Chapter 21

In the early morning, the prisoners of barracks two were standing in formation for roll call with Dietrich having already counted each prisoner and directing looks of hatred at each of Hogan's remaining team when a large staff car entered through the front gates and pulled to a stop outside the Kommandantur. Klink looked nervously at Dietrich as he ordered him to dismiss the men quickly and hurried forward in time to see the rear passenger door open, and the huge bulk of General Albert Burkhalter squeezed out of the back seat and faced Klink who smiled as he saluted his commanding officer.

"General Burkhalter, what a pleasure it is to see you, sir," Klink stammered as he came to attention after Burkhalter returned his salute.

"Klink, you dummkopf! You called me the day before asking me to come out here!"

Klink appeared puzzled as Sergeant Dietrich approached. "Called you, sir? I don't remember calling you yesterday."

Burkhalter sighed. "Are you calling me a liar, Klink?"

"No, sir. I must have forgotten, sir." He laughed nervously. "I have so much on my mind of late…"

With hands clasped behind his back, the General smirked. "Then you must have quite a lot in there, Klink. Your mind not being one of them."

Dietrich hid a smirk and glanced back over his shoulder at Kinch, Carter and LeBeau who were all leaning against the wall of the barracks, watching. He suspected they were the reason Burkhalter was here. He'd have to make them pay for interfering, and as soon as the General was gone he would see about what he could do about them.

"Now, Klink, let us continue this conversation in your office." As the General started to turn and walk up the steps of the Kommandantur he suddenly noticed Dietrich. "You must be Schultz's replacement, Sergeant Dietrich."

"Jawohl, Herr General," Dietrich replied snapping to attention and saluting Burkhalter sharply; the General returned the salute. "Sergeant Karl Dietrich reporting."

"Dietrich, you will follow us inside as this concerns the man you replaced and I may need your feedback on this situation as well. Do you understand?"

"Jawohl, Herr General. But wouldn't it be better if I let you and the Kommandant talk alone?"

Burkhalter's face was turning a deep shade of crimson as he turned his beady eyes on the guard. "Are you disobeying my orders, Sergeant?" he asked coldly.

"Not at all, Herr General." He glanced again at Hogan's men momentarily. Burkhalter saw it.

"Don't look at the prisoners, Sergeant! You will look at me when I'm speaking with you. You will follow us inside and that's an order. Understood ?"

Dietrich swallowed the lump in his throat and snapped to attention. "Jawohl, Herr General."

Burkhalter smirked. "Gut! Now follow us inside Sergeant. Klink." Burkhalter turned and walked up the steps with the Kommandant close behind him still trying to remember if he had called the General. As he followed behind the Kommandant, Dietrich turned and glared at the three prisoners again. The men returned his stare.

"He suspects it was us who got Burkhalter here," LeBeau said softly. "There's no telling what he'll do to us now."

"Whatever he does he won't try anything until the General leaves," Kinch said. "We'd best go inside. We need to get everything we have together and be ready to crash that meeting and show Burkhalter our proof that Schultz didn't shoot Colonel Hogan. LeBeau, go to Schultz's quarters and tell him we need him to come with us to the Kommandant's office; he'll need to tell the General exactly what he told us a few days ago. Corporal Langenscheidt might be guarding him so there shouldn't be a problem. Get going." Kinch then looked at the demolitions expert. "Carter, go to the infirmary and get Wilson. Tell him to bring his records on Corporal Sanger, Colonel Hogan, and Newkirk. We'll need his testimony regarding what happened to all of them. I'll gather the evidence we've found and hidden in the barracks, and wait for you both here. Bring everybody here and we'll all go to Klink's office together."

"On our way," the little Frenchman said as he and Carter hurried away in separate directions. Once they were both out-of-sight, Kinch entered the barracks and closed the door. He quickly went into Hogan's office.

Burkhalter was pacing in front of Klink's desk with his hands clasped behind his back as Klink nervously sat behind his desk watching the General while chewing on his thumbnail. He still couldn't remember having called the General but couldn't let him know he didn't remember. He only hoped Burkhalter gave him some clue as to what it was that he couldn't remember calling him about so he wouldn't look stupid. Dietrich was standing against the wall beside the door suspecting why the General was at Stalag 13 and he had to deal with the situation; but first he had to know how much the General knew.

"Now, Klink," Burkhalter began, still pacing and looking at the floor. "Why don't you start at the beginning and tell me everything again."

Klink swallowed the lump in his throat. "Herr General, I'm afraid I can't tell you anymore than what I told you over the phone," he said trying to cover for the fact he had no idea what Burkhalter wanted. The General ceased pacing and stood in front of the Kommandant's desk and leaning forward, placed his fists on the desk, glaring at the Colonel.

