Chapter 1

Colonel Hogan’s words kept running through his mind as the train rolled along the tracks. He was headed back to Stalag 13 after a very unsuccessful escape. He glanced across at Colonel Klink, who looked nervous and smug at the same time. And why not? His escape had been thwarted so Klink’s no-escape record remained intact. He then glanced at the third man in the car, a certain Major Hochstetter. The Major was from the Gestapo and was the one who caught him just outside Hammelburg.

He coughed but tried to hold it in. Both of the German officers looked at him.

“What? A mate can’t cough when ‘e’s got a touch of the flu?” Newkirk asked innocently.

Hochstetter scowled. Klink looked out the window.

Newkirk returned to his view out the window. Colonel Hogan’s words came through his mind again. The man had been Senior Prisoner of War for not yet a month, and he already had practically the entire Stalag under his thumb, but not Newkirk. Peter Newkirk wasn’t one to listen his supposed superiors… unless they had earned his trust. He watched Hogan breeze in and take over, suddenly instituting a ridiculous no-escape plan.

Newkirk wouldn’t have any of it. He had been a prisoner for about a year and all he wanted was to get out. Either go back to London or back to fighting, but sitting on his arse wasn’t part of his plan. Sure, Colonel Hogan ordered him to cancel his escape and he hadn’t listened, despite having a horrible chest cold. How badly he wanted a cigarette right then, but Hochstetter had insisted he be chained, hands and feet. He couldn’t reach his mouth if he wanted to.

Newkirk let out a somewhat shaky breath. He was indeed a miserable sight. Since he couldn’t reach his mouth, he couldn’t reach his nose with his handkerchief. He could feel his nose running. His pursed lips kept it from running straight down but still…

Newkirk sneezed hard, jerking forward. Hochstetter immediately reached for his gun.

Klink came to the rescue. “Major, it was just a sneeze. Corporal Newkirk has been dealing with a nasty chest cold. I saw the Medic’s report myself.”

Hochstetter holstered his gun. “Very well, then.” He sneered for all to see.

Suddenly, the train screeched to a halt.

“What’s happening?” Klink whimpered. He was about to continue when Hochstetter glared.

“I hear rumbling,” Hochstetter stated.

Newkirk’s brow lifted. Colonel Hogan had mentioned a mission to blow up a bridge and the train with it. He then realized he was on the train Hogan had mentioned. Well, at least it wasn’t blown up…

Clacking noises were suddenly heard to one side of the train. The three men looked out the window to see millions of small rocks sliding down the hillside, landing against the side of the train. The train would not be moving anytime soon.

Hochstetter growled. “I knew we should have confiscated a car.”

Klink wavered. “But, Sir, you said the train would be quicker after I suggested a car—“

“Shut up, Klink!” Hochstetter roared.

Klink did as told, pressing his lips together tightly.

Just when Newkirk thought things couldn’t get worse, the lights went off in the car, plunging them into darkness.

Hochstetter groaned. “Clearly we aren’t getting anywhere tonight. We passed a house about half a mile back. We’ll go there for tonight.” He glared at Newkirk, even though it was dark. “No funny business from you, Corporal.”

Newkirk opened his mouth to respond but all he did was cough.

Hochstetter made an irritated noise and stood. “Klink, get the prisoner and lets go.”

Klink took Newkirk’s arm and pulled, though not too hard. Klink didn’t want to hurt him.

The trio stepped out into the cold night. The freezing air set Newkirk off on a whole new coughing fit, which Hochstetter did his best to ignore. Klink frowned, knowing the young Corporal’s inability to avoid illness.

As they walked, the only sound was Newkirk’s coughing. He had briefly wondered if Colonel Hogan had known he was on the train or simply didn’t want to risk blowing it up without knowing. For that matter, why would Colonel Hogan even spare him? He’d gone against his orders…

“All right, get him inside,” Hochstetter said, holding a door open.

Newkirk was surprised they were there already. He supposed he had distracted himself between his coughing and thinking about the Colonel’s orders.

Klink pushed the Brit inside as Hochstetter found the lights. The house was small and hadn’t seemed abandoned but it’s interior proved otherwise. It looked like it had been ignored for likely a year or so. The inside was dirty and paint was beginning to peel.

Newkirk sneezed as the dust invaded his already irritated sinuses. They found a living room and Klink settled him on a couch. Klink crouched to open the shackles.

“What are you doing, Klink?!” Hochstetter roared.

