Author's Note: Others own the Hogan's Heroes characters. The other characters are my creations. Please do not use them without my permission.
The Refugee – Part 3
By Diane Maher
Karla felt the jolt as the car was put into gear and then it moved forward. The car paused briefly as the front gate of Stalag 13 was opened. Karla remained still underneath a blanket in the back seat until the car stopped a short while later. The driver left the car and Karla listened for any sound that indicated the presence of others. It was several minutes before she dared move the blanket off herself. When she eased herself up to look out the car window, she found that the car was parked alongside the road. They couldn't be very far from Stalag 13. Glancing out the back window, she saw the main gate a couple of hundred yards away just around the slight bend in the road.
Why had the driver stopped here? Karla asked herself. She glanced anxiously at her watch. It was just after 2200 hours. Then, she heard muffled voices and ducked down out of sight. One of the voices was feminine.
"Where are you Heinrich?" the woman whispered.
"Here, Hilda," a man replied as he approached the car. "I thought you loved Colonel Hogan."
"I thought I did. And then I met you," Hilda said.
"Umm hmmm," Heinrich said. "I'm glad you feel that way."
"Why did you insist on meeting here?" Hilda asked.
"Although I'm helping in the search for Colonel Hoffman, I wanted to see you," Heinrich replied.
"Why are you looking for Colonel Hoffman?" Hilda asked.
"She is missing and suspected to be a traitor. After hearing what General Freiberger told us about her, I'd like to be the one to capture her; I could get a promotion," Heinrich replied.
"It would be wonderful if you could get a promotion, Heinrich," Hilda whispered.
In a softer tone, Heinrich said, "I missed seeing you today."
Hilda hugged him and replied, "I missed you today too."
Karla's eyes widened upon hearing Heinrich's comments regarding her status in the eyes of her superiors. She knew that it would be bad, but it had been her choice to defect. She couldn't go back. Her conscience wouldn't allow it. The next thing she heard was the grunting and soft moaning of the two lovers. I've got to get out of here! But which way should I go? And how can I leave without them knowing I'm here? Karla thought anxiously.
Suddenly, there was a thud against the car as the two secret lovers leaned against it. Karla looked up and saw their bodies pressed against the front passenger side door. I can't get out of the car and leave without being seen! Verdammt! she thought. Trapped in the back seat, Karla considered her few remaining options.
Hilda asked, "Shall we continue this inside the car, my love?"
"Of course," Heinrich replied as he pressed the button on the handle of the rear passenger car door.
Karla cursed herself for being too slow to get out of the car. She lunged forward, grabbed the door handle on the far side of the car and was able to open the door just as the door behind her opened. She was almost free.
"What have we here?" Heinrich asked as he leapt across the back seat.
"Nein! Let me go!" Karla cried out as he grabbed her ankle and tripped her. She fell hard onto the frozen, snow-covered ground. Before she could stand and run, the man scrambled through the car and out the other side where he pulled her up by the back of her tunic and slammed her mercilessly against the car. Stunned, Karla gasped for breath. Her heart sank as Heinrich pushed her hands onto the surface of the car and frisked her.
When Heinrich turned her to face him, Karla had a look of defiance on her face. She swung her right arm up to punch him in an attempt to escape.
Heinrich firmly grasped both her wrists then and threatened, "Don't try that again, you'll regret it, I promise you!"
"Who is it, Heinrich?" Hilda asked as she came around and stood next to him.
Heinrich looked closely at Karla's face and exclaimed, "You're Colonel Hoffman!"
Hilda looked at her, gasped and said, "It is her! Get her into the car, Heinrich and I'll drive back to Stalag 13."
Karla's eyes had adjusted to the dark now and by the light of the moon, she recognized Heinrich as the guard named Private Stolz whom she had spoken to at the main gate upon her return to Stalag 13. He pulled out his Luger and pointed it at her.
"You are under arrest," Stolz said.
Karla swallowed nervously. She knew she had no choice but to surrender if she wanted to live. Help could be called quickly from Stalag 13 or she would be shot trying to escape if she ran now. At least this way, she may have a chance if Hogan could really get her out of the country like he said he could. Stolz pulled out his handcuffs, turned her around and pushed her hands onto the car. He then took one of her arms, cuffed her wrist, and pulled it behind her. Karla closed her eyes in despair for a moment as Stolz cuffed her other wrist.
Stolz turned Karla to face them. "You're my ticket to a promotion, Colonel."
"Humph! A promotion. What does that mean for you besides more money and a chance to be with Hilda more often?" Karla asked, her tone acid.
"Precisely. I will get further in the German army," Heinrich said. "I would have thought that with your rank, you understood that concept. Or perhaps you got your rank in a less conventional way than we men do?"
Karla kicked Stolz in the shin and he slapped her face hard. Then Karla turned her gaze away from Stolz and saw Hilda's smug look that made her sick. You bitch! Karla thought.
"Stop staring at me!" Hilda demanded. "Heinrich, will you make her stop glaring at me?"
Stolz backhanded Karla. Karla's eyes narrowed in defiant anger, and she looked away from Hilda. Stolz barked, "Get in the back seat, mach schnell!"
Karla complied; Stolz climbed in after her, keeping her covered the entire time. Hilda climbed in the front seat, started the motor, put the car into gear, turned it around, and headed back to Stalag 13. When Hilda parked the car in front of the administration building, Karla noticed that the compound and the buildings were dark.
Stolz noticed Karla's expression of fear and his lips turned upward into an evil grin. He said, "Hilda, bring Colonel Klink, General Freiberger and Major Hochstetter to your desk. They'll be interested in our prisoner." Hilda nodded once, left the car and went to get the officers.
"Get out of the car, schnell!" Stolz ordered after he climbed out of the car. Karla obeyed. Stolz shoved her in the back and she stumbled forward and up the steps to the administration building. He opened the door, turned on the lights and she walked inside.
