The Discovery

Karl walked behind Schultz as they tried to find the address on the note. It had been Hogan's idea to split up as not to draw unwanted attention. Unfortunately, both he and Schultz were directionally challenged and Hogan had the car.

"Perhaps we should ask for directions," replied Karl after passing the same shop for the third time.

"Nonsense," replied Schultz, "I have an internal compass. I will find it in no time."

"Feld….. General, you are like me, we both get lost in the bathtub. Please let's stop and ask for directions."

"I am a General. Generals do not get lost nor do they ask for directions," declared Schultz.

"You are not a General; you just play one in Paris."

"How would you like to lose the stripe you have left?"

"Yes sir," Karl answered with a hurt puppy dog look directed at his Feldwebel's back.

"You're right though, a general should not have to walk the streets of Paris."

"You could commandeer a car," Karl replied hesitantly.

Schultz stopped walking at looked at Karl, "You think I should?"

Karl spread his upward facing palms and shrugged. "Maybe a taxi would be better." Note to self, sarcasm is a waste of time when it is directed at Schultz.

Schultz scanned the street and replied, "Which one is a taxi?"

Karl considered the question and then pointed to a car sitting at the curb with an old man inside reading a newspaper. Both men approached the car.

"Excuse me," Schultz began, "are you a taxi driver?"

"Ta mère est une vache grasse et stupides derrière votre père, d'un cheval," the man muttered to himself never raising his eyes from the paper he was reading. (Your mother is a stupid fat cow and your father a horse's behind.)

"What did he say?" Schultz asked.

"He said he didn't speak German and asked if we spoke French," replied Karl.

Karl leaned in the window and smiled. " Pardonnez-moi mais nous aimerions aller à un neuf huit trois rue Saint Aveune. Combien? " (Pardon me but we would like to go to one nine eight three Saint Rue Aveune. How much?)

The old man turned his head and eyed Karl but did not speak.

"Un Reichsmark?" (One Reichsmark?)

The old man returned to reading his paper and ignored Karl.

"Deux?...Trois?" This is getting to be an expensive war, Karl thought to himself. (Two?...Three?)

"Dix," the old man replied. (Ten.)

"Dix? Avez-vous perdu votre esprit toujours aimer? Que sur la Terre verte de Dieu serait vous faire croire que nous vous payons dix Reichsmarks?" (Ten? Have you lost your ever loving mind? What on God's green Earth would make you think we would pay you ten Riechsmarks?)

"J'ai une voiture et vous n'avez pas." (I have a car and you do not.)

Karl gave him a tight smile. "C'est bon monsieur, mais je pense que cette éclipse de votre voiture," he said as he placed his hand casually on his side arm. (That is good sir but I think this trumps your car.)

The old man turned his watery eyes to the P38 on Karl's hip. "Très bien trois." (Alright three.)

"Non, maintenant je vais vous donner un Reichspfennig 50," replied Karl. (No, now I will give you a 50 Reichspfennig.)

The old man grumbled but accepted the coin and the two Germans gratefully climbed into the back of the car. It was only when the car was on its way that Karl stopped to think about the consequences of their actions. This man could be in the resistance or a partisan. But before he could say anything, the car turned a corner a block from where they had been picked up and stopped. Directionally challenged indeed, they had been turning a block too soon. Humiliated, Karl gave the man another coin and exited the taxi quickly. Echoing in his ears was the laugher of the Frenchman and the various comments of how stupid Germans were.

They walked up the three flights of stairs, with Schultz doing some heavy wheezing by the time they had gotten to the last landing. Karl knocked on the door and was greeted by the pretty brunette he had seen in the café. The young lady, who Karl would learn her name was Suzette, led them to the kitchen table and had them sit down. She set a bottle of red wine in front of them, "For you," she said as she moved away from the table to where her father and LeBeau were talking. Karl could hear enough snatches of conversation from the three French citizens to know they were the topic of conversation. Every once in a while, one of them would begin to laugh and Karl wished with all his might he was someplace else. Schultz on the other hand seemed happy with his wine and sipped the sweet nectar without comment.

