"Wow, gee wilikers, Mad'm, I never knew –"

"Carter," I cut him off as we walked down the hallways of Headquarters, "we have no time for this small talk. We need to send the appropriate messages and head our merry ways to Hansel and Gretel's place. Remember we have two days? We only have the rest of today and most of tomorrow." Carter nodded and eventually let himself loose of my tight grip.

I was searching for the radio room. We needed to send our first message to Rob before we head anywhere. And after searching my mind for the way to the radio room, I was awarded with it after I randomly chose a hallway to follow. Carter, walking besides me, spotted it first. After verifying who we were upon entering (and trust me, it takes a long time, and the process is long and tedious), Carter and I were granted full access to the radio.

A corporal, who usually mans one of the larger radios here, allowed me his place, and, backing away graciously, gave me and Carter the needed privacy we craved. I hoped that Baker was on the other end and that the Krauts were not with their trucks that detect radio waves.

Using the usual functions of the radio, I fingered the buttons and got to the wave I wanted – the one at Stalag 13. "Goldilocks, this is Mama Bear, come in Goldilocks. England shall be free, and shall have her whole rights and liberties inviolable."

Upon hearing the opening lines of the Magna Carta, some of the men stood up in their patriotism, but sat down as soon they realized that it was just a code message when hearing no more of it. Most smiled and it almost made me laugh to think of those chaps so loyal to their country and king. I did hear some saying, "G-d save the King!"

At first I received static for a while, but was rewarded a few minutes with something from Stalag 13. I was ecstatic when I heard Baker's baritone voice on the other line. I could have cried with joy. "Mama Bear, this is Goldilocks, we heard you loud and clear. Where have you been?"

"Just relay this to Papa Bear," I said. "We had a little rain destroy our parade for a while. Not only that, there is trouble looming in the horizon just as we predicted. We have names of the corrupted packages and are about to rip them open later this evening. Is there any interjection available in this excitement?"

Baker was about to reply to me, but I heard some arguing in the background – muffled voices – and it most likely interrupted what Baker was going to say. I think the remaining men there were fighting for who was going to talk to me and Carter. Rob would win in the argument for who was going to talk to me and I knew it. Before I could shut off the system, because of the hazard of having the Gestapo listen in, I heard Rob's bass voice. "Mama Bear, this is Papa Bear. Please repeat what you said to Goldilocks."

I repeated my message, verbatim (while in the meantime, I reassured him that Carter was perfectly fine, but needed some sleep), and asked, "Is there anything else that we need to do right now?"

There was silence on the other end, so I thought that I lost Rob or that he didn't hear me. When I tried to repeat the question, I heard Rob's voice on the other end. "Mama Bear, make sure to tell them that we'll get the dump that the birds missed. They wouldn't be as careless as to leave it in the open, would they?"

Then I realized what Rob was trying to do and it dawned on me what he had in mind all along. Carter and/or I will slip to our spies that we're going to destroy the ammo dump that the planes didn't get. In the meantime, Rob has another important place in mind (I don't know what it was, but I'll find out as soon as I get back) and will appoint another team to distract them at the unguarded place and getting that ammo dump!

I was not incredulous about this plan, but in fact, I was brimming with excitement. Because the only people who could have known the intentions we have are those spies we slipped the information to, easy as that! And if I told those generals back at High Command and if they approve (with Alburtis mostly on my side, then I should have no problem), then off Carter and I go.

I, with some glee in my voice, acknowledged Rob. "Right on, we're hitting two birds…three birds…with a single stone. Good thinking, old chap." I laughed, saying in between this, "The message is recognized. And what shall we old veterans of the force do in the meantime?"

"Carry the packages to where we want them to be," Rob said, simple as that.

"It is done," I said, but before I could say anything more, Carter interrupted me. "Colonel, can I talk to Newkirk?"

I covered the microphone just in case Rob and the other didn't want to hear this heated argument. Rob did hear Carter asking and said, "Tell that package to put the tape on and to leave it on." I bet that Rob had one of those headaches when he said that, too.

All I could do though was laugh again, saving Carter from my wrath for the moment, and said, "I'll make sure it's secured. And as for this Mama Bear, it is imperative to go and mail those packages. It is singular his articles forever shall be steadfastly, firmly and inviolably observed."

