"Hey, what's going on in there!"
"Yeah, where is the rest of the results!"
"We want results! We want results!" someone started, and soon a whole crowd outside Klink's office was cheering along, demanding to hear the results of their beloved Papa Bear Awards. "WE WANT RESULTS! WE WANT RESULTS! WE WANT RESULTS!"
"Well, Klink..." Hochstetter sneered. "You are the Kommandant around here, I believe? What are you going to do about this... insubordination?"
Klink wrung his hands. "Yes. Well. It seems the men have not been able to find Sergeant Baker yet. And..."
"Could it be, perhaps... that he escaped?"
"Oh no, major," Klink assured him. "No one ever escapes from Stalag 13."
"Yes, I know. Well, then where is this Sergeant Baker?"
"Don't worry, major. We will find him." Klink turned to Newkirk, who was chatting up the two girls. "Corporal Newkirk, why haven't you joined in the search for Sergeant Baker?"
Newkirk grinned. "Well, someone's got to keep an eye on these two birds, sir. Can't leave them helpless in the presence of three such forceful Germans now, can I."
"I assure you the girls are perfectly safe with me," Klink scoffed.
Hochstetter smirked. "I agree. And they would be totally not safe with me. And since you are only a prisoner, you have no say in the matter - has he now, Klink?"
Klink's head bobbed up and down. "Oh no, major. Totally not safe."
"Right, therefore, you and the Engländer will go outside now and get those chanting ruffians to shut up. While I..." Hochstetter patted his stomach, "Will look after our two lovely 'birds' here."
"But...!" Newkirk started to protest.
But Schultz interrupted him. He had gone outside to try and calm down the 'ruffians' on his own, but found it was no use. "Kommandant," he panted. "They'll soon start eating each other out there. We have to do something. Give them something!"
"How about a firing squad?" Hochstetter suggested.
"How about the results of the next category?" was Klink's infinitely more sensible suggestion.
"But the speaker system isn't working!" Newkirk protested.
"So - we'll simply announce it once they are quiet enough. Do we have the next batch of results yet?"
"Yes. Here it is." Newkirk picked up the paper LeBeau had delivered shortly before.
"Right. Now you go out there, get those men quiet and announce the next results. That will keep them under control for a while. A little while at least."
Newkirk sighed, and gave the girls an apologetic glance. But he trudged dutifully outside, and started to shout over the ruckus.
"You got some more results?" O'Brien bellowed in the first row.
"Yep. If you guys just calm down, I'll..."
"We don't want you - we want the girl to announce them!" Goldman yelled from further back. "Where is the girl?"
"We want the girl!" someone started, and immediately the new chorus took over. "WE WANT THE GIRL! WE WANT THE GIRL! WE WANT THE GIRL!"
"You call this crowd control?" Hochstetter inquired with Klink.
"Oh, for heaven's sake..." Newkirk came back in and took Meghan by the hand. "Come on. You tell'em."
"But...!"
But they were already outside, and the moment the men saw the female shape on the porch, they started whistling - and then quieted down.
"Does she have some more results?" Harper yelled.
"Yes." Newkirk glowered at his barracks mate. "Now if you lot just keep your mouth shut, she'll have a chance of telling you the results for the Challenge Category."
Meghan gulped, and looked at the little blue note.
BEST STORY BASED ON A CHALLENGE
.
Gold:
LOOPY
by Belphegor
.
Silver:
Fruits and Nuts
by Goldleaf83
and
Simple Rules
by dust on the wind
.
Bronze:
Make Peace
by Crystal Rose of Pollux
and
The Smell of Disaster
by Fear-Of-The-Cold
And there was cheering all around.