Chapter 2-The Big Explosion
Hogan looked at the Little Frenchman. "What is it, LeBeau?"
"Pardonnez-moi, Colonel, but I thought you'd want to know. Garlotti and Olsen have just returned. They are entering the tunnels now."
Kinch saw the corners of Hogan's mouth curl upwards ever so slightly. "Thanks, LeBeau. It's nearly 1500 hours. You'd better head over to Klink's quarters and start preparing dinner. Newkirk, Kinch and Carter will be over shortly to help set up."
"Oui, Colonel," LeBeau answered dismally.
"By the way, what are you serving?" asked Hogan, his taste buds anticipating something delicious from the Frenchman.
The little Frenchman smiled. "I thought I'd start off with Fricassee de Poulet. And for dessert, some Clafouti." (1)
Hogan sighed contentedly, then walked past both men. "C'mon, Kinch." Entering the common room, Hogan glanced around. "Saunders, watch the door for a few minutes," he added. After both men approached the double bunk in the corner, Hogan slapped the hidden mechanism on the upper bed frame and waited as the lower bunk rattled upward, and the ladder dropped. Followed by Kinch, Hogan stepped over the bed frame and ascended down the ladder into the tunnels below. The two men headed in the direction of the changing room where they spotted Olsen and Garlotti changing out of their Luftwaffe uniforms.
"Any problems?" Hogan stuck his hands in his back pants pockets again.
"Everything went fine, Colonel," Olsen replied with a smirk. "Just a few minor difficulties however," he added.
Hogan and Kinch exchanged looks.
"What difficulties?" the Colonel asked, eyebrows knitting together, dark eyes flashing. "And were these so called difficulties the reason it took both of you so long to get back?"
"Kinda, Colonel," Garlotti explained. "See, when we reached the plant, there were guards on duty. So Olsen and I hid our satchels behind some nearby bushes and waited until they were about to change shifts and we replaced two of them. We waited until things settled down, then retrieved our satchels, and set the explosives. We set the timers so that the bombs will go off at 2215 hours, well after lights out."
"But as we were ready to leave…" Olsen continued, "…one of the guards saw us and yelled at us about deserting our post so we took off running as fast as we could. Fortunately we lost them."
"But neither of you got hurt?" asked Kinch, worried.
"Nah," Olsen replied with a relaxed grin. "But they sure had us worried for a few minutes though." The two men finished changing back into their Allied uniforms.
"Main thing is you're both all right," Hogan said as he and the others headed back in the direction of the ladder leading to the barracks.
About four-thirty, a large black staff car rolled through the front gates of Stalag 13 and pulled up in front of the Kommandantur. As usual, Sergeant Schultz hurried forward and pulled open the left back passenger door and offered his best salute as did Klink standing facing the door. Burkhalter struggled out the open door returning the salute as he did so; then, he offered his hand to his sister, and assisted her from the back seat. Schultz closed the door.
"What a pleasure it is to see you General Burkhalter," Klink stammered with a nervous smile on his face. He felt like a deer caught in the headlights of a car.
"Wish I could say the same, Klink, but I can't, so I won't," Burkhalter replied with a smirk. He could sense the Kommandant's nervousness as well as see it in his forced smile. He smiled as he looked at his sister. "You remember my sister, Mrs. Linkmeyer?"
Klink shook Gertrude's hand and bowed, maintaining his smile. "Of course. It's wonderful to see you again Frau Linkmeyer."
Gertrude forced a smile to her face which did not reach her eyes. "Guten Tag, Klink."
Swallowing the large lump in his throat, Klink glared past his guests at his large Sergeant-of-the-Guard who swallowed nervously and seemed to wilt under the glare.
"Schultz! Take the luggage for Frau Linkmeyer and the General to guest quarters one and two immediately. Then go to barracks two and inform Colonel Hogan his company is expected at 1800 hours this evening."
Schultz saluted. "Jawohl, Herr Kommandant."
As Schultz struggled with the luggage, Klink gestured towards the Kommandantur. "Frau Linkmeyer, Herr General, shall we go inside and have some refreshments?"