Rob heard this farewell and said, "Good luck" before breaking the signal. Before he took himself of the air though, I thought that I heard him say something. I couldn't tell; it was just a whisper, a light breeze. I sighed wistfully, wishing I was, seriously, back at Stalag 13 instead of here.

Carter brought me back to attention and the busy whirl we had to get out of. "Mad'm, we are we to do now?"

"It's more like this," I replied with some sharpness in my voice. "Why you were asking for Newkirk. What was that for? You could have put our necks into the open for Hochstetter and his goons of Gestapo!"

"Well," Carter said with some embarrassment in his voice, "I wanted to know what the outcome of the poker game was with Schultz…you know, the weekly game you play in with him. I was wondering if I won the bet that Schultz lost most of his pay again. I bet that he'll lose three quarters of it and Newkirk thinks it's half."

I smacked my forehead and said before Carter could speak, "We have to amble on over to Hansel and Gretel's candy house now, Carter. I don't think you'd want to miss the sweetness it's going to offer us." With that, I got up from the chair, a red mark to my forehead, and dragged Carter again before anything else could interrupt us. I could obtain their address here in England easily, and soon enough. We were wasting too much time already.

~00~

The Thames River of England roared silently besides me and Carter as we walked the damp, summer streets of London. In a concealed apartment on the farther side of this river, and beyond the railroad, lay where Hansel and Gretel lived. Receiving directions from Headquarters was a cinch, so to speak (and it was a major risk to the person who gave it to us). Carter, while eating lunch, was awkwardly talking with someone who worked at High Command and found out, to his surprise, that she worked with Hansel and Gretel and many times, she had to sneak away to their place of residence and exchange information. They both met and were eating at some café.

I watched them from the kitchens, which were next to the set of tables the both were situated at, following Carter even if we separated for lunch. From the corner of the galley, I saw him, although blushing, talking to this lady for over half an hour. I constantly made use of Rob's use of watches ("Nikki, there are instances when watching the time is the best thing you can do") and every time I grabbed Carter's attention, I tapped my watch, indicating that we should be moving along and not socializing. He shrugged his shoulders as me, making me roll my eyes. By then, I thought we could get hold of more information from this woman he was taking to, so I listened in. I could court martial that little twit.

This woman was an agent obviously and I saw, although it is not relevant to the mission, that she was a sergeant. "Sergeant, it's very easy to get there…at least, I think I remember where it could be, but I'll give you some details…it's past the London Dock and Ratcliff Highway, but along the Highway…then you'll see St. Catherine's Dock, I think that's something to do with Catholicism, but I'm not so sure…"

I sighed. Damn, this person was high-pitched and very…cheery for someone giving away free tidbits about our agents. She was a bouncy character all right and I preferred that Carter stay away from her for a while until we finish this mission. He's usually better than Newkirk about staying away from the women, but sometimes…sometimes Carter gets so involved that you have to lug him away. He acts as if he's at a U.S.O. tour and he can't overcome this obsession of the opposite gender.

But then I heard more from Miss Bouncy herself. "Yes, I remember! It's at Rosemary Lane Back. It's by the Blackwall Railroad, and it's such a dingy side of London. I recall as much. And then there's that place…what was it? Garrick Theater, it's about a few…miles? Yes, it was miles north of it. Or was it south?"

I smacked my forehead. This is another agent who might get us all into SO much trouble except she's bubbly and much worse than Carter. I knew where Garrick Theater was, and it was north of the railroad she was talking about. She didn't give us a house number, though, and it was bothering me. We needed to get going as soon as possible. Where was it? Come on, my little sergeant…out with the house number!

"Ummm, Sergeant?" Carter was attempting, at last, to create sentences. "Where is it again?"

I smacked my forehead again. I was getting nowhere with this, so it was time for Plan B: walk on over, pretend that I wasn't listening to them talk and get the answers straight-out from this woman. Sighing, I casually walked over from the kitchens and seated myself next to Carter saying, "Hello Carter, Sergeant. Mind if I join you?"

Miss Bouncy was apparently afraid of officers, because she gave me a deer-in-the-car-headlights look. She stiffened up and wasn't as bouncy as she let Carter onto. She stopped her jabbering and saluted me, almost spilling her food to the floor. Rolling my eyes again, I saluted back and said, "At ease, Sergeant. All I want is a little information. Sergeant Carter here, I believe, was trying to get some here and all I want is some more. I overheard you talking about two agents that you work with, codename Hansel and Gretel. All I want to know is the exact place where they live. I don't want any details on where they could be. I know London enough to determine where they could be and never get lost around here. So please, just give us a house number."

