Silence: it was all they had for over thirty minutes of the interrogation, not matter what question it was. Each question shot by Hochstetter was met with stony silence and each dissatisfaction that Hochstetter had made the prisoners weary with fatigue. Hochstetter was not above hitting them and indeed, was always asking for better methods of interrogation than his hands (The Gestapo would only be glad to do it, if they had the authority, Hogan always thought).
Hogan knew this well and had been the target of Hochstetter's interrogations many times, especially after he was captured over Hamburg the year before. And even his men were wincing every time they heard someone being hit or Klink being yelled at for idiocy. Carter kept himself in a stony silence, flinching and whimpering every noise he heard from Hochstetter. No man moved.
Not even a name, rank and serial number, Hogan thought as he heard question after question being said. And he quite understood why it would anger Hochstetter more than those words. Silence may mean consent, but it also could save the women from certain death. Still, he listened closely. What are they doing? He had to question himself as Hochstetter went from slow, easy questions (name, rank, serial number, occupation, etc.) to lightning-round inquiries that sure to be met with blank and/or stony faces. Hogan knew both women well enough to know.
"Where were you on the night of December 6, 1942? Colonel Michalovich, answer me!" Hochstetter had no answer so it went to the Major. Still, there was no answer, and for which the women were hit (or one was hit twice). Newkirk covered his eyes and looked about to weep as he heard it.
"Do you know Duncan McLean and Nite Lites?" was another question the men heard. With only the occasional thunder in the distance, the men heard nothing but crashes inside the office. And that was when, for the worst, Klink interfered with the interrogation. Kinch jumped and LeBeau was cursing the Germans in French under his breath when they heard the crackling voice of their kommandant.
"Major Hochstetter, get out of my camp! I will not tolerate you having to interrogate female prisoners in this fashion –" Klink began, but Hochstetter surely shattered the Kommandant's temporary backbone.
"That's it, I'm going in," Hogan said, leaving quickly his group. Although there were protests from the men about leaving, they knew better than to doubt Hogan's judgment. Hogan himself even knew that it was time to head into the office and get the women out of there before anything else happened to them. It was a matter of life and death for the Allied Forces.
As he headed out the door of his quarters, Hogan heard Hochstetter's reply to Klink, quick as a whip and awfully dark. "And the Gestapo does as they please, especially to interrogate female prisoners and camp kommandants!" Some crashing noises followed afterward.
It makes it a better reason to make an appearance. Hogan practically ran through Barracks 2 and out the door, intent on getting into the office in time. I need to be there before Hochstetter gets to them.
******
Hogan ignored Fräu Linkmeyer, who was General Burkhalter's sister (and supplanting the secretary' job from Hilde and Helga for a while because the General had plans with Klink), and went straight into the office. Before the new secretary could utter a single word of warning or tell him to get out (indeed, she knew about the examination and was ordered to keep everyone out), the Colonel opened the door.
Seeing the two women almost unconscious on the floor almost unnerved Hogan, but he knocked anyway and kept his usual cool attitude. "Colonel Klink, you have some new prisoners –"
Hochstetter interrupted Hogan, turning to Klink immediately. "Klink, what is this man doing here?!" he yelled as Hogan saw, to his right, Colonel Michalovich trying, weakly, to get up.
As Hochstetter went over to Klink and complained about Hogan and Gestapo policies concerning prisoners of war (Hogan blocked out the many complaints, as they all had heard them before), Hogan interjected into the conversation, trying hard not to bite his lip – a nervous habit of his – and familiarize himself with anyone, seeing how dangerous it is. "I am senior P.O.W. officer here. I reserve the rights of all prisoners that come here. According to the Geneva Convention, I have –"
Both Germans interrupted the Colonel. As Hochstetter told Hogan to shut up, Klink, after gaining some strength from his fright, said, "Hhhhhoooogggggaaaaannnnn, OUT!"
Hogan, feeling defeated, almost walked out of the office when he heard a sniffle. Major Donovan-White was struggling to get up, tears threatening to come down her face. As she tried to climb back into her chair, Hogan felt pity wash over him. He went over to the Major and offered his hand so she could sit comfortably again, hopefully for good. Hochstetter, however, was sure to interrupt that formality, though.
I'm am officer and gentlemen for nothing, Hogan thought as he turned to Colonel Michalovich. His friend, lover and helpmate was helpless on the floor. Suddenly, Hogan realized why she could not get up so easily. Damn, she's wounded! The reports were true.
Stoically, without a single emotion that can be labeled on his face, Hogan went over to the Colonel and picked her up, not caring about the angry wounds on her shoulder and right side. I'll see to her later. Let's get through this first before her stubbornness decides to take precedence over everything else. Hogan then placed her back in her chair next to Major Donovan-White, startled that the storm outside began with great force just as Colonel Michalovich was seated again. Great…just great! Just another thing we need to be worried about: a storm.