"Sit down. You'll be dealt with now, you filthy traitor!" Stolz sneered.
While Karla sat in the chair outside of Klink's office, she felt the sting on her face where Stolz had slapped her. As Karla listened to the wall clock ticking away, her mind turned to Hogan and she found herself wishing that she'd stayed with him. Karla realized then how foolish she had been in not trusting Hogan to protect her. She hoped that somehow he could get her out of this mess.
The door opened then and Colonel Klink came into the room, followed by General Freiberger and Sergeant Schultz. The short man in the Gestapo uniform who accompanied them Karla assumed was Major Hochstetter since she didn't know him on sight. She felt as though an eternity had passed since she had sat in the chair, though it couldn't have been more than five minutes.
"What is going on here?" Klink demanded.
Stolz snapped to attention and replied, "Herr Kommandant, I captured this fugitive down the road towards Hammelburg."
Freiberger looked at the woman sitting in the chair. When she looked up, he gasped in recognition. "Colonel Hoffman!"
"General Freiberger," Karla whispered.
"Is this the woman you reported missing?" Hochstetter asked.
"Jawohl," Freiberger replied. To Karla, he asked, "Where have you been since you left here yesterday?"
When Karla didn't answer, Hochstetter said, "We'll take her into Klink's office and interrogate her. Private Stolz, I need you to give us a report on the fugitive's capture. Bring her inside."
"Jawohl, Herr Major," Stolz replied.
"But, sir!" Klink protested.
"Klink, I would suggest that you go back to bed and not interfere in an internal SD matter," Freiberger said. "I also want you to give this soldier a promotion of one rank, since he captured Colonel Hoffman. Congratulations, Corporal Stolz."
"Danke, Herr General!" Stolz replied with a salute.
Karla looked at Klink and saw the fleeting look of terror on his face before she was pulled to her feet. Klink nodded, saluted, turned and walked out of the outer office with Schultz following. What little hope she had that Hogan could help her died when the door to Klink's office closed behind her.
Schultz followed Klink out the door. A quick glance at his pocket watch in the moonlight and Schultz saw that it had been an hour since lights out in the barracks. Through a crack in the window, Schultz heard the beginning of Colonel Hoffman's interrogation.
Klink paused, looked nervously towards his office window, and then said, "If anyone is looking for me, I'm not feeling well. I have a touch of the flu. I'll be in my quarters. I don't want any part of what Freiberger and Hochstetter are doing." He then turned and headed for his quarters.
"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant," Schultz replied.
The sounds Schultz now heard coming from the Kommandant's office made him tremble in fear. He didn't want to know what was going on in there. Nor did he want to allow it to continue. But to whom can I go? he wondered. The Kommandant is too afraid of the SS to protest her treatment.
Closing his eyes, Schultz briefly considered the situation. He didn't think anyone should be harmed in the course of an interrogation, yet that's exactly what was happening to Colonel Hoffman. He remembered seeing her the night before in Colonel Hogan's quarters. At that instant, he heard her cry out in pain.
Schultz squared his shoulders and headed across the compound to Barracks 2. He entered and headed for the door to Hogan's quarters. The dark, silent barracks was eerie compared to the Kommandant's office at this moment. Before he lost his nerve, he turned the knob, pushed open the door and quietly entered the room. Closing the door, he turned and crossed to the bunk where Hogan slept.
"Colonel Hogan?" Schultz whispered as he shook Hogan's shoulder to wake him.
"Huh?" Hogan asked sleepily as he opened his eyes. Once he recognized who had woken him, Hogan whispered, "What do you want Schultz? I've been asleep because I don't feel that great, and my lights have been out all the time."
"Colonel," Schultz said anxiously. "What I have to say is very important."
Hogan was taken aback and he was instantly awake when he asked, "What?"
"Colonel Hoffman was captured and brought back to camp a short while ago," Schultz replied.
Hogan was surprised as he glanced at his watch in the shaft of light coming in through the shutters. It was 2215 hours. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he asked, "Where is she? What's going on now?"
Schultz replied, "General Freiberger and Major Hochstetter just started interrogating her in the Kommandant's office. I saw how you looked at her when I interrupted you last night and I thought I should tell you of her current situation."
"Where's Klink?" Hogan demanded.
"The Kommandant is in his quarters; he said he doesn't feel well. General Freiberger ordered him not to interfere with her discipline as it is an internal SD affair. I think the Kommandant is too afraid of the SS to protest her treatment," Schultz replied and then turned to leave. "I thought that you would want to know. Good night, Colonel."
"Thanks Schultz. Good night," Hogan said.
Schultz left the office and Hogan quietly slid down from his bunk. After a quick check to make sure Schultz had left the barracks, Hogan closed his office door, pulled out the coffee pot, plugged it in and pulled out the basket speaker to find out what was going on in Klink's office.
"Colonel Hoffman, what did you say to that American officer while you were both in the back seat of your car before you left Stalag 13?" Freiberger asked.
After hiding in the motor pool for most of the day, Karla was cold and scared. However, she knew that she couldn't allow them to know that she was afraid. Her reply was quiet but firm. "Nothing."
"Then why did you want to speak to him in your car?" Freiberger demanded loudly.
Karla didn't respond. Hochstetter yelled, "Answer the question!"
"I did," Karla replied. She watched as Stolz's arm rose up and his fingers curled into a fist. Karla turned away at the last moment to minimize the impact of his fist on her cheek. Nevertheless, she cried out in pain.
"Now, we'll begin again. What did you say to that American?" Freiberger demanded.
Karla glared defiantly at Freiberger and he motioned for Stolz to hit her again.
"Answer the question!" Freiberger shouted.
When Karla said nothing, Hochstetter said, "According to Corporal Stolz, you returned to Stalag 13 and after a brief stop at the administration building, you left and went to one of the barracks. Which one did you go to and why?"
