Es tut mir leid, dass Hochstetter ein bisschen nach den Helden klingt. Leider kann ich ihn nich' so gut schrib'm...
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Kinch quickly descended back down with the three men following him. Following Kinch back to the radio room, the all stood in a line, waiting for their CO to speak. They weren't disappointed.
"Alright men. I just got off the radio with the local underground. Together we are going to try and rescue, or kidnap Carter back."
"Kidnap 'im, guv?" Newkirk raised his eyebrows.
"Kidnap or rescue, Newkirk. Rescue if he's one of ours, kidnap if he's one of theirs." Hogan answered in a flat tone. Newkirk nodded, following his thinking. "Now. After speaking with the underground, the operation is going to go as thus." Hogan grabbed a map lying on a side table. "We are going to go to this point here." He pointed to a spot on the map. "While the underground goes to this point." He pointed to another spot. "We are going as two gestapo officers containing one prisoner. As we infiltrate, we will ask about Carter. Now, myself and Olsen will be the two officers, and LeBeau, you are going to be the prisoner."
"Why am I always the prisoner?" LeBeau complained jokingly.
"'Cuz you complain the most, Louis." Newkirk grinned.
"Well at least I can cook." LeBeau grinned, causing Newkirk to redden in the face.
"Well at least I can-" Newkirk was quickly interrupted by Hogan.
"That's enough you two. You can cause World War Three after this war is over. Now," Hogan turned back to the rest of the men, "while, Olsen, LeBeau, and I are out, I want you, Newkirk, to monitor Klink's office, and Kinch, to intercept any messages."
"Alright, Colonel." Kinch nodded. Newkirk frowned.
„Sure you don't want me to come with ya, guv'ner?"
"No Newkirk, I want you to stay here with Kinch." Hogan quickly turned back to the map, not wanting to dwell on that subject any longer. "Now, I will have LeBeau bribe the Feldwebel at the motor-pool to leave the car outside the fence tonight after roll-call. Once Schultz turns our electricity off, and locks us in for the night, we will use our newly established emergency tunnel to get outside." Hogan walked over and looked down the hall, squinting to make out the emergency tunnel. "What is the status of the new tunnel exit anyways?" He asked, still looking down the pitch-black hall.
"Functional….impractical….and difficult to use, Colonel." Kinch answered. Hogan nodded..
„Sounds like our usual tunnel work." He turned and walked back over to the map. "Now, after we leave, we will drive to the local prison, and hopefully Carter will be there."
"Wouldn't they have taken him to headquarters for interrogation, that is, if he is being held by the gestapo." Olsen asked nervously.
"Well, I am assuming as much since Klink hasn't received a phone call about finding a missing prisoner yet, and we are the only local POW camp in the area, unless of course they want to drive north to Stalag Luft IV…as for taking him to headquarters, they would have either drive all the way to München, or up to Düsseldorf, Dortmund (1), that area." Hogan cast his eyes down, "let's just hope that isn't the case…" his voice trailed off. The others nodded sombrely.
"What will the underground be doing while we are out, mon Colonel?" LeBeau asked, breaking the silence.
"They, LeBeau, will be checking this area here. Hopefully he is still in town and at one of these two locations." Hogan rolled up the map. "Now, let's get something to eat, I don't know about you two, but I'm starving." Hogan walked out of the radio room, and headed towards the stairs, his men watching him leave.
"I think he's gone nuts." Olsen shook his head, the moment Hogan was out of earshot.
"Why do you say that?" Kinch asked curiously.
"Well, does he honoustly believe we can pull this off? We haven't done anything like this before. Getting people outta Germany, alright. Even blowing stuff up…okay. Breaking people outta jail? Forget it."
"Non, I believe the Colonel. I think we can do it." LeBeau spoke up.
"You're just sayin' 'at cuz you want to get outside the wire, Louis." Newkirk rolled his eyes.
"Oh yes, Peter, I most definitely want to play prisoner with the gestapo!" LeBeau stood in front of Newkirk and looked him dead on.
"Enough you two." Kinch spoke up again. Newkirk crossed his arms, dissatisfied, LeBeau did the same, but with his back to Newkirk.
"Now, let's just follow the Colonel's advice and get some lunch, alright?
"Alright Kinch." The two muttered, as the followed him out of the radio room. Kinch paused a moment looking at the radio now empty, and considered having someone bring him lunch as usual, but then decided that it was alright if he left it alone for 20 minutes. They were still on radio silence with London, and Klink hadn't been making or receiving any calls. Turning back towards the exit, he singled and then climbed up, Newkirk and LeBeau in turned followed him up the ladder.