Still sitting up straight, Miss Bouncy lost her touch, but answered me anyhow. "There is no house number," she said. "They live in a hidden apartment in the back of number 5690 Rosemary Lane Back. All you do is go in, it's a boardinghouse, and ask the lady there about the couple. She'll know who you're talking about and she'll let you up. All you have to do is say who you are, whatever code you know, and she'll let you up. This woman – she knows every one of them! She has been bothering the Generals here for every one of them, and they trust her enough to give them all to her."

My heart sank, but I knew that even if this woman didn't know who I am as an agent (and she might) then she might know who I am by code. "Thank you, Sergeant," I said through clenched teeth. "And another thing…"

"Yes, Mad'm?" Miss Bouncy asked me. She still had a nervous edge to her voice.

"Don't you ever let out any information like that, to anyone, ever again. Who could you have known that Sergeant Carter here was a Nazi spy, or that he worked with the Gestapo for information? For all you know, I could have been an agent for the other side, too. You also could have endangered Headquarters, Sergeant, and if I catch you doing such again, I'll make sure you're in a court martial. Don't you ever give out anything like that, and that's an order."

"Yes, Mad'm." Miss Bouncy's lip was quivering. Before Carter could say anything else to her for comfort, I grabbed him up from his seat (Carter toppled over a few chairs on the way, but he found his feet again) and we left. We have more work to do than to listen to this jabbering monster.

Ratcliff Highway, just as busy as ever, was near where Hansel and Gretel lived. As Carter scouted for clues as to where they might be and remembering what Miss Bouncy said, I stared to the south, where the Thames River was. We were at St. Catherine's Dock and fast approaching the mint. I panicked; I didn't know where we were exactly because it didn't seem familiar to me. I recalled destruction, not this new rebuilding. I tried having a vision in my mind about London when I first came here and learned every street corner, but it was hard. It had been almost two years since I was here last and trying to distinguish rubble for real building was harder than I thought. But it was good old faithful Carter who came out in the end. I was trailing behind him when he spotted Rosemary Lane Back.

"Mad'm, I f-found Rose-ruse? Or was it Rase –"

"It's Rosemary Lane Back, Carter!" I called from behind him. I was about to hit my forehead, but I decided that it wasn't worth it. You really can't change who Carter is, and usually, he can't retain information so it'll be best to try to avoid chastising him for a lack of common sense, hard as it may be.

Anyhow, from around the mint, I saw what street we were searching for. Indeed, it was one of the dingiest sides of London, but it was perfect for crime-infected souls…or even hiding agents who secretly talk to Germany while saying they're working for the Allied Forces.

"What was the house again?" Carter asked me as he stopped, waiting for me to catch up.

I ran to catch up with Carter and in finally standing next to him on the corner of Rosemary Lane Back and Ratcliff Highway, I surveyed the area. I dimly recalled being someplace much like this with Rob, but those hazy memories are too far to bring back. I looked to the east; a train whistled in the distance, coming westbound. Yes, we were near the Blackwall Railroad. I knew where we were.

Sighing wistfully, I said, "The house number is 5690, as your friend said. If she's right, then we'll be meeting some woman, and it'll be a boardinghouse we'll be entering." I walked upon Rosemary Lane Back and searched the house numbers, many of them being such as the one we're looking for: a begrimed boardinghouse. 4231…4239…we were on the other end of the street!

I spotted the East London Dock to my right before I saw what we were searching for. Number 5690 lay ahead in the back of these docks. Indeed, it was as Miss Bouncy said, it was a bit dirtier than the rest of the housing. Motioning that Carter stay behind me in case there was danger ahead (my neck wasn't prickling, but I knew to be cautious), I walked up the rickety stairs to the door, knocking the customary three times. A muffled voice answered me. "Who's there?"

With my sarcastic attitude, I was tempted to say, "Larry and Moe with a missing Curly," but I knew better. Frightened that at any minute that the stairs' structure was going to crack under me, I said, "It's only some visitors. We need to see someone of the greatest importance."

Carter, I felt behind me, drew his gun, but I hissed, "Put it away. I don't think there's any danger here." He put it away on this order, and just as he did, the door opened. The elderly woman that we were told about graced our eyes. She was short, much shorter than me and Carter, and was hardened by all the years that went by her.