"He's seeing things," Karla replied.
Hochstetter punched her in the stomach and she collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath.
Hogan couldn't stand to hear this anymore. He had to do something. He quickly dressed and silently left the barracks to head over to Klink's office. There was no one on guard in the outer office, so he opened the door without knocking. He saw Karla handcuffed and on her knees and Hochstetter and Stolz standing over her. She looked at the door and her eyes widened in surprise upon seeing him.
"What are you doing here?" Freiberger demanded.
"I saw the lights were on and came to see the Kommandant," Hogan replied. "The prisoners need more wood for the stoves..."
"I am not interested in the prisoners' needs! Colonel Klink is not here. Leave at once," Freiberger ordered, his upper lip twitching into a sneer.
Hogan looked at Karla and saw the desperate, pleading look in her eyes. He nodded imperceptively.
"Colonel Hogan, are you deaf?" Freiberger asked. "What is going on in this office now is none of your business!"
"No, I hear you," Hogan replied. He then turned and left the office.
Freiberger watched through the window as Hogan left the building. "I don't think we should continue this here."
"Are you sure?" Hochstetter asked.
"Yes. Take Colonel Hoffman to the solitary cells here," Freiberger replied.
Corporal Stolz hauled Karla to her feet, opened the office door and waited while she walked out. He then opened the door leading outside. Karla slowly went out that door, down the steps, and paused. Stolz motioned for Karla to walk in front of him. Her stride was slow and he shoved her in the back. She turned and glared at him and saw Hochstetter and Freiberger were following. As they left the building and crossed the compound, Karla noticed the fluffy snow that had fallen and the cold breeze that permeated her skin through her clothes. They then entered the solitary building and walked to the end of the hall. Stolz opened the cell door and motioned for Karla to enter. Out of the corner of her eye, Karla saw one of the Gestapo guards follow them inside.
Karla shivered inwardly as she entered the cell. It was the same one that Klink had shown her on her tour of the camp. She recalled her thoughts about how people who were to be held prisoner here would feel and wondered what was going to happen to her now. She felt afraid. Her wrists hurt as her hands were still cuffed behind her back and her shoulders were beginning to ache.
"Now that we won't be interrupted, we'll begin again. What did you say to Colonel Hogan?" Freiberger demanded.
Karla glared defiantly at Freiberger and he nodded to Hochstetter. Hochstetter backhanded her and she stumbled backwards until she stood against the wall.
"Answer the question!" Freiberger shouted.
"Nothing," Karla replied.
"I don't believe you!" Freiberger retorted.
"I'm sorry that you don't believe me," Karla whispered, feeling the sting of the gash Hochstetter's ring caused on her cheek.
"You'll be sorry that you refused to tell me what you said to that American scum," Freiberger said.
The next thing Karla knew was that she was on the floor and the Gestapo guard was kicking her in the ribs.
Karla cried out in pain with each blow. When the kicks stopped, someone pulled ferociously on her hair. When she opened her eyes, she was looking into Freiberger's angry face.
"Oowww! Damn it, you're hurting me!" Karla cried out.
"And another thing, I want to know where you were last night," Freiberger said.
The Gestapo guard took hold of her tunic's collar, Freiberger released her hair and she was pushed face first into the frigid concrete wall. The guard punched her hard in her lower back several times and Karla screamed in pain.
"Karla, all you need to do is answer my questions and I will order the guard to stop," Freiberger said as he held up his hand for the guard to stop momentarily.
"No," Karla gasped painfully.
"Corporal Stolz is right about where you were last night, isn't he?" Freiberger asked threateningly as he stood to her right.
"What did…he say?" Karla asked fearfully. Her voice was barely audible now as she gasped for breath and coughed against the wall.
"Corporal Stolz reported his suspicions to us as we walked to the barracks to talk to Colonel Hogan," Freiberger said disdainfully. "Stolz didn't see the Kommandant's secretary heading over to the barracks. She wouldn't be doing that."
"Perhaps not. She would secretly rendezvous with Corporal Stolz!" Karla retorted. She glared at Stolz who merely folded his arms across his chest and smiled.
"Naturally I was curious and asked him which barracks he saw you go into. Do you know what he said?" Freiberger asked, completely ignoring her previous outburst.
"Nein," Karla replied. She felt the searing pain in her ribs with every breath and each cough.
"Barracks 2," Freiberger said.
Freiberger motioned to the guard to let go of Karla. As the Gestapo guard released her, Karla fell to the unyielding concrete floor of the cell, and her painful moan was audible. Karla hoped that she could somehow survive this ordeal.
Freiberger squatted down and leaned closer to intimidate her. "In fact, he has since suggested that you were with the American officer, Colonel Hogan. At first I found this hard to believe. But when I remembered your actions of six weeks ago, that proved to me beyond a shadow of a doubt that you were capable of anything, including sleeping with the enemy."
Karla's voice was raspy as she retorted, "Corporal Stolz's suspicions prove nothing!"
Freiberger took her chin in his hand, tilted her head back so that her gaze met his and said, "This mission to investigate the strange happenings here was meant as a way for you to regain my trust and to prove to me that you are a loyal German."
"I AM a loyal German!" Karla protested as loud as she could and then coughed several times, causing Freiberger to release his grip on her chin. "I'm no longer willing to be a blind Nazi stooge like the rest of you fools!"
Freiberger narrowed his eyes, furious now. "How DARE you! Colonel Karla Hoffman, you are hereby charged with treason."
Karla couldn't look up; her body ached with every breath she took and her vision was starting to swim. Shapes moved around her, but she couldn't recognize them by sight anymore.
"Take off those handcuffs, remove her coat and leave her, I'll decide her fate soon," Freiberger ordered. He whispered something else she didn't catch. "Close the door when you leave."
