Chapter 10

Newkirk struck the hidden mechanism and watched the lower bunk drop over the tunnel entrance before approaching the table where Kinch sat. He immediately noticed Kinch didn't look too well. He gently put a hand on the radioman's good shoulder and looked directly into his face, deep concern evident on the Englander's face and in his eyes. "You okay, Kinch?" Newkirk asked. "Maybe you should lie down for a bit and rest."

"I'm okay, Newkirk," Kinch replied with a tired smile. "Got too much to do right now. What happened with Klink?"

"We were in luck there. A few seconds after I connected with the switchboard Klink made his phone call to Burkhalter's office." Newkirk allowed an amused smirk to appear. "And seeing as the General was unavailable for a few days, and being the good General's aide that I am, I promised to deliver his bloody message as soon as the General checked in."

Kinch grinned. "Remind me to put in a good word for you with Churchill as to how good a German aide you are."

Newkirk chuckled. "Bloody charming, mate. By the way, I also got to speak with Michael. The Colonel's condition hasn't changed none but he'll know in another twenty-four to forty-eight hours for sure if the Gov'nor will make it. Right now he has one nurse, code name Emerald, caring for the Colonel. I gave him your message. He said he'll get back to us in about an hour or two with the names of those who will care for Colonel Hogan. He also said he would leave instructions that under no circumstances are there to be any visitors to the Colonel's room except for himself, those he handpicks, and us. He'll also inform our Gestapo guards keeping watch outside the Gov'nor's room. Also, Baker's on the radio with London right now, but before he contacted 'em he asked me to pass this info from the underground on to you."

"What is it?"

"He spoke with Otto. He and Lancelot will meet us at 2200 hours tonight at the usual meeting place."

"Okay. Peter, you and LeBeau go out later and bring them both here for a sit-down."

"Will do, mate." Newkirk got to his feet and headed back to the double bunk and slapped the hidden mechanism again. "I better get back to the switchboard and wait for Michael's call back."

"Good work, Peter," Kinch replied. "Hopefully after tonight we'll come up with a way to get rid of Sergeant Dietrich."

Newkirk, stepping over the lower bed frame and onto the ladder, looked back at Kinch. "Couldn't happen to a nicer guy," he remarked with a grim expression before disappearing below again.

Prust sat in his office with a partially written list in front of him. Following his conversation with Newkirk, he immediately set about compiling a list of those he thought necessary to help care for Colonel Hogan and was going to include those who would relieve the regulars like himself. He looked at the list. So far, he had regulars being Emerald, Blue Cloud and Red Ruby, and their backups Athena, Red Angel and Blue Sapphire. He then added one additional name, Black Knight who was also a doctor to relieve him whenever necessary. He would first get all of them together and inform them of what was to be done and what Hogan's men expected on their end. He chuckled at adding Black Knight since he was a cousin of both him and Otto. After he discussed things with the others, then he would contact Hogan's men with his list. Picking up his receiver, Prust waited for the operator to come on the line. "Nurses' station bitte. This is Doctor Prust. Danke. I will wait." After a few minutes of waiting.

"Nurses station. Nurse Scheider speaking. How may I help you?" She immediately recognized Prust's voice. "Jawohl, Herr Doctor. We will be there as soon as we can." She hung up and looked over her shoulder at the others. "Judith, Mara, Doctor Prust wants to see us in his office right away. Alice, can you handle things for awhile we are gone?" she asked the older gray-haired woman who was a regular German nurse and not an underground member.

"Jawohl," Alice replied sternly.

"Danke," Judith replied as she waited for Jana and Mara to join her. "Oh, do you know where Gretchen, Sarah, Rachel, and Dr. Szell are? Dr. Prust wants them in his office as well."

"I will get Sarah and Rachel," Mara replied innocently. "I last saw them heading for the nurses lounge." She quickly hurried in that direction.

"Gretchen and Dr. Szell should be with Mrs. Von Hinderman," Alice said becoming suspicious. "Why does Dr. Prust want to see all of you anyway? What is this about?"

"I think it concerns the care of the American patient," Judith said. "But I'm only guessing."

"If you will wait here, I will get Dr. Szell and Gretchen," Alice replied walking around from behind the nurses' counter and heading down the hall. Watching her leave, Judith leaned close to Jana. "We'll have to let Dr. Prust know Alice is becoming suspicious about things. We can't have her causing problems for Colonel Hogan."

"Not to mention us," Jana replied.

About an hour later, everybody was gathered in Prust's office. Judith, code name Emerald; Jana, code name Athena; Mara, code name Blue Sapphire; Sarah, code name Red Ruby; Gretchen, code name Blue Cloud, Rachel, code name Red Angel, and Dr. Albert Szell, code name Black Knight. All members of the underground. It took Prust about thirty minutes to inform the others not only about the current condition of Papa Bear, but what Hogan's men wanted from them and expected.

