Chapter 34-Dealing With an Enemy, Part 3

It was close to lunch time before Hogan emerged from the tunnels below climbing back into the barracks. He slapped the hidden mechanism allowing the ladder to rise and the lower bunk to drop over the tunnel opening.

"How'd your talk with von Herwarth go, sir?" asked Newkirk.

Hogan shrugged his shoulders. "He's with us as is Aleit and Corporal Werner."

"Corporal Werner, Colonel?" asked a stunned Kinch.. He noticed the others were equally stunned. "I thought…that is, we all thought you had decided he had to die along with Guthrie."

"He might still. After I spoke with him and Aleit, I hoped he would give me a reason to spare him and that he, Aleit and von Herwarth would all be going to London." Hogan looked at Kinch. "Kinch, after lunch, get back on the horn to London and the underground. Tell them slight change of plans and there may be three packages instead of two and one package will need extra wrapping. We'll also need the underground to get them to the rendezvous in forty-eight hours to be picked up. Tell the underground I'll need six of their best men to handle Werner just in case."

"Where will the meeting place be, Colonel?" Kinch asked.

Hogan exhaled through his nose. "The abandoned ball-bearing plant where you first met von Herwarth and Christina."

LeBeau smirked. "So it will end where it began, mon Colonel?"

"Seems appropriate, LeBeau," Hogan remarked.

"Colonel…" Carter began, looking worried. "…you reach a decision about Corporal Werner? I mean, he did spy on us for Guthrie."

"I haven't forgotten, and his answers were what I wanted to hear. But my gut tells me to think about it a bit longer." Hogan sighed wearily. "But, if he ends up going to London it'll be under heavy guard," he added.

Newkirk punched his right fist into his left palm. "I'll watch 'im for you, sir," he said seriously. "If he tries to betray or turn on you, he won't know what hit 'im."

The Colonel, touched by his men's concern, held up a hand indicating quiet. "I appreciate it, Newkirk, but there's no need for violence. Besides, I can handle Werner if there's trouble." He turned his attention to the Englander. "Newkirk, since my talk with our guests took longer than I thought, after lunch, I'll dictate those letters. After that, I will then approach Guthrie and dangle the bait." Glancing over his shoulder he looked at the Frenchman. "LeBeau, how long until lunch is ready?"

"About forty-five minutes, mon Colonel," LeBeau explained. He suddenly gazed at his commanding officer. "Colonel, after you feed the filthy Bosch your story, what then?"

"Then we wait," Hogan said. "We wait and keep our fingers crossed."

"What's the plan, Colonel?" asked Kinch.

"During lunch I'll let all of you in on the plan. And we have to make it work because there's no time to come up with something else," Hogan remarked. "If this doesn't work, we're sunk."

Immediately after lunch Hogan had dictated the two letters to Newkirk, made sure the Englander safely hid them in an accordion folder they kept inside a bucket in which some pieces of firewood was used to cover the folder, and explained his plan to the men which everybody agreed was risky. Then, Hogan hurried across the compound in the direction of the Kommandantur. He bounded up the front steps two at a time and entered the front door. He didn't bother knocking on the inner office door; and instead, opened it and walked inside to find Klink and Guthrie alone.

"What do you want Hogan?" Klink asked, annoyed, seated behind his desk looking up at the rude American who walked in without waiting for permission to enter. Guthrie simply glared at the American with disdain.

Ignoring Guthrie momentarily, Hogan fixated on the Kommandant. "Sorry, Kommandant, but I need to speak with Major Guthrie right away. It's urgent."

Klink was about to protest Hogan's intrusion before he saw the glare on Guthrie's face and immediately shut his mouth. He slowly got to his feet forcing a nervous smile to his face. "Of course, Hogan. I will wait in the outer office until you're done." He quickly walked out of the office, closing the door. Hogan stood beside Klink's desk with arms wrapped around himself, maintaining his glare.

Guthrie smirked at the arrogant American. "Come to beg for the lives of your pitiful fellow prisoners, swine?" he asked.

Hogan ignored the rudeness. "Unlike you I don't need to beg for anything. I do have standards after-all."

