay, the fifteen minutes are up. Let's get going."

They opened the door and stepped into the common room, just as the bunk entrance opened. When this happened, Hogan and Kinch stopped where they were. Less than a minute later, Carter and Newkirk came up.

"My office, now," demanded Hogan, in a voice that left little room for argument.

The four of them went to Hogan's quarters and Hogan closed the door. "Where were you?" Hogan asked.

"Planting charges to blow up--" Carter began, but was interrupted.

"Kinch told me about your mission. I want to know what happened out there. Why you're this late."

"A patrol showed up," Newkirk explained. "Carter insisted we wait."

"You should have scrubbed the mission. Come back here," Hogan told them. "Waiting there was too risky."

"London wanted the job done," protested Carter. "We had to take that chance."

"You don't take chances," Hogan insisted.

Carter looked puzzled. "Like you don't?"

Hogan shook his head, then smiled slightly. "Okay, Carter. Point taken." An explosion could be heard in the distance. Hogan's smile broadened, as he said, "Congratulations, Carter. It sounds like your mission was a success."

"Thank you, Sir," Carter acknowledged.

"I'll go let London know," Kinch informed them, heading for the door.

Hogan stopped him. "Just a minute, Kinch. Before you do, I need to discuss something with Carter. Alone, if you and Newkirk don't mind."

"Okay, we'll wait outside," Kinch agreed.

"Yes, Sir," Newkirk responded, and he and Kinch left the room.

Once he and Carter were alone, Hogan explained, "You have a decision to make, Carter. Remember the other day, when I advised you not to volunteer information to London about my knowing what's going on?"

"Yes, Sir," Carter answered.

"That might need to change. If you agree, of course. I couldn't sit by and do nothing. I've made a list."

Hogan handed Carter some sheets of paper. Carter looked over the pages. "None of these people like you," Carter deduced, when he was through.

Hogan nodded. "They're all the people I could think of who might seek revenge. That's one possible explanation for the charges."

For the first time in days, Carter was able to manage a small smile. "And you want us to send it to London for them to use in their investigation."

"Kinch can radio the names, yes. They'll know you told. It could get sticky for a while. That's why we'll only do it if you approve."

Without a moment's hesitation, Carter insisted, "Go ahead, Sir. If there's a chance it will clear you, it's worth it."

"Okay, pass the list on to Kinch. And Carter, thanks."

"London just needs to find the truth," declared Carter, before turning to leave the room.

- - -

Carter and Kinch were down in the radio room. Kinch had just initiated contact with London. "The mission was a success," he told the radio operator at the other end.

"Lieutenant, they say their mission was a success," the operator told the young officer who was standing nearby.

"Convey our congrats," ordered the British Lieutenant.

"Congratulations on a job well done," the operator relayed over the radio.

"Thank you," Kinch acknowledged. "There is one more thing. About that other matter, our fly has made a list of those who might enjoy weaving a web. I'm prepared to send that list."

The operator glanced at the Lieutenant. "Lieutenant--"

"I heard," the officer declared. "I'll speak with them directly." He accepted the mike, then continued, "I'm assuming our fly knows the situation."

Carter took the mike from Kinch. "He's no fool. He was figuring it out."

"So you chaps told. Bad show."

"Look, I have no question about his loyalty," Carter insisted. "We, on the other hand--"

"Had your orders, what?" snapped the Lieutenant.

Carter flinched, slightly. "Does this mean I'm no longer in charge?"

"My superiors will decide. In the morning. Does Jerry know?"

"No."

"Jolly good. At least, that's something."

"Permission to speak freely," Carter requested.

"Granted," was the reply.

"We couldn't go on deceiving him. Not without any real proof of his guilt. So far, accusations are all we've heard of. A guy's supposed to be presumed innocent until proven guilty."

"Righto. But these are extraordinary circumstances. You chaps are on enemy soil. We are still investigating the charges. Thus, precautions must be taken against flight," the Lieutenant explained. "You are keeping him prisoner?"

"As ordered, yes."

"Any problems?" the Lieutenant wanted to know.

"When we were trying to do it without his knowledge, it was difficult. Now that he knows, we have his full co-operation," Carter answered.

"Good show, old boy. Maybe my superiors won't be so angry, after all. Have your lad send the list and we'll see what we can do."

"Thanks," Carter acknowledged, then handed the mike back to Kinch.

Handing his mike to the radio operator, the Lieutenant ordered, "Take down the names they send. Double check for accuracy."

"Yes, Sir," the operator agreed, as she prepared to receive the first name.