16. Confusion now hath made his masterpiece!

"Spike!" said Newkirk stepping back. The vampire was right in front of him, saluting everyone as though they had known one another for ages.

Spike did not lose his composure. He just tilted his head and smiled. "Why yes, that's my last name in English. You must be Corporal Newkirk. Will was telling me about what you did. Very courageous."

"Will?" Hogan raised one eyebrow. He also watched Newkirk's attitude but did not say anything about that. He had a bad feeling about this man. Although he was wearing an authentic Luftwaffe uniform, he did not seem too concerned about the salute or speaking German whatsoever. In fact, his British accent was impeccable. He turned to Klink and kept a formal attitude. "You wanted to see us, sir?"

"Certainly. You must know that I've been invited as the guest speaker to the Annual Convention of the Department of Public Relations on Tactics and Logistics in Nuremberg," Klink said excitedly. "Lieutenant Nagel here, came to make sure that I'll be there. Of course, he knows that I'm a very busy man and it's almost impossible for me to leave the camp not even for a couple of days-"

"So, I reminded him that his presence is utterly important to motivate other prison camp personnel." Spike grinned. "I also suggested that he must take the senior officer among prisoners to witness how our officers are honored." He turned to Newkirk. "The corporal should come too, as a sign of the respect and affection that our prisoners should hold for their kommandant."

"And guess what?" Klink said with a smile. "I accepted, and you and Corporal Newkirk are coming with us."

Hogan turned to Newkirk with a bewildered look. He was supposed to be the one to talk Klink into leaving for the weekend. He and Newkirk would have hidden in the car along with Mr. Jones... Certainly, the situation was not as he had pictured it.

"Well?" Klink came closer. "You're coming with me, aren't you, Colonel Hogan?"

Hogan stared at him with inquisitive eyes. The kommandant seemed in a strange state of euphoria. He turned to the bar just to check if any of the bottles was empty. They were intact. "Since you put it that way," said Hogan with a sigh. "Newkirk, tell the others that-"

"Sir... I don't think you should get in that car with him.-" Newkirk whispered as low as he could, but somehow he knew that the vampire was listening to every word he said.

"Of course he's coming," Spike clapped Newkirk's shoulder. "And you too, Corporal Newkirk."

"Sure, I still can cancel me appointments," he said with a sigh. This way he would be able to protect Hogan or at least, to get between him and whatever was waiting at Nuremberg.

"It's a deal, then. Please go and get ready." Klink headed for the door. "We're leaving in one hour."

"One hour?" Hogan frowned. "Tonight?"

Klink did not hear the question for he was already gone to start packing. Spike turned to Hogan and Newkirk with a more serious expression. "Sir," he saluted Hogan. "I'm from Special Forces. London sent me."

"What?" Hogan stared at him in disbelief. "Allies?"

"Newkirk didn't tell you about me? I've been trying to make contact since a few days ago. I was in a hurry and I'm afraid, I sort of scared him and Sergeant Carter."

"That's the man you met in Hammelburg?" Hogan asked Newkirk.

"Well, yes, sir. That's him." Newkirk half smiled at the vampire's panache. "His code name is Spike, I believe."

"And yours is Phantom," Spike shrugged. "I prepared this little charade to take you two to Nuremberg."

"But Klink says you were his disciple at the Academy? How did you-" Hogan was still on his guard.

"Mental suggestion. I was trained to manipulate people's minds."

"And he's very good at it, I must add," Newkirk nodded.

"Really? How do we know you're not manipulating us?" Hogan crossed his arms with the feeling that someone was pulling his leg.

"You wouldn't know," Spike grinned.

Hogan shook his head. "I wasn't notified. That's not the protocol."

"You care about protocols now, Hogan?" Spike lost his formal attitude. "Listen, you wanted to go to Nuremberg, I got you Nuremberg on a silver plate. What do you have to lose, anyway?"

Hogan looked at this young man, who was staring down at him as though he were his superior. He turned to Newkirk. "What's your role in all of this?"

Newkirk shook his head. "Honestly, sir. I've got no idea. I know I have to go, and with all due respect. I'll go, with or without you." Of course, he would choose the second option if he could.

"This is highly irregular, but I won't let you go alone. If you need to be in Nuremberg, we'll be there together." He took a purposeful breath and faced Spike. "All right, let's take advantage of the situation. But if you're double crossing us, you'll be very sorry."

