Roger complained, "Tony we have been walking around in circles since we've gone over the wire!" The two American airmen had just "escaped" from Stalag 13.
Nelson replied, "That's kind of the point, Roger, we don't want to make it too hard for Bellows to find us."
Healey then asked, "Are you sure they will send Bellows?"
Tony explained, "He's really the only logical choice. If Hogan sends out one of his men this close to count, he jeopardizes exposing his operation. If he just sends resistance fighters he risks having us shot without getting any useful information. By sending Bellows he has somebody to keep an eye on the resistance fighters, while still maintaining deniability if the mission is compromised."
Roger winced, saying, "I'm really not to keen on the 'getting shot' part."
Nelson assured Healey, "I doubt that would happen. Hogan really does need us alive. If we come up missing, the Germans will assume it is an escape and put a lot of unwanted attention on Stalag 13. If Captain Bellows brings us back before count, there are no missing airmen. Not to mention the fact it will garner a lot of mutual trust between Bellows and Hogan, which will hopefully set things right in our time. "
Just then Jeannie appeared, exclaiming, "Master, you were right! I spied on Colonel Hogan as you asked, and it went just as you said it would. Hogan sent Captain Bellows out to find you and bring you back to Stalag 13."
Just then a very familiar voice ordered, "Hold it right there, Major Nelson."
Major Healey blurted out, "Dr. Bellows!"
Holding a Walther semi-automatic on them Bellows corrected, "That's Captain Bellows, Major- or should I say Comrade- Healey." Backing the Captain up was a small squad of four resistance fighters.
Tony said, "Jeannie, don't make any sudden moves." Of course he was referring to blinking out, but hopefully Bellows didn't know that.
The Captain then looked at Jeannie, "Yes, Jeannie. Follow the Major's advise. Bad things happen to spies that move to quickly. I've heard female Soviet agents are good- but you are much better than your Comrades here. I overheard you tell your superiors of Hogan's plan. I have no idea how you knew about that. The only reason I don't shoot you all now is that Colonel Hogan will want to talk to all three of you, and I imagine he would want to talk to you most of all my dear."
Nelson quickly evaluated the situation. He thinks Jeannie is another Soviet spy thanks to her choice of words. They can use that to their advantage. From what Bellows said, as well as the way he was acting, it is doubtful he saw Jeannie pop in. The Captain did, however, overhear Jeannie's report to Bellows.
Bellows and the resistance fighters quickly took custody of the two Majors and the secretary. Jeannie looked at her master again, and she could tell from his facial expressions he didn't want her to use magic to leave or change the situation to the Majors' favor. So for once she did do what was expected and played along as a captured Russian spy.
Nelson, Healey, and Jeanne were led through the woods at gunpoint. Nelson surmised that Bellows was leading them to some sort of rendezvous point with Hogan's men. They approached a clearing then stopped. Off in the distance they could hear voices.
"Ooooh Gertrude, give me some more!." The male voice said.
Gertrude asked, "Oh Hans, do you like it?"
Hans replied, "My darling you know how much I live for this!"
Bellows was almost afraid to look and see what was ahead. When he looked into the clearing he expected to see a soldier with a local girl having a rendezvous of their own. What he saw was far more disturbing. Sergeant Schultz and a middle aged woman were having a picnic on top of the tree stump that hid the entrance to the tunnel in to Stalag 13 the 'escapees' were to use to return to camp.
Mrs. Schultz told her husband, "I couldn't let you leave without breakfast."
Sergeant Schultz replied, "Oh and thank you for sneaking these pastries and sausages to me, but I really have to go to work my dear."
One of the resistance fighters assured Captain Bellows, "There's only two of them. I can take them out easily."
Bellows thought long and hard. They were minutes from count. It would be impossible to make it back to camp without using the tunnel. He had his orders if such a situation were to arise, but they went against all of his training as an officer and an airman. As distasteful as his orders were, he decided to trust Colonel Hogan and follow them.
"No, stand down. We have our orders." Bellows told the resistance fighter.
The Captain handed his pistol over to one of the fighters and addressed the squad, "Plan B. Take a rear position but remain alert." The resistance fighters complied.
Bellows then untied Nelson, Healey and Jeannie. The Captain warned the three, "Follow my lead. Remember, there are four machine guns on us and the happy couple over there. If things go south, it could get very messy for everybody involved." Bellows then coughed loudly.
Mrs. Shultz cried, "What was that!"
Sergeant Schultz loudly said, "I hear nothing!" Not so much for Gertrude, but for the benefit of anybody who may be in the woods. German non-com then grabbed his rifle to protect his wife if need be.
Just then Captain Bellows came out of the clearing with his hands up, calling out, "Don't shoot, herr sergeant! Don't shoot!" Bellows was then followed by Majors Nelson and Healy, along with Secretary Jeannie.
Schultz was dumbfounded. He just accidentally captured three escaped prisoners. And the the Commandant's secretary was with them!
All the German Sergeant could think to say was, "Jeannie! Not you too?!"
Gertrude Schultz then hissed, "Jeannie?!, Jeannie?!, Hans, how do you know this woman?!"
At that moment, even though he was armed, Hans Schultz was much more afraid of his wife than the three desperate prisoners he had just 'captured.'