Klink froze and whimpered. “I wanted to remove the shackles…”

“I can see that! Why would you want to do such a stupid thing?” Hochstetter yelled, towering his short stature over Klink’s crouched form.

Klink just blinked owlishly and frowned. He had wanted to be the humane Kommandant his men knew him to be.

Newkirk moaned. “Sir… please…”

“Quiet unless you’re spoken to!” Hochstetter roared. “Leave him chained, Klink, or I’ll chain you up, too!” He spun on his heel and went to search the house.

Klink sighed and stood. “I am sorry, Corporal, but you heard the Major.” He paused, then pulled out his own handkerchief and held it in front of Newkirk’s face. “No tricks?”

Newkirk nodded, then spoke nasally, “No tricks.” Klink pressed the handkerchief to his nose and held it while he blew. He sighed when finished. “Danke.”

“Bitte,” Klink replied, nodding at the Corporal’s respectful response. Considering this, he knew the Englander was still sick. He sighed, they needed to return to the Stalag sooner than later, if for no other reason than to get Newkirk somewhere warmer.

Klink paused and listened to Hochstetter’s footsteps clomping around. The corner of his mouth twitched. For a small man, he certainly made loud footsteps. He turned back to Newkirk but found his eyes closed. He decided to let the Brit rest. Perhaps he could, too. He settled on the other end of the couch and closed his eyes.

-HH-

Colonel Hogan sighed. He was down in the radio room of the tunnels. He was still at times, even after a month, amazed that the men had managed such a tunnel system. Since Klink had been installed as Commandant shortly before Hogan arrived, Hogan had made the no-escape clause to keep the spotlight off the Stalag and thus have the ability to use the tunnel system freely when necessary.

When Hogan had contacted the Underground about the train, he was adamant about not blowing up the train itself. He hadn’t wanted to offer that Newkirk may have been on the train, even if he was quite sure he was.

Corporal Peter Newkirk had been a thorn in Hogan’s side since day one. In addition to stealing his wallet on day two, he had been a nuisance. Newkirk clearly walked to the beat of his own drum and seemed to have a loathing for officers.

Yet, Hogan found something rather endearing about the Englishman, even if Hogan wasn’t quite sure what that was. At least, that was until Newkirk announced he wanted to try another escape. Hogan told him that he had agreed to the no-escape clause. Newkirk had scowled and turned on his heel. That had been the end of it… until Newkirk turned up missing at roll call.

Klink had been beside himself. He sent Schultz out with a search party and made phone calls from his office.

Hogan had made his own call then to the Underground to ask them to not blow up the train, just in case.

Klink met with Schultz when he returned without Newkirk.

That’s when Hochstetter arrived. Klink begged the Major to let him help search and save his multi-month long no-escapes record. The two officers left in Hochstetter’s car.

“Sir?”

Hogan turned at the voice and found it was Kinchloe. “Yeah, Kinch?”

“The tracks were blown, but no one was on the train.”

Hogan sighed. “Get back on and see if the Underground can search the area. I take it Klink nor Hochstetter have returned.”

Kinch nodded. “They have not returned.”

“We need a munitions man…” Hogan shook his head. “When you finish on the radio, get LeBeau. Bring your heavy coats. We’re going out to find them.”

“How, Sir?”

“With the help of a Schultz.”

&&&&&

Chapter 2

Klink was fretting about his record during the drive out in Hochstetter’s car. They had tried the Hammelburg train station and gotten nowhere.

Headed back to the Major’s car, Hochstetter threw an arm out in front of Klink. Klink was about to start blubbering when the Major shushed him. There was movement inside the car.

Suddenly the car came alive and flew backwards out of the parking spot, then it flew forward and got hung up on a curb. Newkirk cursed and hit the wheel. It had simply been too long since he’d driven a car, though he realized he still had a heavy foot. He made a move to get out but entered into a sneezing fit first.

The car door opened and a hand reached in holding a handkerchief. Newkirk sniffed and followed the arm up to a sneering Gestapo Major. He recognized him but couldn’t remember his name.

“‘Ello, mate.” Newkirk paused, noticing Klink cowering behind the Gestapo man. “It would seem I found a right bit of trouble…”

“Yes, it would.” Hochstetter yanked Newkirk’s arm, pulling him from the car. The Major scowled at the car. “We’ll have to take the train back now.” He moved around to the boot and removed a set of chains. “Klink! Put these on the prisoner!”

“But, Major…!” Klink simpered.

