Chapter 7: Messy Situations
They had reached the area where the fliers had been shot down. "Newkirk, you and Olsen search the area that way," ordered Carter, pointing in one direction. "Baker and I will search this way."
"Yes, Sergeant," acknowledged Newkirk, using Carter's rank as a sign of respect, since he was in command of the mission.
"Radio me if you find anything," Carter told Newkirk, as the groups headed in opposite directions.
"Will do," agreed Newkirk, as he and Olsen disappeared into the forest.
After searching for a few minutes, Carter pulled out his walkie. "Night Owl One to Night Owl Two," he said.
"This is Night Owl Two," answered Newkirk. "Go ahead, Night Owl One."
"Find anything yet?"
"Not yet," was Newkirk's response. "How about you?"
"Negative here, too. Will check back later. Night Owl One, out."
Carter and Baker searched a little longer. "I think I heard something over this way," stated Baker.
They searched in the direction Baker had indicated. Soon, they discovered a group of four men. "You're the Allied fliers who were shot down?" Carter guessed.
"Depends," replied one of the men, as Carter and Baker were each grabbed from behind. "Who's asking?"
Carter noticed they were wearing Allied uniforms so decided to take a chance. "We're from Stalag 13. We've come to help."
"Hogan's crew?" guessed Carter's captor, releasing his hold on Carter's neck. He signaled for Baker's captor to release him as well.
Carter turned to face his former captor. "You've heard of us?"
"Yeah. I'm Captain Fairchild. Landing among all these trees was difficult. There's six of us. Two of our men have been wounded. Sergeant Travis bumped against a tree on the way down. A tree branch punctured his hip and broke off inside. Major Sullivan fared much worse. Broke his ankle. Has a terrible compound fracture, with some blood loss. He's passed out from the pain."
Carter handed the man a thermos. "Here's some coffee to warm you guys up. I'll let the others know we found you." Carter pulled out his walkie. "Night Owl One to Night Owl Two."
"Night Owl Two, here," responded Newkirk.
"We have located the packages. Two of them seem to be damaged."
"Okay, we'll be right--" Newkirk stopped, then lowered his voice. "Kraut patrol headed this way. Will lead them off and join you shortly. Night Owl Two, out."
As soon as Newkirk had cut him off, Carter explained, "We've got trouble."
Fairchild nodded. "I heard. Kraut patrol."
"We've got to get out of here fast. As soon as Newkirk and Olsen join us. We're going to have to tend to your men, first. Quickly. Have you administered any first aid?"
"We stopped most of the bleeding from Sullivan's ankle. We cleansed the area and were getting ready to splint it when you arrived."
"Good. Finish up. And Travis?"
"We removed most of the branch," Fairchild answered. "I think there still might be a small piece inside. It's causing him considerable pain."
"We'll have Wilson look at it when we get back to camp." Noticing Fairchild's puzzled look, Carter added, "Our medic."
"Okay. Thanks."
The group got busy splinting Sullivan's ankle and preparing to move out. A short time later, Newkirk and Olsen joined them. "We led the Kraut patrol off in the other direction," Newkirk explained. "They're combing the woods over there, right now. It should give us plenty of time before they reach here."
"Good job," Carter complimented him. Then, addressing all of the men, he commanded, "Okay, men. Let's get started. It's a long trek back to camp."
The group trudged slowly through the woods for a considerable distance. Baker and Olsen took turns carrying the injured Sullivan. Travis limped along with the group, but the movement was obviously causing a lot of pain.
Finally, Carter had the group stop for a moment. "Newkirk, you and Olsen take the four uninjured men on ahead," he ordered. "Baker and I will get the two injured ones there."
"Now, just a minute," Newkirk protested. "These woods are crawling with Krauts. Who knows how long it will be before they come back this way?"
"Which is why we need to split up," Carter insisted. "The injured are slowing us down. This way, there's a better chance of you guys making it."
"Might I suggest you go with the others? I can stay behind with Baker," offered Newkirk.
"It's my responsibility to see that everyone gets back safely." Then, Carter glared at Newkirk, and firmly declared, "You have your orders, Corporal Newkirk. See that they're carried out."
"Yes, Sergeant," Newkirk grumbled. "But I don't have to like it. All right, chaps let's get going." Newkirk started leading the others on ahead.
"We'll be there as soon as we can," Carter promised, as they were leaving.
- - -
Newkirk and his group had made it to the tree stump entrance. Olsen went first, then Newkirk sent each of the others in. Before he made a dash for it, Newkirk took one final glance at the sky. There were signs of the approaching dawn. He hoped Carter and them were right behind.
