"Come on, raus, raus!"

"Easy, Schultzie, we're coming." Newkirk yawned as Barracks 2 emptied. Colonel Hogan strolled out into the brisk morning air, zipping his jacket tight. The rotund sergeant began counting the sleepy, shivering prisoners. The odor of the kantine making breakfast filled the air. Carter stuck his hands in his pockets.

"Hey, Colonel, look out there," he murmured.

Hogan turned his head as Klink stepped onto the porch. Outside Stalag 13 rested three trucks and a long black car. Nazi flags fluttered and snapped in the breeze. "Schultz, report!"

"All present and accounted for, sir!"

"Attention! All prisoners are restricted to the barracks until further notice!"

"I protest, Kommandant! For what reason?!" Hogan demanded.

"The Gestapo has requested a meeting. You are not invited, Colonel Hogan. Dismissed!"

Hogan glanced at the trucks as his men clustered around him. "Gestapo," Newkirk muttered. "Ruddy charming."

"What do you think the filthy Boches want, mon Colonel?" LeBeau queried.

"Nothing good," Hogan commented.

"Probably here about that train we blew up," Kinch suggested.

"Maybe. Let's get inside." Hogan tapped Carter's shoulder. "Let's go. Warm up the coffee pot, Kinch."

Schultz gestured the men inside but grabbed Newkirk's arm as he passed. "Not you, Englander. The Kommandant wants you."

"What for?" Newkirk protested. Hogan turned as Schultz pulled Newkirk back outside.

"Hey! What's going, Schultz?"

"All I know, Herr Colonel, is Newkirk is wanted outside."

"Then I go with him. I'm Senior POW here."

"Nein, Colonel Hogan. Just Newkirk."

"Come on, Schultz, you can't take just Newkirk," Kinch protested.

"Oui, Schultzie. He will get lonely," LeBeau said.

"Nein!" Schultz snapped. "I have my orders. Come on, Newkirk."

Newkirk's pupils dilated but he nodded. "All right, Schultzie. Be back in a tick, mates. Keep the coffee hot."

Hogan stepped forward but Schultz held up his hand. "Please, Colonel Hogan." His voice trembled. Hogan blinked at the fear in Schultz's face.

"It's okay, gov'nor. I'll be all right." Newkirk looked at Hogan, green eyes wide. Hogan gazed steadily at the Corporal and Newkirk managed a grin. Then Schultz closed the door.

Three heartbeats later, Hogan raised the periscope. Carter opened the door slightly. LeBeau peered out beside him. "It's not just Newkirk," Hogan said softly.

"What's going on?" Carter asked eagerly.

"The trucks are coming in," Kinch said from the window. "How many men are out there?"

"At least 100, 200 men." Hogan shifted weight. "What's going on?"

"Uh oh," Kinch muttered. "Take a look, Colonel."

"That's a new major. Wonderful. Hochstetter must be out of town."

"They must have all the English prisoners out there," Carter exclaimed.

"He's right, mon Colonel. The only people out there are l'anglais."

"Why?" Kinch murmured aloud.

"No!" Hogan shouted as the trucks started being loaded. He lowered the periscope and pushed past LeBeau. The sound of rifles made him hesitate and a hand yanked him back into the barracks and shut the door.

"Not wise, Colonel," Kinch warned, releasing Hogan's jacket. "The Gestapo doesn't play around."

"They're taking them," Carter exclaimed from the window.

"All of them?" Hogan asked, going back to the periscope.

"Non. They are selecting certain ones," LeBeau replied as he cracked open the door again. "Hopefully Newkirk will not be chosen."

"No such luck," Hogan growled. He watched the major grab Newkirk's collar and toss him against the back of a truck. Even across the compound, Newkirk's yelp could be heard. Hogan ground his teeth as Schultz helped Newkirk to his feet. Newkirk shook his head and Schultz helped him into the truck. Hogan watched as the trucks were loaded and the major argued with Klink. The trucks pulled out of Stalag 13 and as the gates closed, Hogan stalked to Klink.

"Don't start with me, Hogan." Klink held up a hand. "I don't want to hear it."

"Where are my men?"

"Major Helder had orders and needed certain men. He selected people."

"Who is this major?"

"He's Gestapo. That's all I need to know, Hogan. He has orders from Berlin."