Hogan, surrounded by a few of the men, had observed the General's car arrive from the doorway of barracks two. With hands on his slender hips, he allowed an amused grin to appear on his face as he watched Klink fawn all over Burkhalter as if his life depended on it. It probably does, he thought to himself.
"Klink sure does a lot of boot-licking when Burkhalter arrives," Saunders commented.
"Wonder how he's gonna handle Burkhalter's sister being here for a week, Colonel?" asked Olsen.
"I don't know," Hogan chuckled. "I can't wait to see the outcome myself. Should be interesting though with my favorite comedy team of Burkhalter and Klink."
"Which one is the straight man, sir?" asked Baker chuckling. To him, Klink and Burkhalter reminded him of the comedians Laurel and Hardy.
Hogan shrugged. "Neither one. And yes Baker, they do remind one of Laurel and Hardy, including their sizes," he smirked looking back at his back-up radio operator with a knowing smile as he turned and walked away from the door as laughter was heard. Walking to the pot-belly stove, Hogan poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table as the door was closed and the men went about their business. Olsen joined Hogan at the table, noticing the Colonel seemed a bit worried.
"Something wrong, Colonel?" Olsen asked.
Hogan took a drink of coffee. "I'll just feel better once those bombs go off and that ball-bearing plant is a pile of burning rubble."
"I wouldn't worry, sir. We hid those bombs so well they won't be detected before it's too late."
"We also have to worry about Burkhalter being in camp for a week. With him here the guards will be doubled outside the wire making it too risky for anybody to leave camp. So I guess we'd better enjoy the enforced vacation for the next five days." He took a drink of coffee. "I have a feeling the next five days are gonna be interesting to put it mildly."
It was approaching six p.m. when Hogan knocked on the door of Klink's quarters, and entered upon hearing "Come in" from the Kommandant. After entering, Hogan removed his crush cap and gave it to Schultz who was standing guard near the kitchen door. He noticed Burkhalter with a smirk on his beefy face and a somewhat glassy look to his eyes staring at him which told Hogan the General was already on his way to becoming drunk. Klink, with a feigned smile, was struggling to look relaxed as if he didn't have a care in the world. He looked almost pleased that Hogan had finally arrived and all was now right with the world meaning that he could breathe again. But it was Frau Linkmeyer's expression that caught his attention. She looked depressed, as if she would rather be anywhere than where she was, and was trying to force herself to have a good time.
"Colonel Hogan, how good of you to join us," Burkhalter announced in a loud voice gripping the American's shoulder with his free hand; a drink in his other.
"Evening, General. Frau Linkmeyer. Kommandant. Hope I'm not late." Hogan said calmly already feeling bored and suspecting this was going to be a long night.
"Not at all," Burkhalter replied before turning his attention to Klink. As he did so Carter brought a tray on which sat several goblets of white wine while Newkirk carried a tray on which sat appetizers which Hogan recognized as canapés with garlicky tomato spread. He took a goblet and a cracker; he bit into the cracker. As he chewed, he got a look at Newkirk's face.
"Everything okay, Newkirk?" he asked, swallowing. He then took a sip of white wine.
Newkirk rolled his eyes to the heavens. "You're lucky you arrived when you did, Gov'nor," he kept his voice just above a whisper. "Between Klink and Burkhalter, they nearly ate all the bleedin' appetizers." He watched the Colonel pick up another cracker.
"Frau Linkmeyer looks a bit down," Hogan remarked. "What gives?"
Carter glanced over at the woman who was standing near her brother staring blankly into her goblet.
"It's kinda hard to say, Colonel," Carter replied softly. "She's looked like that since she and Burkhalter walked in. I don't think she's very happy."
Newkirk smirked. "Maybe the prospect of marryin' ole Klink is too much even for her." He chuckled quietly. Hogan finished his drink before taking another. This one he would nurse. Didn't want to get drunk in case something was discussed that he needed to overhear.
"Better go keep the natives happy," Hogan suggested.