Spike smirked and shrugged. "Colonel, I rarely am." He walked outside.

"Let's get packing, then," Hogan told Newkirk. "We'll arm ourselves just in case we need to make a run for the border."

"Yes, sir." Newkirk took a deep breath and hoped for the best.

()o()o()

"Just get in there, you'll be all right," Kinch said, trying to keep his voice down. Mr. Jones was standing in front of the trunk of the staff car with his bag of clothes hugged against his chest.

"It looks dark, and stuffy... I might suffocate."

"You won't, I've travelled in there many times before. It's completely safe," LeBeau reassured him.

"Please, Mr. Jones. If you don't get in there, you'll have to stay with us." Carter got the bag from him and put it inside the trunk. "I promise you, everything will be all right. It's only a two hour drive."

"All right," said he. "This is going to be in my report, you know?"

"I'll bet it will," Kinch turned around to make sure they were not attracting attention from the guards. He breathed when LeBeau could finally close the trunk lid. He went to Hogan.

The colonel was coming from the barracks with a small bag. In his head, ideas about secret weapons, inspectors, special agents and other logistics piled up mercilessly. "Any news on the submarine?"

"Yes, sir. They're still waiting for a change in the weather," said Kinch.

"Let's hope it happens soon. At least, that's one thing I don't have any control of." Hogan gathered his team. "All right, boys, this is just another routine operation. Newkirk and I will come back in a couple of days. You go to the barracks and prepare the contingent plan just in case. Kinch, contact Beowulf and tell him that we're on our way."

Carter stayed behind with Newkirk and Hogan. Klink was coming out of his house. Spike followed him, laughing at every stupid joke.

"Does Klink look weird to you too?" Carter frowned.

"I'd say he's drunk... or drugged." Hogan stared at Spike. That man had a secret and for some reason, Newkirk seemed to be sharing it with him.

"It's all right, as long as we get to Nuremberg." Newkirk shrugged.

"Who's there? Your girlfriend?" Carter chuckled.

Hogan got closer to Carter. "Kinch and you are in charge. If you don't hear from us in the next forty-eight hours, you'll have to assume that something went wrong. He knows what to do from there." Hogan hated those speeches as much as his men did. However, he needed to know that they would be prepared for the worst case scenario and act accordingly. Above all, he needed to believe that, no matter what, they would be all right.

Carter saluted. "Yes, sir. Everything is under control here." He turned to Newkirk. "Hey, listen, I'm sorry I was crossed. I understand. You don't have to tell me-"

"Look, Carter... I did try but... well... I'll tell you everything when we come back, all right?" He punched him on the arm. "Just wish us good luck."

"Good luck," Carter said obligingly.

Schultz came with three heavy suitcases. Carter put them on the roof of the car and Newkirk got the cord to tie them up. The knots loosened unexpectedly and the bags fell down, missing the corporal by inches.

Hogan pulled him back and out of the way. "Are you okay?"

"As expected, thank you sir." Newkirk rolled his eyes. "Not a break from back luck."

Schultz shook his head but did not say anything. Carter grabbed Newkirk's arm.

"Good luck; and I really mean it this time," he smiled.

()o()o()

Hogan and Newkirk took the back seat. Spike sat in the middle and insisted on keeping the curtains closed all the time. The colonel did not like this man at all. But he seemed strangely close to Newkirk. Hogan could not wait to be alone with his man and hear all about it. Schultz did not seem too keen either. He stared at Spike with fear and wariness. He too seemed to be sharing a secret with Newkirk and Hogan for once felt like the third wheel in the group.

Klink did not stop talking about his years in the Academy and Spike seemed to have been a good part of them. Newkirk just glared at vampire once in a while and then, he pretended to sleep. In his head, he was still figuring out where to go from wherever they were going... what to look for and where to find it in that big city.

He had to think about Hogan and Schultz... and Klink too. If he allowed the witch to get too close, they might get hurt.

()o()o()

The address they had from the underground was a beautiful manor in the countryside, surrounded by woods and gardens. The closest neighbor was at least 1 kilometer away. Hogan wished they were on holiday. The place was set against amazing landscapes and the atmosphere was quiet and relaxing.

