A sewing party was in progress in Colonel Hogan's quarters.

He'd left them to it, knowing Newkirk and LeBeau between them would get the job done somehow within the time allowed. They'd do it quicker without interruptions. But he was starting to get anxious; time was running out. He went in to check on progress.

He didn't expect to find Elise taking part; but there she was, stitching around the neckline of a rapidly assembled cotton blouse, while Newkirk, putting haste ahead of perfection, was finishing the hem of a skirt.

"Where's LeBeau?" asked Hogan.

"Down in the tunnel, seeing what we've got in an overcoat," replied Newkirk. He glanced at Elise's handiwork. "Nice work, love."

Her lips twitched into a smile. "Six years in a convent school. At least they taught me one useful thing."

"Only one?" Hogan raised his eyebrows.

Her fingers paused for a moment. "Well, there was something about never allowing oneself to be unchaperoned in the company of strange men. But that doesn't seem to have worked out."

"Lucky there's no strange men here," observed Hogan with a grin. "How's it coming along?"

"Done." Newkirk bit off the thread, and turned out the completed garment. "Just see how it fits, princess. Oh, don't look so shocked. We'll wait outside."

He followed Hogan out of the office, and closed the door. "It's going to be dodgy, Colonel. We've done our best, but she doesn't look much like Hilda. Hasn't got the figure, for a start. She'll pass those two idiots on the gate, but if any of the other guards notice her..."

Hogan nodded, frowning. "Okay, we'll just have to make sure they don't." He considered the problem briefly. "Right, this is how we'll play it. I'll probably be sent for when Burkhalter gets here, and even if I'm not, I'd better go anyway, and keep them distracted. Bruno's lined up the eyewitness to arrive ten minutes later. You and Carter will take Elise through the tunnel to Klink's quarters, and send the girls out when you see the witness coming towards the main gate. Kinch and LeBeau will run interference with the other guards."

He glanced sideways at Newkirk. "Did you finish altering Gretel's identity card?"

Newkirk's expression didn't change. If it was a sore point with him that Elise would be using Gretel's documentation to get out of Germany, he wasn't admitting it. "All done," he said tersely. "But, Colonel..."

"I know. We're having to improvise a lot on this one." Hogan rubbed the back of his neck. "It all comes down to Hochstetter. It's pretty clear he doesn't want Rohmer to find her. I'd love to know what his real angle is."

"He asked if she was safe," murmured Newkirk. "Do you think...?"

"Who knows? The man couldn't lie straight in bed, so anything he says is suspect. He could be trying to let her escape, or there could be something else going on. Either way, he's not getting to her. Not if I have any say in it."

He checked his watch. "If Burkhalter's on time, he should be here in half an hour. As soon as she's ready, take her across to Klink's quarters, but wait in the tunnel till you get the signal from Hilda that the coast is clear."

General Burkhalter did not let them down. His staff car rolled through the gate at precisely sixteen thirty. Hogan, loitering outside the barracks as if by chance, watched with an expression of mild curiosity, as the general extracted his corpulent form from the car. It had never ceased to amaze him that Burkhalter had ever made it into the Luftwaffe. The man had all the physical attributes, but none of the redeeming qualities, of a suet dumpling.

Klink, alerted by Schultz to the general's arrival, came scuttling from his quarters, while Captain Rohmer, also in haste, emerged from the office to report. Only Hochstetter held back, standing on the steps of the building, his thumbs hooked over his belt. Across the yard, his eyes met Hogan's, but his expression was unreadable.

Klink and Rohmer closed around the general, both talking at once. He held up one hand; Klink fell silent instantly, but Rohmer continued to speak. There was a momentary lull; Burkhalter looked at Hochstetter, then with a slow pivot of his entire body, turned his attention towards Hogan, who repaid the look with his standard smug grin before sauntering back into the barracks.

"We're on," he told Kinch.

Only two minutes passed before Schultz came for him, but by that time he was busy. Watched by the entire barracks, he held up a tin mess plate on his outstretched fingers, then gave it an upward flick and a spin, catching it neatly on his index finger as it came down again.

"Colonel Hogan," said the sergeant of the guard, "what are you doing?"

"Showing Kinch how to spin plates, Schultz," replied Hogan, as if it were the most everyday of activities.

With the plate still rotating rapidly on the tip of his finger, he curled his arm, passing his hand under his elbow and bringing it around again.

Schultz stared, bemused. "How do you do that?" he asked.

"Professional secret, Schultz. What's up?"

Thus recalled to his duty, Schultz straightened up. "The Kommandant wants to see you in his office at once, Colonel Hogan."

"Well, gee, I don't know, Schultz. I'm pretty busy right now. Okay, get it, men? It's all in the spin; if you get that right, everything else is easy."

