Just as Hogan had anticipated, the Kommandant called an early roll call before heading into Hammelburg for his rendezvous with the Düsseldorf informer.
Klink's staff car was already waiting for him. At least, there was a staff car waiting, but it wasn't the good car. That was "under repair", which, roughly translated, meant Hogan was using it tonight. So Klink got the back-up car, the one with the hard suspension.
"Which is only right and proper," Newkirk pointed out, as they stood outside the barracks, waiting to be dismissed. "Why should we be the ones to suffer?"
"Oui, and it's so much more peaceful round here when Klink's off sick," LeBeau added. "One little compressed spinal disc could lay him up for a week. We owe it to ourselves." He uttered this conclusion with an air of self-righteousness which sent a wave of sniggers through the ranks. The only one who didn't smile was Carter.
He'd been very subdued all day. The accident in the lab, and Staller's comments about the matter, had unsettled him. He knew exactly how it had happened, he could even remember taking down the wrong jar from the old dresser where he stored his chemicals. He would make sure it didn't happen again. But he knew Hogan was worried about it, and was still considering letting Mills take over.
Klink kept them waiting for several minutes. "Must have dropped his monocle behind the chest of drawers again," observed Newkirk sourly.
Hogan nodded, with a smirk. "He might have a bit more consideration. We've got a lot to do tonight, he'll put us behind schedule."
Finally the Kommandant emerged from his office, and strode across the compound, calling for Schultz's report.
"All present and accounted for," responded Schultz cheerfully. It was always a good day for him when nothing out of the ordinary occurred at roll call.
"Thank you, Schultz." Klink straightened up, and regarded the prisoners with a smirk. "Now, men, you will have noticed that I am going out of camp this evening."
The men responded with a raucous cheer. Klink shook his head, tilting it to one side, the smile not wavering. "Oh, I'm sure that pleases you. However, I will only be gone for a few hours." Boos and catcalls greeted this news. "I will be transacting some very important - and very secret - military business, which I'm sure you would be most interested to hear about. But you won't."
Bless his little cotton swastika, thought Hogan. Couldn't keep a secret if they sewed his lips together.
"During my absence," Klink went on, "you will be under the eagle-eyed supervision of Sergeant Schultz."
Even Carter had to smile at that. Every other man was almost in hysterics, but the Kommandant chose to disregard their ill-placed hilarity.
"And if he has any report to make to me regarding misdemeanors, punishment will be meted out. So be warned. Dismissed."
Klink turned on his heel and stalked across to the waiting car, with Schultz following in his heels, trying to get ahead to open the door for his Kommandant. It was inevitable that Klink would stop in his tracks to let Schultz past, and equally destined that Schultz would fail to notice. The prisoners, watching the resultant minor catastrophe, set up another cheer.
"Looks like old eagle-eye Schultz could use stronger glasses," remarked Hogan. "Okay, men, let's go. It's starting to rain again. We don't want to catch cold."
He followed his men back into the barracks, and went straight to the tunnel entrance, knowing Newkirk would follow him. Descending to the lower level, he found Staller loitering near the radio room. Even by the dim light of the lamps around the walls, he could tell the major was not happy.
"Trouble, Staller?" he asked.
"Thought I heard some noises," replied Staller. He seemed a little agitated. "Sounded like something falling down, somewhere near my quarters. You sure that blast yesterday didn't shake anything loose?"
Newkirk, jumping down from the second last rung, laughed. "You don't want to be nervous about noises down here, Major," he said cheerfully. "There's always noises. It'll just be the soil settling, or the timbers, or an echo from some other part of the tunnels. Or it might be rats. We get a few down here. It's warmer than the barracks, you know."
"Okay, Newkirk, that'll do," said Hogan. "Go and get ready, and don't take too long about it. Then you can go and pick up the car, and meet us on the road."
