Chapter 27-Cavalry To The Rescue

Hogan drove as fast as he could with an armed Schultz seated in the front passenger seat. While keeping his eyes on the road ahead, Hogan also allowed his eyes to scan both sides of the road hoping to spot Newkirk and possibly von Herwarth either separately or together.

Schultz let out a deep sigh. "Colonel Hogan, do you really believe Newkirk got this far from camp? I suspect some monkey business here."

"Monkey business, Schultz? I don't see any monkeys here and unless we're near the Hammelburg zoo I don't expect to see Freddy on the side of the road hitch-hiking."(1)

Schultz chuckled. "Jolly joker. Colonel Hogan, you are up to something. I just know it."

"Okay, Schultz, you got me. I'm looking for the man who left our secret tunnel and wants to escape from Germany; he has with him a journal, and I had Newkirk escape from camp so I could leave camp and help search for him."

"Tunnels? Journal?" Schultz laughed. "Colonel Hogan, I don't believe one word you said." He leaned closer to the American. "But it's not bad."

Hogan smiled faintly. "I knew you'd say that, Schultz."

The guard holding the handcuffs grabbed one of Newkirk's arms and pulled it roughly behind his back when the sound of a gunshot behind him caused him to turn suddenly, reaching for his sidearm. That was when Newkirk grabbed and wrestled with the guard trying to handcuff him. The two men struggled over the weapon as they fell to the floor. Suddenly a muffled gunshot was heard, and the guard who had been wrestling with the Englander, suddenly lay limply on top of him. Newkirk pushed the body off of him and noticed the circle of blood forming in the middle of the German's chest. He staggered to his feet in shock.

"Blimey!" was all he could utter. Then, hearing footsteps approaching from behind he turned and stood face-to-face with von Herwarth. Looking beyond the man, Newkirk spied the other guard lying face-down on the floor in a growing pool of blood. "Thanks, mate," was all he managed to get out.

"Come," von Herwarth said frantically as he reached for Newkirk's arm. "We must get out of here. Those shots may have attracted others. I saw a patrol earlier. They will be coming soon."

Newkirk gently slapped von Herwarth's arm away. "Not until we retrieve the journal. The Gov'nor wanted me to get you back to the camp, but I figured you hid that journal near where we picked up you and your wife. I guessed you hid it somewhere in here." Newkirk turned and again knelt down next to the floorboard he suspected was loose. Moving it aside, he smiled when he saw something the size of a book wrapped in cloth and tied with string lying snugly inside the hole. "There you are," he said reaching for it.

Von Herwarth's eyes widened. "How…how did you know?"

Newkirk smirked getting to his feet holding the journal. "Let's just say I am an expert at knowing where others hide things."

"You're a thief!" von Herwarth exclaimed.

Newkirk winced at the word. " Thief is such an ugly word. I prefer to be thought of as a procurer of valuables." He tucked the journal inside his jacket, then grabbed von Herwarth's arm. "Now let's get out of here before that patrol you saw earlier comes by," he said. "With any luck we might just run into Colonel Hogan on his way here."

Hogan was scanning both sides of the road when he heard the gunshots. He bolted out of the jeep before it stopped moving and ran in the direction of the gunfire knowing it came from the direction of the abandoned ball-bearing factory.

"Colonel Hogan, wait! You can't run off like this!" Schultz pleaded as he struggled to move his large bulk out of the passenger seat and waddle as fast as he could after the American. "Colonel Hogaaaaaaan! Wait for me!" The guard, puffing, struggled up the incline in the direction Hogan has disappeared.

As he carefully edged his way through the thick brush, Hogan removed the weapon from inside his jacket. He'd worry about how to explain it later. Right now he was concerned about two unarmed men alone in the woods. He quickened his pace in the direction of the ball-bearing plant.

Newkirk hurried along with von Herwarth close behind him; the Englander was secretly hoping he would either soon run into Hogan or he would have to take charge himself and he really wasn't looking forward to that. The sound of rustling in the brush ahead of them made them pause. Ducking behind some shrubbery, Newkirk reached up to grab von Herwarth and pull him down beside him, but before he could do so, the man saw movement in front of him and opened fire. The sound of someone having been hit was heard.

"What the bloody hell's wrong with you shootin' before you know who it is?' Newkirk got to his feet and grabbing von Herwarth's arm, cautiously made their way in the direction von Herwarth had fired his weapon. They had only gone a few yards when Newkirk suddenly froze at the familiar sight in a brown leather jacket struggling to his knees.

"COLONEL!" Newkirk shouted as he raced forward dropping to his knees beside his commanding officer. He immediately noticed a trickle of blood running down the side of Hogan's head and heaved a huge sigh of relief as the injury looked like the bullet grazed his temple. He looked up, glaring, at von Herwarth. "You bloody bastard! You're bleedin' lucky he's still alive or you'd be eatin' that gun."

