~*~The Reluctant Hero~*~

Now moving swiftly through the dark woods he recalled the day he was chosen for this assignment. No one wanted the job- and for a lot of reasons. A lot of very good reasons. The same reasons he had for not wanting to be the man responsible for carrying out this one. First off, the whole lot of them had been exhausted by a month long barrage of sabotage attacks. A train bridge, a train carrying munitions, attack on a nearby cannon factory which halted production and still was not up and running, several smaller yet satisfying jobs, his favourite being among hijacking several lorries filled with “the spoils of war” for Burkhalter. All this on top of extending the corridors from the tunnels under barracks nine and twelve to meet with the emergency escape tunnel.

Providing an outlet for more of the men to access the emergency route faster had become a concern to Hogan and his crew. The gestapo had been hanging around entirely too much and coming into camp on a regular basis. No doubt due to the increase in their action. Despite early major victories, now Hitler and several of his top advisors were really showing some poor judgment in their strategies. Even though no one admitted it out loud, regardless of personal feeling, they all respected the cunning and military thinking Hitler possessed knowing how quickly and efficiently he marched across Europe. They knew better than to underestimate him. It had become a concern that Hitler or one of those close to him would be capable of ordering almost anything to be done to those held captive just as a show of force in a warped attempt at raising the morale and reinforcing the “master race” concept to their fighting men. In addition, they had all heard the rumors of war stories where prisoners were lined up and shot minutes before their comrades came to liberate them. In case of the need for “an emergency escape” they had to be ready to help those men who had given up their opportunity for freedom over the last four years.

In the midst of all this, one evening Sergeant Baker announced that London HQ was sending an important message that night. They were directed to all assemble in the tunnel for the transmission which would be directed to them by means of a British submarine. The message delivered was as follows: contact needed to be made immediately with a high priority, deep undercover agent. Information and materials vital to the war effort were involved. Orders specified to them that while it was expected they were expected to take all efforts to preserve their lives, it was also expected that there would be casualties associated with this assignment. Needless to say, Newkirk did not raise his hand to volunteer.

The day after the transmission from the British sub, things had been quiet around the camp except for some grumbling among Hogan’s crew as to who would be chosen as the contact and what was to be done at this point in order to make contact with this agent they knew only as “Gemini”. Hogan’s immediate plan, since the gestapo was no where around the camp, was that he, himself, would be the only person to go on the mission. Unfortunately, the gestapo returned the next morning. A decision would need to be made that day so that another precious twenty-four hours was not lost. Klink was incredibly nervous, even for him, and Hogan was not certain what he may be capable of under pressure from the gestapo. No, he had to stay to baby-sit Klink and find out what the gestapo’s intentions were. Besides, he could not afford to go missing at this time.

That evening a tense, but brief meeting was held with Hogan and his crew in Hogan’s quarters. The men entered single-file and fell silent. They knew that four of them could be sending one man out who would not be returning. Washington stood by the door keeping one ear on the meeting and the other acutely aware of any suspicious sounds from the general area. LeBeau and Carter sat on the lower bunk bed watching the floor and Newkirk stood alone across the room staring out the window, seeming preoccupied in thought. Hogan sat in the middle of the room facing all of them directly except for Newkirk. Finally he spoke. “I know how agonizing this day has been for all of you. Believe me its been no picnic for me, either. Last night I gave no second thought to the fact that I was the only one I could expect to take on a mission like this, but now since the situation has changed an alternate contact needs to be chosen. Since I could not expect that any one of you would be able to make a clear decision about sending another...”

“Oui, Colonel Hogan. We know. That is why I have decided to volunteer to go..” LeBeau interrupted.

“Hey, but wait,” Carter spoke out in a tone more aggressive than is his nature, “I decided that if anyone goes it should be me. I can fix myself up like a human time bomb and if any one of those gestapo guys try to stop me , well then just BAM!” the pace of his verbal banter increasing with each word.

LeBeau and Carter immediately begin bickering with each other on the bunk. Baker in an uncharacteristic moment, disobeys orders and leaves his post at the door. He quietly approaches Hogan. “Colonel Hogan. I have had one of the least stressful assignments on the crew. LeBeau and Carter continue their argument during the conversation. “Granted I am responsible for the transmissions, but I am not involved with as many of the dangerous missions outside the camp like the others. It would only be fair for me to be the one to go. I’ll leave tonight and..”

“There’s no need for you to go on mate,” Newkirk speaks up.

“That’s right,” Hogan added. “I spoke to Newkirk this afternoon. After considering everything that’s involved, I think he’s the man we need to rely on. It was not a decision I came to easily. Although I’d be the first to admit there have been moments when Newkirk’s judgment over girls and female spies was not the greatest- ,” he said with a grin looking towards Newkirk,” Newkirk hangs his head. “He’s accompanied me the most to town on these sorts of missions and besides myself, he’s represented me...us in the most underground meetings. He knows the area and the route. Most importantly- you all have to admit, he has the best talent for blending in and getting lost in a crowd if needed.” Hogan hesitates as if a bit emotional. “I think you should all know, too, when I approached Newkirk, and explained to him my reasoning and decision, he did not try to talk his way out of it.”

“Yeah, that’s because I was in bloody shock that’s why,” Newkirk snaps dryly. The others silently look on. Newkirk walks toward the door. As he’s leaving Hogan’s quarters he says, “Well, I guess I better get out my civilian wardrobe and I hope you all don’t mind if I try to get some sleep before I go - since it’ll be a long night... looks like rain.”

Now here he was. Half-way to town and not only is rain coming down steadily, but its beginning to change to snow. The temperature has dropped abruptly, but his quick pace and anxiety keep his blood pumping and body warm. He pulls his cap down over his head and closes the coat up around his neck in an effort to keep dry, but he is already soaked. Still, he keeps moving. Lights moving up ahead. The snow is coming down. He moves into the shadows and waits.

He hears voices. Deep voices of German soldiers. The voices are getting louder and growing in number. Where to go? Instantly, he slides under some thick wild bushes. He buries himself under what was left of the fall leaves which remain on the ground partially decayed and he waits. The voices are now only a few yards away. He can feel their footsteps radiating through the ground he lies on, the pounding of his heart pulsating in his ears. Fortunately, the patrols were also cold and damp. They were most interested in finishing their duty and getting warm themselves. They did not travel far off the road and into the woods. Newkirk waits until the voices have faded into the distance and quietly climbs out. “Bloody, hell” he says quietly to himself. Now not only is he wet and cold, he’s muddy. He quickly reminds himself he’s also alive and free. Trying to clean off while moving, he zeros in on his destination. Not far now.

Getting closer to town he reminds himself that he needs to slow down. He adds a subtle, yet noticeable limp to his gait. After all, there must be some reason why this otherwise healthy, young man is not fighting at the front? Most people are still in bed, but it’s getting close to dawn and the farmers, produce men, and market people are beginning to stir in the streets. After checking a few street signs and some redirecting of himself he finds the Inn where contact is to be made. The building is still dark. Perfect timing. Early enough so that everyone’s asleep - late enough so that the beginnings of dawn’s light can help him get to work.

Newkirk slips his hand into his pants pocket and pulls out some wire and a skeleton key. It’s not long before he opens the door. Except for a quick creek as the door first opened, he makes a silent entrance. Now find “Room Four”. Like a cat, he moves past the desk and up the stairs - a shadow in the dark. There, at the end of the hall he finds Room Four. Again he kneels down and works his “magic” on the door. In less than a minute the door swings open. The room is pitch dark. Figuring “Gemini” is still asleep, he pushes the door open wider and slips inside. He turns to close the door standing up as he does. The door closes and the latch clicks, which is immediately followed by another “click”. Suddenly he stops and feels the cold metal of a pistol barrel behind his ear.

“Gemini, I presume?” he manages to get out of his mouth with relative calm considering the situation.

“And who shall I presume you are?” a female voice states directly from behind him.

“I’m Pappa Bear,” he said feeling better all ready. Here he had been preparing himself all the way to meet with some turncoat Nazi general who had his fill of Hitler and was probably trying to sell information to the Allies so he could get to Switzerland and here “Gemini” turned out to be a woman.

He made no effort to disguise his English accent which eased “Gemini’s” suspicions a bit. Still, she did not come this far by being careless. She stepped back from him, but warned him the gun was still pointed directly at him and if necessary she’d shoot him and state to the authorities he was an intruder. The desperate war times had brought on a great increase in robberies. He complied and kept his hands in the air. She told him to go to the window and open the curtains a bit to let in the moonlight so she could see him better. He did and turned around, hands in the air.

“ I was told Papa Bear was an American.”

“Yes, he is.”

“But, you said you were Papa Bear.”

“Well, you see, I’m Papa Bear whenever Papa Bear can’t be Papa Bear. Right now is one of those times. I understand you’re not being sure of what is happening being as you were told Papa Bear is American and I’m English. But...if you want Papa Bear’s help then you have to trust me.”

She stares at him in the earliest morning light for a few minutes, but what seems like hours.

“Could I ask you something?”

