Chapter 12---A Plan Takes Shape

Sorry chapter 12 took so long to post. Have been overtired and a bit under the weather.

In the morning, the banging on the door by Sergeant Schultz awakened the prisoners. As the grumbling men all slowly started getting up, Schultz opened the barracks door.

"Raus!!! Roll call! All prisoners outside! Mach schnell!"

"All right, all right," Newkirk replied sleepily. "We're schnelling."

"See that you do," Schultz replied, closing the door and leaving the prisoners to get ready.

Hogan emerged from his quarters with his crush cap pushed back on his head and zipping his bomber jacket. He sat down at the table as Newkirk rummaged through his footlocker until he found what he was looking for. Removing the jar of actor's makeup, a small mirror, and a rag, Newkirk sat down beside the Colonel and after tucking a towel around Hogan's shirt collar, applied the actor's makeup carefully to cover up the now highly visible ugly bruises on his throat. After a few minutes....

"Done, sir." Wiping his hands on the rag, Newkirk handed Hogan the mirror. "See for yourself, Colonel. You can't even tell there's anything there."

Hogan examined his throat in the mirror. "Newkirk, you're a genius. You really are. Thanks." Hogan removed the towel from around his collar. "But we'd better get outside before Schultz has kittens."

The rotund guard was about to pound on the door again when it opened and the men began falling out for roll call with Hogan being the last one. He took his place in the formation beside Newkirk. Schultz started counting each prisoner.

"Schuuuuuuuultz! Repooooooooort!" Kommandant Klink bellowed approaching.

Hogan noticed Schultz roll his eyes towards the heavens. The guard muttered something under his breath.

"Something wrong, Schultz?" asked Hogan innocently.

"Oh boy, is there something wrong. The Kommandant is in a bad mood today. An unwanted visitor is coming," Schultz replied in a low voice to Hogan and Newkirk.

"You mean old scramblebrains is coming here?" asked Hogan sweetly.

Schultz leaned forwards towards Hogan. "Colonel Hogan, that is not very nice to refer to the Fuhrer as old scramblebrains." A smile suddenly appeared. "But I like it."

"Schultz! If you're finished conversing with the prisoners, I'd like the count."

Schultz spun around and saluted Klink. "Jawohl, Herr Kommandant. All prisoners present and accounted for."

"Very good. Before you dismiss your prisoners, I have an announcement to make," Klink said. "We are having a visitor arriving this afternoon." He looked at Hogan. "Colonel Hogan, I want you to have your men clean up your barracks for an inspection when our guest arrives."

"Who's coming, Kommandant? " asked Hogan.

Klink approached Hogan. "That's none of your business, Hogan. So don't ask me."

"I'm just curious because whoever it is seems like someone you'd rather not see." Hogan pursed his lips. "Now let's see. That could be old scramblebrains, Hochstetter, Burkhalter...."

"Hogan! Do not refer to our Fuhrer as old scramblebrains."

Hogan faked being apologetic. "Sorry, sir."

"If you must know, Hogan, it's General Metzger."

"Metzger?" Hogan echoed, caught off guard by Klink's response. "He's more of a scramblebrains than that little corporal with the mustache. What's he coming here for?"

"I have no idea. He just announced that he's coming here and will be staying for two weeks. Hogan, what am I going to do?"

Hogan shrugged his shoulders. "Well, for one, you could schedule a two week furlough for yourself."

"I can't do that," Klink responded. "Can't you think of something else?"

"You can always say you've volunteered to go to the Russian Front and leave the minute he arrives."

Klink nodded with a faint smile. "That sounds like a.....HoGAAAANNN!" when it finally struck him what the American officer just said. He shook his fist at the Colonel. "Never mind, Hogan! I'll think of something on my own without your help. Schultz! Dismiss your prisoners!" Saluting, Klink turned and briskly marched in the direction of the Kommandantur.

Schultz looked at the prisoners. "Dissss-misssed!" and started walking away when Hogan grabbed his arm. Newkirk, Kinch, LeBeau and Carter joined them.

"Schultz, what's Metzger coming here for?" asked Hogan. "The last time he was here he caused alot of problems for Klink."

"I know nothing! Noth-ing!"

Hogan, reaching inside his bomber jacket, pulled out two chocolate bars. He looked at them. "Here's one with peanuts. The other has coconut."

Glancing over his shoulder to make sure the coast was clear, Schultz grabbed the candy bars. He turned towards Hogan and his men. "General Metzger is coming here for a two week visit. Something to do with that amunition that was stolen from him a year ago. He's been investigating on his own."

"But what brings him back here, Schultzie?" asked LeBeau.

"I'm not sure. But I heard that he is going to want to question all of you about the missing amunition."

"Okay." Hogan patted Schultz's shoulder. "Thanks Schultz." They all watched the fat guard walk away with his treasures.

"Colonel, Metzger's already made contact with you twice about that so-called amunition," said Kinch. "So why come here?"

Hogan wrapped his arms around himself. "My guess. This is his way to not only keep tabs on me, but to show me how easy it is to get to you fellas."

"Don't worry, Colonel," Kinch said placing a hand on Hogan's shoulder. "Now that we know what he's up to, we'll be on our guard."

Hogan glanced at his team. "When Metzger gets here, I want you guys to be on your guard at all times. I don't trust Metzger as far as I can throw him. Just be careful."

"Oui, mon Colonel," said LeBeau. "Is there any other way to be."

"Just promise us you'll be careful as well, Gov'nor," chimed in Newkirk.

"Any ideas how we're gonna deal with Metzger yet, Colonel?" asked Carter.

"Only one, Carter." Hogan said seriously. "We're gonna have to kill him."

"Kill him, Colonel?" asked Carter, stunned.

"That's what I said, Carter," Hogan replied.

"But that doesn't sound like us, mon Colonel," LeBeau remarked, equally stunned.

"I know," Hogan replied with a sigh. "I don't much like the idea either. But in this case, I'll make an exception."

"Well, I'll say one thing," Newkirk replied lighting a cigarette. "It couldn't happen to a nicer guy."

"Any idea how or when it's gonna be done, Colonel?" asked Kinch.

Hogan let out a deep breath. "I'm not sure yet, Kinch. But it'll have to be soon after he arrives."