Quickly, and I love people for this, she was blunt and to the point. "I hear that you are visitors. But to whom? I have very few boarders here and they have little family and friends but each other."

"I think we should discuss this inside," I said. "There are many things that are not to be open for other ears."

Nodding, the woman opened the door more for us. As we entered, I felt my neck prickle. I didn't know if it was because there was danger for us or that Carter and I had to be careful around this place. Either way, I was determined not to ignore the fair warning this time and was more observant than ever before in searching for security loop holes. Inside, I rummaged around with my eyes, without moving from behind the woman, for anything that could indicate that this was a trap, but there was none. The walls and hallways inside were as sad as the outside stairs were. The walls were damp with moisture and black with mold (it also held some wallpaper, also peeling from the place where it was suppose to stick). The carpets were of a wet nature and cold rippled up my body, causing me to have goosebumps up and down my arms and legs. I think Carter felt the same way. The woman in front of us, however, was oblivious to what we felt.

The woman finally led us to some smaller hallway, a pantry. It was down the damp hallways and to the right, before the stairs that led to the second floor. Is it just another rickety flight? I thought as the woman stopped us in this small hallway.

Turning around to greet us, she said, "Now, tell me who you seek."

Before Carter could say anything again, I spoke. "We request two people and their child. We want to ask questions, and fill in something that needs to be filled." I didn't know if I could fully trust this woman, much like when I first met Ivan, but I have to say what we needed and be as vague as possible.

The woman was not convinced, though. "We house no couple and child here," she said, "and there are only elderly people here, single and lonely, much as I am now. This war has made victims of us all."

So says someone else and not me this time, I thought as I quickly mended what I was asking. "Well, I hear you in the morning, and I hear at nightfall and to be unable…"

"Yes, yes, yes, we have such people here!" the woman interrupted me quickly and had Carter and myself turn around so that she can show us where Hansel and Gretel were. And down the hall a little bit, we went to the stairs. I was wishing for a sweater, or even Rob's warm arms and jacket but then isn't the time to think of such luxuries.

"You will be looking for those crumbs?" the woman asked as she led us up those stairs that I dreaded climbing. Just as I feared, they were as weak as I thought them to be, but at least they didn't crumble as we walked.

"Yes, we sure are!" Carter said.

Elbowing Carter again and breaking the promise of not attacking him as such, I said, "Yes, we are seeking Hansel and Gretel. We have important information to pass onto them." And so, Rob's plan was progressing. The woman knew why we were here, just not what we are about to give Hansel and Gretel. Be as unclear as possible and never let Carter know what's going on because he might not be able to handle it. I knew I was underestimating Carter, but this is much more important and NOTHING has to stand in the way of this plan, and this includes the lacking of senses.

The woman led us in what seemed to be countless flights of stairs before we landed on some nameless floor number. I didn't even think to look how many stories the boardinghouse had, but I knew now that there were too many. We were at the top and there, in front of us, was no door, windows or anything to indicate that there was any life, or even an apartment, but some empty space.

Carter, about to question the emptiness of this space, was stopped when the woman came up to the wall, knocked a panel at her height four times and watched, with satisfaction, that it opened, and there was yet another flight of stairs. Sighing, I said, "Thank you. Is there any recognition code?"

"There is none," the woman said. "Just remember to close the door by tapping a panel at the top inside four times and the same to open it again. You saw how to close it." And with that, the woman went past me and Carter and quietly, and did she tiptoe, went down the stairs.

Carter stared after her for a while, and then said, "Who's going to knock?"

Sighing again, I said, "I'll go first, so stay behind me."

"Yes, Mad'm" was the answer I got, and it was obeyed as we crept up the stairs and walked into what we had been waiting for all this long week. My neck prickled, but I ignored it that time as I knocked the door closed and rang their doorbell.

~00~

Dammit, it's time to meet the Generals again. Alburtis, Milton and Clark requested our presence as soon as we came back and scheduled it for 0600 hours. It is now 0530 hours and Carter has woken up from this long night. I couldn't sleep and could only watch his sleeping form as I wrote. I can't believe that I wrote for six hours! The suspense that I left just now is killing me, even though I know already what has happened and what we are going to do now. In my heart of hearts, I know this is going to work, and I can tell that the end of the mission is on the horizon.

I seriously can't wait to arrive back to Stalag 13 and get over being sick!