“DO IT!” Hochstetter bellowed. He waited until Klink got the chains on Newkirk’s ankles before disappearing back into the train station.

“‘E’s in a ruddy bad mood, ain’t ‘e?” Newkirk commented. “‘Ey, Commandant, is this really necessary?”

“Yes, it keeps me from being sent to the Russian Front,” Klink replied. He snapped the wrist chains on. “I am surprised you did this with that cold of yours and the freezing temperature out here.”

Newkirk lifted a shoulder. He wore his greatcoat but was currently sweating in it. He knew he was feverish but didn’t wish to share that with Klink at the moment.

Hochstetter returned. “We’re getting on the train. It runs just beyond Stalag 13 where we can get off, then, Klink, you will call for a car to take us the rest of the way.”

Klink nodded as Hochstetter grabbed Newkirk’s arm and shoved him, nearly causing him to stumble due to the chains. They headed back into the train station.

&&&&&

“KLINK!”

The Colonel snapped awake and nearly jumped. “Yes, Major?” He quivered beside the couch where he had dozed off.

“You DARE sleep with a dangerous prisoner beside you!?” Hochstetter roared.

Klink turned to the silent Newkirk. He slept right through Hochstetter’s yelling. Klink’s brow creased. He noted the RAF Corporal looked flushed and seemed to be shivering in his heavy coat. “Uh, Major—“

“I don’t want to hear it, Klink!” Hochstetter sighed, scowling at Klink. “Stay awake and watch him. I am going to sleep for a few hours.”

“Yes, Major—“ Klink began, but Hochstetter was already out of ear-shot. Klink sighed and sat back down on the couch. He looked over at Newkirk again. As if the Englander could be any trouble in his current state.

&&&&&

Hogan drove one of the trucks from the camp motor pool. Schultz sat beside him. Kinch and LeBeau were in the back.

The truck followed the train tracks as best as possible. Hogan wasn’t completely sure what he was looking for but the map had shown a minor amount of promise.

Schultz fidgeted nervously in his seat. He just wanted to collect Newkirk and return to the camp.

Kinch and LeBeau kept watch from the back just in case.

Hogan slowed the truck and stopped. “There’s the train.”

“Looks like the rocks slid down and stopped it,” Kinch said.

“I wonder where they could’ve gone?” LeBeau asked rhetorically.

“Hm,” was Hogan’s only response. He knew there was a safe house around nearby but didn’t want to give away his knowledge of it. Instead he simply decided to drive in that direction.

As they neared the house, they found footprints, though much too many for only one person. Hogan groaned internally. He stopped the truck just as the house came into view.

“I’ll pull in closer. Schultz I’d like you to go in there. Meanwhile, we’ll set up back here as though you’re alone. And you are alone.”

Schultz nodded nervously. “Jawohl… uh ja, Colonel Hogan.”

Hogan finally parked the truck right outside the house and sent Schultz to his errand.

Hogan sighed. “I have an idea Newkirk is in there with Klink and probably Hochstetter, too. We’ll have to stay out of sight. Now, find a decent hiding place and get comfortable.”

Had Hogan known that Hochstetter wasn’t involved, he was sure they could’ve gone in too and just given Klink a story. He didn’t wish to take the chance. It was bad enough Newkirk tried to escape.

Eventually, Schultz returned with an angry Hochstetter, a cowering Klink, and a nearly passed-out Newkirk who was unceremoniously thrown in the back of the truck. Schultz was told to drive with Hochstetter taking the passenger seat. Klink climbed in the back since no space was allowed him in the front.

Hogan and the others watched Klink settle beside Newkirk who had passed out again. He was still shackled. Klink leaned over and surprisingly stroked Newkirk’s head in a fatherly manner.

Hogan was impressed. Klink actually was humane as he so often claimed.

&&&&&

Once back at camp, Hogan did a bit of fancy footwork and finagling as he quickly joined the small group in Klink’s office and took responsibility for his man.

Newkirk kept his head bowed, though he coughed and sniffled.

Hochstetter, disgusted with the entire thing, slammed his way out of the office with a resounding “BAH!”

Klink relinquished Newkirk to Hogan without any cooler time.

Hogan began to walk Newkirk across the parade grounds towards the barracks.

“Sir?”

“Yes, Newkirk?”

“I shoulda followed yer orders. I’m so used ta trying ta get out of here…”

“I know but listen, we have a lot to do here and I want you to help,” Hogan said.

Newkirk sneezed.

“But first, we gotta get rid of your cold,” Hogan said, smirking.

-end-