I applogise for the delay in getting this chapter up. I try to update every couple days, but this week has been very busy with work. So I hope this chapter has been worth the wait! (if nothing else it's long lol!)
"Who is Kalinke?" A question that comes up again, and again, and again, and again. She is Klink's housekeeper and mistress. I have a more details about her on my profile if you are interested, but they are not necessary for the story. :)
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Carter watched as Hogan got up and entered his office. The other barracks members were filling in, chatting loudly and joking with each other. He felt as though he would never fit in with the rest of them. Depressing himself even further, Carter layed back down on the bed, and thought about home. He was mid-daydream when he was shooken back to a reality by a door slamming open and a yell from Hogan.
"Andersen! Hey Andersen!" Hogan came bolting out of his office.
"Yes sir?" Andersen spun around.
"Have you seen Newkirk, Kinch, or LeBeau?"
"Yes Sir, Newkirk and Kinch are in the-" Andersen immediately stopped mid sentence and glanced over at Carter, "um, they're uh, checking… for…. moles…" He stated the last part of his sentence carefully. Hogan nodded understanding.
"What about LeBeau?"
"He's… actually I'm not sure where he is, Sir. Have you seen him, Mike?" Andersen turned to his friend.
"I think he's in the mess hall, Sir. Said something to Lefèvre about making some French dish or another." Mike explained to his CO.
"Thanks." Hogan dashed outta the barracks. Both men shrugged being used to Hogan's sudden coming and goings, and went back to getting their laundry ready to wash. Carter listen to the conversation utterly confused. Moles? Are there moles in Germany?
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Kinch wiped his brow. And leaned on his spade for a moment. Glancing over at Newkirk and the rest of the men who were equally as tired.
"Why don't we take a 5 minute break guys? I think we earned it." He suggested. A tired mumble agreed, before dispersing. Kinch sighed and dragged his feet down to the radio to see how the current radio man was doing. However before he could reach it, Hogan came running up to him.
"Kinch! Hold up just a second!"
"Colonel! Something I can do for you?"
"Is Newkirk down here?"
"Yeah, he should be down near barracks 3, taking a break. Is something wrong?"
"No nothing is wrong. But you both are having a quick change of profession. You are now going into the cleaning business."
"Colonel?"
"I want you to go and clean Klink's office."
"Didn't Kalinke clean it this morning?"
"Yes, but don't worry, we can mess it up for you. I want Newkirk to break into Klink's filing cabinet. I need to know what is in Carter's file."
"Sir, with all due respect. We've seen those files. There isn't much. Only whatever the interrogator was able to get out of the poor subject."
"Still. I want to see for myself." Hogan led Kinch down the hall. Kinch sighed.
"Alright. Newkirk and I will get cleaned up. How do you plan to untidy Klink's office, may I ask?"
"With gardening of course! LeBeau is going to plant some new flowers." Hogan smiled as he explained his plan. Kink shrugged and went off to find Newkirk to inform him of the plan, while Hogan went to set LeBeau's part in motion.
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Klink hummed happily. He was day-dreaming of his dinner with Kalinke coming that evening. Starring at himself in the mirror while straightening his hair back, Klink turned one way and then another, admiring at his own good looks.
"Willi…du bist ein ganz toller Kerl! (Willi…you are one sexy guy!)" He admired himself in the mirror.
"Oh I'm sorry, Kommandant, I didn't realize you were on a date." Hogan opened the door and started to back out again.
"Hogan! I am not on a date," Klink spun around annoyed. Hogan shrugged and stepped in, making his way over to the chair to sit down. "But I will be soon. So whatever it is you want to tell me. Don't."
"Alright then." Hogan stood back up and headed back towards the door.
"Wait? That's it?" Klink spun around confused.
"Well, yeah. You just told me to get out. So I am. Have fun on your date, Kommandant." Hogan gave the sloppiest salute he could muster and shut the door behind him. Klink on the other hand was still in the process of confuselly reciprocating as the door closed behind Hogan.
Hogan straightened his jacket and stepped out onto the porch from Klink's office and saw that LeBeau and three of the other men were ready for action, waiting for him down at the bottom of the steps.
"You guys ready to go?" Hogan looked at them as he asked the question more in the form of a statement, they all nodded.
"Oui, mon Colonel. Just tell us when."
"Good. I'm going to go check on Newkirk, so proceed at your leisure." Hogan smiled and unzipped his bomber jacket a bit more as he walked off towards the supply shed. It was getting to be late spring, and the air was warming up nicely.
LeBeau watched him go, and then turned to the men.
"Alright, let's start digging." The four men started digging large amounts of dirt from Klink's garden and throwing it into Klink's open office window. Upon the fifth throw, Klink came storming towards the window.
"You there! All of you stop!" Klink waved his fist menacingly, as another pile of dirt came flying directly into his face. "Schicht im Schacht! (That's it!)" Klink came running out of the building. "All of you! All… of… you! In the cooler! Now! Now! Now!" Klink stamped his foot emphasising each word. Hogan walked on over.
"Kommandant, I'm sure they could clean it for you. To learn from their mistake."