"And," Prust added at the end. "I cannot stress again how important it is that nobody, and I mean nobody, be allowed to visit Colonel Hogan other than the eight of us or Papa Bear's men. They suspect the man responsible for the Colonel's injury may still be after him and might try to get to him while he's being kept sedated. By limiting the number of people allowed in his room, we can hopefully keep that person away from him."

"How do you want to work this, Michael?" asked Judith. "Also, Alice is becoming suspicious."

Prust sighed. "Judith, you and Jana will be the primary nurses assigned to Colonel Hogan. Mara, you and Sarah will relieve them whenever necessary or either or both of them are not here. Gretchen, you and Rachel will keep an eye on Alice. I also want both of you to alternate at times with the others just in case. But one of you must keep an eye on Alice at all times. We don't need her possibly calling the Gestapo and having Major Hochstetter come here. He'd know in an instant these guards outside the Colonel's room aren't his and we'll all be in front of a firing squad and Colonel Hogan will never leave this hospital alive." He then looked at his cousin with a smile. "Albert, you will accompany me whenever I check on Colonel Hogan. I want you to become familiar with his case, in case you should ever have to relieve or fill in for me. Understood?"

"Yes," Szell replied. "Michael, will Papa Bear make it?"

Prust folded his arms. "As long as he's kept heavily sedated and doesn't move around for the next week and a half, he should fully recover. But it'll be at least another one or two days before I know if he'll even survive; but I'm hopeful. Unless there are any more questions, you can all go except Albert, while I make contact with Colonel Hogan's men."

Silently, the small group got up and left Prust's office talking quietly among themselves. Once alone, Prust picked up his phone, dialed the number to the switchboard in the tunnels beneath Stalag 13 and waited.

Newkirk plugged into the switchboard. "Guten tag. Heil Hitler," he answered in his best German accent.

"Newkirk, it's Michael," Prust smiled hearing the Englander's German. "I have the list of names for you."

Kinch fought the urge to crawl onto his bunk and lay down. First, the throbbing ache in his shoulder reminded him of why he couldn't relax right now. Second, hopefully Carter would be able to sneak Schultz into their barracks which, considering the girth of the man would be no easy feat. Third, Newkirk and Baker were below in the tunnels, and finally, plans had to be made and a meeting to be kept with the underground. Kinch took a drink of coffee as he marveled at how Hogan was able to accomplish multiple tasks at the same time. Must be because of his officer's training, Kinch told himself with a grin. Officers are always having to juggle several things at the same time. Kinch had to admit that of all the officers he had served under, Hogan was the best at juggling several things at once. He found himself often amazed at the man's energy and ability. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the lower bunk rising, and Newkirk, followed close behind by Baker, emerged from the tunnel. Baker struck the hidden mechanism and the ladder rose as the bunk dropped over the entrance. They both sat down at the table. They immediately noticed how weary Kinch looked but both held their tongues because they knew the radioman well enough to know he would fight any arguments to get him to rest; just like the man he was filling in for.

"What have you got, Newkirk?" Kinch asked.

Newkirk held up a slip of paper. "Michael chose seven people including his cousin to help care for the Colonel. He gave me their names and code names as well. He said these people are all trustworthy and loyal to the Colonel." He handed Kinch the list. Glancing at it briefly, he saw he recognized the names on the list. He stuffed it in his jacket pocket. Then, he turned his attention to Baker.

"What did London have to say, Richard?" he asked. But before Baker could respond, they were interrupted by LeBeau.

"Carter and Schultz," the Frenchman announced in a low voice barely above a whisper.

Baker hurried over to his bunk and after slipping the sheets of paper under his mattress, climbed up onto his bunk and opened a magazine. Moments later LeBeau opened the door, and Carter and Schultz sneaked inside with LeBeau quickly closing the door behind them, but keeping vigil.

"Thanks for coming, Schultz," Kinch replied. He looked at the young Sergeant. "Any trouble?"

"Not really," Carter explained. "Getting past Klink's office was easy. I just had some of the other guys tossing a football around outside his window. I spotted Dietrich near one of the other barracks. I don't think he saw us."

"Let's keep our fingers crossed," said Kinch. He looked at Schultz who looked scared and nervous at the same time. "Schultz, have a seat. We need to ask you a few questions."

"I don't think I should be here," Schultz said hesitantly. "If the Kommandant finds me here when I'm restricted to my quarters, I could be in big trouble."

"Take it easy, Schultzie," LeBeau said keeping watch at the door. "We are trying to help you."

Schultz looked at him suspiciously. "Help me? How? First you accuse me of shooting Colonel Hogan, and now you want to help me? You expect me to believe that? What kind of dummkopf do you take me for?" He started to get up, but Carter blocked his path. The young Sergeant gently gripped the rotund Sergeant by both arms.