"Yes, sir," a voice said. Karla vaguely recognized the last voice as Corporal Stolz. He removed the handcuffs binding her, pulled off her coat and threw it to the far corner of the cell and then left, closing the door behind him. After what seemed like an eternity, she heard the grinding of metal on metal when someone, she didn't know who, opened the door. She was shocked when that someone threw what must have been a bucket of water on her. She was completely soaked. The person left the cell and closed the door.
Karla's hair was wet, some water had dribbled down her neck inside her shirt, her stockings were wet, and soon, she started shivering. Her body ached from the beatings. Every time she coughed was a new experience of pain. The tears that she had refused to shed in Freiberger's presence now slid down her cheeks unchecked. She remembered seeing a bunk in her cell and started crawling over to it. She never recalled making it that far. Karla closed her eyes and wanted nothing more than relief from all the pain. Her consciousness slid into oblivion.
The next morning, Schultz returned to Barracks 2 and came into Hogan's quarters just as he finished his morning hygiene. Hogan still had a white towel draped over his neck.
Schultz said, "Colonel Hogan, you're wanted in the Kommandant's office."
"What does he want?" Hogan asked as he hung up the towel, and then pulled on his jacket and cap.
Schultz replied, "General Freiberger wants to speak to you about Colonel Hoffman."
"Again? Can I have a few minutes to finish?" Hogan asked.
"I'll wait for you outside the barracks," Schultz replied quietly and then left the office.
Hogan's crew came into his office after Schultz left the barracks. "Suh? What the bloody 'ell is goin' on?" Newkirk asked as he rubbed his eyes.
"General Freiberger wants to talk to me about Colonel Hoffman again," Hogan replied. He bowed his head as he remembered hearing her cries of pain through the coffee pot last night.
"What's wrong?" Newkirk asked.
"Just after ten o'clock last night, Schultz came in here and told me that Colonel Hoffman had been captured and brought back to camp. He said that Freiberger and Hochstetter were interrogating her in Klink's office. When Schultz left the barracks, I plugged in the coffee pot," Hogan replied.
"Did she talk?" Carter asked.
Hogan replied, "No. I went to Klink's office and interrupted her interrogation."
"What happened next?" Carter asked.
Hogan turned away before replying, "When I returned to the barracks, I watched from the window and saw that she was taken to solitary."
"What are we going to do about Colonel Hoffman?" Kinch asked. "She knows about the tunnel."
"I said that we would get her out of Germany. That's what we're going to do," Hogan replied.
"But how?" Carter asked.
Hogan took a deep breath to calm down; he looked in his mirror to make sure there was no evidence of emotion on his face. He splashed his face with cold water to remove any flushed color there may have been, wiped himself dry, and combed his fingers through his hair. "I don't know yet."
Hogan then left his office and walked outside where Schultz was waiting for him, as promised. Hogan turned up his jacket's collar and stuffed his hands in his pockets. They crossed the compound in silence and entered the administration building. When he and Schultz arrived at the Kommandant's office, the Gestapo guard immediately admitted them. Freiberger was on the phone. Klink motioned for them to stay quiet at the far side of the room.
"General Burkhalter, this is SS General Friedrich Freiberger. I'm at Stalag 13, investigating the disappearance of one of my officers, Colonel Karla Hoffman. I have a few questions to ask you."
Hogan could just see Burkhalter stiffen on the mention of the SS. Burkhalter didn't like the SS any more than Klink did. He listened to what Freiberger said to the General.
"I have spoken with the Kommandant and he says that Colonel Hoffman claimed to have a message for the senior POW officer here and that she asked him to get into her car. Is that correct?" Freiberger listened to Burkhalter's reply.
Freiberger said, "I see. Colonel Klink also said that you prompted Hogan to do as she asked."
"Uh huh, so he did." Freiberger looked around the room and saw him, then continued. "Once Colonel Hogan left the car, it left Stalag 13?"
Freiberger nodded. "And Hogan said nothing about what he and Colonel Hoffman discussed when he emerged from the car?"
After hearing Burkhalter's reply, Freiberger asked, "Did you even think to ask Hogan about what went on in Colonel Hoffman's car?"
Freiberger frowned at Burkhalter's response. He exclaimed, "You idiot! Herr General, it is your business to know what went on in her car! I informed the Gestapo and my headquarters last evening that she was considered a traitor and a deserter! We were fortunate to recapture her last night near Stalag 13."
Freiberger paused as Burkhalter said something and then continued, "Major Hochstetter of the Gestapo is here with me and is assisting in my investigation. I have ordered Colonel Klink not to interfere in this, as it is an internal SD matter. That is all. Heil Hitler!" He hung up the phone, turned and faced Hogan.
Hochstetter entered the room, saw Hogan and frowned. "What is this man doing here?!" he demanded loudly.
"I ordered him brought here, Herr Major. I have a few questions to ask him," Freiberger replied.
"Oh. That's different," Hochstetter said.
"It would appear, Colonel Hogan that you are the only one who knows what Colonel Hoffman said to you and quite possibly, the only one who knew where she was really going when she left here," Freiberger said.
"So?" Hogan asked, his tone apathetic. "It's none of your business what she said to me."
"What?" Freiberger asked, his tone menacing.
"You heard me," Hogan retorted. "Besides, I don't know where she went after talking to me. Her car left camp and I never saw her after that until last night."
"Herr General, I don't think he's going to tell you," Klink interjected.
"Colonel Hogan, I ORDER you to tell me!" Freiberger shouted, having lost his patience.
"No," Hogan calmly replied. "I still don't understand what all the fuss over this woman is."
"That is none of your business, Colonel," Freiberger replied.
"Hogan, diissmissed!" Klink ordered.
Hogan started to leave the office and return to the barracks, when Hochstetter shouted, "NO! Colonel Hogan, you are under arrest!"