Guthrie's smirk disappeared and replaced with a sneer. "State your purpose for being here then go back to your barracks and enjoy the few hours you have left."

"I just wanted to tell you there's been contact made with von Herwarth. He says he's sorry about the last time, but the Gestapo was watching him and he couldn't risk it by showing up. But he and his wife want to meet me tonight at the abandoned ball-bearing plant at 2100 hours. I advised him to bring the journal. He said he would have it with him."

Guthrie's eyes narrowed as he held his stare with Hogan not sure whether to believe him or not. "How did you make contact with him?" he asked.

"That's not important," Hogan said with an amused look. "You interested or not?"

Guthrie figured he could get that information after he had dealt with von Herwarth, Christina, and recovered the journal. He would bleed Hogan dry of every piece of information he held before the labor camp. "You and you British mongrel will be ready to leave at 2000 hours. But let me warn you, swine. You try and trick me in any way, just keep in mind that I will have your British mongrel in my custody with a gun to his head. I will not hesitate to kill him."

"I get it, Major. We'll see you then." Hogan turned and walked out closing the door. Passing Klink standing at the file cabinet in the outer office, Hogan winked at him. "Perhaps Hilda will be recovered enough to return to work tomorrow, Kommandant." He exited the Kommandantur leaving a mystified Klink standing at the file cabinet wondering what Hogan meant.

Evening roll call took place at 1800 hours and was over at 1900 hours. The minute roll call ended, Hogan and his men immediately entered the barracks and disappeared down into the tunnels where they found Olsen along with six of the biggest and burliest underground operatives they had ever seen. Aleit was also there as well. After introductions were made, Hogan got down to business by unrolling the map on a table. Everybody gathered around him.

"Okay, it's a little past 1900 hours. Guthrie will be picking up me and Corporal Newkirk at 2000 hours. Carl, the meeting will take place at the abandoned ball-bearing plant just outside Hammelburg. Three of my men will go with you. There's a storage facility nearby where you can hide and still see and hear everything that's going on. Newkirk and I will keep Guthrie away from the side of the building. Von Herwarth, Aleit and Corporal Werner will be with you as well but none of them will be armed. Too risky." He went on to explain what he wanted von Herwarth and Aleit to do. "I will give the code phrase of 'the stars are not visible in the daylight.' Von Herwarth will respond with 'the stars shine only at night.' Only he will give the coded response to me." He looked at the people gathered around him. "And you three keep in mind, under no circumstances is anybody to show themselves until Guthrie is subdued. Is that understood?" He was now gazing at Carter, Kinch and LeBeau who reluctantly nodded their understanding. He then looked at Carl again. "Corporal Werner is to remain cuffed and gagged throughout everything. I don't want to take any chances. If Guthrie sees or hears him he'll know something's wrong and the plan won't work. Carl, have one of your men keep an eye on him throughout. Understand?"

"We understand, Colonel. It will be done."

The rest of the evening was uneventful for Hogan and Newkirk. With the other three members of their team out with the underground, Newkirk found himself playing a game of solitaire while Hogan sat drinking coffee at the table in the common room, periodically checking his watch. There was now thirty minutes before 2000 hours. Hogan glanced at Newkirk.

"You have your lock picks hidden where you can get to them but they won't be found during a search?"

"Yes, sir," Newkirk replied softly. "Guthrie won't find 'em if I gave him a bloody road map to use. Don't worry none, Gov'nor." He laid a black card on top of a red one. But out of the corner of his eye as he held another black card ready to lay it on top of the red one, he noticed his commanding officer's face; he secretly admitted he had never seen Hogan look so worried over a plan of his before. "You feelin' all right, sir? If you don't mind me sayin' so, you seem a mite down."

Hogan took a drink of coffee and glanced at his British Corporal. "I'm fine, Newkirk. Really. Just tired."

"Beggin' the Colonel's pardon," Newkirk began as he laid his card down on the table. "But you don't look fine. You look worried."

Hogan let out a deep breath as he gripped his coffee cup in both hands as it sat on the table. "I have to admit for the first time I am worried about this plan. If even the tiniest thing goes wrong, we'll find ourselves in front of a firing squad if we're lucky."

