I was ready to spill the beans, but it didn't look like I'd get the chance. The rain had gotten worse again while I was down below, and the guards who should have been patrolling around the camp were nowhere to be seen. It's a lousy state of affairs when you can't even rely on the goons to do their job properly.

There was no way out of it. I'd have to run over to the Kommandant's office myself, even if I got soaked through again and ended up with pleurisy. I would have done it, too, but just as I was about to go, the guys came back from the mess hall. So that was a bust.

It didn't stop raining until about four o'clock in the afternoon. With the whole barracks stuck indoors, even if one of the guards came along I wouldn't get a chance to talk to him without everyone knowing all about it. As for trying to get to the Kommandant, that was a lost cause, or so I thought.

Just when I thought I'd had it, things started happening. First, Newkirk appeared, and went into a huddle with some of the others. Kinchloe popped up, said a few words, and went down again. And outside, the dog handler's van came through the gate.

They all seemed pretty distracted, so I edged my way to the door and slid outside. Right on cue, there was the big Kraut, Schultz, coming towards the barracks. He practically pounced on me. "You, there. The Kommandant sent me to fetch one of the prisoners. The porch outside his office is very muddy after all the rain, he wants it swept clean."

I couldn't believe my luck. "Sure thing, Schultz," I said. "I'll just get a broom and I'll be right over."

"You will have to use a mop and bucket," Schultz called after me as I went back inside. I didn't waste any time, I just grabbed what I would need and got out again before anyone could stop me.

The dog truck had stopped beside the kennels, and the handler started moving the dogs into the pen. He was taking his time about it, probably to give the prisoners more time to get Turquoise across the yard. That suited me, too. The more time I had to convince Klink I was on the level, the better.

They were probably watching me from the barracks, so I made sure to fill up the bucket with water and started mopping round the edges. I'd figured to wait till the guys came out of the barracks with the old lady, and then while they were busy getting her to the truck I could duck inside and tip off the Kommandant. But I hadn't planned on what happened next.

The litter patrol came out, right on schedule. They'd almost gotten to the dog pen when another vehicle turned up. The driver hardly waited for the gate to be open before he came barrelling through, right up to the office, and the Kraut officer in the back seat jumped out before the car had stopped, raced up the steps and barged right into me.

I knew who he was. We all know him. He's Gestapo, and he's a real piece of work.

Klink must have seen him out of the window, because he came running. "Major Hochstetter, what a pleasant surprise…"

"I very much doubt it, Herr Kommandant." Hochstetter gave him a real dirty look. "I am on the trail of a traitor, someone who has been actively working against the Third Reich from within one of our own government departments."

"Disgraceful! I can't imagine what Germany is coming to." Klink waved his hands around, and almost smacked me right in the face. I had to step back real fast. "And you think this man is somewhere near Stalag 13?"

"Not only near, but inside. I believe the traitor is right here in this camp."

"Here? In Stalag 13? Oh, Major, that's laughable." Sure enough, Klink was laughing, but less like he thought it was funny, and more like he was just about to fall into hysterics.

The Gestapo creep didn't seem to think there was anything to laugh about. "You will be laughing on the other side of your monocle once the traitor has been arrested. Order your guards to begin the search. Nobody is to enter or leave the camp until I am satisfied."

"But, Major Hochstetter, I can assure you…"

"Do not assure me of anything, Klink. It makes you look even more guilty than you are."

"But… " Klink cut himself off, slapping a hand over his mouth.

Now I was in a real pickle. While all this was going on the prisoners had managed to get the old lady into the dog truck, and it was already heading towards the gate. But if the dog handler couldn't leave – and Hochstetter had said nobody would be leaving – then Turquoise was sure to get caught. And then all the prisoners, including me, would be for the high jump. I had to do something, otherwise I was done for.

I don't know what came over me. It was probably the stupidest thing I've ever done. I think it was just blind panic. As Hochstetter turned around to go and make sure his orders were carried out, and as Klink went after him, I picked up the bucket of water at my feet, and I chucked the whole lot right at them.

They stopped dead. Klink shrieked like a schoolgirl, and Hochstetter hollered like an angry bull, and they both spun back around towards me. And I don't understand much German, but I sure as hell understood what Hochstetter was saying. Klink just gibbered, and his monocle fell out. And behind them, the dog truck sailed out of the gate and headed for town, taking the German agent who looked like my grandma with it. She might not be safe yet, but she was on her way.

Well, I guess I don't need to explain what happened next. Let's just say that I was pretty happy when they finally sent me to the cooler. Klink muttered something about throwing away the key, but I'm pretty sure he's not allowed to do that.

Actually, you know what? It ain't that bad. At least I'm not stuck with that bunch of no-hopers in the barracks. Although I gotta say, they seem to have decided I'm okay. After all, I did save Turquoise, even if it wasn't for the reason they think. But I'm not going to set them straight about that, if it makes my life easier. LeBeau even sent me some of his beef stew last night, and he didn't put any onion in it. So maybe he's decided not to kill me.

Like I said, it ain't that bad in the cooler. I could get used to it. And there's one big advantage to being locked up. It'll keep me out of whatever trouble the rest of them get up to.

You never know. If I play my cards right, I might even get to stay in the cooler indefinitely. And if I have to be here at Stalag 13 for the rest of the war, that's gotta be the best way to survive.