"On what charge?" Hogan demanded.
"Espionage," Hochstetter replied, a satisfied sneer on his face.
"Impossible!" Hogan protested. "I'm a prisoner in the toughest POW camp in all of Germany!"
"He's right sir, there has never been an escape from Stalag 13," Klink added.
"Klink! Stay out of this beginning right now!" Hochstetter snarled.
"I think that we will put Colonel Hogan into confinement for a couple of days and then maybe he'll reconsider talking to us about Colonel Hoffman. Put him into the cell with Colonel Hoffman so he can see what will happen to him if he doesn't talk. Take him away!" Freiberger ordered.
"This is against the Geneva Convention!" Hogan protested loudly as the guards grabbed his arms and dragged him out of Klink's office.
After the door closed, Klink asked, "What about the investigation at Zuglitz? Isn't that important? If Colonel Hoffman was guilty of something, why did she return here?"
"Klink raises an interesting point, Herr General," Hochstetter commented.
"You're right, Major. We'll check whether Colonel Hoffman has recently been to the ball bearing plant at Zuglitz. As far as the Corporal's story about Colonel Hoffman returning to Stalag 13 and going over to Barracks 2…" Freiberger paused for a moment before finishing, "We'll have to convince Colonel Hogan to tell us about that."
"Since Zuglitz was destroyed, how can you verify anything?" Klink asked.
"Undoubtedly, Colonel Hoffman made arrangements for the destruction of Zuglitz and returned to Stalag 13 for some reason. The distance she would have to travel to Zuglitz and back would account for the time that she was missing from Stalag 13. Perhaps she returned to help some of your prisoners escape, eh Klink?" Freiberger asked.
Klink smiled for an instant before he realized what Freiberger had said and a frown came over his face. He then asked, "Is there anything else you need, Herr General? You may stay in our VIP quarters."
Freiberger replied, "Danke, Klink. At this time, there is nothing more that I need."
Schultz hadn't returned from solitary yet, so Klink opened the door and said, "Get Sergeant Schultz over here right away."
"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant," Hilda replied.
Several minutes later, Schultz returned to the office.
"Schultz, show General Freiberger to the VIP quarters," Klink ordered.
Schultz saluted and said, "Jawohl, Herr Kommandant. Herr General, if you will please follow me."
Freiberger followed Schultz as he left the office. Just as he got to the door, Freiberger paused and said, "Colonel Klink, I will be filling out the appropriate paperwork to deal with Colonel Hoffman. Please see to it that I'm not disturbed."
"Jawohl, Herr General," Klink replied.
Kinch and the others ran from the office to the sink periscope. LeBeau looked through the periscope and was just in time to see the Gestapo guards drag Colonel Hogan over to the solitary confinement building. Kinch went through the tunnel to Barracks 5 and brought the next ranking officer in camp, Wing Commander Blackman, over to Barracks 2. As they returned a few minutes later and looked through the periscope, they saw Schultz going over to the solitary building and Hochstetter said something to the fat sergeant who saluted him. Schultz then went into the solitary building and Hochstetter returned to the administration building.
Once the periscope was down, Kinch quickly explained to Blackman what had transpired in Klink's office and Hogan's fate. "Has anything else happened?" Blackman asked.
"Colonel Hogan's in trouble. We have to help 'im!" Newkirk exclaimed quietly.
"Agreed. We need to find out what's going on in there," Blackman said, indicating the solitary confinement building with a nod.
LeBeau looked in the direction of the solitary building, and asked, "What about the guards on that building?"
"It's a ruddy SS convention!" Newkirk said.
"It's going to be difficult getting in there. Unless…" Blackman began.
"Unless what?" LeBeau asked.
"The prisoners need food, don't they?" Blackman replied.
"They won't allow me in there!" LeBeau replied.
"Perhaps not, but the guards also need food. Make up a hefty tray of sandwiches and see if you can get in there," Blackman ordered.
"Oui, I'll do it," LeBeau said. "What then?"
"Find out the situation inside. We need to be able to get in there long enough to get Colonel Hogan out," Blackman replied.
"What about Colonel Hoffman?" Kinch asked.
"What d'ya mean?! We're not gettin' that bloody woman Kraut Colonel out too, are we?" Newkirk inquired, incredulous.
"Do you think Colonel Hogan will allow her to remain a prisoner?" Kinch asked in reply. Seeing the blank looks on their faces, he added, "Especially since she knows about the tunnel and didn't turn us in to Freiberger, Burkhalter, Klink or Hochstetter?"
Newkirk shook his head, shrugged and replied quietly, "I guess not."
"All right then." Blackman ordered, "LeBeau, get going and take some food over there. See if you can work your magic with Schultz. When you return, we'll discuss what our options are based on your reconnaissance."
"Oui," LeBeau replied.
"Kinch, let's go into Hogan's quarters and you can update me on the situation with Colonel Hoffman. I want all the details," Blackman said.
Over in the solitary building, Schultz opened the door to a cell and Hogan was shoved in. "Hey!" Hogan protested as the door was shut behind him. "Schultz!"
The small door within the door opened and Schultz replied, "What?"
"Can you talk to Klink and…?" Hogan began.
"No, Colonel Hogan, the Kommandant will not see you until tomorrow at the earliest, I'm sorry!" Schultz replied, fear in his voice.
"Okay Schultz." Hogan recognized the scared look in the sergeant's eyes. Schultz closed the small door and Hogan realized that the Gestapo guards were probably still there and Schultz couldn't speak to him.
It took Hogan's eyes several minutes to adjust to the darkness of the cell. When they finally did, he saw someone lying against the bunk. He went over and squatted next to the bunk.
"Hey…" Hogan began. He could just make out Karla's face. What he saw almost made him sick. She had bruises on her face. Also, her mascara had run when she had cried, and there was a nasty-looking scabbed over gash on one of her cheeks. He touched her shoulder and found her clothes were damp. He whispered, "Are you okay?"