"I…I'm sorry," von Herwarth stammered. "I didn't know. I didn't mean…I thought…"

"You're a bleedin' menace you are," Newkirk told him sharply as he helped Hogan to his feet. The Colonel swayed just a bit but Newkirk kept a firm grip on his arm. "You'll be all right, Gov'nor. Appears the bullet grazed your temple is all. But we'd better get you back to camp and have Wilson take a look at you." Just then Schultz, huffing and puffing, came into view. Von Herwarth pointed his weapon at the guard. "Hold on, mate. Old Schultzie's on our side."

"But…but he's a German," von Herwarth uttered not convinced.

Newkirk rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well, so are you. Now lower your weapon and let's get out of here." But before anybody could move, voices could be heard and they were close. Thinking fast, Newkirk snatched von Herwarth's weapon and stuck it inside his inner jacket pocket and kicked Hogan's dropped weapon under some shrubbery. "Just follow my lead," he told the nervous German. He then looked at Schultz. "Schultzie, you just captured three escaped prisoners and are taking us back to Stalag 13."

Seconds before two Luftwaffe guards stepped out into the clearing, Schultz, wearing a scowl on his face, had his rifle aimed at the three 'prisoners.'

"Was ist los?" asked one of the two guards. "We heard shots before."

"I was tracking three escaped prisoners from Stalag 13," Schultz told them with more courage than he felt. "They thought they'd get away. But I, Sergeant Hans Schultz, have recaptured them."

"He's a ruddy bloodhound, he is," Newkirk added. "We didn't stand a chance."

"Good work, Sergeant," one of the guards said as he studied each of the three men before his eyes focused on a dazed Hogan. "What happened to this one?" he asked Schultz.

"He tried to escape and I fired at him." He then motioned with his rifle at the trio. "All right you three, into the jeep. And you, Englander, will drive back to camp. And I suggest you don't try anything."

"One moment, Sergeant," one of the guards suddenly said. Nervously, Schultz and the 'prisoners' looked around.

"Ja?" asked Schultz just wanting to get out of here.

"Have you seen anybody other than these three escaped prisoners?"

"Nein. I saw nobody and when I caught up with these three, they were alone."

The guard sighed wearily and looked at his partner. "Danke, Sergeant. We will not detain you any further." He turned and motioning with his head to his partner, walked back into the woods. Once they were gone, Schultz sagged a bit and closed his eyes.

Newkirk smiled tiredly. "You did real good, Schultzie. I'll see that LeBeau bakes you the biggest apple strudel ever." As he helped Hogan into the back seat, he noticed Schultz staring at von Herwarth.

Who…who is he?" he asked.

"Uh…a tourist. Just passing through on his way to England. Now can we get going?" Newkirk slid behind the wheel while von Herwarth climbed in beside the semi-conscious Colonel. Newkirk looked over his shoulder at the nervous man. "Keep an eye on the Gov'nor." His eyes were threatening and von Herwarth understood. He simply nodded.

"Enough talking," Schultz stated. "Let's go."

"All right, all right," Newkirk murmured as he turned the ignition key and slowly turned the jeep around in a U-turn and headed back in the direction of Stalag 13. He glanced over his shoulder at his commander and saw him tilting sideways with his head on von Herwarth's shoulder. Hogan appeared to be struggling to remain conscious. He gently touched fingertips to the injured area of his temple and spotted the blood on his fingertips.

"What…what happened?" he asked, still dazed.

"I'll tell you later, Gov'nor," Newkirk explained keeping his eyes on the road. When they were a few feet away from the tree stump, Newkirk pulled the jeep to a stop and allowed von Herwarth to get out, motioning with his eyes towards the woods. He watched him disappear into the woods. Schultz was stunned by what he was seeing.

"What…what is happening here? Where is that man going?"

Newkirk smiled. "This is his stop, Schultzie. I'm suppose to get off too, but with the Colonel injured, I think I'd best stay with 'im. Besides, you'll need me."

"Need you for what?"

"To verify your story as to how the Colonel was injured while in your custody. I'm your witness."

Schultz closed his eyes and shook his head. "I see nothing! Noth-ing."

"Believe me, Schultzie, you're better off that way." Newkirk started the jeep again and continued on his way back to the camp. "Just follow me lead and you'll be a hero in the end. Also, we need to get some medical help for the Colonel."

Kinch, Carter and LeBeau were all below in the tunnel nervously waiting for their friends when a noise was heard in the area of the emergency tunnel entrance. The men immediately grabbed the pistols they kept hidden nearby for just such instances and were ready by the time a weary-looking von Herwarth appeared. The men lowered their weapons.

"What the hell were you thinking taking off like that?" Kinch shouted at the man. "Do you realize we all could have been shot by firing squad if you had been caught?"

LeBeau murmured a string of obscenities that only he understood while Carter remained quiet. Kinch suddenly noticed the guilty expression on the German's face.

"Something's wrong," he said, worried. "What happened von Herwarth?"

"I'm sorry,' the man repeated. "I… I didn't realize…I didn't mean to shoot him. It was an accident."

Kinch's eyes narrowed as he stared at the man now. "Who? Who did you not mean to shoot?" A cold sweat was permeating his body.

