Chapter 12:
Walters paced around barracks seven, where no one ever really hung out unless it was bedtime for the prisoners that resided there. He wanted some peace and quiet to mull over his plans for killing Hogan.
"That man has gotta go. He's a threat to my commanding status and has brainwashed all these men in not seeing who the real commanding officer is here." Walters muttered to himself. He continued pacing and grumbling to himself. At one point, he hit the barracks wall with his fist by how much the thought of Hogan angered him. How he wish he could just strangle the man the next time he saw him walk by. He had to keep under control, though. He wanted to see the man suffer. Cry out in pain, begging to die faster. Walters gave a twisted smile just thinking of the moment he'd shoot Hogan and waited for him to slowly die. It would always be a bonus to see his men watch him die, particularly Carter. Once Hogan was gone, he could no longer protect his men from danger, and that's when Walters would swoop in and begin his plan of making the prisoners his slaves.
Newkirk, LeBeau, Kinch, and Carter were all tossing a football around and talking with one another. Hogan had gone inside the barracks to read a book and relax in his room.
LeBeau had the ball and tossed it towards Newkirk. The little Frenchman's aim was way off and the ball went over Newkirk's head and over to where barracks seven was, which was about a few yards away from where they were.
"Oh, nice going, Louis! Now who's gonna go and get that?" Newkirk moaned, glaring at his friend.
"Sorry, Pierre. It must have slipped out of my hands," LeBeau said, innocent.
"And ya must have left your throwing arm back in the barracks, too." Kinch teased.
LeBeau turned to the sergeant and gave a smug look.
"Haha, very funny," he said, irritated.
"I'll get it, guys," Carter said, smiling and eager. The young sergeant started running off towards barracks seven.
"Hurry up with it, will ya, Andrew? Before the bloody war ends!" Newkirk called out.
Carter eventually reached barracks seven and scanned around for the football. He found it in front of the door. He walked over and picked it up in his arms. He was about to leave and go back to his friends, when he heard someone talking. Carter's ears perked up and grew curious. It sounded like Walters. He did not like eavesdropping, but since Walters was a threat to his friends and Hogan, he let this one incident slide.
Carter hid behind the opposite end of the barracks and leaned over slightly with his ear. He was careful to make sure no one saw him. He began listening to Walters, who was on the opposite side.
"I'm sick and tired of that man acting like he's in charge. He's cocky. Arrogant. A pig. A bloodsucking tick." Walters snarled.
Carter felt his blood boil hearing what Walters was calling his favorite commanding officer and best friend. Hogan was none of those things. He was nice. Kind. Clever. Funny. A whole list of things, but it was none of what Walters was saying. He shoved his anger down and continued listening in fine detail.
"No, he dies. That son of a gun dies and soon! I'll enjoy every minute he's crying out in pain and slowly reaching his death. And those bird brained men of his will never see it coming." Walters started cackling to himself.
Carter gasped and ran off from where he was. He had to get to Hogan and now! His life was on the line. Once he got back to his friends, he threw the football over to Newkirk, who caught it, and continued running towards barracks two like no tomorrow.
"Andrew! What about the game?" Newkirk called out.
He, Kinch, and LeBeau all turned to each other concerned and started heading off towards their friend.
Carter finally reached barracks two and yanked the door open. He immediately made a run for Hogan's room and did not wait to knock and hear permission to enter. He opened the door and ran in finding Hogan on the lower bunk reading a book and feeling relaxed. He was on his side propping his head up with his arm with his legs crossed. He looked up hearing the door open and shot up on his feet. He hurried to Carter, who was wheezing from being out of breath from running so fast.
"Carter, are you alright?" Hogan asked, worried. He put a gentle hand on Carter's shoulder.
Carter did not answer and continued trying to get his breathing under control.
Kinch, LeBeau, and Newkirk soon entered inside Hogan's room and spotted Carter wheezing and had a fist over his chest.
"Mate, what the bloody hell happened? You left to get the football just fine, and ya come back running like a bleedin' fire was chasing ya," Newkirk exclaimed.
Carter had slowed his breathing, but was still wheezing.