"Honestly, Schultz. We're trying to help you. We're sorry for accusing you of shooting Colonel Hogan. We were wrong. It's just that, well, we were upset and angry at the time. You can understand that. Then you came out saying you had done it. I mean, put yourself in our place. What would you have thought?"

Schultz hung his head and slowly sat back down. "I probably would have thought the same thing."

"I'm sorry, too, mon ami," said LeBeau.

"Me too, Schultzie," added Newkirk.

"Add my name to the list, too, Schultz," said Kinch.

Lifting his head, the fat guard looked at the four men and smiled. "I accept your apologies." His eyes suddenly narrowed as he noticed Kinch's sling for the first time. "What happened to you?"

"That's one of the reasons we brought you here," Kinch explained. "Would you like some coffee, Schultz?"

"Nein. What did you want to ask me?"

Kinch shifted in his seat. "Okay. Schultz, I want you to think back to the day Colonel Hogan was shot. We need you to tell us everything you remember from the time you got up that morning."

"Is it important that I remember?" asked Schultz. "Actually, considering what happened to Colonel Hogan, I would rather not."

Newkirk sighed. "Let's rephrase the question then. Did you leave your rifle anywhere unattended?"

"My rifle?" asked Schultz with raised eyebrows. He looked around. "Why are you interested in my rifle?"

"Just answer the question, Schultzie," said Newkirk rolling his eyes in exasperation. "It's important, mate."

"Well, let's see. I had it with me when I went on duty in the morning. Funny thing, though, now that I think about it."

Kinch and Newkirk exchanged curious looks. "What's funny, Schultzie?" asked Kinch.

"I didn't remember it until just now. I had to help one of the younger guards with something and leaned my rifle against the wall of one of the barracks for a few minutes. Sergeant Dietrich was sitting there on an authorized break at the time."

Kinch, LeBeau, and Newkirk all looked puzzled as did LeBeau looking over his shoulder. "What's so funny about that?" asked the Frenchman with narrowed eyes.

"Well, when I was done, I picked up my rifle and walked away towards the Kommandant's office. What's funny was that the rifle had a funny feel to it."

"What do you mean a funny feel?" asked Kinch.

"Well, you know how when you're use to something that you've had for a while and it suddenly feels different? The rifle felt different."

"I still don't get…" Newkirk began when Kinch suddenly held up his hand stopping him.

"Schultz, I have three important questions to ask you," Kinch said. "When you say your rifle felt different. Did you mean it didn't feel like your regular rifle?"

Schultz smiled. "That's what I mean. It didn't feel like my regular rifle."

Kinch smiled now. "Next question. Was your rifle unloaded that morning?"

"My rifle is always unloaded. You know that. That's why I was so surprised it went off when I dropped it. I thought it was unloaded as always."

The others could see Kinch becoming excited and didn't interrupt. "And lastly, Schultz. You said Sergeant Dietrich was taking an authorized break. Did he have his rifle with him at the time?"

Schultz's face brightened. "Ja! He did. How did you know that?"

"Schultz, listen to me carefully," Kinch explained. "You didn't shoot Colonel Hogan."

"How can you say that? I dropped my rifle and it went off. The bullet went through the window of the barracks and…"

"Sergeant Dietrich shot Colonel Hogan and set you up to take the blame."

There was a stunned look on the guard's face as what Kinch just said registered. "Sergeant Dietrich shot Colonel Hogan? Why would he do that?"

"I can't tell you the reason yet because we can't prove it. Not yet anyway. But believe us when we say you did not shoot the Colonel and if there's a way to prove it we're gonna find it."

Schultz looked at Kinch and pointed to the sling. "Did Sergeant Dietrich do that also?" he asked quietly. When Kinch didn't answer, Schultz knew he had guessed right. "That is a terrible thing to do to someone. He is not a nice man. He is mean to the prisoners. I heard he tortured that nice young Corporal Sanger."

Newkirk glanced at Kinch. "What do you know about Sanger?"

Schultz shrugged. "Nothing. I only heard some of the guards talking about Sergeant Dietrich torturing him because he did not clean the delousing station thoroughly. Why? What did Corporal Sanger say?"

Newkirk let out a deep breath. "Sanger's dead."

''Dead? I don't understand."

"We all saw Dietrich shoot him in the back. He died a few minutes later."

Schultz sadly shook his head. "That is terrible. Sanger was such a nice boy. So polite." He then looked at Kinch, worried. "You said if you could prove Sergeant Dietrich shot Colonel Hogan. I'm sure by now the Kommandant has called General Burkhalter who will send me to the Russian front."

"Yeah, well, funny thing about that…" Newkirk said with an amused smirk as he scratched his head. "See, General Burkhalter was oddly unavailable for a few days. But he'll get the message as soon as he makes contact with his office."

Schultz, with mouth agape, stared at the Englander. "What did you….no, don't tell me. I know noth-ing! Noth-ing!" Then, he leaned towards Newkirk with a small smile. "But thank you anyway."