Soon sirens were going off in camp and the searchlights were on. Hogan immediately knew that Bellows and/or the two others were discovered. Hopefully they were captured not shot. Time to put plan B into action. Carter immediately took station at the sink turned periscope.
After a few minutes, Carter told Hogan, "Colonel you're going to want to see this."
The senior POW looked into the periscope and saw Sergeant Schultz bringing Bellows, Nelson and Healey at gunpoint. What Hogan saw next surprised him, and that doesn't often happen. Gertrude Schultz was walking behind her husband and appeared to be cursing at him in German. In one hand she had Jeannie's arm. In her other was a picnic basket that she was hitting Sergeant Schultz on the back of the head with. Hans was not wearing his helmet. The American Colonel felt sorry for the German Sergeant of the Guard.
Hogan then said, "I can't believe I didn't see it. Jeannie magically appears the same time as Healey and Nelson- she must be a Soviet Agent. No wonder she rebuffed me."
Newkirk said, "Yeah, I'm sure that's the only reason." The Brit's comment earned him a glare from the Colonel.
"Time to implement Plan B," Hogan ordered Kinch. Hogan then watched Schultz lead Bellows, Nelson, Healey, and Jeannie to the cooler.
When they were brought to the Cooler, the four were led to separate cells. Nelson was hoping that Hogan still had some control over what was going on. He really didn't want to be interrogated by the SS or worse. After count, Jeannie popped into Tony's cell.
"Master, should I bring us back home?!" Jeannie asked.
Tony replied, "Not yet, but keep an eye on things."
Just then, Schultz opened the pass through to Nelson's cell and said, "Breakfast!" He could have sworn he saw Jeannie in there with the American Major through the pass through, but she vanished in a blink of an eye.
Schultz went over to Jeannie's cell as quickly as he could, opening the pass through. Looking in he saw Jeannie and said, "Breakfast!"
Jeannie replied, "Thank you, Sergeant."
Schultz just said, "I see nothing..."
Even though the camp was on lock down, Hogan was summoned to Klinks office later that morning.
"Colonel Hogan reporting as ordered Colonel," The American POW nonchalantly said.
Klink was furious, "Colonel Hogan it is my duty to inform you as Senior Allied POW that Majors Healey and Nelson are in the cooler along with Captain Bellows. I will ask you once, did you have anything to do with this morning's escape attempt?"
Hogan looked stunned, "An escape attempt? From Stalag 13? Of course not, Colonel, we all know that there has never been a successful escape from Stalag 13!" Hogan then lowered his voice, "besides, I don't think they are ours."
Klink was puzzled, "Then whose are they?"
The American smiled as Klink took the bait, "Let's just say they are from a so-called ally to the east."
Klink paled and whispered, "Soviet?"
Hogan shrugged and said, "I know I wouldn't want it to be known my secretary was working for the NKVD."
The Kommandant looked positively ill when he uttered, "Dismissed."
Almost on cue, Schultz entered Klink's office, "Herr Commandant, a truck has arrived." Shultz led Klink outside, and Hogan was at their heels.
A figure in black exited the passenger side, "Captain Flagge, SS. I heard you have four Soviet Prisoners. My orders are to take them for interrogation."
Klink asked, "How did you find out about the prisoners so quickly?"
Flagge simply answered, "We have our ways."
Hogan quietly whispered in Klink's ear, "Colonel, this may be a way of getting rid of a problem..."
The German Colonel pretended to ignore Hogan, but told Flagge, "Captain the prisoners are yours." Klink then turned to Schultz and said, "Sergeant, bring the four prisoners from the cooler to Captain Flagge."
Schultz responded with an enthusiastic "Ja Wohl, Herr Kommandant!"
As the four suspected Soviets were being loaded in the truck, Flagge told his driver, "Praet, I'll ride in back with the prisoners."
Praet, who appeared to be a slightly older non-com, gave a much less enthusiastic, "Ja Wohl, Herr Captain."
As they were being loaded into the truck, Bellows couldn't help but notice how chummy Hogan was with Klink. Had they been set up? Healey was extremely nervous. Nelson was too, but was better at not showing it. Tony knew if he seemed the least bit anxious, it would set Jeannie off- and he would have no control over what happened next. Hopefully this was all part of Hogan's plan.
The four prisoners and SS captain rode in silence for several miles. The SS Captain then said in perfect English to the driver through the pass through, "OK, Vinnie. This is the rendezvous point." The truck then stopped.
Flagge took Bellows and got out. The other three looked concerned. Hopefully a firing squad wasn't awaiting them. For a moment it appeared to Flagge that Nelson was calming Jeannie as if she might do something crazy rather than the other way around. But, then again, Flagge did hear that the female Soviet agents were more viscous than the men. Once Flagge and Bellows were outside the truck, the SS Captain untied the American Captain.
The SS Captain then said, "Captain head down the road about a half mile. There is a squad of resistance fighters that will take you to the coast, where hopefully a boat will take you back to merry old England."
Bellows was puzzled, "I don't understand..."
The 'SS Captain' explained, "I'm really Captain Samuel Flag U.S. Army CID. The driver is Lieutenant Vinnie Pratt, G-2. I got to wear black because my German is better than Vinnie's, plus I do outrank him. Anyway, Colonel Hogan ordered us to take you back to the allies and get these three Russkies to an intelligence center for interrogation."
Relieved, Captain Bellows observed, "Hogan came through."
Flag looked at Bellows and said, "Captain. That Colonel stuck his neck out for you. He also came up with the idea to have us pose as SS- the Gerry's don't ask too many questions when people disappear at he hands of the SS."
Bellows thanked Flagg, "I really am grateful for all that you and Colonel Hogan's men have done for me. Thank you, sir, and I will never forget."
Flag acknowledged Bellows with a nod, and turned his attention back on the Commies in the back on the truck. If only they knew what was in store for them. But when the CID man returned to the truck, the back was empty.
"Pratt!" Flag yelled, "Where are they?!"
Vinnie ran out of the cab and asked, "Where are who?"
Flag cried out, "The commies!"
Vinnie then saw the back of the truck was empty. He said, "That's impossible. The were tied up, and were alone for only a few seconds."
The CID Captain explained, "They are crafty bastards."
Pratt and Flag looked around for the three and it was obvious they were nowhere to be found. Flag then stopped to think for a minute. Then without warning the CID Captain started attacking the G-2 Lieutenant!
Vinnie shouted out, "Flag have you gone insane?!" Soon the lieutenant was fighting back to defend himself, getting a few punches in. It wasn't long before the two army officers where in an out and out brawl.
After a few minutes Flag broke free and said, "OK I think that's good enough." The CID man then pulled out a pistol.
Pratt said, "Easy Flag..."
The CID man motioned to the truck and told Vinnie, "Just get in and drive..."
The G-2 Man did as ordered, but as soon as he got the truck in gear- Flag shot out a couple of tires. Pratt lost control of the truck and crashed into a tree.
Flag came over to the truck and explained, "Sniper fire took out the truck. You lost control and hit the tree. The prisoners over powered us and escaped."
Pratt got out, "You really are insane" before the CID agent landed an expert punch that knocked the G-2 man out cold. Flag then climbed in back of the truck, and hit his head on the side hard enough to knock himself out.
