Chapter Four: From Bad to Worse
Hogan watched as Kinch and LeBeau stood in silence for a couple of minutes, and he slowly watched as his men's attention drifted between him, Carter and Newkirk. Suddenly, LeBeau walked up to Carter and punched him in the arm with all of his strength.
"Ow. Now what did you do that for?" Carter asked, looking down at his arm while he began rubbing the area where the corporal had hit him. Even though his emotions were hurt more than his arm, he knew that LeBeau sometimes liked to playfully punch his teammates. However, this was not one of those times.
Next, Kinch got up from his radio and quickly walked over to Newkirk, and he began to roughly push him about.
"What have you two done to the Colonel?" they asked at the same time, fighting to hold back the anger that they felt building up inside of them.
Suddenly, LeBeau reached out and slapped Carter's face. "You two are sick. Do you hear moi? You two are sick! You turned mon Colonel, didn't you? Worse yet, you must have brainwashed him somehow, because he thinks that all you were doing to him was 'talking'!"
"Yeah, if you think we'll believe for one minute that simply 'talking' to him was what you two were doing for the past two hours, you've both got another thing coming to you," Kinch said, holding up his hand that he had balled into a fist in his boxing stance.
If Hogan had thought that he was confused below, nothing could prepare him for the way that his men were reacting. He had expected that perhaps they would be scared or disgusted at him at first, but he hadn't expected them to think that Carter or Newkirk had been the ones who were responsible for his changing. At the very least, he had expected Kinch to be the voice of reason, which didn't seem to be the case at the moment. Holding his head in his hands, he slowly began to shake it back and forth, trying to understand why his men would think that way. "No, it's not like that at all. You've got it all wrong. They didn't hurt me, but…"
However, before Hogan could tell them that Faust was the one who had been responsible for his changing, LeBeau grabbed his commanding officer and stood before him, much as he had once done when he had learned of Carter's and Newkirk's secret. "You're still under their brainwashing control, mon Colonel. Don't you worry, as Kinch and I will protect you." Turning his attention from Hogan to Carter, he continued. "I can't believe you did this," LeBeau added, spitting at Carter's feet. "Why would you two do a disgusting, filthy thing like this?"
"What? You think we did this to him?" Carter and Newkirk asked incredulously at the same time.
"Yes, we do. You two are vampires, so you probably thought that it would be fun to change us all into the undead, starting with the Colonel here," Kinch said, standing next to LeBeau in front of Hogan.
"Listen, you guys. Carter and Newkirk didn't do this. Don't you understand that at least?" Hogan began. I don't understand what's going on here. I'm too upside-down to make sense of this all, and they're not helping my anguish. But I have to, I need to at least make them understand this simple truth. I can't have any friction between my men, and especially not on account of me being what I am now! Why don't they understand that? Hogan thought to himself, as he began to grip his head with both of his hands again.
Kinch then turned around and placed a hand reassuringly on his commanding officer's shoulder. "You're still under their brainwashing, sir. We'll take care of this for you," Kinch said.
Suddenly, LeBeau reached inside his jacket as though he was about to grab his gun, ready to protect his commander whatever the cost might be. "Kinch is right, mon Colonel. We're going to protect you, starting right now. We're going to put an end to this."
Hogan, upon seeing LeBeau's hand inside his jacket, suddenly and roughly pushed aside both men and stood in front of Carter and Newkirk, as though he was protecting them. "No, you stop it! And while you're at it, you can shut up! You don't let anybody explain anything, damn it! Just both of you, shut up!" Hogan loudly screamed, the fire burning in his green eyes. Hogan noticed that both men's eyes had suddenly grown very wide when they had heard their Colonel's outburst. They had never known their commander to be so angry before, and even when he did show his displeasure he had never shouted at them. Hogan began to wrap his arms around himself, and he looked down at his feet. "I'm sorry guys, I didn't mean to yell at you two like that. But I need you two to know that Carter and Newkirk didn't hurt me. Faust did, ok? The guy who kidnapped all of us recently. He was a vampire. Can you get that through your heads?"
