Chapter Thirty-Two: The Benevolent Jailers

March drifted by with no more appearances from Jöchmann, much to the prisoners' relief. There were no more incidents, and routine was only broken once when letters arrived; Duerr gave them an extra thirty minutes for the rec hour. Still, the monotone was becoming irksome again, so when April Fool's Day rolled around, everyone wanted something to happen.

The men of Barracke 14 woke up to find that their boots, jackets, and hats were not with them any longer. The hats were hanging up in the rafters in the highest, most inconvenient place. They had to stand on one another's shoulders to get them down. Berg was not pleased that it was taking them so long to come outside. He eventually forced them out, despite what they were missing. So, they reported out for roll call in socks, no jackets, and some still missing their hats. They were the laughing stock for the morning, but some laughed with. The situation was rather ridiculous. Duerr was not amused. He said that if one was not fully dressed, they would not be getting breakfast.

When they were dismissed, they spent the next fifteen minutes looking for their jackets and boots. The boots were found under the barracks and that was a comfort. No one wanted to go to work in their socks. The jackets, however, were another matter. They searched high and low for them, even under and in the pathetic mattresses. All they found was hay, revealing the mystery of what their mattresses were made of. Finally, the time to go to breakfast came, and with no jackets, they wondered if they would be allowed out. But when Berg came, Louis was with him, holding a stack of jackets in his arms, so only that his eyes could be seen over them.

"Oi, 'ow did you get those," demanded Peter.

"We found them in the mess 'all," said Louis.

"What?"

"How did they get there?"

The men quickly took back their jackets, and Louis could not help but chuckle as they did. Peter gave him a suspicious look.

"Did you 'ave somethin' to do wif this, Louie?"

"'Ow could I? I am locked up same as you. I just find it funny that someone got you."

"Yea," grumbled Peter. "But I don't find it so amusin'. We nearly lost our breakfast."

They went to breakfast and work without incident. Many of the men really thought Louis did have something to do with it. That might have been why someone hid his gloves during a break at the farm. He didn't find them until they were leaving.

Back at the camp, though, there was more grief when the prisoners returned to their barracks to find that they were empty of everything except the mattresses. Instead, in every barracks there was a note at the table that read that the war was over and if they wished they could leave. Upon reading this note, the first reaction was to look around the camp. Surprisingly, the gate was open, and there were no guards visible in the towers. There were, however, guards still milling around the camp. No one took the note seriously. However, Everley made up his mind to have some fun.

"They're tauntin' us," argued Everley. "I bet the Kommandant an' the Major are in the office 'avin' a jolly good laugh about it all."

"So, wot d'ye think yer goin' tae do about it," asked Stephen.

"I'm goin' to walk out those front gates," answered Everley confidently. "An' we'll see 'ow far they let this go. If I get to the no-man's-land, an' they make me go back, the laugh is off. That's probably what'll 'appen. They wouldn't really let me walk out o' camp."

So, the men watched as Everley started walking for the gates. It was during rec hour, so the whole camp was out. Everley looked more nervous as he neared no-man's-land. The guards were watching him just as curiously as the prisoners were. Everley stopped when he reached the forbidden grounds. When he did, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to find Peter and Louis standing behind him.

"You goin' or not," asked Peter. "Cause we are."

Everley's eyebrows shot up, but he smiled. "That a way, old boy."

They laughed and linked arms with Peter between Everley and Louis. Then, they walked into no-man's-land, and right on through the gates. When they were on the other side, they stopped, as if expecting something. They turned around, and looked back in, where all the prisoners were watching with mostly shock on their faces. A lot of them were looking around as if asking: what now?

That was what the men outside were thinking too. They hadn't really expected to be able to go through.

"So, right or left," asked Louis.

"Right means work, left means town," said Everley.

"Left," they said in unison.

So, as one, they turned left and started walking, arms still linked.

"Wonder when someone comes an' gets us," whispered Peter.

"They're probably watchin' us from the woods," replied Everley.

They all tried to look into the woods inconspicuously while they walked. Louis looked back at the camp. The prisoners and guards were lined up at the wire, watching them go. There were a few at the gate, trying to decide, but everyone still looked nervous. Louis spotted the four officers watching with utter disappointment.