Newkirk was so nervous that he could barely enjoy all the delights. Spike did no leave him alone and Hogan stared at them suspiciously. Schultz was more concerned about Newkirk than about Klink, and Mr. Jones was still in the trunk.

"Blimey!" Newkirk said, while waiting anxiously for Schultz to get Klink away from the car. He and Hogan turned immediately to open the trunk lid. "Are you all right, Gov'nor?"

"Here, let me help you out," Hogan said, offering his hand.

Mr. Jones was still young and flexible, but after two hours squeezed inside a trunk, he was less than happy. He flattened his suit and put on his glasses. "So, this is the place?"

Hogan looked around and sighed. "Apparently, yes. Now, Mr. Jones, you'll introduce yourself to Colonel Klink as a staff member. Don't give many details and stay away from him." He turned to Newkirk. "Who is Schultz working for now?" he asked, staring at the sergeant and Klink.

"Colonel, don't pay much attention to him, I'll take care of everything." Newkirk tried to sound in control.

"How about that man, Spike? I don't trust him."

"Me neither, but I'll take-"

"-care of everything. You said that already." Hogan looked at him seriously. "I don't feel like I should trust you too much either, Newkirk. I'd like to know why."

"Don't be sorry about that, sir. Believe me, I'll find the way to explain everything when all this is over." He sighed.

"It'll have to be sooner than that, corporal," said Hogan in a serious tone, "and don't worry, I'll find the way." He looked around. "Now, do you see our contact anywhere?"

"Maybe that little lady knows something," Mr. Jones said.

Hogan turned as a white haired woman walked towards them. She looked in her early seventies, and was dressed in an elegant black dress and a fur coat. She smiled at them. "Papa Bear, I suppose. I'm Beowulf."

"You are our man in Nuremberg?" Newkirk smiled.

Hogan was perplexed. "I must confess we were expecting someone taller."

"I suppose I'm a big surprise." She turned to Newkirk. "Are you the thief?"

Hogan laughed. Newkirk looked down at the lady and smiled gently. "Now I'm a corporal."

"I know we haven't met before but, you look so familiar," she told him. Then, she smiled at Hogan. "I haven't give you my name, have I? I'm Countess Elizabeth von Krauser."

"Colonel Robert Hogan, and this is Corporal Newkirk." Hogan bowed. "That one with the monocle over there, is Colonel Klink and the gentle bear is Sergeant Schultz." He called Mr. Jones. "This is the third man I talked to you about. Mr. Jones, Countess von Krauser."

"Our man in Nuremberg," Newkirk added.

"We need a side job for him," said Hogan.

"Certainly, you'll be my lawyer, Herr Schmidt" she said. "You live in the castle and your office is in the east wing."

"Oh, my, this is really exciting." Mr. Jones could not stop smiling.

"Colonel? Who's that young officer with the kommandant?" Countess Elizabeth asked warily.

"Hard to tell." Hogan grimaced. "He says he's on our side, but he could also be a double agent for all I know."

"I'll keep that in mind." The lady nodded.

The introductions took several minutes. Colonel Klink was still in an euphoric mood and approved of everything he saw. As they were entering the house, Hogan noticed that Spike had remained behind, not moving to cross the threshold.

"Aren't you coming too?" he asked him.

"I haven't been invited." Spike shrugged.

"Colonel Hogan, he won't come in without an invitation," explained Newkirk.

Schultz turned to him with frightened eyes. If he had suspected Spike, now it was official. "He's a vampire, isn't he?" he whispered to Newkirk.

"Well, yeah," he sighed. "But don't tell anyone yet."

Hogan frowned at the sudden politeness, but he had to understand that European rules vary from one place to another. He told the countess and she, after a wondering look, invited Spike inside.

"My butler will show you to your rooms," the countess said. "Dinner is in an hour."

Hogan tossed his bag in his room and went down the hallway to see Newkirk. This time, he would shake some sense out of his corporal. He knocked on his door several times but there was no answer.

"Newkirk?"

"Maybe he can't hear you," Schultz said resignedly.

Hogan turned to see the sergeant coming from Klink's room. The colonel had known this man long enough to see that there was some heavy secret on his shoulders. No one better than Hogan to relieve him from it.

"Schultz, we need to talk."

()o()o()

Newkirk was lying on his back, staring at the ceiling. The bed was soft, the sheets were clean and he had a private bathroom with running water. He could not remember so much luxury in his life. Under other circumstances, he would have enjoyed every single minute of it.