"Colonel...trouble...Walters…" Carter gasped.
Hogan's eyebrows shot up and looked at Carter worried.
"What about Walters?" He asked.
Carter had finally caught his breath and was now fighting back from panicking.
"He...wants to kill you, Colonel. I don't know when, and I don't know how, but I heard him. He wants to watch you die slow and painful." He quivered.
"Filthy bosche," LeBeau said, angry.
"Oh, Colonel, I knew this would happen! I knew it!" Carter cried. He was about to start weeping, when Hogan shook him firmly.
"Carter, listen to me. I'm not gonna die. Walters isn't gonna kill me, I won't allow it to happen," he said, firm.
"But, we don't know what he's planning on doing. Where he's doing it, when he's doing it." Carter quivered.
"Then we'll be prepared at all costs," Kinch said softly.
"Kinch, go down into the tunnels and bring back five pistols. Have 'em fully loaded. All five of us will keep one on us until we can figure out how to get rid of Walters," Hogan ordered.
"Right, Colonel," Kinch said, and hurried to the fake bunk.
Newkirk snarled and crossed his arms.
"I say we kill him and stop worrying about the darn thing!" Newkirk hissed.
"No one hurts mon Colonel! I say we-" LeBeau made a slicing motion with his hand across his throat and made a noise while doing it.
"We're not killing him," Hogan barked softly. "I promise we'll punish him, but we will do it being humane, understood?"
Newkirk and LeBeau sighed sadly.
"Yes, Colonel," both said solemnly.
Hogan looked at Carter, who had tears coming down his cheeks.
"Colonel, don't die...please don't die," he whimpered.
Hogan looked at Carter smiling softly.
"I won't die, Carter. I'm gonna be just fine. We're gonna get rid of Walters, and you'll never have to worry about him again," he said kindly.
Carter wiped his eyes and sighed.
"Boy, I'm nothing but a big crybaby, aren't I?"
"Are yah kidding me, Andrew? I'd probably cry, if I were going through the same thing," Newkirk said.
"Moi aussi," LeBeau said, nodding.
Kinch came back with pistols and handed each one of his friends one. They all put them inside their jackets and hid them there from being found.
"What do we do next, Colonel?" LeBeau asked, worried.
"Sir, this man means business." Newkirk added in, concerned.
"I don't like where this guy's going, Colonel. I have a feeling killing you off isn't the only thing on his agenda," Kinch said.
"I know where this guy's going. I've seen it quite a few times. He wants power and control. He wants to kill me, so you guys don't have anyone to protect you from him any longer. After he succeeds with that, he'll want to make all of you his servants and take control as Senior POW Officer of Stalag 13. And knowing Klink, he'll be too afraid to stop anything. If Burkhalter's enough to scare him, Walters without a doubt will have him shaking in his boots," Hogan said, wrapping his arms around himself.
"We gotta get rid of him, Gov'nor," Newkirk said.
"I think our best bet is to try and convince Klink that Walters needs to be transferred to a medical unit for psychological ailment." Kinch replied.
"I think that, too, Kinch," Hogan said. "It'll take some work, but it's do-able."
"What do we do, Colonel?" Carter asked, ready to help.
"First, we have to plan a scene at the right moment. Klink needs to see that Walters is not in the right mindset and does things out of context. Newkirk, I'm leaving you and LeBeau up to thinking of a scenario in how Klink can see Walters is mentally ill," Hogan ordered.
"Oui, Colonel," LeBeau said.
"We'll get her done, sir," Newkirk said.
"Kinch, I want you to go down and monitor the radio for London to call us. I want that information on Walters ASAP," Hogan said.
"No problem, Colonel," Kinch said.
"What about me, Colonel?" Carter asked.
Hogan gave a small smile.
"Why don't you help Newkirk and LeBeau think of something?" He suggested friendly.
"Sure thing, Colonel," Carter said, smiling.
Hogan smiled and nodded.
"You're all dismissed," he said.
Kinch made his way to the radio, and LeBeau, Newkirk, and Carter all sat down at the table and began to think of what to have set up for Walters in order to convince Klink that he was mentally ill.