"Yes, sir," Newkirk and Carter both replied simultaneously.
Hogan glanced in the direction of Klink who was chatting with the General, and found himself feeling a bit sorry for Klink because the General seemed to conducting a third degree; of that he was pretty positive. Hogan really couldn't hear that well. Then, as he let his eyes fall on Gertrude, he watched the woman walk over to Klink's sofa and sit down; sighing deeply, taking a drink of wine. Something was definitely off with her and had an idea what it might be. If Klink was right about Burkhalter wanting to use this trip to break up him and Bertha, perhaps Frau Linkmeyer wasn't really looked forward to becoming Mrs. Wilhelm Klink. Hogan had to chuckle as he took another sip of his drink. Could he blame her? Who'd want to introduce Klink as their husband? Much less Burkhalter introducing the Kommandant as his brother-in-law. Approaching the woman, Hogan stood in front of her. "Everything all right, Frau Linkmeyer?" he asked, genuinely concerned.
Gertrude looked up, a sadness in her eyes at the American. "Why are you asking, Colonel?" she asked. She waited as Hogan sat down beside her.
"You just look like something's troubling you. I mean, I know I'm the enemy but I'm a good listener if you'd like to talk about it."
A faint smile appeared on her face before she looked down staring into the contents of her wine goblet. "You can't help, Colonel Hogan. Nobody can help." She paused. "Excuse me," she added suddenly getting to her feet and approaching Klink and Burkhalter leaving a somewhat perplexed Hogan seated on the sofa alone.
At 1830 hours, Hogan, General Burkhalter, Klink, and Frau Linkmeyer, were sitting down to an enjoyable dinner prepared by the little Frenchman and served by Carter, with Kinch and Newkirk serving white wine with the meal.
"So Klink…" Burkhalter slightly slurred his words with a smirk on his face. "Tell me about this young lady you've been seeing."
Klink swallowed nervously and smiled. "Wha…what is it you would like to know, Herr General." He could barely get the words out of his mouth. Instead, his panicked blue eyes turned to Hogan's brown ones, pleading silently for help.
"Just how serious are things between you two?"
"I'd say they're very serious, General," Hogan interceded with an amused grin. "She is a young widow who recently bought the Ratskeller. You should see these two kids. They act like a couple of love-sick teenagers." Hogan smirked at the grimace on the Kommandant's face at his choice of words.
"Really? I somehow can't see a lovely young Frau attaching herself to Klink. He needs an older, more established woman of the world…someone like my sister, Gertrude perhaps."
Hogan noticed the roll of Gertrude's eyes at her brother's words, and how Klink nearly choked on his drink. "Albert, please," Gertrude begged. "Instead of trying to interfere in Colonel Klink's personal life, you should be happy for him." She then glanced at Hogan, her eyes indicating she wanted to speak with him, but not now and not here. She saw him subtly nod his head he understood.
Hogan's eyebrows arched. This was so un-Gertrude like. Something was definitely wrong, and Hogan suspected it had nothing to do with Klink's involvement with Bertha Hagenfassel. He took another bite of his food. Even he had to admit the Frenchman had outdone himself; it was delicious.
"I am happy for him," Burkhalter admitted. "I just don't believe it. It sounds like somebody Klink made up to avoid marrying you."
"Albert, when you asked me to accompany you on this trip, you said it was strictly business."
"It is strictly business. However, I never said I could not mix business with a little pleasure."
Gertrude shook her head. "Kommandant, this food is delicious," she said hoping to change the subject.
"It is excellent," Burkhalter agreed as he swallowed a mouthful of food.
"Ummm," was all Klink could utter.
"LeBeau has outdone himself I must say," Burkhalter admitted out loud as he drank some more white wine. "So tell me, Klink, what does this Bertha Hagenfassel look like? Perhaps I've seen her before someplace."
"As Hogan said before, she bought the Ratskeller a few months ago," Klink nervously explained. She has long dark hair and is extremely attractive, Herr General."
Burkhalter smirked. "The Ratskeller you say? Sounds like a young lady I would like to meet and get to know. You will arrange it, Klink."
