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What's in a Name
Chapter 20
Safecracker Suite: The Prequel
Maddock's talk with Helga that morning worried him. For once, Klink had not confided in his secretary. All she could tell the sergeant was that a representative from Speer's ministry was touring camps, that he had accidentally shown up in Hamelburg, and that his unintentional visit had gone well. He had no choice but to ask Newkirk to break into Klink's office. "Get in, break into the safe, grab the document, and get out," Maddock ordered.
"Will do, Sergeant," Newkirk answered. "I had a look at the safe the first time I was in the office. Shouldn't take me more than a few minutes to get it open. Wish we had a camera. Then I wouldn't have to bring it back. Two trips to Klink's office in one night are a bit much."
"And where would we get it developed?" LeBeau poked his friend on the arm. "It's not like we can waltz into town and take it to the local pharmacy or photo shop."
"Maybe those French contacts working with Oskar's cell can get us a camera and someone to help develop the film. But for now, let's see what Klink put in that safe. I hope they're not planning on taking over the camp," Maddock said.
"I'm ready." Newkirk said. He and LeBeau, who would act as a look-out, headed for the door. The men in the barracks wished the two of them good luck and waited.
Both men were used to sneaking around the compound at all hours, and they were adept at avoiding the guards and the searchlights. On the way to the Kommandantur, they passed a snoozing Schultz and one of the dogs, whose ears perked up as the two prisoners approached. The animal's tail beat out a small rhythm on the dirt as LeBeau reached into his pocket for a treat, which he tossed to the dog.
"Look at that." Newkirk shook his head. "There's a prime example of the fearsome German fighting machine right there." Schultz snorted and the two men froze. "How did he get to be Sergeant of the Guard?"
"It was his war record, from the war to end all wars," LeBeau whispered. "He told me."
The two continued their maneuvers and finally breathed a sigh of relief as they reached the office. There was no guard standing watch on the front porch, an oversight obvious to everyone except the German staff. The only protection against unauthorized nightly break-ins was the guards walking past the front of the building at timed intervals.
This was LeBeau's first time inside the Kommandantur, but he had no time to look around. The two entered Klink's office and went to work.
"Piece of cake," Newkirk muttered as he heard the telltale click of the tumblers. He opened the door, and with the help of his flashlight, he rifled through the contents of the safe. "Found it," he said in a loud whisper.
"Good. Let's get out of here. This is making me nervous." LeBeau could feel his heart racing. Each new clandestine act he performed, and there had been plenty, was frightening. He couldn't deny that. But he fought his fears and moved forward. All the other prisoners expressed similar sentiments. Once they were safely back in the hut, he would experience a rush of adrenalin, and then calm down.
The men carefully retraced their steps and safely headed back into the hut.
"Any problems?" Maddock asked.
"No. But we did find Schultz on a bench, fast asleep. We could have grabbed his rifle. It was propped up next to him." Newkirk handed the sergeant a sheet of paper.
"Good ole Schultz," chuckled one of the residents. "Where would we be without him?"
Maddock glanced at the paper, "Hmm. On official looking letterhead. Looks like orders." He handed it back to Newkirk who read it over.
Newkirk grinned. "Good news. They're not looking to shut down these camps and take them over. And now the bad news. They may be having high-level conferences and meetings at POW camps, and they are planning on using camps to store or demonstrate new weapon systems. See, we won't bomb the camps, so they figure this is a safe place."
"That's got to be a direct violation of the Geneva Convention," LeBeau said after everyone calmed down.
"Well, I can't go complaining to Klink about this. Not until it happens," Maddock said in disgust. "Thanks, Newkirk. Take the letter back."
Newkirk and LeBeau successfully broke back into Klink's office and returned the orders to the safe. They were almost home free, when a large man pointing a rifle straight at them blocked their path. They both froze like deer caught in the headlights, and for once, neither had a ready quip on the tip of their tongue.
"What are you doing out here?" Schultz asked in that plaintive whine the prisoners found somewhat endearing. He lowered his rifle as he waited for an answer.
"Would you believe sleepwalking?" Newkirk replied.