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Klink was dozing at his desk, when his new secretary suddenly knocked on his office door. Immediately sitting up, and pretending to work he announced her in.
"Herein. (Come-in)"
"Oberst Klink, es gibt nen Mann am Telefon. Er möchte mit Ihnen sprechen. (Colonel Klink, there is a man on the telephone. He would like to speak with you.)"
„Danke, Fräulein Hilde." He picked up the telephone. „Oberst Klink, wie kann isch Ihnen helf'n? (Colonel Klink, how may I help you?)"
„Klink!" A man on the telephone yelled.
"Jaaa, isch bin's! (Yep, that's me!)" Klink smiled happily.
„Klink...gusch! (shut-up!)" The man yelled, Klink's smiled disappeared. „Ich hab' einen Ihrer Männer- (I have one of your men-)"
„Einen meiner Männer? Das kommt nicht in die Tüte. Mein Langer ist- (One of my men? That's not possible. My camp is-)„
„Klink! Das ist mir scheiß egal! Ich hab' einen Ihrer Männer, und er ist gerade einen meiner Gefangene. (I don't give a damn! I have one of your men, and he is currently one of my prisoners.)"
„Wieso denn? (How come?)"
„Er war beim Zug, als er in die Luft gegangen war! (He was by the train that was blown up!)"
„Achsooo... (Ohhhh)" Klink openly nodded although the man on the other side of the telephone clearly could not see it. "Wieso war er draußen meines Lagers? (Why was he outside of my camp?)" Klink asked, the man on the telephone openly rolled his eyes in return.
"Das spielt keine Rolle, Klink. Aber Sie müssen wissen, dass nach heute, gehört er Ihnen nicht mehr. (that is not important, Klink. However you need to know, that after today, he no longer is your responsibility)"
„Moment Herr...Herr...wie heißen Sie? (Just a second, Mr...Mr...what's your name?)"
„Major Hochstetter."
„Moment, Herr Major, das Genfer Abkommen sagte- (Just a second Major, the Geneva Convention says-)„
„Noch mal egal, Klink! Die nationale Sicherheit sagte, dass ich machen darf, was ich machen muss! Auf wiederhören! (Again irrelevant, Klink! National Security says that I may do what I need to do! Goodbye!)" Major Hochstetter slammed down his phone. Klink was left stunned holding his telephone against his ear. Why must war always be so complicated?
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Klink sat as his desk starring off into space. His mind raced around what happened with his prisoner. How did he get out? Where was he captured? When did this even happen? Schultz had reported all prisoners accounted for this morning. When was there time to escape and be recaptured? Klink looked at his watch. It was only one in the afternoon. When had the prisoner managed to escape? When did a train blow up? Where did a train blow up? Shouldn't we have heard a train blow up? A train blowing up would be awfully loud. Klink stood up and walked out of his office, and then outside. Looking for his sergeant of the guard, Georg Hans Schultz.
"Schuuuuultz!" Klink bellowed. Looking around for the man.
"Jawohl Herr Kommandant!" Schultz ran up to Klink. „Was kann i' für Sie tun? (What can I do for you?)"
„Schultz! Wir habm uns nen Gefangener verlor'n. Zahl'n Sie die Männer, sofort! (We have lost a prisoner. Count the men, immediately!) "
„Jawohl Herr Kommandant! Sofort!" Schultz ran off to collect the other guards for an emergency recount. All the while panic rising in his throat.
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"Colonel." LeBeau looked out the window of the mess tent. "The guards are gathering up everyone-"
"Raustreten! (out!)" Langenscheidt slammed open the door, causing some men in the tent to jump. „Alle raus! Raustreten! Sofort! (Everyone out! Out! Now!)" Langenscheidt watched as the confusion baffled the minds of the men in the tent. Only the men in barrack 2 had any kind of idea as to what could possibly be going on.
"Colonel…" Olsen whispered as they hurried out of the tent. "They must have found Carter…"
"That or Klink has something he really wants to share with us. I'm not sure which I'd prefer." Hogan's eyes showed true fear. Something that caused Olsen's knees to wobble, and his palms to sweat. It was only the second time he had ever seen the man truly panicked. And if Hogan was actually scared….he didn't want to think about it.
