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 4
By Diane Maher
In the cell, several hours after Jack and Carter left, Karla woke and carefully stretched her arms. She noticed that Hogan had opened his eyes. She asked, "Everything the Gestapo suspects about you is true, isn't it?"
"I can't answer that question," Hogan replied calmly.
"That's an answer in itself," Karla said.
"You're a very perceptive woman," Hogan said.
Karla whispered, "Can you get me out of Germany alive?"
Hogan's dark eyes met hers. "With things as they are now, I don't know, but I'm going to try."
"Why?" Karla asked.
Hogan raised his hand and cupped her cheek. "I care about you very much."
"You've known that since I spoke to you in the back of the car before I left Stalag 13 to go to Zuglitz," Karla said.
"You mean, supposedly go to Zuglitz," Hogan said. "You play the game well."
"I try. You are a worthy opponent," Karla grinned. "As far as Freiberger and Hochstetter are concerned, I went to Zuglitz and returned here to possibly help you to escape from Stalag 13."
"How did you know that I cared about you?" Hogan asked.
"I saw it in your concerned expression after I told you I was going to Zuglitz," Karla replied. Shrugging, she added, "Well, that is how I interpreted your expression and your body language."
"Like I said, you're very perceptive," Hogan replied as he sat up and helped her to sit up.
"And look where it's gotten me," Karla commented wearily as she swept her arm in an arc, indicating their cell. Hogan took her hand in his, raised it to his lips, and softly kissed it. "If you're trying to seduce me," Karla said.
"Whatever gave you that idea?" Hogan interrupted quietly as he then stroked her hand. Karla laughed and moved to the edge of the cot, wincing at the pain of her initial movement.
Looking around the room, Hogan noticed the food tray had a couple of wrapped sandwiches on it, courtesy of LeBeau via Schultz, he hoped. He stood, went over, picked them up, returned to the bunk, sat on the edge, and said, "They didn't leave anything to drink, but we should try to eat. You need to regain your strength."
Karla nodded as she heard her stomach growl. Hogan grinned as he handed her the sandwich. Blushing, she took the sandwich, unwrapped and consumed it quickly.
"LeBeau, the Frenchman in our barracks, is probably the one who made these. You were really hungry," Hogan said with a grin.
"I guess I did eat kind of fast. I didn't mean to, now you must think I'm a pig," Karla said as she looked into her lap, embarrassed.
Hogan chuckled and replied, "No. You were just really hungry." Karla nodded. Hogan pushed back his jacket's sleeve slightly and glanced at his watch. "It's almost 0200 hours."
"Is that a good thing?" Karla asked.
"I don't know," Hogan replied.
Karla rubbed her hands together and Hogan took them in his to warm them. Their eyes met and locked. For a moment, neither of them moved. Karla felt the same way she had before kissing Hogan back in Klink's quarters the night of the dinner. This time, she allowed herself to feel the emotions she held for him within her heart.
Hogan took her in his arms and kissed her passionately. Karla felt the warmth of Hogan's lips on hers, the firm, yet gentle way he held her in his arms and the press of his body against hers. All these sensations threatened to overwhelm her as she responded to him. She didn't care whether her response was born out of loneliness, lust, or love. She only knew that she didn't want to let go of him.
When Carter and Jack Lynn left the solitary cell to head back to Barracks 2, they walked for some way before Carter stopped, deep in thought about something and looked around the tunnel as though he was lost. Concerned, Jack stopped and touched Carter's arm. When Carter turned towards him, his expression was one of complete confusion.
"What is it, Andrew?" Jack asked.
Carter blinked. "Did I really see what I thought I saw back there?"
Jack asked cautiously, "What do you mean?"
"Colonel Hogan was sleeping with that German woman! I can't believe it!" Carter replied, incredulous.
Jack thought for a moment before saying, "Andrew, it's cold outside, and those cells are concrete and steel with no stove or anything except those flimsy blankets to keep their occupants warm. Hogan is doing what he needs to do to ensure they both survive the night."
"But…she's the enemy!" Carter protested.