"You know," said Louis thoughtfully. "This is really stupid of us. What if this was just bait, to get us to leave, and then someone shoots us for trying to escape us?"

"The Major wouldn't do that," replied Peter forcefully, as if he was trying to convince himself. They slowed down and looked at one another.

"Why are we doin' this," asked Everley. "They're just goin' to tell us to go back."

"Because it's somethin' to do," answered Peter. He looked down the road, and his eyes went wide. "Staff car!"

Without another word, they ran back to camp. At their alarmed looks, the prisoners retreated from the wire. As soon as they were back in camp, everyone looked to the road. The staff car turned into the compound and stopped. The prisoners held their breath, waiting to see who would get out. The door opened…

The Kommandant and Major Duerr stepped out, both laughing heartily. The guards jeered at them, and for a long time, they prisoners were dumbfounded. Stephen finally reacted by pushing Peter and jeering at him. Soon enough, the entire camp was laughing, no one quite believing that the wool had been pulled over their eyes by the least likely of people.

***** ***** *****

Thus, April started off on a much better note than previous months. The prank was talked about repeatedly, and imitations of Everley, Peter, and Louis running back to camp never got old. When letters arrived a few days later, everyone wrote back about the prank. From then on, the prisoners regarded Duerr suspiciously. It was now believed that he was a just and difficult disciplinarian, but a character at heart. They were just not allowed to know him. Since Christmas, they had viewed him as a benevolent man, and believed that the Kommandant was as well. Still, many men were intimidated by the mystery of the Kommandant. April Fool's Day was only the third time most had seen the Kommandant. The first being when the British were told of the Blitz, and the second being when Peter and Louis escaped. Lastly, the prisoners were confident that Duerr could protect them from the "creep", Sturmbannführer Jöchmann.

And that was tested again when the creep—as Jöchmann was now known as amongst the prisoners—showed up again in late April, right in time for rec hour. Once again, the work on the tunnels ceased, and camp life was still. The prisoners' uneasiness was felt by the guards who became more alert and on edge. Many prisoners retreated back into their barracks, especially when they saw that Jöchmann had brought some of his own men into the camp. The SS guards wandered around the compound as if they owned the place. The few men who stayed outside were sitting up against the barracks. The officers stood together at the gate between the French and British compounds. They were leisurely leaning on the fence. When the SS guards noticed them, more trouble started.

A pair of SS guards walked over: an officer and corporal. As soon as they approached the Allied officers, all eyes went to them. The prisoners suddenly became alert and a few came out of the barracks, watching intently for foul play.

"Can we help you," asked Captain Lawrence, as the SS guards neared.

"We just want to talk," replied the officer. Though he was a low-ranking officer, he was an officer nonetheless. "We want to ask you some questions."

"Ask away, lads," answered Lawrence.

"Are you bored here?"

"Non. Not if you like to do nothing all day." Capitaine Noël smiled cheekily.

"You do not work," asked the officer.

"We don't," answered O'Neill. "Officers aren't allowed to work. Our men do." He gestured around to the prisoners who were still watching from their barracks.

"Do you like your Major Duerr?"

The Allied officers exchanged looks, and Géraud stepped forward. "'E is still a filthy German, so no."

The corporal was not pleased with the response and raised his hand. But the officer stopped him.

"Nein," he said, his eyes shooting towards the barracks. "We cannot cause too much trouble."

The corporal followed his gaze where more prisoners were gathering outside the barracks, just staring at the officers. The Wehrmacht camp guards were becoming tense as well. Finally, Berg entered the compound and walked over to where the officers were gathered.

"Any trouble, sir," Berg asked the SS officer. But it was in a clipped, strained tone.

"Nein," he replied. "We were just asking some questions. We are curious about the camp."

"I can answer any questions you have, sir" replied Berg. "I work around the prisoners all day."

"Danke, but that is all," replied the officer. He sent the corporal away, and turned to leave as well, but something caught his eye behind the officers. He stepped to the side to get a better look. "There is the Frenchman that was at our camp." He pointed across the compound to where Louis was sitting outside his barracks. At the sudden attention on him, Louis stood up.

But Géraud stepped in front of the SS officer. "Oui, it is. But if you 'ave a problem, go talk to your officer. 'E already saw 'im anyway."