Von Herwarth licked his dry lips. "Colonel Hogan. I didn't know it was him in the bushes in front of us. I thought it was a German patrol. I…." He didn't finish as Kinch roughly seized him by the front of his shirt and jerked him forward. "You WHAT? You jackass! If you've killed him…."

'No, no, no…" von Herwarth pleaded. "He is alive. The bullet grazed him only. He is with Newkirk and the guard called Schultz right now."

"Where are they now?" hissed a furious LeBeau.

"Newkirk and the guard are bringing the Colonel back to camp for medical attention."

Kinch roughly shoved von Herwarth away from him as if just touching him contaminated him. "You'd better pray Colonel Hogan is all right. Because if he isn't, you won't live to see another day journal or no journal."

"But….but…it was a mistake. I thought it might have been Guthrie," the man said nervously. "I didn't mean it. I was nervous."

LeBeau smirked as his blazing eyes stared at von Herwarth. "If mon Colonel isn't all right. You will be what I believe is called an accident of war."

Newkirk guided the jeep through the front gates and parked it in front of the Kommandantur. As Newkirk turned off the engine, Klink and Guthrie emerged from the building and while Klink hurried down the steps, his eyes on Hogan while Schultz struggled to get out of the front seat, the Major stood on the porch, hands clasped behind his back watching, face impassive.

"Schultz, what happened to Colonel Hogan?" Klink asked, momentarily forgetting about the Englander who hurried to the back seat where Hogan, still barely conscious, was leaning against the door from his seat.

"Herr Kommandant….I beg to report….What I mean is…." the guard stammered.

"The Gov'nor and Schultz here found me, Kommandant," Newkirk explained as he carefully opened the door and caught his commander to keep him from falling out of the vehicle. "Schultz here was leading us at gunpoint back to the jeep to return to camp, when someone started shooting at us from the woods, sir."

"Somebody? Who?" asked Klink.

"We didn't see anybody right away, sir. We were too busy trying to get out of there. But Schultz here kept his composure, sir. After the Colonel was hit, he got us to the jeep and we were able to get out of there without further injury. He's a bleedin' German Shepherd he is." From the corner of his eye he saw Kinch, Carter and LeBeau hurrying toward them.

Klink, ignoring them, looked at the obese Sergeant. "Is that what happened, Schultz?"

"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant. I felt it was my duty to bring back the prisoners regardless despite great danger. It appears the bullet only grazed him."

Reaching the vehicle, LeBeau took one look at the blood trickling down the side of Hogan's face and turned away, looking pale. Kinch looked at him.

"Louie, find Sergeant Wilson while we get Colonel Hogan to his quarters."

LeBeau was only too happy to go find the camp medic.

Klink allowed a pleased smirk to his face. "You did an excellent job, Sergeant."

"Danke, Herr Kommandant," Schultz replied with a wide grin.

Klink then frowned at the Englander. "And as for you, Newkirk, thirty days in the cooler for attempted escape."

"Kom…mandant…" Hogan stammered as he felt hands helping him out of the vehicle. "No…cooler…please…" He tried to focus on Klink but found his vision somewhat fuzzy. "His….fault….New…kirk…ran…scared…" He collapsed into the arms of Kinch and Carter, but still conscious.

Klink glanced back over his shoulder at Guthrie who looked amused at the proceedings and then back at the prisoners. "Under the circumstances, Newkirk, I will wave the punishment this time. But if there's a repeat I'll have you thrown in the cooler for the duration of the war. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

"Good. Now get Colonel Hogan to his quarters and tell Sergeant Wilson I want an update on his condition after he's examined him."

"Yes, sir," Newkirk answered as he watched his two friends help the Colonel walk to barracks two. He started to follow when a voice stopped him.

"Ein moment, Corporal." It was Guthrie. Newkirk turned and glared at the Gestapo Major. "This unknown person who wounded your Colonel, you did not see him?"

"That's what I said, wasn't it?" Newkirk hissed.

"Why would some unknown person shoot at the three of you to begin with?"

Newkirk shrugged, anxious to be away from this person. "How the hell should I know? If I saw three people in the woods where I was hiding, and one of them was a German guard, I'd probably shoot at them to. Now if you'll excuse me…." He started to leave.

"I am not finished with you, Corporal," hissed Guthrie. "I haven't dismissed you yet."

Newkirk glanced back and smirked. "But I'm finished with you, Major. So sod off." That said, the Englander turned and ran to catch up with the others.

Guthrie sneered as he stood on the porch, watching. "Klink, that Englander is lying. So is your American Colonel. I'm willing to bet von Herwarth was involved somehow."

Klink eyed the Major nervously. "But Major, how can you say that? Corporal Newkirk said none of them saw the gunman."

"I don't care what he said. I feel von Herwarth is near this camp, waiting to make contact with the American Colonel. I have him now. And your American Colonel and his British Corporal are going to lead me to him."

(1) The reference to Freddy is from Monkey Business, Season 3.