Jack recognized that what Carter saw in the cell had shaken his faith in Hogan. He placed his hand gently on Carter's shoulder and said, "I know, but Hogan is doing what's right in his mind for both of them as human beings. The fact that she's German doesn't enter into the equation when you look at it that way."
"Oh. You're right, I suppose," Carter replied quietly.
"Anytime mate, come on, let's get cracking. It's cold down here too," Jack replied and clapped the younger man on the shoulder.
By this time, they arrived at the tunnel beneath Barracks 2; they saw Kinch get up from monitoring the radio.
"Where's Commander Blackman?" Jack asked.
Kinch nodded in the direction of the next room and the three men headed that way.
Blackman had come over from Barracks 5 and was at the table reading the documents left by Colonel Hoffman. He looked up when Kinch, Carter and Jack entered the room. Blackman asked, "What's the story over in solitary?"
Jack replied, "I checked Colonel Hoffman's injuries, and wrapped her ribs to give them support. During her interrogation, apparently those goons roughed her up quite a bit. I think that several of her ribs are probably cracked. We should ask London for some more bandages and general medical supplies in their next drop."
"I'll take care of getting the medical supplies," Kinch said as he scribbled on his ever handy blue pad of paper.
"Do that after roll call tomorrow. We better get to bed. Good night," Blackman said after checking his watch.
The next morning, Karla woke upon hearing the door to the building slam. She gently shook Hogan's shoulder to wake him. "Someone's coming!" Karla said anxiously.
"What's going on?" Hogan asked as he sat up and helped her to sit up.
They listened as the ominous echo of boots approached the cell. The keys rattled in the lock, the door opened and Freiberger strode in, followed by Schultz. Karla stared at her former CO as he entered the cell and was suddenly very afraid that she was going to die right now. It was then that she felt Hogan's arm across her back and this reassured her that she wasn't facing Freiberger alone.
"Well, Colonel Hogan, have you changed your mind about telling me what you and this traitor talked about in the car before she left?" Freiberger asked. "You have seen for yourself the consequences of defying the Third Reich."
Hogan looked at Karla and back at Freiberger. He said, "You have already heard my answer to your question. And yes, I have seen the results of your brutal so-called interrogation of Colonel Hoffman."
Karla felt a wave of despair wash over her as Freiberger turned his attention to her. He drew his gun, pointed it at her and said, "I could shoot you now as an escaping prisoner, Karla. However, it won't serve my purposes if there are no witnesses to your death other than Sergeant Schultz and Colonel Hogan."
Karla's eyes widened with fear for an instant before they narrowed in anger. She said, "I may not live to see the end of this war, but you and those like you will pay for all you have done in the name of Hitler."
"Brave words for someone who is scared," Freiberger said. He turned to leave, and then paused and over his shoulder, added, "Oh, by the way, don't forget that you were once like me."
"NO!" Karla shouted as she stood, all her pain forgotten in her indignation. "I was never like you!"
"Oh? You acted under my orders," Freiberger said.
"That doesn't mean I was like you!" Karla exclaimed. "I did my job and obtained the proof that helped to arrest those who acted against the state, I can't deny that. However, I don't condone death, nor did I want to watch anyone die."
"You're just as guilty as I am, Karla," Freiberger said in a soft, malevolent tone as he pointed his gun at her. "You might as well have pulled the triggers on the weapons that killed those people you investigated. As far as I know, most of them died shortly after their arrest."
Karla gasped and backed away in shock, shaking her head as she didn't want to hear what Freiberger said to her. When she was against the wall, she moved to get as far away as she could from him. Freiberger pulled the trigger and a resounding click echoed in the cell. Karla fainted and fell to the floor in front of the sink.
"She'll live," Freiberger said. He grinned evilly and added in a sibilant tone, "Until tomorrow."
Freiberger watched as Hogan stood and started across the cell toward Karla's crumpled and unconscious form. "Why do you care?" Freiberger asked.
Hogan looked at Freiberger and said, "It's nothing the SS would think is important."
"Herr General," Schultz interrupted, breaking the tension in the cell. "Why did you do that?"
Karla opened her eyes and slowly pushed herself to a sitting position with Hogan's help.