The SS officer scowled and pushed Géraud aside, walking straight towards Louis. Louis just stood against the barracks. Beside him were Marcel, Torben, and his other barracks-mates. Peter and the others were on the British side of camp. When the SS officer got to Louis, he sneered at him.

"Remember that man that was in the hole with you," he asked. "The live one?"

Louis just nodded.

"He died yesterday," announced the officer. "He twisted his ankle, so he was not fit to work anymore. We shot him."

Louis just nodded again.

"What? You do not speak," asked the officer. "Did the Major cut out your tongue or are you just scared?"

"I think that is enough," said Géraud. "You 'ave no business with the prisoners 'ere."

"But I do, actually," said the officer. "With this prisoner. Because he was at my camp. Got a test of what he should be getting here."

"You will never find that here."

Everyone turned around to see Major Duerr standing behind them. Jöchmann was there as well, but had a defeated look on his face. Duerr looked more lively than usual with a thin smile on his lips. He was glaring at the SS officer.

"The Sturmbannführer would like to return to his camp," said Duerr. "That would include you too, Untersturmführer."

The SS officer, the Untersturmführer, scowled but nodded and went to stand beside his commanding officer. Duerr nodded at them both.

"Auf wiedersehen."

The two SS officers turned around and started for their car. But Jöchmann froze when he saw you stood in front of him about twenty yards away. It was that man, Peter Newkirk, who had escaped death. Two men stood beside him. He appeared as if he had just stopped in the compound to watch. Truthfully, he had no longer been able to watch from the other compound as Louis was tantalized. He had been somewhat relieved when Major Duerr made an appearance, but was not comforted enough to not be at Louis's side. When it looked like everything was in order, though, he had stopped. Now, he was in plain sight of the creep. And the creep smiled when he saw Peter.

"Well, it's unpleasant to see you're still alive," said Jöchmann.

"Sorry to spoil your day," Peter shot back. "But I don't believe I was the only reason your day got spoiled."

Jöchmann glared at that, and the prisoners tried to hide smiles. Jöchmann walked up to him, and Peter felt his heart pump faster. Stephen and Luke slid closer to him as the two SS officers came and stood before them.

"You should start worrying now, schwein," said Jöchmann. "Because when the SS take charge of this camp, it will be the likes of you who go first."

Peter glared. "You won't get this camp."

"Oh, so you have some confidence in your Major, do you," asked Jöchmann.

Peter shrugged his shoulders. "You're leavin' aren't you?"

Jöchmann's fists clenched, but then relaxed when he heard footsteps behind him. Peter looked around the SS officers and smiled when he saw Duerr.

"Your car is waiting," Duerr said.

Without another word, the SS officers walked around Peter and to their car. Once again, the camp silently and anxiously watched and waited until they were out of sight. As soon as they were, the Allied officers and all of Peter's friends descended on Peter, berating him for his stupidity. While they talked and the Englishman pathetically defended himself, Duerr called Berg over to him.

"Extend the recreation period another fifteen minutes," said Duerr.

"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant," said Berg.

"And give Corporal Newkirk a day in the cooler for his insolence," said Duerr.

"Jawohl," replied Berg.

"For insolence," echoed Peter.

Duerr smiled. "That could have gotten you hurt and has now put you on even worse terms with the Sturmbannführer. Take him away Berg."

Peter slouched and groaned, but no one protested when Berg took him by the arm and led him to the cooler.

"Maybe it will keep you out of trouble," Louis called to him.

Still walking, Peter turned around and stuck his tongue out at Louis. The men laughed. Duerr just shook his head and went back to his office. Back inside, the Kommandant was smoking a cigar as he watched out of the window.

"Did you have to put him in the cooler," he asked.

"I believe it will warn him and others to keep their mouths shut in future occasions when the creep visits us," answered Duerr.

"The creep?"

"That is what the prisoners call Sturmbannführer Jöchmann."

The Kommandant smiled. "So you care about them?"

"I will not see lives wasted," answered Duerr.

"Do you think they realize that?"

"I think they believe that we are benevolent jailers."

"Are we?"

"I think we are."

"Well, with the creep only next door, we sure do look benevolent."