Chapter 6

By the time Wilson arrived, Kinch and LeBeau had climbed up to the barracks, poured themselves each a cup of lukewarm coffee, and taken a seat at the long table in the middle of the room. As soon as the medic entered Hogan's quarters, Carter grabbed some coffee and sat down next to LeBeau. Almost immediately Hogan came out of his quarters, and, filling his own cup, stood by the stove, looking frustrated.

"Wilson kick you out, Colonel?" Kinch asked, already knowing the answer.

Hogan nodded; then took a sip of his coffee. Sometimes the medic's demand for privacy when he examined someone irritated Hogan no end.

After Wilson finished examining Newkirk, he joined Hogan and his men in the main barracks, and confirmed Hogan's worst fear – Newkirk had a concussion. The medic indicated he didn't consider it too serious, but Newkirk would have to be watched for a few days.

"You'll need to wake him up every two hours," Wilson instructed, "Make sure he's responding normally before you let him go back to sleep."

"Normal, as in…" Hogan prompted.

"Yeah, what do you consider normal?" Kinch piped up.

"This is Newkirk we're talking about," added LeBeau.

Carter frowned at his two teammates. "Geez, guys, that's not very nice."

LeBeau rolled his eyes. "We were only joking, André!"

Hogan threw a glare at all three of them, and they quickly shut up. "You were saying, Wilson?" he said, turning his attention back to the medic.

A bemused expression briefly appeared on Wilson's face; then it was gone. "Just make sure he knows who he is, where he is, who you are…things like that. If he seems pretty lucid, then he can go back to sleep." He looked at Hogan, contemplating for a moment. "If you want, I can stay with him, sir," he volunteered.

"No, that's all right, I can do it," Hogan replied.

"Colonel," Kinch said, "I can take care of Newkirk tonight. You should get some rest; you're still getting over that knock you took to your own head."

Wilson threw a concerned glance at Hogan, but he ignored it. "I can handle it, Kinch," Hogan stated firmly. He set his half-empty coffee cup down on the table, and headed for his quarters. "I think it's time for all of us to get some shut-eye," he said, glancing around the room: then he entered his quarters and shut the door behind him.

Like clockwork, Hogan woke Newkirk every two hours, making him answer basic questions until he was satisfied that the Englishman knew what was going on. Then he'd let him go back to sleep, and climb up to his own bunk to do the same. Each time he performed the routine, it took him longer to fall back to sleep; so by the time morning arrived, he was wide awake; and exhausted. If we have to do this one more night, I think I'll take Kinch up on his offer, he thought as he hopped off his bunk and began to get dressed.

When he was finished, he sat down on the side of the lower bunk and reached up to grab Newkirk's shoulder. "Time to wake up," he said, shaking the corporal gently, "We've got roll call in 20 minutes."

Newkirk's face screwed up in irritation, and he reluctantly opened his eyes. "Ah, gov'nor, 'ave a 'eart! Five more minutes…" his voice trailed off as he closed his eyes.

"Nope. Sorry, Sleeping Beauty, you have to get up now."

Newkirk groaned when he realized Hogan wasn't going to stop. He opened his eyes a crack, and uttered, "You don't look like ruddy Prince Charmin', you know."

"I don't?" Hogan exclaimed in mock surprise; then, his eyes twinkling, he said, "Well, if it gets you out of that bunk, I can still kiss you."

Newkirk's eyes flew wide. "No, no, that's not necessary, sir, I'm gettin' up." He sat up quickly; then instantly regretted it when his head started throbbing so hard, it drowned out Hogan's next words.

"Easy, Newkirk," Hogan said, seeing the Englishman grimace in pain, "I wasn't serious!" When Newkirk didn't respond, he grabbed onto his arm. "Are you okay?" he asked, becoming concerned.

The pounding subsided enough for Newkirk to hear Hogan's question. He exhaled the breath he'd been holding; then replied, "Yes, sir, I'm all right." He reached up and, placing his hand against his head, let out a moan. "Ooh, blimey, I sure could use some more of those aspirins!"