“Yes,” she replies coolly.

“Could I please put my hands down. I have traveled most of the night through rain and snow to get here and I think if we sit down and talk about this, I can answer whatever questions you have.”

A few moments go by. “I think you need a bath and clean clothes,” she pointedly states.

He smiles at her, his eyes shining back at her through the early morning light from a still visible moon. Wiping the dirt off from on his face, “Yes, I have to say you’re right about that.”

She directs him to sit in a high backed, arm chair in the corner of the room next to the window. She sits across from him on the bed. Seeing her better now he sees that although an attractive woman, the stress of the situation was showing on her face and tired eyes.

“Were you followed here?”

“No.”

“Are you sure of it?”

“Yes.”

“How can you be so sure that no one followed you, or knows you are here? I heard you coming through the door?”

“Well, I guess you’re just going to have to believe me,... or shoot me. I am trying to be understanding about this, but I just risked life and limb getting to you. I am wet and cold and even a bit hungry... I’m filthy because I met up with a German patrol and had to bury myself in the dirt under some brush to hide.” He waits for a response. Now agitated, “If you don’t want Papa Bear’s help, well, just tell me now and I’ll go back to where I came from and you can go on and do what you want on your own.”

With this she knows she has no choice. So far she has studied him closely and her instincts tell her to trust him. She must trust him. She points the gun down and walks over to him. She sets the gun on the table next to him, turns and walks back to the bed and sits. He looks over at the gun and then at her. The light now shining on her face, she looks quite radiant in the blue silk robe, her dark blond hair falling to her shoulders. Yet...her eyes look dark and heavy apparently from the strain of her situation.

“I have not slept more than two hours a night for weeks. I feel there are always eyes upon me and that anyone at anytime will turn me into the gestapo.” He sits unmoving just looking and listening to her. “I know this is foolish and it is important to be as natural as possible...after all, no one has any reason to suspect me of anything... I have done nothing to anyone...Do you think you can help me out of Germany? Can Papa Bear help me out of Germany?”

Without answering, he stands up and removes his hat and wet coat.

“Here let me help you with that,” she comes over to him and takes his wet coat. She hangs it over a chair near the stove. She looks at him, “You’re shirt is soaked, take it off and let it hang and dry,” she commanded, speaking to him like mother whose son had been out playing in the rain. He looks at her as he begins to unbutton his shirt. Suddenly, she is embarrassed and feels a bit flushed. “It’s bad enough I need to feel responsible for you risking ‘life and limb’, I don’t need to feel responsible for your pneumonia, too.” She hands him a bath towel from her dresser. As he tries to dry himself, she tells him breakfast is served promptly at 8:00 a.m. She will leave then and he can sneak to the washroom down the hall and clean-up while all the guests are at breakfast. Then she will go to town and buy him some clean clothes. The next few hours they share in almost total silence as the owners are now beginning to stir getting things ready downstairs for their guests. She leaves the room and dresses in the washroom down the hall and goes off to breakfast.

Upon her return she surprised her guest with not only new clothes, but a warm breakfast she bought and had packaged from a small cafe down the street. He gave her a bit of a surprise, too. She got back to find not only had her “guest” removed the mud from his face and body, but he stumbled across a razor and helped himself to a shave. She allowed herself to stop only for a moment to admire how handsome he was cleaned-up and in the light of day. She insisted on going downstairs to read while he enjoyed his breakfast and changed clothes. Returning thirty minutes later, she was startled to find that he was asleep lying across her bed dressed only in the pants she purchased and his undershirt. She moved across the room carefully so as not to disturb him. She removed her shoes, sat in the arm chair and stared at him sleeping. After a few minutes, she gets up and takes down an extra blanket from the closet’s top shelf and covers him with it. She kneels down near him on the floor next to the bed, studying his face and body. If she hadn’t believed him earlier about his journey to get to her she did now. It was obvious from his deep sleep he was exhausted. She wondered about him and why someone would put themselves at such great risk for her. This was the man she had to entrust with her life. Why should he help her? Why would he risk his life, or continue to risk his life to help her? Why do people do any of the things they do in times of war?

She had let him continue to sleep for another hour and a half. When he began to stir, she moved toward him and knelt by the bed next to his face. He opened his eyes and startled, he suddenly jerked backwards onto the bed upon seeing her - causing her to become startled and fall backwards onto the floor. Expecting to wake up in his bunk in the barracks, he was momentarily disoriented and not sure if she was a dream. Wiping his hands over his face shaking off the sleep, he said, “I’m sorry love,” sliding off the bed onto the floor next to her. Taking her hands in his and helping her up, he tells her, “I’m so sorry, are you hurt? Here sit on the bed.” He helps her up to the edge of the bed. He picks up the blanket which had been covering him and wraps her in it. Sitting down next to her, still with an arm around her shoulders he whispers to her, “I’m so sorry,” as he rests his forehead on her shoulder, “I thought I was dreaming. If you saw where I usually spent my nights sleeping - you would understand.” Moving her hand out from the blanket which was still filled with the warmth of his body, she lifts his face and for the first time looks into and examines the eyes of this mysterious stranger who must now act the part of the gallant knight who will save her. “Can you tell me your name? If you can’t tell me your real name, just tell me a name. I don’t know why, but it seems so important to me right now.”

“It’s Peter,” he says.

“Peter, do you mind if we can just sit here together for a while. Please, do you mind just holding me. I don’t mean to assume anything with you, but I have been so afraid and so alone...I just want to feel safe, if even only for a short while.”

He puts his face next to her cheek and kissed her lightly. “It’s all right love. I understand. I’d be happy to oblige!” he replies with a grin. Reaching out from the blanket she turns and wraps her arms around him and resting her head on his shoulder she begins to cry. Her body trembled next to him and he wipes her hair and tears back. The anxiety she had been holding in for so long had found a safe outlet and she took advantage of it. He sat there silently obliging to her request. After the tears subsided, she broke away from him and picked up the towel from the dresser. Walking back to him still seated near the foot of the bed, she says, “We just can’t keep you dry today now can we?” as she wipes her tears from his shoulder. He grabs her hand and pulls her close to him. Gently placing his hands on her waist he guides her back to her previous position next to him. Taking her chin in his hand, he moves in closer and again lightly kisses her, only now on the mouth. Sensing no objection, they kiss again - this time longer and more passionately. They continue on for several minutes.

Finally he speaks, “Don’t get me wrong, love,” he said, “but if we’re going to get you to the rendezvous spot, we should get going. It’s not that I want to... If you ask me what I want to do, it would be to stay here and do more of this...But, maybe there will be time for more of this once we’re on our way...” He kisses her once more. This time she holds on to him, willingly allowing him to further explore her mouth and neck with his tongue as she returned the favor.

“I’m not sure I would agree this is a good time to leave,” she said.

“Why not?”

“Because while you were sleeping I was watching the street from the window. Two men, who I believe may be gestapo agents have been entering the buildings on this block. I saw one come inside the Inn. After he left, I went downstairs using the guise of asking what the dinner choices would be for tonight...I struck up a conversation with the owner’s wife. She said the gestapo were unusually pleasant and just asked if they had noticed anyone suspicious or out of the ordinary. I do not know if he asked to see the guest registry.”

“Well, I think you’re right,” he said. “To be on the safe side, it’ll be best to wait it out a bit and see if the gestapo moves on. They may just be wanting to make their presence known to everyone, than again, they might all ready know we’re here.” She pointed out their staff car to him on the street. “I think it would be a safe bet to say they plan on being here for a time, yet. Why don’t you try and get some rest before we have to go. I’m well rested now and I’ll be honest with you, we need to cover a lot of ground very quickly.” She hesitates. “Please do like I ask,” he again wraps the blanket around her shoulders and walks her back to her bed. “ I’ll keep watch at the window - and I give my word to be a gentleman.” Again she knew if she was going to survive she would have to trust him. Obeying his request, she laid down on the bed wrapped in the blanket. What the bond she felt with him was she had never experienced before, but then again she had never been in such a position before. Putting her life in the hands of this man, whoever he was. Watching him stand in the shadow of the curtains next to the window, still able to smell the aftershave on the warm blanket, and imagining his arms still around her, it didn’t take long until sleep came over her. Not long after that, her dreams continued where they had left off on the bed earlier. Only this time there was no gestapo agents to worry about, no need to make an underground rendezvous and all the time in the world.

When she opened her eyes an hour later, he was fully dressed and sitting in the high backed armchair across from her looking out the window. The sun streamed in and filled the room. The sky was outside was a deep blue. She laid there a few minutes watching him before he turned to her saying, “How do you feel, love? Get enough rest?”

“Yes, you were right. I did need the sleep [stretching and yawning] and I think I could use some more.”

“Well, go ahead if you like. Our friends had company arrive. They must ‘ave stayed here because they were meeting up with them.”

“Who’s them?”

“Well, a SS division arrived. I saw two gestapo men come up and they went into that little cafe, where you got my breakfast from, with an officer. They haven’t come out yet. They may be spending a day or two.”