"Both of you? Nein." Schultz shook his head and pointed the rifle at the two. Newkirk and LeBeau raised their hands.
"Fresh air," LeBeau blurted out. "It's a nice night, and you know how stuffy the barracks get."
Newkirk nodded. "We're sorry, Schultz. Didn't mean to cause any trouble. We'll go back."
"Halt!" Schultz tilted his head and eyed the two troublemakers suspiciously. "You're trying to escape," he stated.
"Oh, no. We wouldn't do that," LeBeau replied. "Tell you what. Forget this happened and I'll make you something tasty tomorrow, if you get me the ingredients."
"I have to make a report." Before Newkirk and LeBeau could stop him, Schultz blew his whistle several times. This attracted the attention of the other guards in the compound and the guards in the watch towers. The dogs began to bark, and within seconds, Schultz was marching the two miscreants over to Klink's quarters.
In the commotion, barracks doors began to open, and several prisoners filed out of the huts in defiance of the curfew. Meanwhile, Maddock hurried out into the compound.
"Look at the ruckus you caused," Schultz said. "Shame on both of you."
"What is this?" Klink cried as he left his quarters. He was tying the belt to his bathrobe around him as he looked around. Where are my officers? He wondered. All he could see were two prisoners, his Sergeant of the Guard, and groups of other guards and prisoners trailing behind them.
"Schultz, reeepoort!"
"Kommandant, I beg to report I caught these two prisoners outside in the compound. I believe they were trying to escape."
Klink popped his monocle into his left eye and approached Schultz and the two chastened corporals. "Names?" he asked.
"Corporals Newkirk and LeBeau," Schultz replied. "From Barracks Two," he added.
"In my office," Klink ordered. "Sergeant Maddock, you come to my office as well." He took another look at the two prisoners and shook his head at the futility of their attempt. They were still wearing their uniforms. What were they thinking? Well, he thought as he walked back to his quarters to get changed, escape attempts were to be expected. He pondered how it had happened. While Schultz caught the two miscreants before they got too far, Klink was upset that they had slipped out of the hut that Schultz was supposed to be guarding. He vowed to discuss this with him later. Klink yawned. He was sound asleep when he heard the ruckus, and he was not happy about being woken in the middle of the night.
"You are going to be in trouble," Schultz told Newkirk and LeBeau while they waited for the Kommandant to return. Maddock was also waiting with them, but so far, the MOC kept quiet. A quick nod from Newkirk confirmed that the mission was completed, so other than a possible sentence in the cooler, no harm was done.
"We're sorry," LeBeau answered. "Didn't mean to wake the Kommandant. You would think his staff officers would handle these things, wouldn't you?"
"Good point," Schultz grumbled. "I have no idea where they are, but I'm sure the Kommandant is very angry. You woke him up."
"You know, Schultz. You could be in trouble as well. After all, you weren't looking when we left the hut. In fact, I bet you were sleeping."
"Newkirk has a point there, Schultz," Maddock said.
"I...uh..." Schultz's mouth closed as the Kommandant entered the office.
"Well, gentlemen. No one escapes from Stalag 13...6. Luft Stalag 13. You know what I mean. Do you have anything to say?"
Newkirk stepped forward. "Yes, sir. First, this was just me and LeBeau. It was our idea. Sergeant Maddock didn't know anything about it. We were going to make a break for the fence and snip the wire with these." Newkirk removed the wire clipper Maddock had slipped him. "We found them by the delousing hut. A guard must have dropped them."
Klink grabbed the clippers. "Schultz, make a note of that. Go on."
"Schultz and his eagle eye. Caught us immediately." Newkirk snapped his fingers.
"I did? Yes, I did. As soon as they left the hut, I was on them riiighht away, Kommandant."
"Good work, Schultz," Klink said, although he didn't seem quite certain of the story. "Sergeant Maddock. This is very serious. Do you know that in some camps, the prisoners are locked in a night? The doors are barred from the outside."
"That seems inhumane, sir. What if there is a fire?" Maddock had heard of this. He prayed that tonight's escapades wouldn't lead to terrible repercussions.