"Thank you, Hogan, that won't be necessary. Kalinke can take care of a little dirt. But thank you for your concern."
"At least let them clean up the mess here. Otherwise they'll never learn their lesson."
"You're right, Hogan." Klink agreed bobbing his head up and down. "I'll let them fix the garden, and then, they will go to the cooler…." Klink marched back into this office. Hogan winked at the men.
"You know what to do." He walked back off. The men immediately started fighting.
"It's your fault!"
"My fault? It's his fault!"
"No it's not, it's your fault!"
"Not true, it's both of yours! I did nothing!" The squabbled continued till one of the men grabbed one of the buckets of water nearby and throw it deliberately into Klink's office through the open window. Soon followed by a second, third, and fourth bucket, till the fifth on was thrown directly into his face as he leaned out the window.
"DAS WAR'S! SCHUUUUUULTZ! (THAT'S IT!)" Klink bellowed for the guard while leaning over his opened window.
"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant!" Schultz came running from across the compound. "Herr Kommandant, warum sind Sie nass? (Herr Kommandant, why are you wet?)"
"Schnauze Schultz! Alle diese Männer…in die Arrestzelle...sofort Schultz! (Shut up Schultz! Alle thse Men… in the cooler…now Schultz!)"
„Auf jeden Fall, Herr Kommandant! (Of course, Herr Kommandant!)" Klink ushered them off. Hogan stepped forward out of the shadows and entered the Kommandant's office.
"Kommandant, just look at your desk, dirt and water everywhere. Why don't you let Newkirk and Kinch take care of that, and you go have a nice pleasant evening with Kalinke? You deserve some relaxation after this ordeal." Hogan slipped his hand into the humidor and took out a handful of cigars. Klink sighed as he turned around completely soaked and slumped into this chair.
"Perhaps you are right, Hogan. I do deserve a night off. This is very stressful work."
"Of course you do. And you do so much for us, you should do something for yourself."
"You're right. I'll take the rest of the afternoon off. Kalinke has been nagging me to take her to a store so she can buy more cleaning supplies. Perhaps we'll do that."
"Kommandant, you are truly the romantic." Hogan rolled his eyes.
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Fifteen minutes later, Newkirk, Kinch, and a man from barracks 47 were in Klink's office. Kinch and Private Abdul Klinger were cleaning while Newkirk searched the records for the one they were looking for.
"Hey, thanks for helping us out with this cleaning job, Klinger."
"Eh, not a problem, I'm used to "clean-up jobs". Livin' in Toledo and all. Heh, this one time, my little nephew, his name is Max, well, we were-"
"Foun' it!" Newkirk cried, interrupting the story.
"Good lets it to the Colonel. You go on ahead, Peter. Chatty here and I will continue cleaning up." Kinch looked up from the floor and rang out the towel.
"Hey did I ever tell about how my father tried to get out of the Army during the Great War wearing hoop skirts?" Klinger finished dusting off the dirt from the top of the filing cabinet.
"No, but I suppose that would explain why you are currently wearing a dress."
"A great Klinger family tradition. And if poor Max ever gets drafted…well, I will give him my closet of clothes." Both Kinch and Newkirk rolled their eyes, before Newkirk crossed the room to make his way over to Hogan's office.
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Hogan sighed. Rubbing his eyes he slumped in his chair. He wasn't expecting to see anything in the interrogation reports, and he didn't see anything.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing."
"Wha' are you thinkin', Colonel?"
"Well either our minds are finally beginning to snap, or he is lying.
"I can't really say I care for either options."
"Nor do I." Hogan didn't like the idea of feeling helpless. And as every hour went on, he was becoming more and more annoyed with London. "How do you feel about him, Newkirk?"
"Well, I'd say 'e's a righ' ol' chap. Bit green. Bit worse for wear. But I'd say give 'im a month or so, and 'e'll be fine."
"So, one a one to ten kraut scale?"
"I'd give 'im 'bout a two." Newkirk leaned against Hogan's bunk, and played with a cigarette. Hogan rubbed the back of his neck. And began to pace. With a mission right around the corner, and an unknown person sleeping in the barracks, he was stressed. Newkirk noticed the tension begin to build in his CO, and quickly excused himself, as it was moments like this that he knew Hogan preferred to be alone. Sighing audibly as he shut the door behind him, Newkirk watched as Kinch walked back in.
"'Ey Kinch. Can I talk with ya a second."
"Sure thing, Peter. What can I do for you."
"Outside is better. Walls 'ave ears ya know." Newkirk lead him outside. Kinch followed understanding that he was talking about his new bunkie. The two started a slow stroll around the compound, as Newkirk explained to Kinch what was in the report. Kinch stroked his chin and thought for a moment.
"It's not surprising. I mean it's not going to say "SPION (SPY)" in big red letters across it, right?" He sighed. "But either he is lying, or maybe he hit his head harder than we thought, amnesia maybe?"
"Ya think 'e's a kraut then?"
"Sure is looking that way. But if he is. I applaud his teacher. Well…actually. What if he is one of ours gone bad, ya know? He could have been sent here to spy on us. It's plausible. I don't like the thought of it though, what it could mean to the operation."