Hogan was at the window keeping a silent watch on the street below. Even when he appeared relaxed it seemed to Karl that the Oberst was ever vigilant, like a coiled spring ready to pop. He was that way back at camp. Even when doing the most mundane things, Hogan always seemed to know what was going on around him. It never ceased to amaze Karl how well in tuned Hogan was with whatever was going on, even when no one else did.. Karl would not be surprised if it was confirmed the man had second sight.

Karl sighed and took a sip of the wine that had been placed in front of him. His stomach rumbled and he knew it wasn't the best of ideas to continue drinking without eating anything. Rather than continue and risk being sick, he decided to turn his attention to the French artist who now was holding the "destroyed" painting in his hands. Karl quickly looked to Schultz to see if he had noticed but he was too happy drinking his wine. Karl sucked in his breath and waited for the shoe to drop.

"They stole it from the museum?" said an outraged Verlaine.

"Filthy assassins," spat LeBeau.

"Animals!"

"Dogs!" said Suzette.

It was at this point that Schultz decided to slow down on his drinking and join the conversation. Karl began drinking more as he realized the situation was going downhill quickly.

"You forgot pigs. By the way, who are you talking about?" Schultz asked.

"Germans," replied LeBeau.

"I got into the wrong conversation," Schultz said as he picked up the bottle of wine and walked over to painting. "Please don't talk that way, you make me self-conscious. "

He is going to notice the painting. What am I going to do? Karl's heart started racing as he got up and followed Schultz.

"Alright look, save your hate meeting for later. Get the painting started, huh," Hogan said as he left his post by the window and joined the group.

"Oui monsieur ," Verlaine said as he took The Fifer to the studio area of the apartment.

"That's right get the paint….wait a minute. That's the picture that was burned up," replied Schultz as the truth of the situation finally pierced his wine soaked brain.

No kidding. Didn't I tell you they were lying back at camp?

"Yeah, there's something wrong here," Karl said hoping Hogan and LeBeau would not catch on that he knew more than he was supposed to.

" You're a part of it, shut up."

I tried to warn you and this is what I get. I can't win for losing,

"Now you know our little secret Schultz," Hogan said with an edge in his voice.

"Ach, du lieber, it was a lie. Oh you are in so much trouble. You are in big trouble!" Schultz said while shaking finger at Hogan as if he were a naughty boy he had just caught stealing apples.

"If we're in trouble can you be far behind?"

"Oui, and if you say one word we will tell Klink you knew about this," threatened LeBeau.

"LeBeau, you wouldn't do that." Shultz considered the statement for a split second before continuing, "Oh yes you would."

"Schultz," Hogan said while leading the overwhelmed Feldwebel to a nearby chair. "You're in Paris, half smashed on good wine. What more do you want?"

"I want the truth. That's what I want, the truth!"

"What is the truth Schultz, as you see it?"

Karl watched as his NCO considered the question. "I see nothing. I know nothing."

Apparently Schultz had given Hogan the right answer. Satified Hogan patted him on the back and returned to his vigil by the window. Karl let out a sigh of relief. As long as they were quiet about the situation, they remained under Hogan's protection. That gave Karl comfort than if it would if it has come from one of his superiors. Just what made Hogan different from other officers he had known? He stood there and chewed the thought over in his mind.

"Suzette, prepare the canvas for me," the artist said to his daughter.

"I have it papa"

"This will be my greatest copy. With this I will make my contribution to defeat the Germans."

"Again, please be nice," moaned Schultz from his chair.

"And you will hide the original for us until after the war?" LeBeau asked the older man.

"I consider it my sacred duty. Viva la France."

"Viva la France. À bas les Boche."

"À bas les Boche. À bas les Boche,"Suzette replied laughingly.

"À bas les….? Er, w-what did he say?" a confused Schultz asked Karl.

Karl pretended innocence and just shrugged.

"You wouldn't be happy with the translation," replied Hogan.

That would be an understatement Oberst.

A a wail of sirens pierced the air and they all froze. Everyone listened as sirens came closer and finally stopped in front of the building. Death was literally at their doorstep.

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