“Do you think they know we’re here?” she asked.

“I don’t know...but maybe you’d be a better judge of that. I don’t know who you are, where you came from, let alone why you’re so important to London. Would they even know to look for you? ”

“I have taken every precaution and followed the allies directions to the letter at each turn,” she replied abruptly now sitting up on the edge of the bed. Looking at her face he saw the fear come back which had left for too brief a time.

“All right then this is what we’ll do,” moving next to her he puts an arm around her and takes her hand in his, “let’s say since no one has broken down the door yet, ... either they don’t know we’re here, or they don’t know to look for us because they know nothing about us. How long did you get the room for?”

“Three days. Tomorrow being the last day.”

“Okay...when you go to dinner tonight, ask the owner if you needed to stay on a day or two, if the room would be available. Just in case we need to hold up here.”

“All right. I can do that.”

Together they sat gazing out the window from the second floor room observing the streets below. Earlier today the townspeople went on in their typical everyday fashion, but the presence of the troops and gestapo had an effect on everyone in town. People did not stop to mingle and small talk. At best a quick nod to one and other and they’d continue on they’re way. Keep walking, don’t look back if you want to stay alive.

She reached out touching his face and turned him to face her. Moving to kiss him, he met her half way and pulled her tightly to him. They continued in a passionate embrace as she reached past his neck and fondled his hair with one hand while unbuttoning the top buttons of his shirt with the other. Running her fingers over his chest he suddenly stood up and moved away from her.

“You know...your making this very hard - er, difficult for me to keep my promise to stay a gentleman, as well as, keeping a clear head,... you know one bad move, love, and we’ve had it...I mean firing squad, first - ask questions later.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. I’m not sorry,” he says as he gets down on one knee in front of her and takes her hands in his. Looking up into her eyes he continues, “I’m only sorry that the gestapo is outside.” Getting up and returning to his post at the side of the window he continues, “ I’m just...well, let’s just say in my position you don’t get to the opportunity to date much... and well - let’s just say I haven’t had they best luck with women spies.”

“Oh, and you think I’m a woman spy?” she says curtly.

“Well, what is it that London wants with you?” Silence. Several minutes go by while Newkirk watches out the window and she walks away, Busying herself with tiding up the room. From out of the quiet he hears, “Elsa.”

“What was that?” he asks.

“Elsa. That’s my name.”

“Well, I’m glad we took care of that formality”, he states sarcastically.

“I thought maybe it would help if you knew my name, or at least had a name to call me by.”

“No, it doesn’t help,” his tone sounding much more distant. “You see there is no chance at a future here, so there’s no point in getting attached. The less we know about each other - the better. Especially, if we were to get captured... Besides, you will get to the Underground and on to London and I’ll stay here. After another day or so we’ll never see each other again.”

Inquiring quietly she asks, “Is there any point in comforting each other?”

He doesn’t respond. She excuses herself to the washroom and freshens up washing the tears from her eyes. Returning to the room she pulls the chair next to him, as he stands at the corner of the window, seats herself and says, “Peter, could we please start again. I’ve thought about what you said and you’re right... But please, I have been so frightened for so long, and if you knew what the last several months have been for me...You just... ...I’m sorry if I...”

“Don’t apologize. You haven’t done anything... It looks like we’ll be together a for a bit longer. So we might as well get used to it.” Despite his previous attitude of knowing nothing about each other, they spent the rest of the afternoon talking. She shared with him her life growing up as an upper-class daughter of an aristocrat in Austria and attending finishing schools. He told her about growing up in the London streets with next to no education. He was taken on as an apprentice to a tailor when he was a teenager, but earned his real money hustling in the streets. As a boy he met a street magician while roaming through the West End. The magician took a shine to him and kept the boy around finding that people were more generous thinking he had a child to support. He taught him his trade, as well as, how to lift the wallets from gentlemen in the crowd who stood around watching the magician perform...When he got older, he went on his own. Working daily in the tailor’s shop, evenings in the West End, and an occasional stage show or circus. He spent his nights in a pub with a few mates playing cards, or darts. And that’s pretty much how life went on until the War.

By now dusk was settling in and she had to leave for dinner. He felt a tug at his heart as she prepared to leave. Walking her to the door he kissed her on the cheek and promised he’d still be there when she got back. She promised to return soon.

And she did return soon. She had excused herself early from dinner and had a plate wrapped from the kitchen which she brought up for him under the pretext that she was not feeling well and preferred to finish dinner privately in her room. In the mean time, while she was at dinner he snuck down the hall to the washroom and took the time to freshen up himself. When she returned to the room, he was gone. Coming in the room, he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist resting his chin on her shoulder. “I thought you left,” she said.

“What? Didn’t I promise you I’d be here? I haven’t broken a promise yet have I?”

“No, and that’s the problem,” she said with a coy smile. “Look, I brought you something. I thought you might be hungry.”

“Starved is more like it.”

He sat in the chair with the plate and finished it in minutes. While he ate she went down the hall to change and prepare for bed. While she did she tossed around various ideas for what sleeping arrangements they would make. In her fantasies, she would not hesitate to share her bed with him, but she was all ready afraid she had given him the impression that she was too forward.

She returned to the room just before the other guests on the floor began to return to their rooms. He had pulled the curtains closed again and was back at his position at the far corner of the window peering through a small crack in the curtain. The room was dark except for the moonlight which shone through the curtain where he stood. She could see him clearly, even though he could barely make out her outline in the dark. He was so handsome...and brave she thought. She loved listening to him speak and enjoyed his humor...wanted to know more about his world. Being with him this afternoon, she momentarily forgot she was a fugitive. She put her things down on the table in front of the window and walking towards him, he welcomed her back with a kiss and embrace. He pulls open her robe and drops it from her shoulders landing in a heap at her feet. He moves down her neck with his mouth. He gently moves over the back of her neck with his mouth. She trembles and shivers moving herself further into his arms feeling his warm breath on her neck. Slowly he pushes her nightgown off of her shoulders. Sensing no resistance, he continues down the front of her neck and chest. She takes his head in her hands and begins kissing him, smoothing his hair as he takes her breasts in his hands. Finally, dropping off her nightgown, she stands before him uninhibited. His mouth finds the tips of her breast and he tenderly licks and pulls at her with his mouth alternating between sides. Not able to wait any longer, she takes hold of his shirt and pulls him upright. She continues to unbutton the front of his shirt as he opens the cuffs on his sleeves. She slides off the shirt and he quickly gets out of the undershirt and pulls her to his bare chest.

“It’s much warmer in your arms,” she whispers. They kiss again. He walks her to her bed and pulls down the blankets. She slides into bed as he finishes undressing. As he gets into bed she moves next to him and they continue to explore each other first with their hands as they kiss and then continue to discover each other with their mouths. He begins to kiss her stomach and continues downward. Opening her legs he kisses and runs his tongue along the insides of her thighs. She takes his head in her hands and guides him between her legs. Choosing between his fingers and his tongue he pleasures her to the point where she realizes how much noise she is making and she puts the back of her own hand to her mouth to stifle her sounds so as not to cause suspicion from any of the other guests on the floor. Not able to wait any longer he moves up and easily enters her. She wraps her legs around him and pulls him toward her. They naturally fall into a gentle rhythm together trying to disturb as few of the mattress springs as possible. Burying her face in his chest she reaches around him and admires his back and shoulder muscles as they contract and release with his movement. He rests his face next to her head and whispers, “You feel all right, love?”

“I feel wonderful,” she coos back at him playing with his chest hair and kissing his neck.

“Good, because I want you to feel good. If you feel good then I feel good.”

He reaches up and grasps the top end of the mattress with both hands as he slows the rhythm of their love-making and opts for slower deeper thrusts. She reaches up from beneath his arms and wraps herself around his shoulders gripping him as her legs move up his hips and tighten around him. It’s not long now when he feels her pulsating climax. Soon after he grips the top of the bed as she feels his body stiffen and with a few very purposeful thrusts his body releases and his body relaxes. Catching his breath, he kisses her deeply and moves to lay down on his back on the bed. He pulls her next to him, puts his arm around her and rests her head on his chest. She “fluffs” the hair on his chest, which became damp with the perspiration of their love-making. “Would you still say this can go nowhere?” she asks him. He laughs quietly and squeezing her close to him, he kisses her on the top of the head and tells her to get some sleep. She tries, but is unable to fall asleep right away. She is to busy watching him sleep...watching him breathe. She kisses his face lightly and resumes a spot in the crook of his arm. What a gentle and passionate lover he was - not at all what she expected...he gave her so much more than what she had hoped for...more so than she ever thought possible from any man. She lays there remembering the first boy she kissed and how her father would have beat her had he known...She remembers the first boy she ever made love to...how clumsily they groped at each other...and how she believed they would one day be married...until her father disapproved of his lack of breeding and family status...she had never come close to feeling this way when making-love to a man...not even her husband...