"Sergeant, keep in mind what is happening to Colonel Hoffman. It shows you that we Germans are not above the laws of our Fatherland," Freiberger said with a scowl as he pulled the loaded clip from his coat pocket, inserted it into the gun, cocked it, loading the first round into the chamber, and then holstered the weapon.
Schultz asked, "What will happen to her?"
Freiberger stared straight ahead; his hands were now clasped behind his back. Looking down at Karla, he said nothing.
"Why are you here, General?" Hogan asked, irritated with Freiberger's evasion of the subject.
Freiberger turned towards Hogan and said, "I'm here to inform Colonel Hoffman of her fate." Turning back to Karla, he said, "You are to be shot tomorrow morning at 0800 just outside the motor pool for your crimes against the state."
"No! You can't do that!" Karla protested. Realizing what Freiberger had said, she asked, "What do you mean? What crimes?"
"Treason, desertion, consorting with the enemy, and the fact that you wanted to spare those Jewish scholars six weeks ago," Freiberger replied. "The additional testimony from the secretary at Gestapo Headquarters who gave you the phone number of the man at Zuglitz and Corporal Stolz informing us that you said you were going to do what you needed to do in the office and that he need not bother Colonel Klink prove that you had the opportunity to set up Zuglitz for destruction. This testimony convinced me of your guilt. You are a disgrace to the uniform. There is no appeal possible for you. You brought this upon yourself. Keep that in mind as you prepare to die."
"Schultz, you will see to it that the area is prepared. I'll have one of the other guards take up your post outside the cell here," Freiberger said.
Schultz snapped to attention and saluted Freiberger. "Jawohl, Herr General!"
"You have nothing else to say, Colonel Hoffman?" Freiberger asked.
Karla stared numbly at him. She was too shocked to respond.
"Come Schultz, we have preparations to make," Freiberger said. He then left the cell; Schultz followed and closed the door behind them.
Hogan realized that he had stuck his hands in his jacket's pockets during Freiberger's pronouncement of Karla's fate. He remembered his thoughts as he watched Freiberger point his gun at Karla and the sinking feeling in his stomach as he watched her faint and fall to the floor of the cell in slow motion. He saw Karla's face, heard her voice, and felt the softness of her lips on his all in an instant.
Hogan blinked and brought his mind back to reality. His gaze met Karla's and he saw the despair in her eyes. He heard Freiberger's question of "why do you care?" in his mind once more. Hogan realized that the question struck at the root of his feelings toward Karla.
Hogan helped Karla to stand and she winced. He helped her over to the cot so she could rest. He didn't say anything, but as he sat on the edge of the cot and took her hand in his to reassure her of his presence, he watched as the tears began to flow down her cheeks as what Freiberger had said sank in through the shock. Karla leaned into his shoulder and cried. Hogan held her close.
"Hey! Schultz and Freiberger went into Klink's office, there must be somethin' goin' on!" Newkirk exclaimed as he and Blackman rushed into Hogan's office.
Kinch got out the coffee pot, plugged it in, pulled out the basket and set it on the table. The next sound they heard was Klink's voice.
"Come in!" Klink called.
Several other people entered the office. "Colonel Klink. I will inform you of the fate of one of your two prisoners in solitary," Freiberger said.
Then, there was static, a pop and a sizzle. The men assembled in Hogan's office gaped at each other. Kinch crawled under the table to check the panel where the wires from Klink's office met before going through the coffeepot.
"Well, Kinch?" Blackman asked.
Kinch came out from beneath the table and shook his head. "The wires are fried. I'll need to string a new line to Klink's office. What should we do now?"
Blackman grunted. He then said, "Kinch, I think that perhaps you had better go below and monitor all calls. Newkirk and I will go speak to Hogan."
"When?" Kinch asked.
Blackman looked at his watch and replied, "Right now. We have an hour before the next roll call. Newkirk, come with me."
"Yes, sir," Kinch and Newkirk replied in unison.
Several minutes later, the two men crouched at the panel leading into the solitary confinement cell. Blackman nodded and Newkirk pushed on the panel. It opened and they entered to find Hogan sitting on the edge of cot with Colonel Hoffman lying behind him. Hogan saw them and motioned for their silence.
"What happened when Freiberger was in here?" Blackman whispered.