Hogan got up and went over to his desk. He opened the drawer and pulled out a small container of aspirins. After taking two pills out, he put the container back and returned to Newkirk. "Here, take these," he said, handing the aspirins over to him. Then he picked up the glass of water that had been sitting nearby – in case Newkirk needed it during the night – and gave it to the corporal.

Newkirk smiled gratefully as he took the pills and the glass. He downed the aspirins with one gulp, and handed the glass back to Hogan. "Thanks, Colonel," he said; then moved his legs over the side of the bunk, and began to stand up. This time he took it slow; he didn't want a repeat of earlier. Hogan held onto his arm, helping to keep him steady. Still, when he was finally on his feet, his head started pounding again, and the room briefly began to spin. Fortunately, it didn't last long, and as soon as it passed, he nodded at Hogan to indicate he was all right.

Hogan let go of Newkirk's arm, but hovered nearby as the Englishman changed into his uniform. When Newkirk was ready, they went out into the main barracks, where the rest of the men were in various stages of waking up and getting ready for roll call. Carter and LeBeau were the first to spot their English friend emerge from Hogan's quarters, and they watched him walk over with a mixture of hope and concern on their faces. Newkirk did his best to allay their fears; convincing them with his usual aplomb that he was 'right as rain'. They naturally bought it, and were relieved to see him feeling so much better.

Hogan wasn't convinced; however, and he was determined to keep a watchful eye on Newkirk for a little while longer.

Roll call came and went, and when the men filed back into the barracks, they took their customary seats around the table. LeBeau poured them some coffee, and the conversation predictably turned to the creature.

"Are you really sure it's dead, Colonel?" Carter asked, still not convinced.

Hogan nodded. "I'm sure. I saw what happened to it when Kinch hit it with the truck; there's no way anyone – or anything – could survive that."

"Yeah, Andrew," Kinch agreed, "Besides, we checked it out before we left, like the Colonel said last night. I guarantee you, it wasn't moving."

"Say, that reminds me," Hogan said, "Kinch, contact the Underground; tell them we found out what was killing all the people around here, and we took care of it. Also, tell them to pass the information on to Dieter; we might as well let him know, too."

Kinch eyed Hogan curiously. "You want me to fill them in on the details, sir?"

"No!" Hogan exclaimed, shaking his head. "Just tell them it's a deranged killer; or something like that. They'd never believe us if we told them the truth."

All the men unconsciously nodded at that.

Kinch got up from his seat at the table. "Okay, Colonel, I'll send the message right away…" he was cut off by Sergeant Olsen, who'd been keeping watch at the barracks' door.

"Major Hochstetter's here!" Olsen shouted as he glanced over at Hogan.

Hogan frowned. "What, again? Doesn't he have anything better to do?"

Olsen had returned his attention to the compound. "He's getting out of his car, and he's heading towards…" he paused, watching to see where the Gestapo Major was going. "Yep, he's going to Klink's office."

"Then I think it's time for us to go to my office," Hogan said as he stood up. He made a beeline for his quarters; his men right behind him. They wasted no time setting up the coffee pot to listen in to the conversation, and turned it on just in time to hear Klink greeting the Major.

"Major Hochstetter, what a surprise! I wasn't expecting to see you again so soon."

"Klink's not the only one who's surprised," LeBeau muttered.

"I'm sure you weren't, Klink. Tell me, were your prisoners all here and accounted for this morning?"

"Yes, Major, of course they were!"

"I see."

They could hear Hochstetter's footsteps through the receiver as he paced. It continued long enough to make even Hogan start to grow concerned. Finally the Gestapo Major spoke up.

"Klink, did you know that a number of soldiers who were sent to patrol the woods last night have completely disappeared?"

"They have? Where do you think they went, Major?"

A pause. "That's what I'm trying to find out, Klink!"

Hogan could have sworn the coffee pot shook slightly when Hochstetter yelled.

"They were supposed to report in this morning, but they never showed up. Klink, are you sure Hogan was here all night?"

"Major, you can't be serious! Even if Colonel Hogan did manage to escape – which would be next to impossible, I might add – I hardly think he could take down an entire patrol!"

Kinch smirked. "He sure likes to blame everything on you, doesn't he, Colonel?"

"Some things never change," Hogan replied with a lopsided grin.