"Herr General?" Klink asked looking mortified. "But we may not have time considering how busy you will be here the next five days."
"Nonsense, Klink. I am quite interested in meeting any young lady who has captured your attention."
Klink looked desperately at Hogan who could only roll his eyes. "General, I only met Frau Hagenfassel once," he said wiping his mouth with a napkin. "And although she is somewhat young, I have to admit she seemed quite taken with our dashing Kommandant. I think they'd make a good match."
Burkhalter frowned at Hogan. "I will decide that, Hogan, not you." He then faced Klink and lay a meaty paw on his shoulder. "Klink, I want you to arrange for a dinner to take place at the Ratskeller during my stay here for yourself, me and my sister for this Thursday. And that's an order."
"Yes, Herr General. As soon-as-possible, Herr General," Klink replied with a worried look at Hogan who could only shrug his shoulders. Out of the corner of his eye, Hogan noticed Frau Linkmeyer shaking her head in dismay as she picked at the remains of her food.
Once dinner was finished, the men served the dessert which was a big hit with everybody and served with fresh coffee. During dessert, Hogan checked his watch and noticed it was nearing 2115 hours; only one hour to go before the Nazis would be missing one ball-bearing plant.
After the dessert dishes and coffee cups had been cleared away, the men and Frau Linkmeyer all retired to Klink's living room with a snifter of brandy; the men all puffing on cigars, Hogan using one that he had pilfered earlier in the day from Klink's humidor. Hogan and Frau Linkmeyer were seated side-by-side on the couch listening to Klink and Burkhalter discussing Bertha Hagenfassel again. He noticed Gertrude close her eyes and pinch the bridge of her nose.
"Are you all right, Frau Linkmeyer?" he asked softly.
"Just leave me alone, Colonel, please," she said. She then finished her brandy in one gulp before getting slowly to her feet. Burkhalter noticed and looked with concern at his sister.
"What's wrong, Gertrude?" he asked tenderly. "Are you all right?"
"I'm all right, Albert, just tired," she replied. "It's been a long day, I have a headache, and I'm turning in. You gentlemen can remain and continue talking."
"Are you sure?" asked Burkhalter, worried. Even Klink was watching now and secretly admitted to himself that the General's sister didn't look well.
"I'm sure."
Klink finally found his voice. "Then I will have one of my guards escort you to your quarters, Frau Linkmeyer."
"That is not necessary, Kommandant."
"Oh yes it is," the General insisted overriding her.
Klink looked over his shoulder. "Schuuuuulllltz!" he shouted. The door to the kitchen opened and Schultz, his mouth full of food, stepped out; he swallowed quickly and saluted.
"You summoned me, Herr Kommandant?" he stammered.
"Yes, Dumnkopf. Have Hogan's men been escorted back to the barracks yet?"
"Yes, Herr Kommandant. They finished cleaning up in the kitchen and I escorted them back to the barracks and then did roll call. All prisoners are present and accounted for except Colonel Hogan who is here with you."
"Excellent, Schultz," said Klink. "I want you to escort Frau Linkmeyer to her guest quarters. She is tired and wishes to turn in."
"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant. Frau Linkmeyer?"
As Gertrude started to join Schultz, Hogan suddenly looked excited and rubbed his hands together like a little kid on Christmas day. "Oh goody, now us men can discuss German military secrets."
"Hoooogaaaannnn!" Klink bellowed disapprovingly. Burkhalter scowled at the American.
"What?" asked Hogan. "We're all military men, Kommandant. I promise I won't tell anybody whatever you tell me about any German military plans and what old Scramble Brains has planned."
Burkhalter's face turned red while Klink stiffened. "Hogan, your presence here is no longer required," Klink announced. "Schultz, after you drop Frau Linkmeyer at her guest quarters, take Colonel Hogan back to his barracks."
"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant. Colonel Hogan?"