Suddenly, Hogan found that he had to sit down against one of the tunnel walls, which he quickly did. He brought his knees up to his chest, wrapped his arms around himself, and looked down. He hated the fact that he was taking his anger at Faust out on his men, since he knew that they hadn't done anything wrong. Also, what made it worse was that his other two men were blaming Newkirk and Carter. Slowly, he lifted his head up to look between Newkirk and Carter, who had sat down next to him. "I don't want to be angry at or with any of you. Please, tell me. Why am I so angry?" he asked, a single tear rolling down his cheek. He didn't bother brushing it away.
"Well, I would be angry too if I was you, sir. I mean, if Faust was the one responsible, your anger towards him is probably coming out at us, which is understandable," Kinch said, sitting down right in front of Hogan, who looked Kinch directly in the eyes. LeBeau quickly followed the sergeant's example, and before long they had formed a sort of circle on the ground.
"When did this happen, sir? If you don't mind us asking," LeBeau slowly began. Quickly, he looked at both Newkirk and Carter. "I'm sorry that I yelled at you and hit you, mes amis. I should know better than to think that you would ever hurt the Colonel." Hogan could see that Kinch nodded, before quickly adding his own apology.
"That's ok," Hogan's two other men quickly replied, hoping to drop the subject.
However, Hogan quickly looked down again, before replying, "I don't want to talk about it. Not now anyway, so Newkirk, you tell them." Hogan also found that he had to fight to bring his eyes to their normal color, and to retract his fangs.
"Faust saw that the Colonel 'ad fed us because we wouldn't talk, and so 'e was ruddy angry. 'E attacked the Colonel, and 'e changed 'im before we were rescued by Klink. You should 'ave seen 'ow brave the Kommandant was, 'uman against vampire. 'E took 'im out with one bullet, 'e did."
Hogan looked at his corporal, dumb-founded. "That isn't how it went. You see, Klink is a…"
However, Carter cut him off before Hogan could finish. "What the Colonel means to say is that Klink is a very brave man for what he did. Isn't that what you meant to say, sir?" Carter asked, hoping that Hogan would follow his lead.
Hogan inwardly gasped, realizing that in his confused state-of-mind he had almost told LeBeau and Kinch that Klink was a shapeshifter.
LeBeau and Kinch quickly exchanged glances, before they turned back to look at Hogan. Hogan could only guess that they were suspicious why Carter had cut them off, but he was glad that they decided to drop the matter. He had no way of knowing that they knew exactly what Hogan wanted to say.
Suddenly, Hogan gasped as the truth began to hit him. I almost told them what I knew. No, it can't be that way! What if Hochstetter or Burkhalter appeared in Stalag 13, and tried to question me? What if I told them something that I shouldn't? I could get us all killed! It was then that Hogan realized what he had to do. Turning his head slightly to face Kinch, he tentatively reached a hand out and placed it on the sergeant's shoulder, fighting to avoid looking at his neck. "Kinch, I'm going to be honest with you. I haven't been myself lately, and I won't be for a while. I need you to take command of this team until I'm feeling better. Can you do that for me? Please, I need you to do this for me. It's very important!"
Quickly, Newkirk spoke up. "'Is body and 'is mind are experiencing the transformative changes of becoming a vampire, so the Colonel isn't exactly going to be 'imself for a while."
Kinch allowed a small, albeit worrisome smile to cross his face. "I believe I understand, sir. If you need me to do this for you, I'd be only too glad to take over until you're feeling better. I'm guessing that to keep up normal appearances, however, you don't want Klink to know about this?"
Hogan could only nod. "Thank you. You have no idea how much I need you to do that for me at the moment. You're also right about Klink. Thank you so much Kinch." Suddenly, Hogan found that the emotional and physical torment of the night was beginning to take its toll, and he let out several yawns. "I'm beat. Goodnight," he said simply, and he began to walk over to the changing room, where he quickly put his regular outfit back on. He then climbed the ladder up into the barracks, before he quickly walked over to his quarters, and then opened and shut the door. Hogan found that he was too tired to even change into his pajamas, so he allowed himself to plop down on his lower bunk, still wearing his clothes. He could only hope that he would get a good night's rest during the couple of hours that he had between then and roll call.
…
That night, Hogan fell into a worrisome dream, which only added to his emotional anguish. Tossing and turning in his bed, he found that his nightmare was not about hurting one of his men. Instead, he found that it was his turn to be hurt.