Karla's eyes fluttered open as he spoke to her and she moaned. "Who's here?"
Hogan whispered, "Shhh. It's me, Hogan. I'm going to help you up onto the cot and then examine you. Where do you hurt?"
"I ache all over. They sure did a job on me. The worst pain is in my lower rib cage," Karla replied once she was sitting on the cot.
"Does it hurt to breathe?" Hogan asked.
Karla took a deeper breath and winced. "Not really."
Hogan's brow furrowed at her reply and he replied, "You're obviously in pain."
Karla replied, "You're right."
"Yet you're stubborn enough to try and make me think otherwise," Hogan said.
Karla grinned sheepishly and nodded. She added, "It was worse when I was coughing."
"When was that?" Hogan asked, concerned.
Karla replied, "I'm not sure. How long have I been in here?"
"Overnight. They brought you here late last night. I assume you've been asleep or unconscious until I was brought here this morning?" Hogan asked.
Karla shrugged and nodded. "I guess so."
"How did you get all wet?" Hogan asked.
"Someone threw water on me," Karla replied. "I had a coat on when I came in here.
Hogan looked around and saw a discarded coat on the far side of the cell, stood and brought it over. He said, "Let's get your tunic and these wet stockings off so you can get warm."
As Karla reached down to unclip her stockings, she winced in pain. Leaning back again, she asked, "Can you help me, please?"
"Yes and I promise not to look," Hogan replied with a sly wink.
Karla giggled and then said, "Please don't make me laugh; it hurts too much!"
"I'll save the humor for later," Hogan replied with a smile. Then, he unclipped her stockings, pulled off her boots and then slid off her stockings. His hand brushed her skin and after a quick glance to see Karla smiling at him, he said, "Let's get you warm."
"Danke," Karla said as she shivered. She carefully took off her wet tunic.
Hogan helped Karla put on her coat, put on her boots and then commented, "Your skin is cold to the touch. That means that you could be suffering from hypothermia."
"Thank you for your help, Robert," Karla whispered as he helped her lay down and covered her with a blanket.
"You're welcome, Karla. Now, try to get some rest," Hogan said. "Do you have a cloth I can use to clean your face?"
Karla nodded. "I have a small handkerchief in my right coat pocket. She reached in her pocket and pulled out the folded cloth and handed it to Hogan. He dampened a portion of the cloth at the sink in the corner, and carefully cleaned her face. He used the dry portion of the cloth to dry her face when he was finished.
Hogan stood, crossed to the door, pounded on it with his fist and said, "Schultz!"
The small door opened once again. "What is it, Colonel Hogan?" Schultz asked.
"Can you get me another blanket? It's freezing in here," Hogan replied as he rubbed his hands together for warmth.
Schultz looked nervously over his shoulder before whispering, "Just a minute, I'll bring a blanket from the next cell."
A couple of minutes later, the door to the cell opened and Schultz handed a blanket to him. "Thanks, Schultz."
"What is going on in here?" Schultz asked, looking over Hogan's shoulder.
Hogan tilted his head back towards where Karla lay on the cot and replied, "She is cold and hurt. I can't let her suffer."
Schultz nodded. "I'll see if I can get you some food and water. I'll put it on the tray."
After the cell door closed, Hogan crossed to the cot and said, "I'm going to share my body's heat with you to help get you warm." Karla nodded.
LeBeau approached the solitary confinement building with a tray containing sandwiches. Once the guards saw what he had on the tray, he was allowed to enter the building. He gave the guards on duty inside each a sandwich for lunch. He made sure that Schultz was the last one to get his sandwich. He had saved several extra for him and pulled them from his coat pockets.
"Hi Schultzie," LeBeau whispered.
"Hello cockroach," Schultz replied.
LeBeau took out the extra sandwiches and whispered, "Here you go, Schultz. I saved you a few extra sandwiches."
"Danke," Schultz replied.
"Do I get to give some to your prisoners?" LeBeau asked.
"Nein," Schultz replied.
"But…" LeBeau protested.
"LeBeau, with the SS and the Gestapo here, I'm not going to disobey orders. Major Hochstetter has threatened to shoot me himself if either of these prisoners escapes. I'm sorry I can't do more," Schultz whispered as he took two extra sandwiches after a furtive glance over his shoulder.
LeBeau's gaze followed Schultz's. There was no sign of the Gestapo men or any other guards in the hallway. They were probably guarding the door leading outside.
"I will put the food in the cell. Stay here," Schultz whispered.
Schultz handed LeBeau his rifle, pulled the cell door keys from his pockets, unlocked and opened it and shined his flashlight inside. LeBeau followed him in the dimly lit cell and saw Colonels Hogan and Hoffman laying together on the cot and both were sound asleep despite the early afternoon hour. Schultz quietly left two of the sandwiches on the food tray, which otherwise sat empty.
When Schultz looked at LeBeau, he saw the surprised expression on the Frenchman's face and whispered, "Colonel Hogan said that she was cold and hurt and he wasn't going to allow her to suffer."
LeBeau nodded. "I see." He gave Schultz the remaining sandwiches on his tray before turning to leave.
"Danke, cockroach," Schultz replied.
When LeBeau returned to the barracks, Blackman and the others were sitting around the table discussing the current situation. LeBeau poured himself a cup of coffee and sat to the table to join them.
"The whole building is surrounded by guards and Schultz is guarding their cell. There are a couple of Gestapo guards inside, but they are just guarding the entrance and the window in the hallway," LeBeau said.
"Their cell?" Kinch asked.
"Yes. Remember, we heard General Freiberger order Colonel Hogan to be put into the same cell as Colonel Hoffman," LeBeau replied. "As you know, she was beaten up during her interrogation."
