Inside Tony Nelson was panicking. He had a pretty good idea that the sergeant of the guard saw Jeannie in his cell. But one thing the astronaut learned after years of dealing with Doctor Bellows was to act as if nothing was out of the ordinary. The fact that the portly German non-com entered the cell with his eyes closed helped Tony remain calm. When Schultz opened the cell door he saw a lone American airman looking very nonplussed.
The German Sergeant quietly said, "Major Nelson, the Kommandant would like to talk with you. Follow me."
Nelson responded with, "Lead on."
The American major was surprised at where Schultz took him. It was far from the torture chamber Nelson expected. The camp kommandant's office area had a large table with quite a feast set up. Tony assumed the German oberst (colonel) seated at the table must be Klink. Nelson also recognized the chef finishing up last touches on the meal as LeBeau from viewing the older version of the Frenchman on the past and future machine.
Schultz reported, "Major Nelson, herr Kommandant!"
LeBeau whispered to Nelson, "Name, rank, and serial number, Major."
Tony nodded to LeBeau. The French chef had little to worry about, though. Anthony Nelson graduated top of his class at Air Force SERE school. The purpose of the training was to prepare airmen for what to do if captured.
Klink glared at LeBeau with a monocled eye. The Kommandant then ordered the sergeant of the guard, "Schultz, you may leave. And take Le Beau with you."
The Sergeant acknowledged the order, "Ja vol, herr Kommandant!"
Hogan, Kinch and Newkirk were huddled around the coffeepot in the Senior American POW's office getting ready to listen to Klink's version of an interrogation. Hogan was as curious about who these new American POW's were. The American Colonel's intelligence contacts verified that Nelson and Healey were on a mission with on a Mosquito reconnaissance plane (a few blinks by Jeannie ensured that the paperwork was order), but nobody personally remembered them taking off. Not that that was unusual in itself, as wartime airports are chaotic places to say the least. Something just seemed off about the two latest prisoners at Stalag 13, and Hogan just couldn't put his finger on it yet.
The POW's listened as Klink told Nelson, "Major Nelson, I'm Colonel Klink, please sit... have some breakfast."
Nelson just stood and said, "Nelson, Anthony. Major, U.S. Army Air Corps. Serial Number Oscar 515345." When having Jeannie create fake mission documents, Tony had her be sure to put WWII era serial number on them. His Korea era number just wouldn't stand up.
Listening in, Hogan said, "Good man."
Klink again invited, "Major, this is an informal chat. Please join me, these crepes are fabulous. At least have some coffee."
The American Major repeated, "Nelson, Anthony. Major, U.S. Army Air Corps. Serial Number Oscar 515345."
By then LeBeau joined Hogan and the others. The Frenchman asked, "Colonel why did you want me to make my best breakfast for Klink to tempt prisoners?"
Hogan replied, "Because I wanted to see if they could be tempted. But Nelson's remaining strong. How did he look coming in to Klink's office?"
LeBeau reported, "Strong. Almost a little too calm." Hogan nodded. The Frenchman's assessment just made the Air Corps Colonel wonder more about who exactly these new American POW's were.
Klink did something that surprised Nelson. The German colonel picked up a violin and started to play a familiar Stephen Foster tune.
The camp kommandant then began to sing, "I dream of Jeannie with the light brown hair..."
Kinch said incredulously, "Is Klink singing?"
Hogan remarked, "I didn't expect him to use torture..."
Klink asked Nelson, "I Dream of Jeannie. Wasn't that the name of your plane? I do like Stephen Foster, for an American composer. Curious thing about your Jeannie. Can you explain how lead anti-aircraft rounds bounced off your wooden Mosquito bomber?"
Hearing the last question, Newkirk stated, "I'd like an answer to that myself." The Brit had extensive experience with Mossies.
Hogan agreed, "So would I. The witnesses may have been mistaken about bullets bouncing off the plane. It does sound far fetched. But just in case, I sent Carter with a squad of resistance fighters to inspect the plane.
Nelson didn't answer Klink (or the unseen eavesdroppers). The American Major just looked on and repeated his name, rank and serial number. Realizing he wouldn't get anything out of Nelson, Klink had the major taken back to the cooler.
Once he was in his cell, Nelson called for Jeannie. The Astronaut asked, "Jeannie, did you get rid of the plane?"
Jeannie replied, "Yes master, as you ordered. I made sure no one was around when I did."
Nelson complemented, "Great! Thanks, Jeannie, I think they are getting a little suspicious of Roger and myself. I don't know if the plane could hold up under close scrutiny."
After Tony was returned to Jeannie. Roger was taken to Klink's office and was subjected to the breakfast temptation. Healey also stayed strong, repeating his name, rank and serial number. Before the Army major could be subjected to Klink's singing, an attractive blonde called the Commandant to the phone.
The eavesdropping POW's overhead Klink tell the other party on the phone, "What do you mean the plane is missing?"
Hogan said, "Good man, Carter." The senior POW assumed that Carter and the resistance were successful in securing the Mosquito bomber turned reconnaissance plane.
Almost on cue, the lanky technical sergeant entered Hogan's office. Carter acknowledged the complement, "Thank you, Colonel."
Hogan then exclaimed, "Carter! Why aren't you with the plane?"
Carter replied, "It wasn't there. Germans must have it."
Newkirk pondered, "If we don't have it, and the Gerry's don't, who does?" But by then, Hogan was out the door.
Upon hearing that the plane was missing, Klink decided to take another tack on interrogating Healey.
The German colonel walked up to the American major and said, "That's OK Major Healey. You don't need to tell me anything, I know you have your orders. Sit and eat. Major Nelson already told me about Jeannie anyway."
Klink was, of course, bluffing. Major Anthony Nelson would never divulge information about the mosquito bomber 'I Dream of Jeannie.' The German colonel's gambit turned out to be a bit more effective than the kommandant anticipated. The previously stoic Healey started to crack.
Trembling, Roger asked, "Tony told YOU about Jeannie?!"
Klink slowly walked over to Healey and put an arm around the American, "It's OK, Major Healey. We're friends here. Have a seat. I have hot real coffee and fresh crepes..."
Just then Hogan burst into the kommandant's office demanding, "Colonel Klink, as senior allied POW officer, I insist on assessing the welfare of this prisoner!"
Klink then looked at the blonde behind Hogan, "Hilda! I said I was not to be disturbed!"
Hilda apologized, "I'm sorry herr kommandant, he just rushed past me."
Klink sighed. He knew he lost this round. He knew he would eventually be making arrangements to have the two new prisoners placed in Hogan's barracks.