The men took their places in the line. Each trying to show as little fear as they could. However, something must have happened, it wasn't like Klink to take an emergency count without someone forcing him to do it. Their eyes were wide and their breaths short, as the men watched Klink descended from his perch on the deck and converse with the guards. Klink nodded and then turned to face all the men in the yard.
"My suspicious were correct. There is a man missing. And I have been informed by Feldwebel Schultz here, that it is a….Sergeant Andrew Jonathan Carter." Klink read the name off of a clipboard.
"John…'at was 'is middle name…" Newkirk whispered aloud to himself.
"Now, we can go about this two ways." Klink started to strut. "Either someone, the guilty party or not, confess and tell me how this man got outta camp in bright daylight-" Schultz paled at that line. Hogan thought he was going to fall over. "-or everyone will be on half rations." Klink for once didn't smile. Hogan swallowed. No one moved. "Very well then. Half rations, and no rec hall! Dismissed!" Klink stormed back into this office. Everyman turned to Hogan, however Hogan didn't notice their immediate questioning of him. His eyes were focused on Schultz.
Schultz turned around slowly, and started ushering the men back into the barracks. Catching Hogan's eye, he walked over to him.
"Pleeeease Colonel Hooogan. Where is Carter? I will be sent to the Siberia (2) for this!"
"Don't worry Schultz. We'll think of something." However Hogan's word did nothing to calm the look on the guard's face, nor did they help reassure Hogan either. Schultz merely nodded and locked the men in the barracks. Hogan groan softly and motioned for LeBeau, Olsen, Kinch, and Newkirk into his office. Not even waiting for the door to close before going off.
"Alright! I want to know how Klink found out, about Carter!" Hogan yelled. Momentarily throwing all his anger and frustration out the window. Although each man shot his eyes in a different direction, none spoke up.
"How? Who was listening to the radio, Kinch?" Hogan noticed the sergeant actually tremble before speaking. It shook Hogan, he was not used to seeing his right hand man terrified to speak up, and it made Hogan feel incredibly guilty that he had yelled at him.
"N-n-n-no-one. No-one, Colonel."
"What?"
"R-r-remember, Sir? You relieved Private James….and then we all went to the mess tent together?" Kinch met Hogan's gaze. And Hogan mentally slapped himself.
"Yes. That's right." Hogan turned around. So it was his fault. Stupid Robby. This is the second stupid thing you've done this week. This has got to stop.
"Alright, Kinch." Hogan said calmly, slowly turning around. "Why don't you get down on the radio. Let's see if our Chefin receives anymore calls."
"Yes, Colonel." Kinch exited. Hogan turned his back on his men again. He felt so embarrassed immediately jumping to conclusions. Olsen spoke up softly.
"Um, Colonel…what, what are you thinking about, about tonight?"
"It's still on. Unless Klink happens to mention where Carter is." Hogan turned around. "I want a full watch on Klink's office, and someone to monitor the coffeepot at all times."
"Yes Colonel."
"Of course, Sir."
"Right, guv." The men responded. Hogan nodded. Before softly muttering.
"I'm going for a walk."
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Hogan was in no better mood as he changed for the mission that night. Pulling on the last of the two boots, he was sickened at the sight that met him in the tiny mirror across the way. Barely making out his reflection in the dim light, he couldn't recognize himself, instead, he had turned into some monster. A monster in which he hoped would be defeated quickly, and painlessly.
"All ready to go, Colonel?" Kinch asked stepping into the room.
"Yeah Kinch. LeBeau? Olsen?" Hogan asked, turning to the men beside him.
"Yep. All set."
"Oui. Ready."
"Sure ya don't want 'nother 'and, Colonel?" Newkirk asked putting away the rest of the clothing supplies.
"Um, no Newkirk, that won't be necessary. I thank you for volunteering though." Hogan glance away, busying himself with something. Newkirk frowned. Once again he was denied helping out on something that wasn't related to pumping out downed fliers back to England, or the random missions that England had them starting to do that involved sabotage. And it hurt him. He had yet to be outside the wire. "I think we are all ready." Hogan said looking around.
"Oui, mon Colonel."
"After you two." Olsen added, following LeBeau and Hogan towards the still newly added emergency exit under the tree stump. Hogan started to climb the rope before stopping and looking straight at Kinch and Newkirk. It was hard for him to make out their faces in the poor light, but that didn't matter, Hogan was almost glad for the darkness, it made what he had to say all the easier.
