The Flying Years: Part I

In the earliest hours of the morning, hours before roll call, Klink walked the perimeter of the camp. He was a solitary figure lost deep in his thoughts. His bearing was of someone who had the weight of the world resting on his shoulders. As he circled the camp he believed the only ones aware of his presence were the guards and the dogs. Both were steadfastly ignoring their unhappy Kommandant in favor of their assigned duties. Although Klink may have thought he was alone, he was not. A pair of dark chocolate eyes watched his progression as he soundlessly paced around and around the camp like some nightmarish version of a carousel. As stilly as the night itself, Hogan stood in the dark at his slightly opened window. Arms folded across his chest he watched the Kommandant's worried path. Klink's seemly endless trudging strides reminded Hogan of Sisyphus.

Schultz had confided to him the Kommandant wasn't eating much. When the large Sergeant suggested he might need to see a doctor, Klink thanked him for his concern and dismissed him. A worried Schultz had come to Hogan to ask his advice but even a hero could be stumped at what to do sometimes. All Hogan could do was watch and feel a sense of helplessness. It was neither a feeling he was accustomed to nor one he particularly liked.

In the worst case scenario Kinch would escape. It would ruin Klink's no escape record. If that action was needed, the Kommandant would be beyond any protection his record might have given him. Besides that Kinch was Hogan's anchor. He could always depend on the Sergeant to give solid sound advice. Hogan would often bounce crazy ideas off of Kinch and use him to hone his more devious plans. Losing Kinch would be like losing his right arm.

Then there was the problem that was Klink. For Hogan it was more than losing a valuable tool. He had come to see maybe there was more to the Kommandant than he or anyone else suspected. His defense of Kinch had taken Hogan by complete surprise. Klink had always had a keen sense of self preservation. He must have known any intercession on Kinch's part would do him more harm than good. So why did he do it? Hogan chewed his bottom lip and he pondered the question.

As Klink rounded the corner again he paused and looked Hogan's way. For a second Hogan thought Klink had somehow detected him in the dark. Staring in the direction of where Hogan stood for a moment longer, Klink finally turned and walked up the steps of the Kommandantur. Hogan watched while the light in Klink's office came on. Quietly he shut the window and returned to his bunk. Folding his arms behind his head and staring at the ceiling, Hogan considered his dilemma. It would be different if Klink were a collaborator, informant or doing something actively to help the Allied cause. Everything Klink did was a manipulation by him. Klink was just his stooge. Why should he be so concerned about helping someone who considered himself a loyal German officer?

After morning roll call Hogan went to Klink's office. Encountering Fraulien Hilda in the outer office, "How's the Big Shot doing?" he asked as he kissed her cheek.

She looked over her shoulder at the Kommandant's door and the turned back to Hogan. With a sad look she gently shook her head. "Not so good Colonel Hogan. He's been getting calls from Berlin almost non stop. I am worried about him."

"Is he alone?" Hogan asked.

"Ja, he seems to prefer it that way."

Hogan gave her a small smile and gave her a quick kiss on forehead. "Thanks." he said as he moved toward the office door. After giving two light taps on the door, Hogan entered the office.

Klink sat bent over his desk appearing to be engrossed in his paperwork. Hogan stood there looking at the Kommandant waiting for him to acknowledge his presence. After a minute or two had passed and Klink failed to look up from his work, Hogan started to clear his throat.

"I know you are there Hogan," Klink said without ceasing his work. "I have just chosen to ignore you in the hopes you will take the hint and go away."

"Well you know Kommandant," Hogan said while he threw his cap the Pickelhaube and sat down in the chair across from Kink's desk. "I was never much on subterfuge."

Klink sat there looking at Hogan's big boyish grin. Without preamble Klink stood up, picked up Hogan's cap and tossed it out the window. Wordlessly he sat back down and turned his attention back to his paperwork.

"Hey what was that for?" cried an alarmed and outraged Hogan.

Klink looked up at Hogan, settled back in his chair and regarded Hogan in a manner one might view ants at a picnic.

"When you come into this office wearing your cover, do I call the guarding and have you physically searched at gunpoint? It would well be in my rights if I did considering Americans only wear their cover inside if they are under arms. But no, I leave you be. I let you give me sloppy salutes and tolerate quips that are nothing short of insubordinate. No other Kommandant I know of would allow you such leniency. The only thing I have asked is you leave my Pickelhaube alone. You have used it to crack walnuts, to put cigar ashes in and as a hanger for that ragged cap of yours. You have even placed it in my chair for me to sit on." Klink leaned forward and looked directly at Hogan, "I got it when I was a young man in the Infantry. It sits on my desk to remind me of those who went out to fight the enemy and never came back. I would appreciate it if even though you have no respect for me, you show some for the men the helmet represents."

"I'm sorry Kommandant, I guess I never gave it much thought." replied Hogan slightly taken aback at the force of Klink's response.

Klink waved hand dismissing Hogan's apology. "What do you want? Can't you see how busy I am?" he said motioning to the paperwork in front of him.

"I've heard Berlin has been calling." Hogan said.

"You spend entirely too much time in my business. You really need to get a life Hogan."

"Well if you would let me into town a couple nights a week…" Hogan replied slyly.