Meanwhile that same day back at the camp, Hogan and his men kept busy with listening in on the “coffeepot” to Klink’s office whenever official visitors arrive and completing work on the tunnels. There had been no word about Newkirk. They don’t know if he ever made it to town. They don’t know if he ever made contact, or if he made contact, but hasn’t the chance to get to the Underground rendezvous spot. No one wants to consider that he’s been caught...or worse. The orders were that Newkirk was to take “Gemini” to meet with the Underground for the transfer of information before the British sub would be picking up the informant. Neither London, nor the Underground knew anything of Newkirk’s whereabouts, but they hadn’t heard of any recent captures either. Before Hogan would risk losing another man, he had to find out about Newkirk. Despite the animosity one felt toward Newkirk during a card game, he was sorely missed both personally and as a member of Hogan’s crew.

Hogan’s only hope was Schnitzer, the town veterinarian who came in once a week to change the dogs. He was due in later that day.

When Schnitzer’s truck pulled up next to the kennel he had an added guest waiting for him. LeBeau had taken up residence inside the doghouse with one of the German Shepards while waiting for Schnitzer. He listened to the information requested by LeBeau and agreed he could help. LeBeau thanked him with an apple strudel he stealthfully kept hidden from the dogs and returned down the tunnel.

Later that night Schnitzer arrived at the Inn. He inquired at the desk if the guest in “Room Four” was still there. The Inn Keeper said, “Yes, are you by chance a doctor?...She said she was not feeling well at dinner.”

“Nein,” stammered Schnitzer. He continued to reply in German, “I’m her Uncle Karl, he said taking a chance.”

“Oh, well in that case, go right up. Turn right at the top of the stairs...her room is down the hall,” the Inn Keeper said with a smile.

Schnitzer thanked him, “Danke and guten Abend.” He quickly climbed the stairs and upon coming to the door, looks around, puts his ear to the door and hearing nothing, knocks softly.

Both of the lovers wake immediately. In the dark, Elsa gropes on the floor for her nightgown and robe as Newkirk gets into his pants, grabs his shirt, puts his arms through the sleeves and slides under the bed. “Go ahead answer the door,” he whispers, “the gestapo doesn’t knock.”

Dressed only in her nightgown, she complies and opens the door a crack. “Guten Abend, Fraulein. Meinen Namen ist Herr Schnitzer...,” He further explains that he’s the town veterinarian . Sticking his head in the door pushing past her he asks in English, “My English bulldog is missing, by any chance have you seen him?” Now instantly recognizing the voice, Newkirk slides out from under the bed and ushers Schnitzer inside and turns on the light.

“Schnitzer, what are you doing here?” Newkirk asks.

“Is this Papa Bear?” Elsa begs.

“No,” both the men state in unison.

“Well, I think I know what you’re doing here,” he replies with a grin.

“What do you mean? This is the contact I was sent to meet. The town has been crawling with gestapo men and German soldiers.”

“I know that...but that doesn’t explain why your shirt is inside out and the young lady’s nightgown is on backwards,” he chuckles.

They both look at each other flushed with embarrassment, realizing the “jig is up”, the three of them begin to laugh uncomfortably. Newkirk slides off his shirt, fixes it and buttons it up. Elsa puts on her robe and leaves for the washroom. The men sit down to speak.

“You have several friends who are quite worried about you. I’ll be happy to tell them I found you alive and doing well,” Schnitzer laughed.

“Will you be able to get a message to Hogan?”

“Yes, I have all ready planned to have an “emergency” visit to the dogs tomorrow which is when I’m supposed to relay any information I find out about you. So am I correct that you would rather not have any additional assistance from the men back at the camp?”

“No one likes a funny vet Schnitzer. And NO. Tell Hogan I’m okay. Explain to him what town has been like...I mean about the gestapo and all... I made it here just in the nick’a time and there’s no point in anyone else getting caught. As soon as the gestapo and the SS move out of town, we’ll be on our way.”

“I hate to ruin any plans you have for the week, but you know there’s not much time left between now and the number of days in which the submarine will be able to make a pick-up. One...maybe two more days...and you have to have her with the Underground or it could be who knows how long until the chance for contact with the sub.”

Newkirk drops his head and nods in acknowledgment. Looking up at his guest, “Schnitzer, do you know who she is and why London made it such a high priority?”

“No, my friend. I’m sure you all ready know much more than me...and if you don’t mind - let’s keep it that way.” With that Elsa returns to the room, still a bit embarrassed, but able to face Schnitzer. Newkirk goes over to her and taking her in his arm, the three of them exchange pleasantries for several minutes and Schnitzer takes her hand as he says to her, “Now you watch over this one here Fraulein,” nodding in Newkirk’s direction, “he’s got a job to do, but he also has a lot of friends worried about him right now. I’ll let them know he’s okay, but they want him back safe and sound.” Schnitzer pats Newkirk on the back and the men shake hands as Schnitzer departs.

Newkirk takes her hand and leads her back to the window where they stand peering through an opening in the curtains, they watch Schnitzer disappear around the corner. “Was that man very important?” she asks.

“Well, he’s a contact...and he’ll get word back to Pappa Bear and the others about what is happening.”

Putting her arms around him, she lays her head on him, “Peter, I know everything is going to be all right now. I know now that I’m with you, it just has to be...”

“You know love, I won’t be returning with you to London. I have to stay here. I mean I expect to be back in London sometime...hopefully soon, but...”

“But, what?”

“I want so much to be able to tell you that I’ll always be with you and we can continue like this forever, but then I remember that’s not what this is, and I can’t tell you that and I can’t let you believe that.”

Lifting her head and looking into his eyes she tells him, “I know that you can’t come with me to London. I also am torn between my heart and my head. I don’t want to do anything to endanger your life when you obviously have done so much for me, but that doesn’t change the way I feel.”

He kisses her and she melts in his arms. Allowing him to run his hands over her, he buries his head in her neck kissing her there as she runs her hands through his hair. This time pulling up the nightgown he reaches under to her flesh and she welcomes his hands to explore. Finding herself backed to the wall next to the window, she takes off his shirt and pulls him near. Loosening her nightgown it drops...It’s not long before they find themselves back in bed and making-love for a good part of the night. Exhausted, they fall asleep in each others arms.

When he awakes in the morning, it is still dark. Scouting the hall he leaves the room. When she wakes up she finds him gone. Feeling the bed next to her still warm, she knows he’s not up long. She begins to dress and puts on her robe. He sneaks back in the room, just as they hear another door down the hall open. His face again clean shaven and smooth he greets her with a kiss. Holding her in his arms he tells her, “We’re going to need to think about moving on...as much as I don’t want to...we’ll be running out of time. The gestapo car is gone - they must ‘ave left last night.”

“I know. We need to be going. You’ll be with me up until I leave for London?”

“Well, I can’t promise you that. Especially since we’ve spent some extra time here. As a matter of fact, I’m going to leave you now. I’ve been thinking...there’s a pub, the Hofbrau, down the street from here. Meet me there at one o’clock.”

“Do you think that’s safe?”

“No, not “safe”, I don’t think anything is “safe”, but it’s not far and I don’t believe anyone is looking for us now, or there would be more excitement. Best to act natural.” He quickly gathers his things from the room. “ Bye love, remember one o’clock.”

“Where will you go until then?”

“I’ll wait outside town and come back to meet you.”

“What do I do if you’re not there?”

“I’ll be there,” he says moving toward her. He kisses her good-bye and before she can reply, he’s gone. Almost silently he moves down the hall, down the steps and out the door. She watches out the window and waits for him disappear into the distance.

The minutes pass like hours as she waits to prepare to leave. She goes to breakfast, tries reading for a while, but has difficulty concentrating. Trying to busy herself with packing, while putting things together she finds a note on her dresser. She opens it and reads, “Remember me at one o’clock. Love, Peter.” She folds it, puts it into her coat pocket and prepares to leave.

Walking into the Hofbrau, she spots him immediately standing at the end of the bar with a beer. Before she reaches him the barmaid approaches him and leans over the bar giving him a full view of cleavage. Before she realizes it Elsa announces, “Liebchen, here you are - I’ve missed you!” Putting her bag down, she puts her arms around him and kisses him. The barmaid backs off and tends to the other customers. He holds her close and says, “ You know a little bit of jealousy looks good on you - not that you have any reason to be jealous. Are you ready? We’ve got a ways to go.”

“Yes, I’m ready.” With that he picks up her bag and they walk out together.

Just as they leave, a man sitting in the corner behind a newspaper calls the barmaid over. Pushing a stack of Deutche Marks her way, he asks her if she has time to answer some questions about the man who just left.

They continue on through the streets casually, even stopping to window shop now and again the way a couple out on a stroll might. This continues until they eventually clear the town and leave the main road for the more secluded woods. About ten minutes out of town the rain begins again. Within thirty minutes it’s coming down steadily and since they’re not making much headway, Newkirk figures they should find shelter and rest until the weather passes. Not much further they spot a barn in a pasture across the road on the next hill. By this time the temperature is getting colder. Tired and cold they make it inside. Leaving her at the doorway he enters first to make sure no one is inside. Except for a milking cow, a broken down horse and the occasional chicken, the barn is empty. Going up to the loft, he finds an old blanket and fixes it on a pile of straw for them to rest.