Hogan whispered, "He feigned shooting her and she fainted. She's resting now."
Blackman pulled him away from the cot. "What is supposed to happen?"
Hogan whispered, "She's to be shot tomorrow and we're going to be forced to watch. We have to fake her death. She must already be dead before she starts off to England. Since I'm in here, I need you to make the arrangements, Commander." Hogan then whispered his instructions to Blackman.
"Yes, sir," Blackman whispered. He turned and headed back into the tunnel with Newkirk following. When he came up from the tunnel into Barracks 5, Blackman glanced at his watch. They still had half an hour before roll call. He heard a loud crash outside as something fell.
When Blackman went outside to investigate the sound, he saw a lot of activity over at the motor pool. Blackman saw Schultz crossing the compound at the moment and decided to stop him.
"Schultz?" Blackman called.
Schultz stopped and came over to him. "What?"
"What's going on over there?" Blackman asked.
"I don't know. I was in the cooler guarding the prisoners until General Freiberger showed up to speak to Colonel Hoffman a little while ago," Schultz replied.
"What did he say to Colonel Hoffman?" Blackman asked.
"I don't remember," Schultz replied in a nervous tone.
Frowning, Blackman said, "Come on, Schultz!"
Schultz looked over his shoulder and moved closer to the barracks. "The General is making arrangements to shoot Colonel Hoffman."
"Where is this going to happen?" Blackman asked.
"She is to be shot over near the entrance to the motor pool by some SS troops," Schultz replied.
Blackman's brow furrowed. "Why not have Klink's guards in the firing squad?"
"General Freiberger doesn't think that our men have the necessary resolve to shoot a woman," Schultz replied.
"So her execution is why you're clearing the area outside the motor pool," Blackman said.
Schultz nodded and asked, "Commander, why do you want to know?"
Blackman shrugged. "I was curious about all the activity."
"Oh. By the way, I think that General Freiberger is going to order everyone in Stalag 13 to witness Colonel Hoffman's execution," Schultz said.
"Including the prisoners? Why would he do that?" Blackman asked.
Schultz nodded and replied, "Colonel Hoffman's execution is to serve as a warning of what will happen to those who either oppose the policies of the Third Reich or sabotage the German war effort."
Schultz left then and Blackman went to Barracks 2 to consider this. He called the men together to work on Hogan's plan. Once everyone was settled in Hogan's office, Blackman leaned on the table and thought for a minute before saying, "Colonel Hogan gave me some instructions. I'll brief you on what needs to be done. The plan is risky, but I think it will work," Blackman said as he then proceeded to outline the plan to the assembled men.
"Kinch, contact the Underground in Hammelburg. We're going to need them to pose as Freiberger's SS troops," Blackman said.
"Yes, sir," Kinch replied.
"Also, I need you to monitor all outgoing calls, especially any that Freiberger places," Blackman said. "We need to make sure that our troops are the ones that Freiberger is expecting to arrive." Kinch nodded and then Schultz arrived to call the men out for roll call.
Blackman went back to the tunnel beneath Barracks 2 an hour after roll call.
Blackman asked, "Kinch, were there any outgoing calls?"
"Yes, sir," Kinch replied. "General Freiberger requested an SS squad to come to Stalag 13 for the execution of Colonel Hoffman. I took the call and our troops are expected to arrive here."
"When?" Blackman asked.
"They're to arrive at Stalag 13 later tonight and the execution is scheduled for 0800 tomorrow morning," Kinch replied.
Blackman toured the other areas of the tunnel where there was a lot of activity. Carter was preparing explosives to be put in various places throughout the compound. Newkirk and Jack Lynn had brought in members of the local Underground to be outfitted with SS uniforms.
"Will the uniforms be ready on time?" Blackman asked.
"Yes, suh!" Newkirk replied.
Carter poked his head out from the lab. "The explosives are almost ready too, Commander."
"Good job!" Blackman replied. "Kinch, we'll need a truck to bring the men into camp."
"It's ready and waiting at the abandoned farm just outside of camp," Kinch replied.
Blackman nodded. "When they are properly outfitted, you and Carter take them to the truck and see to it that they understand their part in the plan."