Leaving Olsen in the tunnel to get the others settled, Newkirk made his way to Hogan's quarters. He wasn't surprised to find Hogan and Kinch still waiting up.
"You've been gone most of the night," Hogan observed. "How'd it go?"
"There were six of them," Newkirk replied. "Olsen has four of them in the tunnel. Two of the prisoners were injured. They were slowing us down. Carter and Baker stayed behind to try to get them through."
Hogan frowned. "So, you split up."
"I didn't have a choice. Carter ordered me to. But that's not the worst of it, Sir. There's a Kraut patrol combing the area."
"They'll be okay. Carter can be pretty resourceful," said Kinch, trying to reassure them, as well as himself.
"Since when?" Hogan asked, sarcastically. Then, more solemnly, he added, "I'm sorry. Carter's a good man. It's just, with two injured men and a Kraut patrol in the area, the situation doesn't look too good."
Kinch nodded, knowingly. "You're worried. Aren't you, Sir?"
"With good cause," Hogan agreed.
"I'm going back out," Newkirk declared.
"It will be daylight soon," protested Hogan. "And time for roll call."
"There's already going to be two missing. What's one more, Sir?"
Hogan would not be convinced. "It's too risky. You can't go."
A scowl appeared on Newkirk's face. "Pardon my saying so, Sir, but you're no longer in charge." Almost immediately, Newkirk apologized, "I'm sorry, Gov'nor. I shouldn't have said that. But what would you do?"
"The same thing," Hogan admitted. "Okay, go on. But be careful."
"I will, Sir. I'm going as the little old lady. If the patrol is close, maybe I can divert them the other way."
"Good idea. But I want you and the others safely back here, as soon as possible. Understood?"
"Right, Colonel," acknowledged Newkirk, as he headed for the door.
After Newkirk had gone, Kinch remarked, "He's right about one thing, Sir. What are we going to do about roll call?"
"I have an idea," answered Hogan. Then, he proceeded to tell Kinch his plan.
- - -
At roll call, Schultz stood alone at attention outside Barracks 2. Klink strolled over to join him.
"Well?" snapped Klink.
"All prisoners present and accounted for," replied Schultz, as usual.
Klink looked around. "What prisoners? I don't see any prisoners. Do you see any prisoners?"
"They're all in the barracks, Herr Kommandant. I accounted for everyone."
"And just why are they in the barracks when they're supposed to be out here? I suppose this is another of Hogan's tricks. Well, we'll see about that." Klink headed for the entrance to Barracks 2.
"Wait. You don't want to go in," Schultz warned. "They are very ill."
Klink stopped and looked back. "What?" he demanded.
"At least two thirds of the prisoners in Barracks 2 have a bad case of influenza. Vomiting. High fever. Very messy. And highly contagious. Hogan's quarantined them inside."
"Why wasn't I informed?" asked Klink, moving a considerable distance away from the barracks.
"I just found out," answered Schultz. "When they didn't come out for roll call, I went in to check. That's when I found out about the epidemic."
"Epidemic?" Klink frowned. "Yes, with two thirds of them ill, I suppose it is. And you were inside?"
"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant."
Klink took a few steps back away from Schultz, raising his arms defensively. "Then, stay away from me. I want the prisoners confined in Barracks 2 till further notice. You along with them, Schultz. You've been exposed."
"Me?" Schultz wondered, looking very distraught.
"Yes, you. We can't have you spreading the germs throughout the camp. Now, get in there till this epidemic's over. And make sure there's no monkey business. I'll send someone over with a quarantine sign later. Dismissed."
"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant," said Schultz, as he saluted, then walked away and entered Barracks 2.
- - -
Schultz immediately went to Hogan's quarters. "The Kommandant ordered me confined here, too," he informed Hogan.
"All right, you can share my quarters," Hogan conceded. "You can have the bottom bunk."
"Danke, Colonel Hogan. And the three missing prisoners?"
"Will turn up soon," Hogan promised, hoping he was right.
"Since you're going to be here a while, why don't you pour yourself a cup of coffee," suggested Kinch.
"Don't mind if I do," agreed Schultz, as he left the room and headed for the stove.
Once Schultz had gone, Kinch looked at Hogan and asked, "What about London's request of your having limited contact with the Germans?"
"Well, I'm not going to tell," replied Hogan. "Are you going to tell, Kinch?"
"No, I guess not."
"We need to keep him in my quarters as much as possible. We don't want him out front if the others make it back through the tunnel."
Kinch nodded. "Agreed, Sir. I just hope they make it back."
"Me, too, Kinch," Hogan declared, with a worried look. "Me, too."