“Aren’t you going to rest a while, Peter?”

“Not right now. Go ahead. Take a nap even if you want, love. I think I had better watch things and make sure no one is coming.” He sat looking out at the pasture they came through and had a pretty good view down the road looking through an opening in the slat boards of the barn. It was now raining heavily. Soon it was beginning to get dark they decided to wait it out until morning.

All of this time together traveling and now waiting out the storm had given them much time to talk. The harder he tried not to get emotionally involved with her, the more he did. Newkirk had pilfered a deck of playing cards from the Hofbrau in case something would happen that they found they had to “hold-up” somewhere and wait... and this was just that sort of occasion. He had all ready taught her how to play “gin” and they were in their second hand of poker while still keeping a look-out when he could hardly keep his eyes open. “Go ahead, lay down and rest,” she told him, “I can keep watch for awhile.” As much as he hated to admit it, he was exhausted - and hungry. Maybe sleep would help. It would at least take his mind off of being hungry. Pulling part of the blanket over himself, he fell fast asleep.

When he woke-up several hours later, he found Elsa asleep against the barn wall wrapped in his coat. He went over, put his arms around her and whispered in her ear, “I sure do hope the gestapo isn’t after us.” Laughing now, “ Not that you would know if he was sitting right next to you!”

“Peter, I’m sorry!”

“It’s okay - from what I can tell we still have a short time before sunrise...But we better get a move on before someone comes to milk the cow!”

He quickly walks around and begins to put everything back the way he can remember it was when they arrived. Realizing she has not got the comforts of home she was used to, and accepting the bitterness of being a fugitive she excuses herself outside to search for a secluded spot, while he finishes inside and before they start the last leg of their journey.

She walks back lazily, but as soon as she opens the door she’s met by a forceful grip on her upper arm pulling her inside quickly.

“We’ve got to go-now!” he says with an intensity she is not accustomed to from him.

“Why...What..”

“I was watching outside to see what direction you went in,” pointing up toward the ridge in the road, “Look. There’s a car parked there. Looks like a staff car to me...a lot like that staff car you showed me in town.”

“Have you seen anyone?”

“Not yet, but they may be waiting for us to come out when the sun comes up. There’s another door here that leads out of the barn on the opposite side of the road. We can use it, but we’ll have to keep low to the ground.”

“I’ll do whatever you tell me.”

“Listen, is there anything you need from your bag? We won’t be able to take it. I’ll just bury it in the straw.”

“No, nothing.”

“Okay, come with me.” They manage to stay in the cover of the barn for a distance and then crawl along the tall grass until they come down a hill. The road is no longer visible. The rain has stopped, but the ground is muddy. Following the embankment of the hill they continue they’re journey. Due to the quick pace and the fear that the gestapo has been trailing them, they hardly speak.

They cover about two miles when the sun comes up shining brightly. They see a small cottage off alone on the top of a hill. He notices that she is barely able to keep moving, “Listen, why don’t you go over to that cottage. Tell them that your car has broken down on the road. You’ll have a place to clean-up and maybe even breakfast.”

“And what will you do?”

“I’ll wait for you here.”

“I won’t go without you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You said you’d do whatever I told you and now you’re disobeying a direct order. Go now!” He turns from her and walks away heading towards the woods. Running after him she stumbles and turns her ankle.

“Ouch!”

“What...?” as he turns around.

“Now you’ve done it,” he says shaking his head, “you couldn’t just do what I told you.

“Peter, we stay together. I won’t go anywhere alone here. Just give me a minute and I’ll be fine.” He kneels down next to her and picks up her ankle.

“No you won’t. Look, this is swellin’ already. You gave it a good turn.” Waiting a few moments and looking out to the cottage contemplating his next move, he looks back at her and begins to laugh. “Look at you...and the first night we met you told me I needed a bath. You should see yourself... I guess we’ll have to take our chances and knock on that door.”

“What, what if they’ll turn us in?”

“It’s getting cloudy all ready. You’re not going to last another day out hear in the cold and rain like this. I have your gun and another I brought with me. If it’s necessary we’ll do what we have to do.” Putting her arm around his neck, he lifts her up to her good leg. Balancing on him, they make it to the cottage. “Now, if they speak only German, you’ll have to cover for me...otherwise I’ll fake it the best I can.” He helps her over to the door and he knocks. It takes, but a moment for the door to open.

Meanwhile, back at camp the men are getting nervous. It’s not been easy covering for Newkirk for the past few days and now neither Schnitzer, nor any of the other contacts in town have heard anything more about him. The gestapo have still been coming into camp, but not as frequently. Hogan and his men figure they are keeping busy elsewhere.

In the tunnel, Baker has kept a steady vigil at the radio, hoping they would hear some news. Carter comes down the ladder from the barracks and approaches him, “Heard anything yet today?”

“No. As a matter of fact, things seem too quiet...you know like the calm before the storm.” They both sit together a few minutes staring at the radio as if they are “mentally willing” a message to be sent to them. Finally, Carter speaks.

“You know, my grandma always said, ‘A watched pot never boils,’ maybe the same is true for radios?”

“No, Carter. The same is not true for radios... I just hope Newkirk is not just out there somewhere playing with some girl and forgot to come home at ‘curfew’ while we all sit here.”

“Well, I just hope he’s okay. You know he may swindle a guy from time to time and cheat at cards...you know he does it...you just can’t catch him, ...but other than that he’s a pretty good guy.” With this, Baker just shakes his head and turns away.

Next, Hogan enters the radio room. “Heard anything, yet?” he directs at Baker.

“No.”

“Well, Newkirk’s got twenty-four hours... and after that he better hope the gestapo gets him before I do.”

Back at the cottage Newkirk and Elsa wait until the door opens further. In a German accent he addresses a little old man who opens the door. “Mein Herr, pardon us for intruding on you this early, but our car has broken down on the road and my wife has hurt her ankle - would you be kind enough to let us in and tend to it?”

Looking them over a bit suspiciously at first, he nods his head and welcomes them inside. The old man walks ahead of them and they see his wife at the stove cooking. She is a robust and jolly looking woman, not very tall and very grandmotherly. He mumbles something to her and she turns around with a great grin, “Welcome, it is not often we get visitors. Please sit down. Oh, my goodness look at you,” she says walking over to Elsa. Taking Elsa’s chin in her hand she says, ”What a pretty face - let’s get you some water and a towel to wash up and I get some bandages to wrap that ankle.” Elsa looks up at Peter standing next to her and smiles. He shrugs his shoulders and smiles back at her thinking at least they made it in the door and it doesn’t appear they would turn them in to the gestapo. The woman returns to the room with a basin of warm water and towels for the to wash off. She quickly begins to tend to the now very swollen ankle. Putting a pillow on the chair next to Elsa she sets her foot there. “Now just keep it up - it will help with the swelling. I was just preparing our breakfast - please won’t you join us?”

“Well, I was hoping I could leave my wife with you while I go and see if I can get the car running,” he says. Elsa turns abruptly and gives him a look.

“That would be fine, but why don’t you have something to eat and relax first. It looks like you have come a long way. No one hardly uses that road anymore and I’m sure you car will be fine. Where were you headed for?”

“My mother’s house in Dusseldorf. She’s not been well,” Elsa chimes in. Newkirk grins and looks at her approvingly seeing she has picked-up on the ability to improvise.

“Well, that’s still a long journey. You will both eat first and then you’ll travel.” The woman goes back to her cooking periodically making small talk with them.

“Elsa tugs at his coat and motions him to come close to her. He bends down next to her as she whispers, “What car? Don’t we need to have a car for you fix? Won’t it look suspicious when you go to fix the car and there’s no car there?”

“Not if its been stolen?” he replies matter-of-factly.

“If what’s been stolen?” she inquires.

“The car.”

“What car - that’s my point?”

“The car that we had that broke down on our way to visit your mother in Dusseldorf. Listen if you want to start with this you’ve got to see it through.”

They sit and enjoy a wonderful breakfast with the old couple who seem to greatly enjoy their company. The old man, having somewhat of a hearing problem, did not speak much, but liked the way the young man reminded him of himself years ago. After breakfast, Newkirk helped her clean-up. He went around with the old man and helped him to fix a few broken things around the house. Afterward, he brought in some wood to the kitchen for the stove and sat in the chair next to Elsa. Kissing her on the cheek he noticed something in the atmosphere had changed. The woman sat down at the table across from them. She began to speak, “Peter,” his head turned instantly with surprise at hearing his name. “Peter, I just want you to know that I’m very glad you two decided to come to our house. There were some things about your story which did not make sense, even to an old woman like me. When I asked Elsa about some of the things she told me she was Austrian. She has told me your on the run from the gestapo. You should know that my husband and I came here many years ago from Austria. We have never supported any of the things Hitler has done or has come to stand for....but we’re old. We, ourselves, had no place to go or money to get there. We never had any children and most of our family is dead anyway...Most people don’t even know we live up here and wouldn’t bother with us...What I want you to know is that you are both welcome to stay here as long as you need to.”