"Klink, you begged me to come out here regarding the shooting of your Senior POW officer and you can't tell me what happened again from the beginning?"

Klink smiled nervously. "Of course I can tell you what happened, Herr General," he said. "I just wasn't sure how much you wanted me to tell you about what happened to Colonel Hogan."

"Klink, I told you to start at the beginning," Burkhalter announced, exasperated. "Now start at the beginning!"

"Yes, sir," Klink replied meekly now that he knew why the General was here; he just couldn't remember having made…..

"KLINK!"

The Kommandant jumped in his chair before beginning his story explaining everything he knew about Hogan's shooting, the death of Corporal Sanger and the beating of Corporal Newkirk with occasional glances at Dietrich who gave him warning looks to be careful. He had just finished his story when the office door burst open and in walked Hogan's three-man team with Corporal Langenscheidt who was watching Sergeant Schultz, and Sergeant Wilson who was carrying three file folders under his arm. Burkhalter stared, startled, while Klink slowly got to his feet.

"What is the meaning of this?" he asked, secretly grateful for the interruption of being in Dietrich's presence.

Dietrich had been momentarily stunned by the interruption but quickly recovered. With anger evident on his face, he advanced on the small group. "You prisoners out and back to your barracks!" he hissed. "Can't you see this is a private meeting between the General and the Kommandant? You will all be sent to the cooler for this! And Sergeant Schultz, you were confined to your quarters."

"Can't be that private if they let you attend," Kinch commented sarcastically. He saw Dietrich glare at him. The Sergeant reached out to grab Kinch by the arm, a nasty look on his face.

"Wait!" ordered Burkhalter holding up a hand stopping him. He looked at the intruders. "Sergeants Kinchloe and Carter and Corporals Newkirk and LeBeau were in the barracks with Hogan when he was shot, correct, Klink?"

"Jawohl, Herr General," Dietrich instantly replied.

"I wasn't asking you, Sergeant," Burkhalter replied glaring at Dietrich momentarily with a cold look. Kinch smirked. "So I suggest you remain silent until you're spoken to. Well Klink?"

"Yes, they were, sir," the Kommandant stammered in agreement.

"I see. And Sergeant Wilson treated Hogan before he was transported to the hospital did he not?"

"That's true, sir."

"And this entire incident is because Sergeant Schultz supposedly shot Colonel Hogan correct?"

"Yes sir."

Standing erect, Burkhalter smiled and clasped his hands behind him. "Well then, I'd say most of the involved parties are now here. Now Sergeant Schultz, since this entire occurrence began with you, why don't you start by telling me what happened?"

Schultz swallowed anxiously. "Me? You want me to tell you what happened?" He could feel Dietrich's eyes on him and it made him afraid.

"Yes. Tell me what happened and how you ended up shooting Colonel Hogan?"

Kinch noticed Dietrich glare warningly at Schultz and stepped forward. "Excuse me, General," he said. "But Sergeant Schultz, as you can see, is very nervous and feels somewhat intimidated by Sergeant Dietrich here. Perhaps you could have Sergeant Dietrich wait outside the office? I mean, Sergeant Schultz might be more inclined to answer your questions without feeling intimidated. But of course the decision is up to you, sir."

Burkhalter took a few minutes. "Perhaps you are right, Sergeant Kinchloe." He looked at Schultz. "Would you prefer Sergeant Dietrich leave the room, Sergeant Schultz?"

Schultz glanced over his shoulder at the German Sergeant and then at Kinch who nodded slightly. "Jawohl, General, I would prefer that," he said looking at Burkhalter timidly.

"Very well," Burkhalter's eyes turned to the Sergeant. "You are to wait outside, Sergeant Dietrich, and after I have heard from everybody in the room, I will then talk with you."

Knowing he had to find out what was being said, Dietrich tried to argue his case. "But General, I think with all these prisoners…"

Burkhalter's face rapidly reddened. "Sergeant, you are trying my patience! I suggest you do as you're ordered!"

"Jawohl." Dietrich saluted giving Kinch and Schultz both a warning look before turning and exiting the room. Outside the door, he pressed his ear against the door to listen.

"Sit down, Sergeant Schultz," Burkhalter said with a smile; watching the obese guard sit slowly down in the chair in front of Klink's desk. "Now, in your own words, I want you to tell me how you ended up shooting Colonel Hogan." He fixed his beady eyes on the guard. Schultz looked momentarily at Kinch.

"Go ahead, Schultz," Kinch said. "Tell the General exactly what happened."

Then, Schultz began telling what happened the day Colonel Hogan fell victim to a bullet coming through the closed window of barracks two.