"Please, Colonel Hogan," whimpered Schultz. "General Burkhalter is here, and Major Hochstetter. If I do not bring you to the office at once..." He didn't finish, but his chin quivered.

Hogan heaved an exasperated sigh. "Oh, all right, Schultz, but only as a favour to you." He tossed the plate to Kinch, gave him a wink and strolled out of the barracks.

Hilda had wasted no time, once Klink left his quarters. The agreed signal, three taps of her heel on the floor beside the stove, sounded before he'd got to the end of the building. In the tunnel below, Newkirk turned to Carter.

"You go first," he said. He didn't want to admit it, but he was worried about getting up that ladder; he'd struggled a bit getting down from the barracks.

Carter ascended quickly, and turned to help Elise. Newkirk waited till she was out before making the attempt. It wasn't as bad as he'd expected, but he didn't reject Carter's helping hand.

The two women were sizing each other up in silence. Now they were side by side, Newkirk could see the differences between them more clearly, and his heart sank as he compared Hilda's striking Nordic beauty to the more elusive charms of Elise's delicate fairness.

This is never going to work, he thought.

It had to work. There was no point in thinking anything else. He went to keep watch at the window, while Carter put his ear to the connecting door to the Kommandant's office.

Hogan's arrival interrupted what was shaping into a lively debate between Hochstetter and Rohmer. He glanced around the room, bright-eyed, taking in the situation. Burkhalter, seated behind the desk, with Klink fluttering nervously behind him; Rohmer nearest to the door, Hochstetter standing well back from him. From the way he was standing, head up and his centre of gravity well back, he was getting the worst of it.

Schultz, alive to the atmosphere, hastily retreated to the outer office and closed the door.

"Sorry, am I interrupting?" said Hogan. "Because I can come back later."

"Hogan, stay." It was hard to tell whether Burkhalter was growing irritated; his normal state, when at Stalag 13, was one of peevish discontent. "We have just been talking about you."

Hogan tipped his head to one side. "Really, General?"

"Yes. To be more specific," Burkhalter went on, shifting slightly in his chair as if trying to redistribute his weight, "about your conversations this morning with Major Hochstetter, outside the barracks, and after that in this office."

Neither Hochstetter nor Hogan uttered a word, but the look which passed between them was as detailed an exchange as a full briefing. Hogan had never seen the major so completely on the back foot.

Rohmer took a step forward. "Colonel Hogan, would you be so kind as to tell us what that conversation was about?"

I could land Hochstetter right in it, right now.

It was an attractive idea, so attractive that for a moment Hogan was tempted. But he knew he could handle Hochstetter, when the time came. For the moment, there was a larger scheme to be considered. He gave the major a smirk.

"I have no idea. Sorry, Major. It's nothing personal; you're just not very interesting. I kind of tuned out." He wrinkled his forehead thoughtfully, then added, "Something about being out of camp a couple of nights ago, I think."

"The night of the incident at Weizenfeld," put in Hochstetter, obviously for Rohmer's benefit.

"Also the night of the incident at the hotel in Hammelburg." Rohmer wasn't giving any ground at all. "I wonder whether Major Hochstetter asked you anything about that?"

Hogan adopted his most innocent look. "Search me, guys. Was there something going on at Hammelburg? Gee, I miss out on all the good stuff. You might have told me." His tone was a little petulant.

"General, I am sure Hogan had nothing to do with any of this," burbled Klink. "How could he? He was right here in Stalag 13. May I remind you, General..."

"No, you may not." Burkhalter leaned back in his chair. "So you have nothing useful to contribute, Hogan?" Ignoring the wounded look Hogan turned on him, he switched his attention to the two Gestapo. "This does not appear to support your claims. Either of you. Major Hochstetter, let me make this clear to you. When you have more convincing proof of this saboteur theory of yours, you may question the prisoners here to your heart's content. Until then, find something more productive to do with your time."

Hogan had no faith in the edict having any lasting effect.

Burkhalter turned his attention to Rohmer. "As for you, Captain Rohmer, I have no interest in your internal Gestapo squabbles. Whatever you think Hochstetter is up to, it has nothing to do with Stalag 13..."

"With respect, General," Rohmer broke in nervously. "I have authority from Berlin to investigate a certain matter. I believe Major Hochstetter's interrogation of the prisoners may be relevant to that investigation, and I must ask..."

He faltered under the look of astonished outrage on Burkhalter's face, then steeled his nerve and pressed on. "Major Hochstetter was questioning another prisoner when I arrived. If I could be allowed a few words in private with that man..."

The general turned a look of enquiry towards Klink, who hurried to provide additional information. "Corporal Newkirk, sir. From Barracks 2. But I'm quite sure..."