"These are my men! The Geneva Conventation..."

"Is not what the Gestapo cares about," Klink interrupted. "I'm sorry!"

"Where are they going?"

"He wouldn't tell me. Only that the Gestapo needed them. I didn't have a choice, Colonel Hogan."

"Why only British POWs?"

"Because that is what he demanded."

"I want them back, Kommandant."

"So do I, Colonel. Unfortunately, they belong to the Gestapo now."

Hogan fought back a rising surge of rage and fear. Klink left him in the compound. Hogan turned to his men as they huddled around him. "Not good," he reported. "No one knows where they're going."

"Why?" Kinch asked.

"Klink doesn't know. Nor does he know why this Major Helder chose only Englishmen."

"Here comes Schultz." LeBeau muttered. The fat sergeant hurried to Hogan.

"I have something for you, Colonel Hogan. Newkirk wanted me to give this to you." He handed Hogan a soft handful of cloth.

"Thanks, Schultz." Hogan recognized Newkirk's cap and clenched it tight.

"I am sorry about this, Colonel Hogan."

"Why did they choose Newkirk?" Carter asked.

"I do not know. All I know is Major Helder spoke to each man and chose around 50."

"Why did the Major toss him?" Kinch questioned.

"Eh, Major Helder did not like Newkirk's answers. The Englander has a fresh mouth."

"Oui," LeBeau agreed.

"Thanks again, Schultz." Hogan headed back to the barracks, his men beside him. At the barracks, LeBeau asked

"What did he give you?"

Hogan opened his fist and showed the men. "He put his pencil sharpener and lock picks inside."

"Smart," Kinch murmured. "At least the Gestapo won't find them."

"But he's helpless," Carter protested. "I mean, he has no way out without his picks."

"What are we going to do, Colonel?"

"LeBeau, bring me a few of the guys not chosen. I want to know why those men were selected. Kinch, contact the underground, find out if they know anything. Carter, see what we have on this Helder."

"Gotcha," Carter eagerly said.

In about five minutes, three of the rejected British soldiers stood in front of Hogan in Barracks Two with LeBeau. Carter held a file in his hand at the table. "Corporal Hawkins, Sergeant Wilkins, and Private Shaw," LeBeau introduced.

"What did he ask you?" Hogan demanded.

"Just our names and rank and what unit we belonged to," Hawkins said, his Scottish burr slightly slurring his words.

"Any idea what he was looking for?" Hogan leaned against a bunk.

"He listened to the way we answered," Shaw replied. Hogan tilted his head at the Irish lilt. LeBeau glanced at him.

"And you?" Hogan asked Wilkins. "Anything you noticed?"

"He was very particular, sir," Wilkins replied. "He had a few people repeat their answers."

Hogan studied Wilkins. "He took only English prisoners, right?"

Wilkins nodded. "Yes, sir."

"He didn't want any Irish or Scotsmen," Hogan mused. "Why not?"

"But, mon Colonel, Sergeant Wilkins is English," LeBeau said.

"He just doesn't sound like Newkirk," Carter said, flipping through the file.

Hogan's eyes widened and LeBeau stared at Carter. "He's right,' LeBeau blurted.

"Newkirk and I have different backgrounds." Wilkins said. He looked at Shaw and Hawkins. "I think you and your men pegged it, sir. All the chosen men are Cockney."

"He's looking for city boys," Hawkins agreed.

Hogan frowned. Wilkins smiled slightly. "Helder made a few errors. 'e didn't get all of us."

Hogan jerked as the upper class English slid into Cockney as thick as Newkirk's. "I thought you were from Sussex," Hawkins said.

" 'Ad to spend me youth somewhere. Summers in London streets. I was told I was a bleedin' disgrace to me name." Wilkins shrugged. "So Helder wants Londoners. Why?"

"He must want information about something in the city." Hogan paced. "Or he could want street smarts. It has to be something with London." He looked at the three men. "Thanks. I appreciate your help."

"Anything you need, sir," Wilkins said. They left and Hogan turned to Carter.

"Anything on Helder, Carter?"

"Nothing good," Carter replied, looking at Hogan with a pale face. "He's not easy on his prisoners."

"What are we going to do, Colonel?"

Hogan straightened up. "We're going to find out what's going on."