After Schultz had finished, Wilson went on to explain Hogan's injury to Burkhalter and the abuse with Dietrich's rifle endured by Corporal Sanger that led to Hogan's shooting, and the death of the Corporal as well. That was followed by Kinch's explanation about the argument Hogan had with Dietrich regarding Sanger just before the Colonel was shot, and the men's search outside barracks two and the finding of the bullet from Schultz's rifle buried in the ground outside the barracks. Carter went on to explain how Dietrich had taken him to the empty barracks and threatened him and that Newkirk came to his rescue, and his subsequent beating by the Sergeant and Newkirk's slow and painful recovery. And finally, LeBeau explained how Kinch was injured by Dietrich right inside the barracks in front of the other prisoners and why. Of course, all of them made sure to cover up the fact that Klink was being blackmailed by Dietrich. When finished, they all waited for the General to speak as he resumed his pacing with hands behind his back.

After a few minutes, Burkhalter stopped pacing and faced everybody. "Sergeant Wilson, is Corporal Newkirk up to answering a few questions?"

Wilson sighed. "Not really, sir. Of late he falls asleep during conversations without warning and can't stay awake longer than five minutes if that."

"I see. Then I will have to forget about questioning him regarding this matter." He looked at Langenscheidt. "Corporal, you will have Sergeant Dietrich come in now so I can ask him a few questions."

"Jawohl, Herr General," Langenscheidt said saluting; Burkhalter returned the salute while the Corporal opened the door. "Sergeant Dietrich, come in, bitte." Everybody stared at him as Dietrich strode into the office staring unpleasantly at Schultz, Kinch, LeBeau and Carter. He didn't care about Wilson or Langenscheidt; but the others were all dead men as far as he was concerned based on what he had overheard and he would deal with each of them accordingly.

"Sergeant Dietrich reporting, sir," he told the General, saluting.

"At ease, Sergeant," Burkhalter hissed. He didn't like this man at all, but that played no part in whether or not he was guilty of what he had been accused of. "Please have a seat."

Schultz got up and sat down in the seat near the picture of Hitler which housed the hidden microphone. He and the others watched as Burkhalter stood in front of Dietrich, hands behind his back. The General wanted to watch Dietrich's eyes for signs he was lying.

"Now Sergeant Dietrich, there have been some serious accusations made against you by the men in this room with the exception of the Kommandant. I want you, in your own words, to tell me what happened the day Colonel Hogan was shot and please be precise."

"Jawohl, Herr General. Well, it all started that day when Corporal Sanger…." And Dietrich went on to spin his own yarn as to what happened to Corporal Sanger and what led up to the shooting of Colonel Hogan making certain to lay the blame for Hogan's shooting directly at the feet of Schultz. Having overheard through the door, he quickly came up with what he would tell the General when he got a chance. He also refuted the evidence as to how Newkirk had been injured but admitted he had been a 'little' rough with both Carter and Kinch while trying to get information and that Kinch had taken a swing at him in the barracks when he entered causing him to grab the negro Sergeant in such a way he 'accidentally' dislocated his shoulder. Dietrich was quite pleased with himself by the time he concluded his story pertaining what everybody had said. When he finished, he waited with the others who looked disgusted with his fabrication as everybody waited for the General to say something. After a few minutes, Burkhalter spoke.

"Unfortunately, I cannot question Colonel Hogan as he is still unconscious per Dr. Prust…" Nobody noticed Kinch, Carter and LeBeau shift looks at each other, and were secretly glad Kinch had ordered Prust to keep quiet about bringing Hogan out of his forced sedation for now. What Burkhalter didn't know wouldn't hurt.

"…so I will have to base my decision on what I have heard here today." He then proceeded to pace again with his head down as he was want to do when carefully organizing his thoughts before speaking. He looked up again and stopped pacing. "Both sides have valid arguments regarding this unfortunate situation regarding the late Corporal Sanger and the shooting of Colonel Hogan. And Sergeant Dietrich has admitted to being a little, how should we say, over enthusiastic in his search for information. However, being over enthusiastic does not make one a killer nor an intentional danger to someone. Therefore, my decision is this…." he turned his attention to the prisoners, Schultz and Langenscheidt. "Sergeant Schultz will be continue to be restricted to his quarters for now and Sergeant Dietrich will continue as the Acting Sergeant-of-the-Guard."