"Yes, sir," Kinch replied.
When the cell door opened later that night, Schultz entered. He brought some food and drink for the occupants. "Hello, Colonel Hogan. Here's some food and water for both of you."
Hogan noticed that Schultz stole a nervous glance at Karla. "Thanks Schultz. Is there any possibility of me being able to talk to the Kommandant?"
"I don't know. He's in his quarters and miserable," Schultz replied.
Hogan cocked his head to the left, looked at Schultz and asked, "What happened to him?"
"I told you before, he has a bad case of the flu," Schultz replied.
"Oh, I thought it was something serious," Hogan commented. Or else Klink's just too scared to face the SS.
"The last time I spoke to him, he was feeling better," Schultz said. "His fever had broken."
"When was that?" Hogan asked.
"Just before I came over here," Schultz replied.
Hogan nodded. "Is there anything else, Schultz?"
"No. I'll come back later for your dishes," Schultz replied.
After Schultz left and Hogan heard the outer door of the building slam, he turned to Karla and whispered, "I've set into motion a plan to save you. You'll have to trust me, no matter what you think." He then told Karla his plan.
When Hogan was finished, Karla asked, "Are you sure that plan will work? It sounds dangerous to me."
"It's your only hope; you must leave Germany in order to survive," Hogan said.
"I understand," Karla said quietly.
Hogan heard the quiver of fear in her voice and asked, "You're really afraid, aren't you?"
Karla nodded. "I'm more scared than I've ever been in my life. Besides, wouldn't you be afraid in my position?"
Hogan nodded. "I think what you're doing is very brave."
"You think that learning everything I've been told by our government is wrong and going against my countrymen is brave?" Karla asked.
"Yes. You've seen things as they really are and have realized that what they've been telling you the last few years is wrong. You've decided that you can't stand by and be a willing part of Nazi Germany anymore," Hogan replied.
Karla nodded and quietly said, "You're right, I can't. The moment I left Berlin to come here, I had already made that choice; you are the first person to realize that unspoken truth about me."
The next morning, Karla woke with the knowledge that she was to be shot. Hogan tried to get her to eat one of the sandwiches left for them by Schultz, but her stomach rebelled at the very thought of food. When the keys rattled in the steel lock, she looked at Hogan; her eyes were wide with fear and her body was tense with apprehension. He stood first, and then helped her to stand. Together, they watched as the door opened and Schultz stood there.
Karla turned to Hogan and hugged and kissed him before she whispered, "I love you." She then turned and started towards the door, with Hogan following.
Schultz said, "I'm sorry, Colonel Hogan. You have to return to the formation to witness her execution."
"Okay Schultz," Karla heard Hogan say. She heard a hint of despair in his voice.
Karla noticed a lot of things as she slowly walked towards the exit of the building. There were cracks in the plaster covering the inner walls of the building, and rusting water pipes. She noticed the hollow, echoing sound her boots made with each step she took. She stole a glance over at Hogan. There were little details about Hogan that she saw as he walked next to her. She saw the creases on his pants legs, the salt and pepper stubble on his face and the concern in his eyes as he glanced at her. When she looked forward again, she saw that the door in front of her leading outside was open. It was a cold and cloudy day.
Schultz took Hogan towards Barracks 2 where the prisoners were lined up to watch her execution.
In an attempt to maintain her dignity, Karla held her head up high, squared her shoulders and walked out the door. She followed the men in front of her and stopped when someone cried out, "Halt!"
Karla turned and faced the row of men who were lined up to shoot her. Their faces were grim; the whole scene suddenly seemed so surreal to her. She couldn't believe this was happening. She didn't want to die.
Beyond them and to her right, she saw Freiberger standing there as smug as he could possibly be. She scowled at her former CO. Her gaze moved to her left where she saw Hogan now standing with the prisoners. Many of them didn't want to see this execution and were staring at their feet. She didn't blame them. She didn't want to be the one standing here waiting to be killed.
"Ready!" Freiberger shouted. There was a short pause and then, "Aim!!"
The sound of the guns being cocked and the sight of them being raised and pointed at her scared Karla to death and she thought, I'll die if something goes wrong with Hogan's plan now!