Newkirk allowed a small smile to appear as he and Hogan looked at each other. "Don't worry none, Colonel. I'm confident this plan will work. Your plans always work, sir; even the wild ones that shouldn't. Frankly sir, I think this is one of your more conservative plans."

Hogan smirked as he studied the Englander, a look of gratitude on his face knowing Newkirk was trying to make him feel better. "Thanks, Newkirk," he said softly. Checking his watch again he saw time was getting short. Just then, the barracks door opened and Guthrie walked in with two Luftwaffe guards. Looking around, Hogan shook his head. "Haven't you ever heard of knocking?" he said finishing his coffee.

"Stand up, both of you," Guthrie ordered ignoring Hogan.

Sighing with weariness, Hogan and Newkirk glanced at each other as they both got to their feet. They noticed the other prisoners were watching from a distance but keeping away when Hogan briefly glanced their way.

Guthrie glanced at the guards. "Search them!" he ordered. He smirked at Hogan as the two guards went about their assigned tasks and thoroughly searched both men. Finally, one of the guards looked over his shoulder at the Major.

"We found nothing, Major."

"Now you will handcuff the American swine's hands behind his back and put him in the back seat. The British mongrel will drive while I will sit beside the American with a gun aimed at his head the entire time." He and Newkirk glared at each other while Hogan's arms were roughly yanked behind his back followed by the sound of handcuffs being locked on his wrists. As Hogan was being dragged out of the barracks he gave a look at Sergeant Olsen.

"Keep a light burning in the window for us," he joked; then he was gone.

Guthrie smirked at the raging Englander. "Don't try anything, mongrel, because your Colonel's life will be in your hands. Remember that. After you, Corporal." Guthrie stood aside with a devious smile to allow Newkirk to pass from the barracks where a staff car was parked outside. The Englander spotted his commanding officer looking at him from behind the closed window of the back seat. With a sigh, Newkirk opened the driver-side door and slid behind the wheel while Guthrie climbed in the back seat beside Hogan and removing his sidearm, pressed the mouth of the muzzle against Hogan's head. "Now drive, mongrel," he ordered.

During the entire trip, Newkirk periodically glanced in the rear-view mirror catching glimpses of his commanding officer with a lugar, held by a smirking Guthrie, pressed against his temple. Only once did he catch Hogan's eyes looking back at him in the mirror offering whatever silent encouragement he could. Guthrie caught the Colonel's eye motion and pressed the weapon tighter against his temple causing Hogan to wince as the pressure was in the same place where von Herwarth's shot had grazed his temple. Newkirk saw the wince.

"Just remember, Major, you hurt the Gov'nor in any way, I'll break your bleedin' neck," Newkirk hissed keeping his eyes on the road.

"Just keep driving, mongrel, and your Colonel will be fine. Besides, you're in no position to threaten me."

They finally arrived at their destination with twenty minutes to spare. Guthrie got out of the car and pulled Hogan out by one arm. He ordered Newkirk out as well, and then motioned for the Englander to come to him which he did. To emphasize he was serious, he removed the safety from his weapon and pressed it against the back of Hogan's head. Guthrie smirked when Newkirk stood quietly in front of him, his eyes never leaving his Colonel's face.

"Turn around and put your hands behind you," Guthrie ordered coldly. After doing what he was told, Newkirk felt a pair of handcuffs clamping shut on his wrists. Guthrie then grabbed Newkirk's arm and yanked him towards him, then looked at Hogan. "It is nearly 2100 hours, swine," he said. "I suggest you contact von Herwarth and make him come to you. I will be in the bushes with your English dog where I can see and hear everything. Try anything and I will blow his brains out."

Hogan shook his head. "Don't you think it's going to look suspicious if von Herwarth sees me handcuffed?"

Guthrie seemed to mull over Hogan's question. A smile appeared as he reached into his pocket and removed a set of keys. "Turn around, swine," he said. He unlocked the handcuffs on the Colonel's wrists. "Just keep in mind I will have your English Corporal with me. One wrong move or word and his death is on your head."