He turned back to Staller. "Newkirk's right. You hear all kinds of things in the tunnels. Doesn't mean it's going to collapse. The guys gave it all a thorough inspection last night, they'd know if there was a problem."
He looked over his shoulder. Kinch had just arrived at the foot of the ladder. He glanced at Staller, then went to the radio.
Another dim figure descending from above proved to be Carter, coming down with his usual graceless haste. He reddened at sight of Staller, and looked away.
"Just going to fix up those smoke bombs, Colonel," he mumbled.
Staller gave a half-suppressed snort, and Hogan turned swiftly to glare at him. "You got something caught in your throat, Major?" he asked, before he could stop himself.
"No, sir, just something I was thinking. Probably nothing you want to hear," said Staller, meeting Hogan's eyes without flinching. "You seem convinced Carter's fit for duty. I've got my own opinion about whether he's fit for any useful purpose. But I'm sure you know best."
The silence that followed almost crackled with tension. Kinch's hands clenched instinctively, as he calculated how many steps he would need to take to get within punching distance. Carter drew back slightly, the color draining from his face. Staller had spoken plainly enough the night before, in the heat of the moment. But this was cold.
"Thank you for your candor, Major," said Hogan, as calmly as if they'd been discussing the weather forecast. "Carter, go and start work. I want those bombs ready by the time I get back."
After a few seconds, Carter took a deep breath. "Yes, sir," he murmured, and moved off towards the lab. He stopped where the tunnel branched off. "I won't let you down this time, Colonel," he said, before he went out of sight.
"Staller, that was unacceptable," said Hogan, still in the same even tone. "In future, as long as you're under my orders, if you have concerns about one of my men - any of my men - you bring them to me privately, rather than airing them in public. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir," muttered Staller.
"Good. You can wait in your quarters till I come for you. Dismissed, Major." Hogan moved away, picking up the notebook from the radio desk and studying the message scrawled on the open page. Staller hesitated, then turned and left.
"Man, he is something else," said Kinch softly.
Hogan didn't comment. He'd have more to say to Staller at some stage, but no good purpose would be served by tearing a strip off the major in the presence of a subordinate. Nor was there any benefit to be had from engaging in any kind of discussion just before setting out on a mission.
"I don't expect to be late getting back, Kinch," said Hogan at last. "Keep an eye on Carter, but don't make too much of it. Let him do his work."
"Colonel," Kinch began, "you don't think maybe...I mean, he's probably a little off-balance after last night. Perhaps it would be smarter to let someone else handle it."
He half-expected to receive the same response as Staller had, but Hogan had regained his balance. "You heard what he said, Kinch. He'll get the job done. Let him have this one."
Kinch nodded. "Okay. Take care out there."
Whatever anger Hogan was still carrying, he managed to get it under control by the time he'd changed into civilian clothes and made his way to Staller's temporary quarters. The major appeared to have done some damage control on his own part.
"Colonel, I was out of line just now," he said, as soon as Hogan appeared. "I had no right to say what I did, and I owe Carter an apology."
That was unexpected, and cut the ground very neatly from under Hogan's feet. He didn't let it show, but it added a few unreasonable degrees to his vexation. "I think you'd better let it go. You've already said enough," he replied curtly.
Staller sighed. "Look, I know I overstepped the mark. But please, for the sake of your whole operation here, at least think about whether the best man to have making explosives is the one who may have been suicidal, not so long ago."
Hogan became very still. "Staller, you're on very thin ice right now," he said softly. "I suggest you be very careful where you step." He held Staller's gaze for several seconds, until the major flushed and looked away. "We'd better get going. We're already running late."
He headed off towards the emergency exit, leaving Staller to follow. For now, with the night's mission already under way, there was nothing more he was prepared to say about the matter. But Staller's gall in raising the matter was almost beyond belief.
Carter wasn't a danger to himself, not in that way, not now. But if he ever had been - and Hogan had reason to believe it - Staller was at least in part responsible.