Hogan looked around and realized that he was in the tunnels. He could see that Newkirk and Carter were off in a private room, and that they were drinking some of their blood. He had long known what he wanted and needed to do, and he had stubbornly decided to carry out his plan that night. Walking up to them, he found that for apparently the first time since Faust had attacked him, he was in full control of his emotions. He calmly told them, "Earlier today I had Kinch get in contact with Tiger, so I'm going to meet her tonight and explain what I've become." Putting a hand on his sergeant's shoulders, he added, "I know that she still loves me, and that she'll always love me. And no matter what I may have become, I'm still Hogan, still the man that she fell in love with when she first met me." He allowed a small smile to cross his face.
"Good luck, sir" Carter and Newkirk replied at the same time.
With that, Hogan left the tunnels and began walking to her apartment, which is where he had arranged to meet her. Hogan was relieved that he hadn't come across any German patrols during the distance that it took to walk between the tunnels and her apartment building, which only increased his confidence. Alright, here we go, he thought as he knocked on her door, using the pre-arranged code.
Quickly, Tiger approached her apartment door and opened it. Hogan could see that she was very happy to see him, and she quickly gave him a hug, which he returned, before they both let go. Let's see how happy she is once she's learned what I become, he thought to himself. Taking her hand in his, he led her to her couch, where they both sat down.
Tiger could sense that Hogan wanted to tell her something, so she asked him, "What is it, mon amour?"
Tentatively, Hogan began to tell her the new truth about himself. "Marie, I've…changed recently."
Hogan could see that a small expression of worry was beginning to form on her face. "Changed? Changed how?"
"Recently, two of my men and I were kidnapped by a Sergeant Faust, and he changed me into a vampire," Hogan slowly and carefully answered. Suddenly, he allowed his eyes to become green, and his upper fangs to show.
Just as quickly, Tiger jumped up from the couch and went to retrieve her gun. "You stay away from me!" she shouted, horrified at the sight that lay before her. "You're one of the undead who needs to drink blood to stay alive! You're a monster!" Hogan could see that tears were rolling down her cheeks, though he didn't know how much of them was related to anger, and how much was caused by sadness.
Hogan's mind flashed back to what he had told Carter and Newkirk after they had made their way to Colonel Magerlein's house. He didn't realize it then, but he was beginning to learn how much pain being called a "monster" really caused. Slowly, he tried to make her understand one simple truth. "But Marie, I still love you. I would never drink your blood; you've got to trust me on that. I would still like to make our relationship work somehow."
Hogan gasped as he saw Tiger cock the trigger, and she raised it at his heart. "It's too late for that. How can I possibly be expected to live with a man who might kill me at any moment? Please, get out."
Stunned, Hogan tried again. "I love you! Please, don't do this to us. Not after everything we've been through, not after I traveled all the way to Paris to save you."
Tiger sighed and began to lower her gun, before she quickly raised it again. "For that, I shall always be thankful. That's why you're still alive—I can't kill a man, even though you're not a man, who saved my life. So please, just get out of here before you make me do something I regret."
"Marie, please…"
"I said get out!" Tiger yelled, brandishing her gun about, though she was still visibly crying.
Hogan realized that Tiger meant business, but he also knew that she never wanted to see him again. "I'm sorry you feel that way, Marie. I'll be going now." Quietly, and always the gentleman, he added, "I wish you much success and happiness with whoever you end up marrying." Hogan turned to open the door to leave, after he made sure the coast was clear. As soon as he exited her apartment building, he let his emotions overtake him after making sure that there weren't any German patrols around. Sitting down on the steps outside her building, he buried his hands in his face and wept profusely.
Suddenly, Hogan found that he was back in his lower bunk, and he slowly reached a hand up to feel his cheeks. He immediately brought his hand back down to his side once he noticed that they were wet. Getting up from his bunk, he crossed over to his window and stared out of it. She'll never accept me the way I am now he sadly thought to himself. And I certainly can't blame her! he angrily added. Still, Hogan tried to gain control of his emotions as he thought about how to make her understand what had happened to him. Later today, I'll have Kinch get in contact with her, and let him explain about the kidnapping. Starting at the beginning is always a good way to go. Then, Hogan found his way back to his bunk and he lay down again. After thirty or so minutes had passed, he was able to fall back asleep into a dreamless, almost comfortable rest.
…
Out in the main barracks, another of Hogan's men found that he had his own nightmares to deal with. Tossing and turning in his bunk, Newkirk's mind flashed back to his past, where he found himself in the late 1700s.