"I suspect that Freiberger will move quickly," Blackman motioned to the medic who had come from Barracks 5 to check on some of the sick men in Barracks 2. "Carter, you and Jack Lynn will go through the tunnel into their cell and he will evaluate the situation. Kinch, monitor Klink's phone." He glanced at his watch. Before anyone moved, he said, "Hold it! It's time for afternoon roll call. After roll call, you know what to do."
"Karla, wake up. This man is a medic and he will help you as much as he can," Hogan whispered.
Karla opened her eyes and saw the other men in the cell. Confused, she asked, "Who are these men and how did they get in here?"
"Never mind that now, they're here to help you," Hogan replied. To one of the men, Hogan said, "Jack, I think she may have had a touch of hypothermia. I've done what I can to keep her warm."
"It may be better not to help me," Karla replied morosely. "Just let me suffer and die at their hands."
"No! I won't let them hurt you anymore! Damn it, at least let Jack examine your ribs. He may be able to ease your pain," Hogan said quietly.
Karla watched Hogan and saw the anguish on his face. His reaction to her plight ignited a small flame of hope within her. She noticed that Carter was at the door to listen for anyone coming down the hall. Karla acquiesced.
The medic's appearance was kind of scruffy-looking, but she realized that not every prisoner at Stalag 13 was as clean-shaven as Hogan. He introduced himself, "My name is Jack Lynn. Now, please stay still and I'll examine you." A few minutes later, he said, "I'll wrap your ribs to support them. It should relieve the pain to some extent."
Karla nodded and Hogan said, "Thanks, Jack."
"Colonel, please stay still as I wrap this bandage around your ribs," Jack said.
"Brrrr. It's cold," Karla whispered.
"I know," Hogan replied, as he lightly touched her face close to where the gash had scabbed over.
Jack quickly wrapped a bandage around her midsection and secured it carefully but firmly. "Does that feel better?" Jack asked.
"Yes, thank you," Karla replied as she reached to button her shirt.
"Colonel Hogan, is there anything else we can do for you?" Carter asked.
"No," Hogan replied.
"Hogan, will you tell me how you plan on rescuing me if you're being held prisoner along with me?" Karla asked.
"Yes, later," Hogan replied and then leaned down, kissed Karla and motioned for Carter and Lynn to leave. The two men then left, closing the panel to the tunnel behind them.
"Don't worry," Hogan replied as they separated for a moment. He then stood, went to check Karla's tunic and stockings hanging beneath the shelves next to the sink and found that they were cold but dry. He took them from their place and gave them to Karla, who slowly sat up with Hogan's help.
Karla removed her coat, took her clothes from him, and said, "You're risking so much to help me. I'm touched."
Hogan smiled, helped her to dress and then reached out and lightly caressed her cheek. He replied, "I can't help it if I'm worried about you."
Karla said, "Thank you for your concern."
Hogan asked, "What were you thinking when you left the barracks? Don't you trust me to protect you?"
"Yes, but I know how dangerous Freiberger is. I was trying to prevent him from harming you," Karla replied.
"You thought he was going to harm me because I know you?" Hogan asked.
Karla nodded and replied, "I worked for him and I know that just because you are acquainted with me, you're now under suspicion and in danger. Didn't you get my note? I explained my reasons for leaving."
"Yes," Hogan replied. "Hochstetter, Freiberger and Klink came and inspected the barracks shortly after we discovered that you had gone and the note was put with your stuff and hidden. You know, I was wondering why you'd put on your uniform again yesterday morning."
"I thought I could easily leave Stalag 13 if I was wearing my uniform," Karla said. "Most of these men fear the SS in any form and usually the sight of the uniform is enough to get them to instantly obey an order."
Hogan's lips curved into a slight smile. "That's a good observation on your part, but I suspect you would have had problems as Freiberger sealed the camp before he organized the search for you in Stalag 13."
"I noticed that the guards at the gate had been doubled," Karla said. "That was why I decided to hide in the motor pool all afternoon."
Hogan said, "Even though I am in danger, I couldn't have picked a more beautiful woman to be there with me." Karla blushed as she looked down with the smallest hint of a smile.
"Did I embarrass you?" Hogan murmured.
"Yes. You hardly even know me," Karla whispered.
"I may be a flirt, and some would even call me a ladies' man, but I'd really like to get to know you better," Hogan said.
"Ladies' man, huh? I don't know if I like the sound of that," Karla replied.
"Do you like the sound of this?" Hogan asked softly as he leaned close and kissed her. She put her hand on the back of his neck.
When they separated after a passionate kiss, Karla whispered, "Yes."
Hogan smiled and asked, "Are you warm enough?"
"I'm much better, thanks to you," Karla replied. "And thanks for being stubborn enough to get them to bandage me. Although the pain is still there, it hurts less than before."
"Good. You know, I asked Freiberger if he was worried that you would be getting his position at headquarters," Hogan said.
Karla gasped, "Are you crazy?"
"No; I also asked if he needed you to model for the next Strength Through Joy poster," Hogan said, grinning.
"What a pickup line you have," Karla replied, chuckling. Looking down, she said, "I don't have the figure for it like Hilda does."
Hogan let his eyes roam over her and said, "I think you do."
Karla blushed, "Thank you."
Hogan smiled warmly, pulled her to him and kissed her. He felt her body relax in his arms and knew that he had made the right decision to protect her. Hogan felt Karla's arms around him and her hands on his back. When they finally separated, Karla laid her head on his shoulder.
"Is something wrong?" Hogan asked.
"No," Karla replied. "I'm fine. I am getting tired."
"Me too," Hogan said. "Shall we go to sleep?"
Karla nodded and Hogan helped her to lie down and lay next to her. He said, "Good night." He then closed his eyes to sleep.