"Wha' do ya think the Colonel is gonna do about 'im and the mission tomorrow night?"
"I dunno, Peter. But if I were him, putting him in the cooler may be the best place. I just don't like the idea of anyone, anyone having to be there intentionally."
"Wha' 'bout, Louis? 'E's in there right now."
"That's different. When he's in there, we don't have to listen to his singing of his French love songs."
"Bloody annoying 'e is." Newkirk mumbled in agreement. The two walked a bit further in silence, before discussing a way to get Carter thrown into the cooler. Kinch crossed his arms.
"I still don't like it. But at least we'll know if he's on the Kraut's side based on how he's treated."
"'Less ol' Klink doesn't know 'e's suppose to be one of 'em."
"Don't depress me, Peter…" Resigning to their decision, the two friends walked back to Barrack 2. Slowly walking over to Hogan's office, Kinch hesitated before knocking. A quiet "come-in" was heard, and both Kinch and Newkirk stepped in. They found Hogan sitting at his desk, starring outside.
"Um Colonel?" Kinch hesitated. Hogan spun around in his chair.
"Sorry. Come-in. I was just thinking about the mission tomorrow night.
"Sir, Newkirk and I were thinking. Would it, would it be easier if Carter was in the cooler?" Kinch let the question hang in the air. Hogan raised both of his eyebrows surprised at the question.
"As a matter of fact, Kinch. It probably would. However that is something I want to discuss with both of you. I want your hypothesis on Carter. We know we had an Lt. A.J. Carter come through here 4 months and 2 weeks ago. I checked our records. We also know that he was picked up by the sub seven weeks later, and made it safely back to England. Now we have a Sgt. Andrew John Carter in our barracks, who claims to have never been in a POW camp before. Hypothesis?"
"Well, Colonel, ol' Kinch 'ere was thinkin' that maybe 'e's gone bad, become one of the krauts or such." Newkirk started. Hogan nodded glumly.
"I suppose it's possible. He could have been recruited either while in England, or during his time in his POW camp. It's been 4 months. Something could have happened between there and now.
"You think 'e crashed on purpose then?"
"I wouldn't go that far, Newkirk, but it's not out of the question. If he did, I wanna know why, and what happened to make him turn spy on his own people. And if he isn't, then I wanna know what happened to his rank. Because we all can't be crazy for remembering him as Lieutenant A. J. Carter…." Hogan noticed Kinch's eyes widen. "What is it Kinch?" Hogan leaned forward.
"Holy Carts! Holy Moly Cats!" Kinch throw his hands on his head in disbelief. "We have the brother!"
"The…brother?"
"Brother?"
"Yes! We have the brother! They must be twins or something! Holy Cats!" Kinch ran for the door , "Sir…!" Kinch quickly turned and added and dashed outta the office. He ran directly over to Carter who was lying on Newkirk's lower bunk, working on trying to write a letter home with his good arm.
"Hey, Carter, Carter!"
"Hi Kinch. Something wrong?"
"No, no, nothing's wrong. I just have question for you." Kinch sat down on the bunk.
"Alright."
"I know this will seem like a weird question, but um, where is your brother currently stationed?" Kinch held his breath as he waited.
"He's um…well Jimmy….he's..." Carter hesitated, his eyes filled with tears. "He's dead." He whispered. Kinch's mouth dropped open a little.
"Oh…my….oh…. I'm…. I'm so sorry, Andrew. Really I am…I…. I didn't…-."
"It's alright." Carter wiped his eyes with his hand. "Really. He was shot down several months ago." Carter sat his paper and pencil down. "Um, if you'll excuse me, I, um, am gonna go look for moles." Carter got up and exited the barracks. Kinch was baffled. Moles? Are there moles in Germany besides us? He shook his head as if to clear it and walked back to Hogan's office feeling dejected.
"What was that all about?" Hogan asked as Kinch re-entered.
"Oh, just following a hunch, Sir. Turns out I'm wrong."
"Wha' was your 'unch, Kinch?"
"That we had the other brother. See, Carter mentioned something about having a brother with the same initials. However it turns out that his brother was killed in action some months ago." Kinch felt horrible for the boy.
"Poor kid…." Newkirk shook his head sadly. Hogan suddenly piped up.
"What a second… when did he say his brother was KIA?"
"Um…'several months ago' those were his exact words, Sir."
"If we had the other brother, as your theory suggests, Kinch," Hogan began pacing, "and the first brother was shot down, imprisoned, and broke out, and used our friendly services, that could add up to several months."
"Wouldn't he have heard if his brother was taken prisoner?"
"You would think so. But the Red Cross is….-"
"THE RED CROSS!" All three of them yelled at once.
"Kinch, get on the horn to the Red Cross pronto!"
"Sir…evening roll call…"
"Alright, radio them as soon as Klink is gets through telling us why today's top American favourite pastime or food will help them win the war."
"Oh I do so 'ope it's American football today, sports are my favourite version of these speeches…" Newkirk followed Kinch out of the office. Hogan began pacing again. I hope Kinch is right, and we have the other brother….