Newkirk looked around, and found that he was in his small, one-room house outside of Boston. He had moved there after the war, but before he had decided to travel back to England. Dressed in period pajamas, he had just finished his dinner that he had stolen from the local hospital and was sleeping comfortably in his bed. Suddenly, a woman's loud, piercing scream made him jump up. As he immediately recognized what had caused it, worry lines appeared on his forehead. No, not that. Please tell me that didn't 'appen! he thought to himself. He quickly began getting dressed, grabbed his gun and lantern, and hurried out into the dark night.
Following the smell of blood, he quickly found what he was looking for. Raising his lantern to get a better look, he gasped at the sight that he had come across. A young woman in her late twenties lay on the ground, blood dripping from two puncture wounds on her neck. Looking up, he saw that Hogan, dressed in period clothing, was standing nearby, blood dripping from his mouth. The Colonel's eyes were still flashing green, and Newkirk could see the wave of guilt that was beginning to cross Hogan's mind.
Reaching out to grab his hand, Newkirk told Hogan, "Sir, we need to get out of 'ere. Now."
Looking down at his feet, Hogan absent-mindedly wiped the blood smear from his chin. Looking back up again, Newkirk could see that Hogan had allowed a single tear to roll down his cheek. "I'm glad that I don't have a gun," he slowly said, "or I wouldn't be standing here talking to you. Newkirk, look what I've done! I killed this woman and I drank her blood! I'm a damn monster!" Hogan let his tears fall freely now. "But do you know what the worst part is? At the time I was doing it, I liked it," he quietly admitted.
"Sir, I'll take care of everything, but we 'ave to leave now before any townspeople show up. You made a mistake, but like I said it 'appens to all of us in the beginning. I'll just 'ave to work 'arder with you, is all," Newkirk said, trying to keep calm for the both of them.
Suddenly, and as if on cue, a small mob had quickly begun gathering around the group. Hogan and Newkirk could see that there was twelve people present, and that nine of them were male and three of them were female. Some of them were carrying guns, some of them had pitchforks; some of them appeared angry, while some others were too fearful. Suddenly, a couple who appeared to be in their mid forties stepped forward. The wife was weeping profusely, while the husband held his gun pointed at Hogan's heart, since he still had his fangs and green eyes showing.
Immediately, Newkirk realized that he had two options, though he would never follow the first one. He could either pretend to be human and merge into the crowd, standing against his Colonel. Or, he could try to protect Hogan from the angry, vengeful mob. He quickly stood in front of Hogan, ready to fight the last villager to the death if need be.
"I knew it Martha, but you wouldn't believe me. Didn't I try to tell you that there were vampires in town? Look what they've done to our daughter!" the husband angrily shouted, pointing at the body of the deceased woman.
"I know what I told you, that vampires were nothing more than old world superstitions." Suddenly, Martha began to rip the crowd into a frenzy. "These monsters have killed our daughter! Kill the vampires!"
"Shoot them!" one shouted.
"Burn them!"
"Stab them!"
"Let them hang!"
Newkirk held up his hands, trying to calm everybody down. "Listen folks, we don't want any trouble. We're not monsters, you 'ave to believe us about that. The Colonel 'ere understands that what 'e did was wrong, and that 'e made a mistake. We know that we can't bring your daughter back. But please, we don't want any trouble."
"All you monsters are the same!" George, who was the husband, shouted. "You're all bloodthirsty predators without consciences, sent to wipe us all out! You're monsters, and we know what to do with your filthy, disgusting kind!"
Suddenly, before Newkirk could react, George raised his gun and fired it at Hogan's heart, who had stepped in front of Newkirk to protect his corporal. Immediately, the Colonel fell backwards into Newkirk's outstretched hands. "At least I won't be able to hurt any more innocent people," he weakly whispered with what looked like a slight smile, before fading into dust.
Newkirk bolted upright in his bunk, sweat pouring down his face. Getting up, he began to approach Hogan's door so that he could talk about the horrific nightmare that he had experienced. The Colonel can 'elp me with this nightmare of mine, he thought to himself. The Colonel can… Suddenly, he realized the truth. 'E 'as 'is own problems to deal with, and doesn't need to be bothered with mine. I'll talk to Carter about it tomorrow. Trying to keep his own anxiety down, Newkirk slowly fell back into a troubled sleep.