When Karla looked at Hogan, she noticed that he reminded her of her late fiancé, Johann, in so many ways. The color of his hair, his eyes, and his general build were similar. She watched Hogan as his body relaxed and he drifted off to sleep. His lips were curved slightly upwards and his eyelids twitched ever so slightly. She slid her arm under his jacket and around his waist. Soon, she also fell asleep.
Karla's dreams the night before Freiberger arrived revolved around Hogan and her feelings towards him. Since then, all her dreams were terrible nightmares. She woke several times that night, half expecting to be reliving these horrible events. Instead, every time she opened her eyes, Karla saw the emptiness of their cell, which reminded her of the bleak inevitability of her own fate. As yet, she had no idea what Freiberger would do to her. He would probably put her in front of a firing squad.
"Are you all right?" Hogan whispered later after they were both awake.
"Yes, I suppose so. I had a nightmare," Karla whispered in reply. "I hope I didn't wake you."
"Don't worry about waking me; I'm used to being woken up at all hours of the night around here. Klink usually chooses the middle of the night for his surprise inspections. I'll stay awake with you, if you like," Hogan replied.
"No, love. You need your sleep," Karla said.
Hogan grinned at her first statement. He then said, "You know, I think Freiberger wants me to confess that you're my accomplice."
Karla chuckled. "I assume you tried to protest?"
"Freiberger didn't actually accuse me; he side-stepped around the issue. He is as bad as Hochstetter," Hogan said.
"I don't know Hochstetter, except for him backhanding me and one of his men beating me up after they brought me in here," Karla replied.
"Did Hochstetter give you that gash?" Hogan asked.
"Yes, he wears a ring on the hand he used to hit me," Karla replied as she touched her cheek.
"I'll have to make sure that he suffers in some way for that. It would serve him right. You know, I think I actually feel better after sleeping so much today. I was starting to get sick before I was brought in here," Hogan said.
"The frigid climate in this cell won't help you get any better," Karla observed.
"No, but that's why they call it the cooler," Hogan said with an impish grin.
Karla smiled. "Let's go back to sleep."
Wing Commander Blackman considered the situation as he consumed his dinner in Barracks 5. Since Hogan hadn't responded to Freiberger's questions about Colonel Hoffman, he had been put into the cooler. The danger to Hogan was Major Hochstetter who had threatened to arrest Hogan on espionage charges prior to Freiberger's intervention.
"Commander, you're hardly eating," Jack Lynn observed.
Blackman blinked. "Sorry. I was considering the situation here in camp."
"And what do you think should be done?" Lynn asked.
"I think that we need to get Hochstetter and his Gestapo goons out of here," Blackman replied.
"Aren't they the least of our worries at the moment?" Lynn asked.
"No. General Freiberger is only interested in Colonel Hoffman. Major Hochstetter wants Colonel Hogan in chains in front of Hitler himself confessing his involvement in the Underground and then naming everyone who worked with him."
Lynn gaped at Blackman. "Are you serious?"
Blackman's eyes smoldered. "Yes. We must get Hochstetter sent away from Stalag 13 tonight."
"How?" Lynn asked.
Blackman looked down into his coffee cup. His mind was working through the possibilities. "Sabotage."
"What?" Lynn asked.
"You heard me. Sabotage. We must have some legitimate reason for Hochstetter to be called away from Stalag 13," Blackman replied.
"But the Gestapo brought a radio detection truck with them," Lynn said.
Blackman looked at a calendar on the wall. "The dogs are due to be changed. This will be our opportunity to get the Underground's assistance."
Later that evening, after Blackman briefed Newkirk on what he wanted, Newkirk went down into the tunnel and when the dog truck arrived, spoke to the veterinarian, Schnitzer. He outlined Blackman's plan and asked Schnitzer to contact the Underground in Düsseldorf. Schnitzer assured Newkirk that he would.
Kinch connected his headset to the switchboard so he could monitor incoming calls. After the phone rang several times, he heard, "Colonel Klink speaking."
"This is Oberführer Bergstrom, Gestapo Headquarters, Düsseldorf."
"Guten Abend, Herr Oberführer," Klink said.
"I want to speak to Major Hochstetter," Bergstrom said.
"Just a moment," Klink replied. He covered the handset and said to Hochstetter, "Oberführer Bergstrom, Gestapo Headquarters, Düsseldorf."
"Danke, Klink," Hochstetter said as he took the handset. "Abend, Herr Oberführer, this is Major Hochstetter speaking. What can I do for you, sir?"
"An armaments factory just outside of Düsseldorf has been destroyed by sabotage. My best men were just transferred to other duties and I am shorthanded. I could use the help of your office."
"Thank you for your kind words, Herr Oberführer. I will come immediately," Hochstetter replied.
"Danke, Herr Major. Heil Hitler," Bergstrom said. Kinch then pulled the headset cord out of the switchboard panel.
"Well?" Blackman asked.
"The Underground came through for us and the Germans have one less armaments factory," Kinch replied. Blackman smiled.
After receiving word that Hochstetter's Gestapo troops were needed elsewhere, Freiberger retired to the VIP quarters for the night. He considered his subordinate's recent actions and wondered again why Karla had deserted.
Freiberger went to the bedroom and prepared to go to sleep. Despite her actions against the policies of the Fatherland, Karla was the best analyst on his staff. However, if he didn't do something to resolve the Karla Hoffman problem once and for all, he was likely to be the one in front of the firing squad.
Freiberger decided he would finish preparing the necessary paperwork tomorrow morning, call headquarters and have them send him a squad to take care of Colonel Hoffman's execution. He didn't want to rely on Klink's men for this. Once Karla was dead, that would be the end of the matter. In the morning, he would inform Karla of her fate. Then maybe Colonel Hogan will break down and confess what he knows either about Karla's activities or the suspicious things happening in this part of Germany, Freiberger thought. He knew that when he returned to Berlin, he would find a loyal replacement for Karla.