"I agree with you. That is why I never implemented that procedure. As you know, I'm stern but fair. But, I depend on the cooperation of the prisoners."
"You'll continue to have that, Kommandant," Maddock said. "I will have a serious talk with these two as soon as we get back to the barracks." He saluted and made a move towards the door. Newkirk and LeBeau began to follow.
"Not so fast," Klink said.
Maddock, LeBeau and Newkirk turned around.
"Two weeks in the cooler. Schultz, take them away."
The three prisoners looked at each other. Maddock gave a little shrug. He was expecting a month's punishment for LeBeau and Newkirk. Hopefully, Klink would let the two out early if they behaved. He had done the same for the two men who had escaped from the work detail.
"Remember, Sergeant. No one escapes from my camp."
"Yes, sir." This time Maddock's salute was returned.
Klink looked at his watch and shuddered. "I'm sleeping in tomorrow. Someone else can oversee the roll call."
As he left the building he spied Captain Sunderman, the camp engineer, and another officer, finally hurrying over.
"Well, you two. You missed all the excitement."
"Sorry, sir. We were asleep and no one bothered to wake us up."
"No one bothered to wake me up either; but I heard the racket and came out." Klink glared at the two. "You should have been there. The men's punishment could have been doled out after roll call."
Having no reasonable response to what the Kommandant said, they remained silent. "You two can get up in a few hours and run the roll call. I'm sleeping in." Without waiting for a reply, Klink stomped off.
The following afternoon, he had both of the officers transferred out. After all, if they weren't competent enough to handle these middle of the night minor crises, what good were they? It would have been different if the men had escaped the perimeter, but they were caught red-handed inside the camp. The camp was not that large, and it ran smoothly. Schultz was an able enough Sergeant of the Guard, Helga made sure the office was in tip-top shape, and without their salaries, there was more money in the budget to spend on other essentials. If he needed another engineer, he could requisition one from Berlin. The maintenance staff would be able to handle day-to-day issues.
After seeing LeBeau and Newkirk settled into a cell, Schultz contemplated the early morning events. He had searched the two men, and found nothing on them to indicate that an escape was in process. In fact, he couldn't imagine how he had overlooked the wire cutters. They were still in uniform, they had no papers, money or food; no map or handmade compass was in sight. He was beginning to think the entire scenario was suspicious. They had not been sleepwalking, and going out for a bit of fresh air? That was a ludicrous excuse. They weren't escaping, but they were testing the waters; how good was the security at night? That had to be it. Now satisfied, Schultz went back to his quarters, had a snack, and went to sleep.
LeBeau and Newkirk looked around their home for the next two weeks.
"Nice for Schultz to put us together," Newkirk declared. "Blimey, it's cold. I know, don't say it."
"I promised him I'd make him a dinner," LeBeau said.
"Good thinking, mate." Newkirk went over to one of the cots. He gingerly sat down, and then tested the pillow. "I've got cards in one of my pockets."
"That's nice." LeBeau yawned. "I'm actually tired. Hey, you think you could break us out of here?"
Newkirk walked over to the door. He studied it for a moment; then shook his head. "Not this kind of cell. The door is bolted from the outside. There is no mechanism. Now, one of the open cells? That I could do." He looked around the cell and felt along the walls. "The window is too small."
"Let me see." LeBeau peered at the opening. "No bars, I might be able to squeeze through there."
"Don't get any ideas." Newkirk took a look at the sink. He tried the faucet, which spout off a trickle of cold water. "Cold water flat," he chuckled. "Better than the accommodations I had after I was captured."
"That's true." LeBeau frowned as he recalled the bad memories. "I wonder if we're over the main tunnel section? Wouldn't it be great if we could get out of here, if we wanted?
"To do what?" asked Newkirk.
LeBeau shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Use the latrine. Take a shower. Get out in an emergency. Of course, you'd have to be put into the right cell. And then be back for bed check or a meal, or whatever they do to make sure you're here. We should dig a branch tunnel to the cooler."
"Why bother, Louis? We're going to be out of here soon enough. The way things are going, we should be ready to make our escape before winter." Newkirk removed the pack of cards from his pocket. "Gin?"