Dropping his head to think and then turning to look up at her he says with his natural voice, “I’m sorry. We don’t want to put you and your husband in any danger. I think we should go.”

“Where are you going to go?” she snaps back at him with an authoritarian tone. “Elsa said the gestapo were on the road. There’s no way she can travel far right now. At least stay the night and see how she feels in the morning. Besides you don’t need to feel like you’re putting us in danger...And as for my husband and I, - I have not seen that man smile for months. I think he needed a young man to come around for some companionship.” Peter smiles and shakes his head. Inside he had to admit that he rather enjoyed the old man. He never had much of a relationship with his father and the short time he had with the old man seemed to fill a void.

“All right,” he said. “We’ll stay, but only for the night. We’re all ready too long past due for getting to where we need to be.”

“Good!” the woman gets up from her chair and motions for him to come over. She puts her arms around him and thanks him again for staying. He goes back outside and continues to work with the old man and various odd jobs. The women spend the afternoon in the kitchen, keeping warm and telling stories from their pasts in Austria. The woman gives Elsa a robe to wear while her clothes are cleaned and hung to dry. Soon it’s time to prepare dinner. They continue to work together and talk as if they had known each other all their lives. Never once does the subject of how Elsa met Peter, where they were going or why the gestapo was after them come up. Now is a time for good memories of the past before the war.

After enjoying a long dinner together, they sit together and continue to talk. “Would you like a bath before going to sleep?” the woman asks.

“I know I certainly would,” Newkirk says.

“Fine. I’ll get you something to change into and get some hot water. You worked hard today, Peter,” she glances over at her husband who does not respond. I

hope you don’t mind if he kept you too busy... You should take some time now to relax so you rest well tonight.”

Newkirk was surprised to find that the little cottage would have such a “modern” convenience. The bath itself was cast iron with legs made to resemble a lion’s clawed foot. He was surprised a bit when after resting only a few minutes in the warm water that the door opened. Elsa entered quietly, still favoring her sore ankle a bit. “I guess you’re feeling better?” he asks.

“Yes, a bit. I actually felt a bit stiff and thought I should move around some.” She pulls a small stool over next to the bath and sits down. “Here, sit up and I’ll wash your back for you.” Newkirk willingly obliges enjoying her touch, she begins to rub his back and shoulders washing him off periodically with the warm water. He sits back and pulls her near. She leans over him and they kiss long and hard. He pulls open the robe revealing she has nothing on underneath. “I was hoping you wouldn’t mind if I bathed before bed,” she asks.

“No, I wouldn’t mind.” He sits up and welcomes her in. She sits down in front of him with her back to him. He begins to wash, rub and kiss her neck, back and shoulders. Reaching around he caresses over her body with his soapy hands. Reaching out he washes over the tops of her legs and then feels between them. Leaning back on him she reaches around to his face and they kiss some more. Letting her lay back further, he slowly wets her hair, scooping the water up in his hand and letting it fall over her. Letting her wet hair fall over his arms and chest. He continues to wash her hair and kisses her. Once finished he hugs her and pulls her close to him. “Wait here,” she says as she emerges from the bath. Laying out the towels on the floor she beckons him over. He lays down and she lays next to him, kissing his face, neck and still wet chest. He guides her over his body as she mounts on top of him. Again they find that familiar rhythm. He continues to touch and caress her in all the right places. After a few minutes he takes her hands and kisses them, then pulling her down close to his face he says, “I love you, you know.”

“I thought we weren’t getting involved. I thought there was no point.”

“There’s not. I know that...But I’m just telling you I do.”

“I love you, too.” They kiss and she continues the rhythm while leaning forward over him. It’s not long until they both reach a climax. They lay in each others arms still catching their breath. “Why did you say it?” she asks.

“What, say ‘I love you’? You didn’t want me to?”

“Of course I did. I wanted it more than anything, but now that you did and I heard it...it’s no longer just something I was hoping for...Now how do I leave you?”

“You’ll leave me because you know I’ll be coming to London for you.”

“Will you?”

“Yes.”

The bedroom they shared was small, but warm and cozy. The moonlight shone through the window and lit the room with a creamy glow. There they lay together making plans for after the war. Where and how he would let her know he was coming home. Who she could contact once in London to help her set up a flat for them. An alias so that she could write to him at the prison camp. This being the first she heard he was actually a prisoner fascinated her and made her feel quite proud of him that he was willing to give up his own freedom to help her and others get out of Germany. It was now late into the night. She turned away from him and lay staring out the window at the moon. He moved close to her and slept with her in his arms as he pressed his chest up against her back holding her tightly. His head leaning against hers. She lay there thinking of how she wished this night, - this moment would never end. She thought of all those things about herself she did not tell him. How would he react if he knew? If she could just freeze time and it would always be this way. Looking at the moon she marveled at no matter where she was and where he was the same moon would shine down on them both at night. Somehow she found comfort in that and was able to fall asleep.

The next morning the old woman got up early and prepared them a feast for breakfast. She packed them food to take along with them. Nearing the end of breakfast a knock came at the door. “Stay here, love,” he said to Elsa kissing her as he got up from the table. Looking toward the woman, “ Tell them she’s your daughter and I’ll hide.” He left the room. A second and stronger pound on the door. The old man answered and it was the two gestapo men from town with two uniformed men. The old man in a feeble attempt at buying some time for Newkirk stumbled over his words and continued to ask who they were and what they wanted. Finally, annoyed they pushed him aside and made their way in. “What’s this?” the woman demanded.

He responded in German, “We are on the look out for a strange man who was spotted in town a few days ago. We believe he may be a spy. Is there anyone else here?”

“No,” she replied. “You should be ashamed of yourself doing that to an old man. You have no right....”

“Wrong. We have all the right!” he shouted back. “And who are you?” he asked Elsa, touching her face. She turned from him sharply.

“That is our daughter,” the old woman answered for her.

“Funny. A woman fitting your description was seen with the man we are searching for...You don’t know who we might be looking for and where we could find him, do you?”

“No.”

“Well, I think maybe your memory might improve if you come with us back to headquarters where we can talk about this for some time in detail.”

“You’re not taking her anywhere!” the old man shouted coming toward him. One of the SS soldiers crossed his rifle over the old man’s chest using it to push him backwards and causing him to fall. With that Newkirk appears in the doorway to the kitchen. “Here I am - I’m what your looking for,” he announces. One of the soldiers grabbed him by the arm as if he captured him.

“No!” Elsa shouts seeing him in the doorway, as she and the woman help the old man to a chair.

“They don’t know anything. They gave me some food and I was going to be on my way.”

“On your way where, ‘spy’?” the gestapo man snorted back at him.

“On my way to England...Corporal Peter Newkirk, RAF. I escaped from Stalag 13.”

“Tie his hands.” One of the uniformed men obeys tying his hands behind his back. “Before we do anything, I have a few things I would like to ask you.” He waits until Newkirk’s hands are firmly secured and the soldiers have him backed-up to the wall. “Tell me about the explosion at the cannon factory. Who secured the explosives?”

“I don’t know anything about a cannon factory or explosives.” With that the gestapo man nods and one of the soldiers rams the butt of his rifle into Newkirk’s stomach. He falls to his knees doubled over and trying to breathe. Elsa moves toward him, but the old woman stops her. “I don’t know anything,” he says shaking his head. “I told you, I just escaped from Stalag 13,” he gasps. His head still down trying to catch his breath, “Take me to Colonel Klink. He’ll tell you I belong there.”

“Ah, yes, Colonel Klink. We know Colonel Klink. Put him on his feet,” the soldiers obey. “Let’s try this question. A few weeks ago a train bridge was blown up. Who was responsible.”

“I don’t know anything about...” this time one soldier holds him up while the other swings landing a full-force blow to his face knocking his head back. Elsa breaks away and goes to him. She notices his gun is no longer in his belt. He must have hidden it somewhere in the house.

“Leave him alone. He told you he doesn’t know anything. He’s a prisoner - what would he know about explosions?” She picks up his head and he seems to come back to consciousness.

“Go back,” he tells her. “Go back this has nothing to do with you and your family.”

“Oh, I believe to the contrary, ‘Prisoner’. Her ‘family’ has been harboring an escaped prisoner and for that there should be punishment.”

“Please don’t. It was me. They didn’t do anything, but give me some food.”

“Well, then I guess it should be you that’s punished.” Again he nods toward the uniformed men who each take a turn at him. By the time they finish he’s bloody and lying on the floor. The old woman tells Elsa to turn away fearing the more she reacts to what they’re doing the more they will hurt him. Still the tears stream down her face. The soldiers back away from him. He lies motionless on the floor. When Elsa reaches him, she lifts his head and his eyes open slowly and partially. He whispers, “Go on like I told you...I’ll be coming home.”

“Bring the car down from the road and get him in it. We’ll see what Colonel Klink has to say about him.” They shove him into the back of the car and speed off down the road.