"Kinch, Newkirk. If things get messy…or go wrong…burn everything. And I mean everything. Then get the whole camp back to England. Or Switzerland. Understood?"
"Yes Sir." Kinch nodded.
„Right guv." Newkirk agreed. Satisfied, Hogan disappeared out the tree stump, followed shortly by Olsen, and then LeBeau.
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Newkirk threw himself down in the chair next to Kinch. Sighing audibly.
"Alright, Peter. I know you're upset. You do this every time the Colonel leaves you behind. So I'm biting. Seriously, what is wrong?"
"Why? Why does 'e leave me be'ind? I'm just as good as the rest of 'em. I can fight, think on me feet, I'm good with me 'ands, I speak German, I'm not…." Newkirk immediately turned red.
"Black?"
"S-s-sorry mate. I…I didn't mean…:"
"It's okay Newkirk."
„Must be frustratin' for ya."
"Eh, yes and no. I'm used to it by now. Can't say I like it though." Kinch shrugged. Newkirk made a fist.
"I just wish 'e'd let me show 'im 'at I am of 'elp!" Newkirk stood up. Kinch looked down, avoiding him. Newkirk noticed. "You know, Kinch. What is it? Why won't 'e let me outside the wire for missions like 'is?"
"Ehm, uh, well…." Kinch hesitated.
„What? What is it?"
„You...well...you stutter, Peter. (3)" Kinch looked away, embarrassed that he just embarrassed his friend. Newkirk's mouth opened.
"'At's it? 'At's the reason?"
"Pretty much."
"'At's bleedin' rubbish!"
"I'm sorry, Peter. Look I am. But you're stuttering would endanger everyone, and..." Kinch stopped mid-sentence. "Sorry."
"No, don't be sorry, Kinch. It just makes it worse."
"Look. Maybe you can work on it. Or talk to the Colonel. I'm sure there is something that you can do. I'll even help you if you want." Kinch smiled.
"Thanks. You're a good mate."
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The drive to the local prison was met in complete silence. Each man being left to his own thoughts, and not wanting to share what those thoughts were. For Hogan, the trip seemed to both last a lifetime, and be over too soon. Dreading the answers he was going to receive as he parked in front of the building. After pulling up, both Hogan and Olsen yanked LeBeau out of the vehicle, and towards the front of the building, easily passing the guards at the entrance. Olsen quickly spotted the reception desk. Hogan and Olsen dragged LeBeau up to it.
"Heil den Bart! (Hail the moustache!)" Hogan began, the man behind the desk reciprocated. "Ich habe hier einen Gefangener- (I have a prisoner here-)„
„Das kann ich leicht sehen... (I can easily see that...)"
„-Der dabei den Zug war, als er in die Luft gegangen war! (Who was at the train when it blew up!)" Hogan finished.
„Achso." The man stood up.
„Und. Ich muss jetzt mit dem andern Mann reden, ähm... der...der... (And. I need to speak with the other man, um… the, the, the...)"
„Sergeant Andrew Carter, US Army." Olsen popped in.
"Genau. Mit ihm. (exactly. With him.)" Hogan nodded. The man behind the desk looked confused, before crossing over to the pile of files behind him and searching through them. A few moments later he turned back around.
"Es tut mir wirklich leid, mein Herr. Aber leider gibt es hier keinen Sergeant Andrew Carter. (I'm truly sorry, Sir. But unfortunately there is no Sergeant Andrew Carter here.)"
„Keinen Andrew Carter? (No Andrew Carter?)" Hogan yelled, smacking the desk with the palm of his hand, causing everyone except him to jump.
"Daaaaas stiiiiimmt. (Thaaaat's riiiiight)" The man replied, shaking.
„Also denn! Wo ist er? (Well okay then! Where is he?)"
„Leider...weiß...weiß ich nicht... (Unfortunately I don't...don't know...)"
„Wo würde er sein? (Where would he be?)"
„Weiß ich auch nicht! (I don't know that either!)"
„Bah!" Hogan throw all the papers from the desk onto the floor before storming out of the building. Olsen shrugged and grabbed LeBeau by the collar and followed him back out of the building and into the motorcar.
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(1) There were gestapo headquarters in both of these cities. A major one being in Dortmund.
(2 ) Where the German POWs were kept doing WW1 by the Russians. Also a joke in EKvH for the Russian front.
(3 ) It's true. Newkirk does stutter in the German version. Boy…does he ever!