The door opened with a bang and a raging Hogan came in. "Peter Newkirk! What's all that about you being deaf?"

Newkirk sat up on the bed and turned to Schultz, who was right behind Hogan.

"Don't look at him, look at me!" Hogan stepped in front. "Speak up!"

"Well... I... it's a long story, sir," he stammered.

"A witch cast a spell so you can't open safe boxes?" Hogan crossed his arms over his chest.

"It's not that long if you summarize it, innit?" Newkirk tried to smile.

Hogan raised an eyebrow. He shook his head in disbelief. "I've been more than patient with you. I've been giving you time to heal and figure things out. I know that getting shot is rather traumatic. It's hard to get back on the saddle..." his voice trembled with anger. "But this is ridiculous!"

"What? Colonel, you can't believe that I'm making this up! I can't hear a bloody thing! Really!" Newkirk could feel that he was yelling at his colonel. He tried to calm down. "Look, I'm sorry. I know that I've been very difficult after the shooting... That was very unexpected and really shook the ground under me feet. But the good news is that I'm doing much better on that matter."

"So?" Hogan began to calm down himself. "What's this tale about witches and vampires?"

"It's not a tale," Newkirk sighed. "I saw her, she's mean. I'm not supposed to open that ruddy box, wherever it might be."

"Why?"

"Because-"

"Because Koshchei's soul is in it and it's very dangerous," Schultz intervened. He had been quietly standing next to the door. He straightened up when Hogan turned to see him. "Colonel Hogan, please, listen to him. This is serious."

Hogan took a deep breath before looking at Newkirk one more time. "Have you tried not being... deaf?"

Newkirk chuckled tiredly. "Oh, sir, if only it were that easy."

Hogan nodded. "So, that Spike is a vampire? How do you know? Only because he told you so?"

"Well, yeah, and because he's the one behind the murders and disappearances in Hammelburg," he said. "And because I can hear him... The spell doesn't work with dead people."

"Oh, come on, Newkirk. This is beyond-"

Newkirk stood up as fast as his sore body allowed him. "You want solid proof? How about this?" He lifted up his shirt and showed him the bruises and lacerations in his chest. He turned around. "I can't see them, but I know they go all the way around to me back, right?"

Hogan was enraged. "But when did it happen? Who did this?"

"Not who, what... It came to me bed last night. We wrestled in my dreams... I thought it was all in me head but this morning, I woke up with this." He sat down on the bed. He saw Schultz by the door, still in shock. Hogan was no less confused. "Sir, I might be going barmy here, and doing this rubbish to meself, but then, how do you explain Klink and all the other coincidences?... We just got to Nuremberg without any problem... more or less."

"And this Spike, who is he?" Hogan's head spun with so much unbelievable information. "Can we trust him?"

"Not at all. He has his own agenda." Newkirk shrugged. "On the bright side, I think he needs me alive."

Hogan began to pace around. He always thought better when pacing around. Schultz smiled a little. Having the colonel taking control of the situation made him feel so much better.

"Let's see... We have a witch, a vampire, a magic weapon... Klink is acting like he had one Happy Hour too many and Beowulf, our man in Nuremberg, is a little old lady..." He shook his head. "You've been tortured in your dreams, and I'm going crazy with a good reason." He rubbed his temple with two fingers.

"That's an interesting way to put it, sir." Newkirk smiled.

"And why didn't you tell me this before?" Hogan frowned.

"I didn't know where to start." He rubbed the back of his neck. "These people have been playing a number with me head."

Schultz felt compelled to intervene. "In Newkirk's defense, Colonel. What would you have done if he had told you that story in the camp?"

Hogan nodded and grinned. "I probably would've made Wilson sedate him till Christmas."

"What should we do now?" Newkirk asked.

"We'll stay put. Let's see what we can learn about the situation." He clapped Newkirk's shoulder. "I can't say that I completely believe you but I can't overlook those bruises and marks. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. We'll work the mission and go back to camp." Hogan gave him a reassuring smile. "We'll stay together from now on, all right?"

"I agree!" Schultz said with a smile of relief.

Hogan and Newkirk smiled. "Thank you sir, and," said Newkirk in a pleading tone, "for the record, I wouldn't mind being sedated when this whole thing is over."

tbc

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