"How could I forget," Hogan replied rubbing his sore wrists. He saw that sickening smirk on Guthrie's face as he grabbed Newkirk's arm and dragged him behind several bushes and out of sight. He glared at the spot in the bushes where Guthrie was hidden before letting out a deep breath and checked his watch. It was now just after 2100 hours. "Show time," he muttered to himself. He then pretended to be looking around the area as he slowly walked around, finally pausing in a wooded area close to where he knew the storage facility was. "The stars are not visible in the daylight," he said giving the pre-arranged code. There was several seconds of silence. Not hearing anything, Hogan repeated the coded phrase. Then Hogan heard the response.

"The stars shine only at night," the voice said.

"Von Herwarth?"

"Ja. Colonel Hogan?"

"That's me. I don't like being out here with no back-up. Let's get this over with."

A man stepped out from behind the thick foliage followed closely behind by a woman with blond hair who kept close behind him.

"Who's the blond, von Herwarth?" Hogan asked raising both eyebrows quizzically.

"This…this is…" von Herwarth glanced over his shoulder at the woman who could have been an extra appendage if she had been any closer. "…this is Christina, Colonel; my wife."

Hogan touched the brim of his cap. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, ma'am," he said with a smile. The blond woman didn't speak, but simply nodded at the American.

There was a long pause. "I…I have the journal with me," von Herwarth said reaching inside his jacket and producing a wrapped package tied with string. He handed it to Hogan who took it looking the package over as if expecting it to be booby-trapped and about to explode.

"I'll open this later," Hogan replied, tucking the package inside his leather jacket. "But first, I need to get you and your wife back to Stalag 13. From there we can get you on your way to England with the journal."

"That is a splendid idea, Colonel," a man's voice hissed.

Looking behind them, Hogan feigned shock at seeing Guthrie emerge from his hiding place, dragging Newkirk with him and holding him by one arm, his weapon pointing at the Corporal's head. "I will take you and your English mongrel, von Herwarth, Christina, and the journal back to Stalag 13. Once there, I will make several phone calls after all of you are locked up, and find the closest labor camp who has room for an American Jewish Colonel. Your Corporal and von Herwarth will come to Gestapo headquarters with me. And you, my dear…" Guthrie glared with hate-filled eyes at the blond woman. "…you will be coming back home with me where I will teach you what happens to whores who carry on with Jewish Germans." He smirked as the blond buried her head on von Herwarth's shoulder. Von Herwarth swallowed the rising lump in his throat.

Guthrie turned his stare onto Hogan. "You! Come here with your hands on top of your head or I will shoot your Corporal."

Hogan did as he was ordered and walked up to the Major with his hands on top of his crush cap warily watching Newkirk's eyes. Guthrie released Newkirk's arm and stepped in front of him until he was face-to-face with the American. "Turn around and put your hands behind your back." Again Hogan complied and soon heard the sound of handcuffs being clamped on his wrists. Then, grabbing one of Hogan's arms, Guthrie jerked him around and gave him a vicious backhand across the face followed by another vicious slap in the opposite direction. "You have no need of this," he sneered reaching inside Hogan's jacket and removing the wrapped package and with a smile, tucked it inside his own jacket. "You are mine now, Itzig, and nobody can help you." He chuckled evilly before pushing the American away from him. Stumbling but maintaining his balance, Hogan glanced at Newkirk who managed to keep a tight lid on his temper watching his commanding officer be struck. He winked at Hogan with a slight smirk on his face. Hogan then shifted his eyes to the Gestapo Major and gave him his best patented lop-sided grin.

"Change of plans, Major. I don't think you'll be taking me anywhere much less Newkirk or von Herwarth. And you won't be teaching Christina anything either. And you want to know why, Major? Because you are a maniacal loser with feelings of grandiose. In other words, you are a legend in your own mind." Hogan saw Guthrie's face redden with rage and his eyes flashing dangerously as his jaw tightened.

"Enough of your backtalk, swine." That said, Guthrie aimed his weapon at Hogan's head and his finger tightened on the trigger.