Hogan snapped his fingers, a look of frustration on his face. "Darn it. And here I thought I was gonna hear some Kraut secrets." He shrugged, finished his brandy and got to his feet. "Oh well, maybe next time." He approached Schultz and held open the door for Frau Linkmeyer. "After you," he said in a gentlemanly manner.
Once the trio was outside on Klink's porch, Frau Linkmeyer inhaled and exhaled deeply. "Sergeant Schultz, I wish to speak with Colonel Hogan, alone."
Schultz swallowed nervously. "But…but…my orders are to escort you to your quarters, then make sure Colonel Hogan gets back to the barracks."
"Colonel Hogan can escort me to my quarters," she said calmly. "I assure you I will be in no danger, Sergeant."
"But…but…but…."
"Don't worry, Schultz," Hogan announced with an amused grin. "I know how to get back to the barracks on my own."
Frau Linkmeyer looked at Schultz with a serious look. "Unless you wish to discuss your problems with the General?"
Schultz looked at Hogan. "Colonel Hogan, you're on your own." He then quickly walked away leaving Hogan and Frau Linkmeyer alone on the porch. Hogan glanced at his watch. It was exactly 2130 hours.
"You have an appointment, Colonel?" Gertrude asked curiously.
"No. Why do you ask?"
"You keep looking at your watch as it you have someplace to go."
Hogan smirked. "Even Colonels need their beauty sleep," he joked.
"Then I shall not keep you long. But I do need to talk with you, but not here. Could you come with me to my quarters?"
"Sure. Lead the way."
Hogan followed the older woman to her quarters. Once inside, she closed the door and turned on a table lamp.
"Would you care for a drink, Colonel?" she asked with a weak smile.
Hogan shrugged his shoulders. "No thanks. I think I've had enough for tonight. But don't let me stop you if you want one."
She sighed as she sat down beside Hogan. "Colonel, I need to ask you something and I want an honest answer. Just how serious are things between Klink and this Bertha Hagenfassel?"
Hogan sighed. "To be honest, I would have to say things are very serious between them. But I'm curious as to why you ask. I mean, I got the impression during the evening that you weren't really interested in Klink."
"This may come as a surprise to you, Colonel, but I'm not the least bit interested in your Kommandant. In fact, I'm very happy that he's found somebody with whom to share his life. But I can see from the look on your face that you doubt my sincerity. Let me assure you, I do not want my brother to break them up. In fact, I'm hoping he'll fail with that mission."
"Not that I don't believe you, it's just that I'm surprised. I've always believed you had a romantic interest in Klink."
Gertrude chuckled. "That may have been true at one time, but only because of pressure from my brother. He's the one who's been pushing." She noticed Hogan looking at his watch again.
"I'm sorry," she said. "It's late and you must be tired. You should go back to your barracks." She stood up as did Hogan, standing close facing her.
"It's okay. Look, I know I'm the enemy, but should you need to talk, I'm sure I could find some way to meet with you and talk."
"Thank you, Colonel, but…." She never got to finish as a loud explosion was heard. In fact, the vibrations of the explosions shook the guest cottage causing Gertrude to tightly clutch the front of Hogan's leather jacket as he instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist. He felt her body trembling against him and held her tightly.
"Wha…what was that explosion?" she asked looking up into the American's face, panicked.
"Nothing to worry about," Hogan explained. "Probably just the underground committing a little sabotage. Did sound rather close though." Looking down into her face, he saw the terror etched there, yet her brown eyes held the look of feeling safe with him. Something suddenly happened that neither could explain much less understand. Gertrude stood up on her toes at the same time Hogan leaned forward until their lips touched briefly. Pulling away, they stared at each other briefly, then pressed their lips together firmly as their bodies became one. As they did so, her arms wrapped around Hogan's neck. She could feel his tongue seeking entry and she welcomed him in with a deep moan emanating from the back of her throat.
(1)Fricassee de Poulet is chicken in wine. It is a traditional French recipe. A simple dish from the Lorraine region of France.
Clafouti is a custard batter with fruit. It is a mix between a pancake and custard. Is traditionally made with wild cherries like a runny pancake.