Burkhalter waved a hand at him, and he fell silent. The general considered the request, while Hogan held his breath. On the other side of the door, Carter tensed, and sent a warning look towards Newkirk.

"No," said Burkhalter.

Hogan started breathing again. Too soon, unfortunately.

"Klink, send for the man in question. Rohmer may speak to him," Burkhalter concluded, "but not privately."

Carter turned from the door. "Newkirk! You better get back to the barracks, fast!"

Newkirk hesitated for barely a second, his eyes turning towards Elise. But he knew there was no choice.

"Sorry, love," he said hastily. "Wanted to see you off, but..."

"Never mind," replied Elise quickly, but she looked stricken.

Carter had already rolled the stove aside, exposing the tunnel entrance beneath, and without any further delay Newkirk lowered himself into the small opening. He descended quickly; too quickly. As he neared the foot of the ladder, he missed the last step, and another shock of pain in his knee was the penalty. There wasn't time to stop and wait for it to ease, but a few muttered words escaped him as he hobbled towards the barracks.

Hogan had gone into delaying mode.

"General Burkhalter, this is just harassment," he protested fiercely. "It's bad enough that Major Hochstetter turns up without so much as a by-your-leave, but now we've got another one waltzing in here uninvited as well. Don't they teach them any manners at Gestapo training school?"

"It is not high on their list of priorities, Hogan," replied Burkhalter dryly. He was not as easy to bamboozle as Klink; he hadn't made general on his looks, that was for sure. "However, your concern is noted, and I will be most happy to address it - once the current matter is cleared up."

"It's also a little hard on Newkirk," Hogan went on. "He's not been at all well, you know."

Burkhalter glanced enquiringly at Klink, who muttered, "Food poisoning, Herr General."

"And that's another thing." Hogan went off on a side trail. "General, while you're here, can I bring the decline in food quality to your attention? We had half of Barracks 2 laid up. I blame the beef stew. Between you and me, I think that cow had been dead for a long time. Probably of old age," he added meditatively.

"Hogan, this is not relevant." Klink was getting more agitated by the moment.

"Maybe not. But it's important. Do you know what Carter found in his breakfast this morning?"

"Nobody wants to know that, Hogan." Klink gave a nervous giggle. "I'm sure it was nothing, General. Believe me, the quality of the food supplied to the prisoners is excellent. But not too excellent." The look on Burkhalter's face had generated a quick change of tack. "What I mean is, the prisoners are well fed. Adequately fed. As well as can be expected, under the circumstances."

"Colonel Klink." Rohmer broke in harshly. "Please be kind enough to stop rambling, and send for the prisoner Newkirk."

At a glance of confirmation from Burkhalter, Klink turned and hurried to the door. "Schultz! Fetch Newkirk over from Barracks 2 at once."

Hogan leaned back a little. He'd bought an extra minute or so for Newkirk to get back to the barracks; he hoped it was enough. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Hochstetter had become slightly restless. Rohmer was looking pleased with himself, as well he might. Things could get awkward if he realised Hochstetter was on the right track. And if Hochstetter worked that out himself, the situation would get even worse.

Two minutes passed before Newkirk was brought into the office. Rohmer started forward, but stopped at a glance from Burkhalter. The general was keeping this matter well under his own thumb.

"Corporal Newkirk," he said, "you were interrogated this morning by Major Hochstetter. What did you talk about?"

Newkirk gave Hochstetter a sullen glare. "Something about a barmaid I met in Hammelburg a few weeks ago," he mumbled.

Rohmer was not giving up so easily. "Are you sure, Corporal? Let me see if I can prompt your memory. Did the name Elise Hochstetter come up?"

Klink pricked up his ears, and Burkhalter leaned forward as far as his bulk allowed. This was getting interesting.

"Never heard of her," retorted Newkirk. "Related to him? Don't want to know her, then."

"Rohmer," interrupted Burkhalter impatiently, "explain yourself."

"Major Hochstetter's brother was arrested in Berlin a few days ago," said Rohmer. "We are anxious to interview his wife, who was last seen at the Hotel Alte Residenz in Hammelburg, just before Saturday's bombing raid. Unfortunately, Major Hochstetter is not being very co-operative in this matter. His interest in your prisoners, and particularly in these two men, suggests they may have some involvement in the matter. I believe they are working in collusion with him to protect Frau Hochstetter from arrest."

There was a tense silence; then a splutter from Newkirk, and a stifled snort from Hogan. Klink went pink, and pressed his lips together. Burkhalter began to laugh, a low, wheezing, uncontrollable outpouring of merriment. Even Hochstetter smiled grimly.

"Captain Rohmer," he observed, "I don't think anyone here finds that suggestion plausible. Have you anything a little less ridiculous to put forward?"

Note: Of course it's all in the spin...but it helps if you use a trick plate.