"Blimey, what do you suppose 'appened to that patrol, sir?" Newkirk asked.

"Maybe they came to their senses and deserted," LeBeau suggested.

Carter smiled. "Boy, wouldn't that be funny if a whole patrol decided to desert…"

"Shh," Hogan uttered, holding up his hand. They all turned their attention back to the conversation between Hochstetter and Klink.

"But, Major Hochstetter, I can't spare that many guards!"

"Klink! You are going to send out as many guards as I tell you, to search for that patrol… Understand?"

"Major, I need those guards to keep the prisoners from attempting an escape…" Klink was interrupted by a knock on his door. "Come in," they heard him call out. The door opened, and Schultz's voice came booming through the receiver.

"Kommandant, there is a soldier here who wants to talk to you right away!"

"Schultz, can't you see I'm busy with Major Hochstetter?"

"But, Herr Kommandant, he insists on talking to you. He said his patrol was attacked last night…"

"What? Don't just stand there, Sergeant, bring him here immediately!"

"Jawohl, Herr Major!"

As soon as they heard Schultz leave, Hogan glanced at his men with a curious expression. "This is getting more interesting by the minute," he remarked.

"Yeah, boy, it's just like listening to a radio show!" Carter replied excitedly, "I used to listen to them all the time back home. I think my favorite was – well, actually, I had two favorites, you see – although, the one that came on at…"

"Carter!" Hogan shouted in exasperation.

"Uh, sorry sir," Carter apologized, wilting under Hogan's frown, "Guess I got carried away again."

The men once again turned their attention to the coffee pot; Newkirk's extended glare at Carter notwithstanding.

They heard the door open and the shuffling of feet; then Schultz's voice again. "Herr Kommandant, this is Corporal Schneider."

"Corporal Schneider, come in, have a seat. You say your patrol was attacked last night…?"

"I'll ask the questions, Klink! Now, Corporal Schneider, you say your patrol was attacked last night…?"

A few chuckles escaped some of the men in Hogan's quarters.

"Ye…Yes, Herr Major."

"Well? What happened?"

"We had just finished checking the area we were assigned to, and were about to start back, when, when…"

"Corporal, stop shaking and tell me!"

"This, this thing attacked us!"

"'Thing', did you say?"

"Shut up, Klink! What thing, Corporal?"

Hogan and his men glanced at each other with alarm.

"I…I don't know, Major! It was tall, and it was dressed like a man, only it was no man! It was strong, and had sharp teeth, and yellow eyes, and it started grabbing men and killing them, and tearing things out of them, and…"

"Corporal! Get a hold of yourself!"

The sound of a slap echoed through the receiver.

"I'm sorry Major, it was just so horrible…"

"It's going to be more horrible for you if you don't stop crying and tell me what happened next!"

"Boy, Hochstetter can sure be mean when he wants to be," Carter murmured.

"I… I didn't know what to do, so I ran, and ended up here. Major, they're dead, they're all dead…"

"It couldn't be that thing I hit with the truck, could it, Colonel?" Kinch asked.

Hogan shook his head. "No way, Kinch, it was dead…we checked!"

"Well, maybe it attacked the patrol before it came after us, sir," Newkirk suggested.

"Mon Colonel, I think Hochstetter is asking another question," LeBeau cut in.

"How do you know they're all dead, Corporal?"

"I saw them, Major; saw what was left of them…"

"When did this happen, Corporal Schneider?"

"Klink, I already told you; I'll ask the questions!"

"It was about an hour ago; I know because I looked at my watch just after I got away."

"An hour ago?" Carter echoed.

"Colonel, that's not possible…" Kinch's voice trailed off.

"Blimey, you don't think…?"

"No, I don't, Newkirk, it couldn't be," Hogan said.

"But, what if that ruddy thing survived, after all?"

"It couldn't have; it was dead!" Hogan exclaimed.

"Colonel," Newkirk replied, "Didn't Dieter tell us that thing can't be killed?"

Silence fell over the room for a few moments. Finally Kinch spoke up. "Well, I think we have one of two possibilities, here. Either there's another one of those things roaming around out there, or…"

"Or what?" Carter asked.

"Or, we didn't kill that thing like we thought."