"Alright, mates. How do we go about in doing this?" Newkirk asked, rubbing his hands together.
"Why don't we make Walters angry somehow about something? Klink could see how irrational he gets and would want him to be transferred immediately," LeBeau suggested.
"It's a good start, Louis, but it might be a bit dangerous. We still don't know how bad this guy is." Newkirk answered.
Carter shifted a bit in his seat, then went back to giving Newkirk and LeBeau his attention.
LeBeau noticed Carter looking a tad uncomfortable now.
"What is it, André?"
"Nothing," Carter sighed. "Just can't ever get used to talking about him without worrying, you know?"
"It's completely acceptable, Andrew. Especially after what that Yank did to you...whatever that may be," Newkirk said, with sympathy.
"Yeah...I'm sorry, guys. I'm just not ready to talk about it is all," Carter said, fidgeting with his thumbs.
"That's alright, mate. You just let us know when you're ready. We'll be here."
Carter smiled small at Newkirk. Although they argued quite a bit, Carter was lucky to have him for a best friend. Newkirk was loyal to the very end and knew that very well.
The fake bunk opened, and Kinch climbed out of the tunnels, then closed the entrance. He was holding a slip of paper in his hand.
"The Colonel still in his quarters?" Kinch asked.
"Yeah, why," Newkirk remarked, curious.
"Got information on Walters from London not too long ago." Kinch turned to look at Carter. "Carter, you wanna join?"
"Sure, Kinch," the young man answered.
The two sergeants walked over to Hogan's room, where the radio man knocked gently on Hogan's door.
"Come in," Hogan's voice said friendly.
Kinch opened the door and allowed himself and Carter to enter in. They found Hogan lying in his bed reading a book. The commanding officer sat up and put on his cap. He looked at his men with his full attention.
"What's going on, guys?" Hogan asked.
"Got the information from London you wanted, Colonel," Kinch said, handing Hogan the slip of paper.
The colonel took it gratefully and read through it.
"Hospitalization in 1935 due to an emotional breakdown, tested for psychological drawbacks during high school showing up as negative, has one account of stealing a book from a store back where he lives in Cranston, Rhode Island," Hogan said.
"Besides the two medical factors, nothing sounds too severe, Colonel," Kinch said, crossing his arms.
Hogan turned to look at Carter. The young sergeant looked at his commanding officer and shook his head 'no'. The colonel nodded and looked back at Kinch.
"Kinch, there's some things about Walters you don't know yet. And when Carter here's ready to tell you, then I will let you know what I mean." Hogan answered, wrapping his arms around himself.
Kinch nodded.
"Got it, Colonel. Whenever Carter's ready, I'll be here to listen," he said.
Hogan nodded.
"What do we do about him, Colonel?" Carter asked.
"Did you, Newkirk, and LeBeau think of an idea on how to get Klink convinced yet?" Hogan questioned.
"No, sir. It's been a lot harder than we thought it would be." Carter answered.
"That's what I was afraid of," Hogan said. He sighed and looked back again at his men. "For now, let's just observe him. Watch what he does on an average day. Maybe it'll help us figure out what to set up for him."
"You think it'll work, Colonel?" Kinch asked.
"I don't know. I couldn't tell you at the moment, Kinch." Hogan answered softly.
Carter let out a ragged breath of air.
"It'll be alright, Carter. We'll get rid of Walters before you know it," Kinch said, smiling. He patted the sergeant's shoulder gently.
"I can't seem to get myself to believe that, Kinch," Carter sadly said. "I wanna believe you guys, I really do...but I can't...I don't know why."
"You've been having that feeling for quite a while there, Carter," Hogan said, starting to worry.
"Maybe it's just nothing. I'm just putting myself in a worry for nothing."
"This doesn't seem like nothing, Carter. I know you. You get anxious sometimes, but never have you been afraid and worried about something like this for so long. I wonder if what you're feeling is true."
"What's true?"
"Whether something bad's gonna happen before something good happens." Hogan started pacing his room and made his way back to his men. He looked them in the eye and had concern within his. "What if you're right, Carter? What if it's only gonna get worse before things get better?"