During the car trip, Newkirk faded in and out of consciousness. He had no memory of most of the trip. His eyes only opened only when he was pulled out of the car and landed on his knees back in Stalag 13. He looked up and LeBeau was standing across the compound. Seeing his friend, LeBeau immediately went inside the barracks to get Colonel Hogan and to turn-on the “coffeepot”. The soldiers dragged Newkirk inside, his hands still tied and dropped him on the floor of Klink’s office. Hogan entered right behind them. “Colonel I demand to know what happened to Newkirk.”

“You demand,” the gestapo man shouted, “who are you to demand anything. I caught an escaped prisoner. He had to be subdued and trapped. If there is injury to this man than it is his own doing.” Turning to Klink and ignoring Hogan, he says, “My interrogation is not yet complete. I believe this man knows much more. I’ll be back in a few days to complete my interrogation....,” looking down at Newkirk on the floor, he adds, “ more thoroughly.” With that he and his men leave the office. Hogan kneels down next to Newkirk and wiping some of the dried blood away with his hand says, “Colonel Klink, Newkirk needs a doctor. A real doctor, not just the camp medic.” Klink, disgusted by what they did to Newkirk and the display by the gestapo, nods in agreement. Going to the outer office he directs his secretary to call a doctor. Hogan’s men get Newkirk back to Hogan’s quarters and put him in the bunk. LeBeau cleans off the blood and puts ice on his swollen face. He sits vigil next to him until the doctor arrives.

Klink enters Hogan’s quarters with the doctor. “What happened to this man?”

“He was returned to us by the gestapo after escaping,” Klink replied.

“Well, I hope he’s learned his lesson. This does not look good Colonel,” the doctor told him. The doctor taped his broken ribs, put in some stitches and taught LeBeau how to clean the wounds and change the dressings. “Rest, liquids and food as soon as he seems able. It will be important to try and get him sitting up for some time each day, too. He doesn’t need pneumonia now. For tonight though, just let him rest. Here is some medication for the pain. He may need it in the morning.” LeBeau stayed by his side through the night.

Come morning, Carter noticed something going on over at the front gate. He walked up behind Schultz, who appeared to be bartering for some fresh farm goods from two women. When the younger woman saw Carter she walked over to him. Taking a chance she told him, “My name is ‘Gemini’ - does that mean anything to you?”

Looking a little confused he said, “Well, I’m a Libra, myself,” he says with a smile.

“You don’t know Papa Bear then?”

“Oh, sure.... Oh I get it - you’re ‘Gemini’!”

“Not so loud,” as she quiets him. “Do you know about Peter? Is he here?”

“Yes, he’s in the colonel’s quarters. What did they do to him? Klink even got a doctor from town to come - he’s never done that before.”

“Is he all right?” she begs.

“I don’t know. He hasn’t said anything, yet. Louie - that’s LeBeau he’s taking care of Newkirk and won’t let anyone near him. He’s kinda motherly that way” Seeing she looks upset, “But I think he’s going to be all right,” he adds.

“Did you take care of everything my darling?” the old woman asks her.

“Yes, they are taking care of everything here,” she replied. They turn to walk away. She desperately turns to him, “Is there anyway I can see him?”

“I don’t think so,” he says shaking his head.

“As soon as you are able ...please tell him that I came.” They continue to walk outside along the fence. Carter follows after them.

“Wait. Did you come through the path in the woods?”

“Yes.”

“Did you see a large tree stump covered in moss?”

“Yes.”

“Can you come back at night and wait there.” She nods. Carter runs to the barracks and tells Hogan he made contact with “Gemini”. Hogan sends Carter out that night to bring her in.

She was now dressed in overalls and a dark coat, but still, she looked pretty. The men showed her their attention, but upon meeting Hogan the first thing she did was to ask about Newkirk. He told her it was dangerous to take her upstairs, but maybe about 30 minutes after the last role call, if things seemed quiet he’d allow her to see him. He assured her they were taking good care of him. She updated him on what had happened prior to the gestapo taking Newkirk away. Hogan felt sure Newkirk said nothing to the gestapo from the way they beat him up. It concerned him that they would be coming back and Newkirk may not fair as well during the next “interrogation”. He told her she had missed this contact with the British sub, but she didn’t care. She wanted to be here closer to Peter now anyway.

In the meantime, Sergeant Baker made contact with London. He was given a message for Hogan. Under no circumstances was he to allow ‘Gemini’ to leave. Hogan confirmed with London, and told them getting her out at this time would be impossible. It was best to try and wait things out.

Finally, role call had ended, the men were in their bunks and it was lights out. Elsa sat down in the radio room with Baker drinking coffee and listening to stories of growing up black in the America. Hogan appeared and asked her if she was still interested in seeing Newkirk. Hogan said he started talking this afternoon, but was in a great deal of pain. He didn’t tell Newkirk she was here, for fear he may try to get to her and hurt himself more. Seeing her would be a surprise. He took her upstairs. Hogan knocked on the door, interrupting the conversation between Newkirk and LeBeau. Hogan told LeBeau he was relieved from his vigil with Newkirk and that he should get some rest himself. Newkirk closed his eyes to sleep not realizing Elsa entered the dark room. She knelt next to him in the bunk and took his hand in hers and kissed him. Recognizing her at once, he returned the kiss.

“How did you get here? Not that I’m complaining, mind you, but how...”

She kissed him again. “Well, I just told them they had to take me prisoner, too,” she laughed and then told him how she met Carter and was waiting to see him all night. “You look better than the last time I saw you, but still have some healing to do I see,” she nods at the stitches over his eye.

“Oh, I’ll be right as rain in a few weeks,” he sighed. “Here,” he said patting the bed next to him. “Help me move over,” he said with some strain in his voice, “I have some broken ribs and it hurts to move.” They managed enough space for her and she got in the blanket with him. Every time she touched him he flinched with pain. Besides the ribs, his back and chest were pretty bruised and sore. Finally, giving up she just laid next to him on her side. She was happy just to be with him and know he would be fine.

“That was an incredibly brave thing you did.”

“Incredibly brave, or did you mean incredibly stupid,” he quips back.

“You could have been gone from that cottage I know, but you stayed and you did what you did. I never have known anyone to do something so brave for someone else.”

“Well, don’t get used to it. I can’t promise you I’d do it again,” he states dryly.

“Would it hurt you if I kissed you again?”

“Probably, ...but do it any way.” She manages a spot next to him where they can gently embrace and cause him as little pain as possible. The next few hours go like minutes and once again Hogan knocks at the door telling them Elsa would have to be downstairs in five minutes. “Will you come back, tonight, love?”

“Yes. It seems we did miss the rendezvous with the sub. I’ll be here for a while longer. I hope for a lot longer.” She kisses him good-bye and returns to the tunnel. Newkirk lays back and goes to sleep.

Their evening meetings continue on for the next few nights. Each day Newkirk is stronger and more alert. One night he had Louie help him into Hogan’s desk chair. He was sitting there waiting for her. When she came into the dark room she could see his silhouette in the moonlight. “Come here,” he said. She willingly approached. He sat her down on his lap and they kissed. Resuming where they left off the night before. “You’ve seemed to find something that works for you. Either that or your feeling much better,” she laughs.

“I think it’s a little of both,” he replied as he kissed her again.

Unfortunately, this night was to end abruptly. The gestapo arrived in the middle of the night and demanded Klink bring Newkirk to them. Hogan put Elsa in his closet before Schultz came for him. She stayed in Hogan’s quarters and listened with them on the coffeepot. Hogan accompanied Newkirk to Klink’s office helping him cross the compound. “We will take this man now,” the gestapo man stated.

“Take him where?” Hogan snapped back.

“Take him to Gestapo Headquarters for a formal interrogation.”

“Colonel Klink, Newkirk is still not healed from their last interrogation. You can’t let them have him.”

“I have a signed letter from General Burkhalter stating that I can take the prisoner,” the gestapo man presented the letter. The arguing between the gestapo and Hogan, the gestapo and Klink, and Hogan and Klink continued on and on. Suddenly, Newkirk felt sick. The room was spinning and getting darker and then... his knees buckled and he hit the floor. Without realizing it, Newkirk probably saved his own life by passing out at that time. Seeing him a heap on his floor again, Klink called General Burkhalter and described the scene to him. Burkhalter had no knowledge of the condition Newkirk was returned to Klink in the first place and rescinded the order leaving him in Klink’s custody. The men quickly put Elsa back in Hogan’s closet as some of them went to the compound to help Hogan and Schultz bring him back.

Seeing him back and the gestapo gone from the camp, she willingly complied to returning to the tunnel. LeBeau would once again stay with him. He would let her know if anything in his condition changed.

She slept on the small cot near the radio. She slept for several hours and never heard Hogan on the radio with the Underground. Someone from the Underground was coming tonight. They were to make sure she was there when the Underground agents arrived.