The prisoners began arguing at once but quieted down when Burkhalter held up a hand. "I am not finished, gentlemen. I am due back here in ten days for an inspection of Stalag 13. I will give you until then to find definite proof that Sergeant Dietrich is guilty and present it to me at that time. If you can show me that proof, I promise you Sergeant Dietrich here will be punished accordingly with a trip to the Russian front. If you cannot, then Schultz will be sent there and the matter will then be considered closed, and Sergeant Dietrich will be your new Sergeant-of-the-Guard. Is that understood?" When he received no arguments from anybody he smirked. "Gut!" He turned his eyes to Klink who swallowed nervously with the General's eyes on him. "Klink, you see how easy it is to resolve these matters when you are a General?"

"Yes sir," Klink responded with a faint smile. "It gives me something to look forward to."

Burkhalter continued smirking. "Maybe when the war's over," he said while turning and heading for the door which Langenscheidt held open for him. He paused in the doorway and looked over his shoulder at Klink who stood behind his desk. "Remember Klink, ten days from today I will be back, and this matter will be resolved one way or the other."

"Yes Herr General," Klink replied with a sharp salute which Burkhalter did not return. He glanced briefly at Schultz before leaving the office. Langenscheidt closed the door and waited with the others. Klink, sitting down again, massaged his forehead with his fingers, feeling a tension headache building.

"Kommandant?" asked Wilson, concerned. "You all right, sir?"

Klink suddenly looked up and with arm stretched out, pointed to the door. "OUT! Everybody OUT! Langenscheidt, take Schultz back to his quarters. The rest of you out! Dietrich, you remain. Now out!"

The others all slowly departed the office and were soon on the porch of the Kommandantur. Everybody looked at the radioman.

"I want to thank you boys for what you tried to do for me," said a sad Schultz. "I won't forget what you tried to do."

"You can't give up yet, Schultz," Kinch replied with a small smile. "Didn't you hear the man? We have ten days from today to come up with proof of Dietrich's guilt. Somewhere there has to be something and we're going to find it. So don't buy your ticket for the Stalingrad Express just yet."

Schultz shook his head grimly. "I don't want you boys to get in more trouble with Sergeant Dietrich over me."

"We're not doing this just for you, Schultzie," LeBeau added playfully poking the heavy guard in his large stomach. "This is also for Corporal Sanger, Colonel Hogan and Newkirk. And for us as well. We can't let Dietrich get away with what he's done and will continue to do if he's not stopped."

"LeBeau's right, Schultz," said Carter. "You can't give up yet. That's what he's counting on. That nobody will fight back."

Schultz seemed to mull this over. "Seems I don't have any choice, does it?"

"No you don't," Kinch added with a grin.

Schultz, for the first time, allowed a smile to appear. "If you boys say so. Just promise me you'll be careful. Sergeant Dietrich is not a nice man. He's very mean."

Langenscheidt took the guard's arm. "Come on, Hans. I'd better get you back to your quarters and return to duty before Dietrich comes out." With a small smile at the others, the two guards left the porch. Watching them go, Wilson soon followed heading back to the infirmary after making Kinch promise to keep him informed or again required his help with anything. That left Kinch, Carter and LeBeau.

"So what do we do first, mon ami?" asked the little Frenchman as he and Carter both looked up at the radioman.

Kinch sighed as he stuffed both hands in his jacket pockets. "I have to think about that," he said. "But whatever we decide we'll have to be extremely careful. Did you see how Dietrich looked at us in there?"

"Oui," LeBeau replied with a shiver. "He'll do anything to stop us now. He can't let us convince Burkhalter he's guilty and be sent to the Russian front instead of Schultzie."

Just then, the door of the Kommandantur opened and Dietrich strode out; he glared at the three prisoners and smirked. He noticed LeBeau and Carter gather a bit closer to Kinch sensing the German's hatred was being directed at him in particular. "It's dangerous to think you three are going to outsmart me. I will not only see your precious Sergeant Schultz sent to the Russian front, but you three and your dear friends Colonel Hogan and Corporal Newkirk will suffer because of your recklessness."

"You stay away from Newkirk and Colonel Hogan!" Carter hissed stepping forward. He was beginning to get angry. Kinch's arm blocked Carter's advance.

"Don't waste your time or breath, Carter," Kinch replied his eyes never straying from Dietrich's. "This Kraut won't be here long enough to do anything to anybody."

Dietrich smirked. "Such open defiance from one who hasn't long to live. I hope you are this entertaining when I see you and your friends take their last breaths."

"It is you who will take your last breath at the Russian front you filthy Bosche!" LeBeau snapped in anger.

Dietrich chuckled. "I would keep in mind that a lot can happen in ten days. Anything can happen in a POW camp." He shoved past them and down the steps.

"That it can, Dietrich," Kinch replied sullenly. "I'd watch my step if I were you. Anything can happen works both ways."

Dietrich glanced over his shoulder and chuckled. With a shake of his head, he turned and continued on his way leaving the trio glaring at his receding back.