Elsa had gone upstairs to “relieve” LeBeau from his post with Newkirk before the Underground agents arrived. Hogan took them up to his quarters. Elsa was lying with his arm around her and she was snuggled next to him, on her side, her head resting on his shoulder. The room was lit only by the moonlight. Startled when the men entered the room, they both awoke. “Who’s this, Colonel?” Newkirk asked as she helped him up from the bunk.

“These are the Underground agents you were supposed to meet with.”

“We heard you had a run-in with the gestapo Corporal Newkirk. London and the Underground want to thank you for your efforts on this mission. Colonel, we’ll take the prisoner from here.”

“Which prisoner?” Newkirk inquirers.

“The woman. We have orders to take her hostage. We were going to use her to get information from her husband, Field Marshall General Von Helding.”

“What? You had me risk my life for what...to take her hostage...why did she think she was going to London?”

“The plan was originally to take her to London, but when you did not make the rendezvous, we had a change of plan.”

“What happened to getting me out of Germany? I was supplying the Underground with information for months.”

“Information we all ready knew or would have found out.”

Newkirk, looking at Elsa, “Husband?”

“Yes, I’m sorry Peter, it’s true.” Now responding desperately, “Peter, my plan was to go to London and start a new life. I knew years ago before the war started that I couldn’t stay married to him. I left him before. Each time he came after me. Usually not alone. He married me for access to the power my father had in Austria. At one time he posted a guard around me for twenty-four hours at a time. He had been distant and abusive almost from the beginning. My father adored him and would hear nothing bad about him. Ever since my father died, things had gotten even worse.” Crying now, “I’ve been trying to get away and I thought London was helping me.”

“Worse, yet, I thought I was helping you,” he moves toward her and takes her in his arms.

“Well, now that we all know what everyone’s motives are here, I guess we need to decide what to do,” Hogan states.

“Colonel, may we remind you our orders ultimately come down from London HQ,” the Underground agent said.

“I understand that,” Hogan answered.

“Do you think London knows the whole story, Colonel. Do you think if they knew...”

“They’d change their minds,” Hogan says finishing Newkirk’s thought,... “I doubt it.”

“Listen, she’s not going anywhere right now. She’ll stay here until we can confirm with London that the plan is still a ‘Go’ and take it from there. For right now, you all can wait in the tunnel.”

“The woman is not to be left alone to escape - I’m not sure Corporal Newkirk isn’t in any condition, let alone the right frame of mind to carry out these orders.”

“All right,” Hogan responds, “I’ll leave one of my other men with them, too- Just for safe keeping.” He calls in LeBeau. “Corporal LeBeau, could you keep an eye on these two. We don’t want them running through the front gate to escape.”

“Oui, Colonel. I’ll keep an eye on them.” Everyone leaves Hogan’s quarters except for Louie, Newkirk and Elsa. They fill LeBeau in on what is happening. He agrees that London could not have thought out this plan, or at least does not know the situation.

While they were talking to LeBeau, Hogan was talking to HQ. They were going to need to confer and get back to him. The Underground agents were getting nervous and felt they should just take the girl. If London didn’t want her later, they’d let her go. Hogan wouldn’t hear it. Acting against his better judgment, he let Elsa stay upstairs in his quarters, just to keep her and the Underground agents apart. The night moved on slowly, with no further transmission from London.

The next morning, a general’s staff car pulls into the compound. A tall man with greased back hair and stern features exits the car. He looks around the camp briefly and then enters Klink’s office. Hogan rushes into his quarters knocking the door fully open. LeBeau closes it and stands watch as Hogan puts together the “coffeepot”. They had missed the introductions, but as soon as Elsa hears the voice her face tells them what they were afraid to know. It was her husband. A gestapo agent answered a report that a woman fitting his wife’s description had been seen in this area. When she was no longer staying at the house where she was found, the gestapo suggested he try Colonel Klink for information. His wife had been missing for three weeks and he feared she was kidnapped. He wanted to speak to the man who they found with her at the house.

“Corporal Newkirk, get into the rest of your uniform and come with me quick,” Hogan ordered. LeBeau helped Newkirk get his shirt, jacket and boots on and assisted him out the door. Hogan and Newkirk stepped outside just as Klink and the General got to the door.

“You’ve got company Colonel Klink? Well, I hope you didn’t plan on a tour of the barracks, the maid hasn’t been in this week,” Hogan grins.

“No, Hogan,” Klink retorts, “actually we have a few questions for Newkirk. Glad to see you’re feeling better, Newkirk,” he says with a sneer.

“What questions is it you have Colonel Klink?” Newkirk innocently asks.

“Actually, they are my questions,” Von Helding bellows. “When the gestapo found you, they said a woman was with you. Do you recall a woman?”

“A woman. Now let me think...Yeah... Yes, sir...there was a woman. Nice grandma type, fixed me breakfast she did... good thing too because all I got from the gestapo was a few broken ribs and these stitches here, you see.”

“It’s going to be a lot more than that if that insolence continues,” he shouts into Newkirk’s face. “Was there another woman there?”

“Was there another woman there?” he rhetorically repeats scratching his head as if thinking. “Why? Why would that be important to you, sir?”

Losing patience he grabs Newkirk’s jacket lapel and pulling his pistol he holds to Newkirk’s forehead, “That woman is my wife. Give me the right answer and you’ll live - for now.”

“Colonel Klink I object to this continuous and constant interrogation of my man!” Hogan shouts.

Acting a little nervous, “It’s all right Colonel Hogan. Yes, there was another woman there. But, they told me she was their daughter. She was there when I got there ...and she was there when the gestapo carried me out...at least the best that I can recall...I think I was more unconscious than conscious at the time. Maybe those gestapo agents took her. The one was a bit on the friendly side with her if you know what I mean sir, beggin’ your pardon sir.” Von Helding drops his gun and let’s go of Newkirk.

“Let this man go, Colonel Klink.” Walking away, his hands clenched in fists. “I didn’t like the tone that gestapo agent used with me. It was as if he was taunting me. I think this man is telling the truth. It is as if the gestapo is making a fool of me! This may be a test of my loyalty by the them... My answers lie with the gestapo.” With that he gets in his car and drives off. Klink returns to his office, but not before reminding Newkirk that he still can look forward to thirty days in the “Cooler”.

Later that night, the men do receive a transmission from London. First, they are informed of the surrender of the Japanese. Second, with the war in the Pacific over, it is hoped an end will soon come to the war in Europe. The Von Helding hostage plan has been scrapped. Field Marshall General Von Helding was shot down by the gestapo when he entered Gestapo Headquarters and shot an agent. The agent returned fire, shooting him in the heart. He was dead at the scene.

Upon receiving the transmission from London regarding Van Helding, Hogan called Elsa out of his quarters and gave her the news privately. Regardless of her previous plans, she was visibly shocked and upset. Once regaining her composure, she returned to Newkirk and told him. Not entirely sure how to react, he watched her for a clue. She seemed a bit distant and colder, but he justified that with the shock of the news. She returned to the bunk with him and they spent the night in silence.

She woke him when she gently kissed him good-bye. Seeing his eyes open she asks, “What are you doing up? You still need more rest.”

“You weren’t planning on going anywhere and not telling me were you?”

“It’s early in the morning, I’m sure Colonel Hogan will be knocking any minute...”

“No, you’re not answering me...I’m not talking about Hogan,...or going back to the tunnel.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, after all this you wouldn’t just leave and not say good-bye would you?”

“Peter, I don’t plan on leaving. I’ll stay here as long as Colonel Hogan thinks I can. I’ll stay here until the end of the war if I can. I’m sorry about last night. I don’t think I even understand what I was feeling...I’m sorry if I can’t explain it to you...it’s just that having lived in such terror for so long...and now knowing I don’t have to...I know this will sound so strange to you, but I didn’t know how to feel...one thing I do know is my feelings for you haven’t changed...please be patient.” He pulls her back to him and kisses her deeply. “What was that we said? Oh, yes I remember..” Smiling at him she says, “I love you.”

“I love you,” he replies. With that she promises to return that night and leaves for the tunnel.

For the first time since his return, Newkirk rejoins the rest of the camp for role call. He’s still excused from his “duties” around the camp due to his condition, but Klink reminds him at the end of role call that his thirty days in the “Cooler” will begin at the next morning’s role call. LeBeau walks slowly back to the barracks with him letting his friend lean on him. “Oh, it won’t be so bad. Actually, thirty days to lay around and rest is just what I need.”

“Well, I thought maybe I could get you something special for dinner while you’re there. Is there anything special you would want?”

“No, mate. Whatever... as long as it doesn’t come from the camp kitchen,” they laugh together as they make their way inside.

Once inside and settled, Newkirk waits until the others have all left and he’s alone. He makes his way to his footlocker and with great effort manages it open and begins to rummage through his treasures. Finding what he was looking for...he must now look for Schultz.

....TO BE CONTINUED....

The End
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FanFic
The Richard Dawson Experience

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Last UpDated: 18 August 2001.
Site Copyright © 2001. Lisa Inc., All Rights Reserved.
Story Copyright © 2000-2001. Tiger Inc., All Rights Reserved.

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