"Flippancy, your American humor is not appreciated." Klink said slapping the top of his desk.

At that moment the phone rang and Klink answered. After a few 'yes sirs' and 'ja Mein General' Klink said Heil Hitler and hung up.

"Bad news?" asked Hogan tentatively.

"The Gestapo is coming to do a full investigation and to interview all the witnesses. I don't have to tell you who will be the lead investigator."

"Hochstetter," Hogan half whispered. Klink merely nodded.

"Hogan," Klink started out slowly, "if you are going to do something to help your man. Now is the time to do it."

"I'm not sure I am in a position to help him."

"Don't play with me Hogan. Get him out of this camp now before the Gestapo arrives."

"The camp is escape proof. Remember your no escape record? Stalag XIII is the toughest camp in all of Germany? Any of this ring a bell Kommandant?"

Klink looked at him unblinkingly. "Say what needs to be said. Play whatever games need to be played but in the end you get him out of this camp."

"Do you know what the Gestapo will do to you if they get here and Kinch isn't here?" an astounded Hogan asked.

"Yes."

Hogan sat there looking at the Kommandant. He felt as if Klink was looking right through him. As if somehow he could see every lie and manipulation.

Very softly Klink said, "Dismissed Colonel Hogan."

HHHHHHHH

Major Wilhelm Klink stood next to his Junkers J 1 getting ready to go up again. He had already fifteen confirmed victories and was ready to make it number sixteen today. Just three more victories and he would be eligible for the Pour Le Merite. Klink tried to imagine what having such a prestigious honor would do for his career. How proud his family would be of him. Lost in thought he did not hear his name called until someone punched him in the shoulder. Turning with the thought to chew out whoever hit him, he was totally taken back to see his friend Eric Mullendorf. Happy to see his old friend, Klink through his arms around his friend and hugged him. Stepping back Klink looked at this old friend.

"Look at you Eric, a Captain." beamed Klink.

"And you my friend, a Major." returned Eric.

"What brings you to Stuttgart? I thought you were throwing snowballs at the Russians."

"I am on leave and I had to find you Willi. Ingrid and I are getting married Saturday. You must come and be my best man. I cannot get married without you."

"Married? So Ingrid made good on her threats, eh?" Klink teased his friend.

Eric shrugged. "How do you fight against a force of nature? It will be at my parent's house. You must come."

"I will spit shine the boots of every General from here to Heidelberg to be there. It's not everyday your best friend willingly puts his neck in a noose." Klink said as he pulled his friend into another embrace.

HHHHHH

Klink stood at the fence looking out into the tree line. Hogan cautiously approaches the Kommandant and braced himself for another verbal boxing match. He was surprised to see Klink was smiling. Hogan looked Klink while the older man smiled as if he had a secret only he knew.

"I'm a little surprised Kommandant. When I left your office you were anything but a happy man. Now you look like Princess Elizabeth swam the channel to profess her undying love. What gives?"

"I was just thinking about an old friend, Hogan, someone that I haven't seen in several years."

Hogan thought he had detected a shadow of sadness cross the Kommandant's face. It was there and then gone. Like a magician's illusion. "Maybe you should take a furlough and go see him."

"I can't, he is dead. General Mullendorf was suspected of plotting treason against the Third Reich. Since they couldn't get proof of his suspected activities he was sent to the Russian Front." Klink paused for a moment before continuing. "I went to school with him in Dusseldorf and we attended University together. We even took our military training at Potsdam together. I was his best man at his wedding and Godfather to his children. He even named his son after me. When he needed me I wasn't there for him. He told me to stay out of it but I know could have done something."

"What could you have done Kommandant?" Hogan carefully asked sure that Klink would emotionally come apart at any moment.

"I don't know," he murmured. "Something."

"He was right in telling you to stay out of it. You involvement could have implicated you."

"And what about Major Hans Koman? I just let the Gestapo take Hansi away and then disavowed knowing him just to save my own skin. General von Strommel, General Strofle, how many of my friends did I just turn a blind eye to and pretend not to know when they were in trouble and needed my help?"

"Is that why you stuck your neck out for Kinch?" Hogan gently probed.

"No, I had my own reasons for doing what I did and they are none of your concern Hogan." With that Klink turned from the fence and returned to the Kommandantur.

Hogan stood there staring after the Kommandant trying to piece the pieces together. He knew he should just let it go but found he couldn't. There was something inside him that demanded he understand why Klink had acted so out of character with Kinch.

Later that night Hogan crept into Klink's quarters through the entrance under the heater. As quickly and as quietly as he could he began to look at some of Klink's personal effects. Hogan found a photo album and some important looking papers just as he heard Klink moaning in his sleep. Hogan gathered up the materials and ducked back down into the tunnels.

He took them to the radio room where Kinch was monitoring the radio. Without saying anything to Kinch he began looking at the photographs. Kinch made no comment to his CO's strange behavior. As he turned the pages, Hogan came across two pictures which where loose in the album. Picking up the two pictures of a small boy Hogan mused out loud, "I wonder who's the kid?"

"It's not the same kid." Kinch replied as he glanced at the pictures.

"What do you mean? Both pictures are of the same child, just look at them." Hogan said holding the pictures out so Kinch could see.

"I'll grant they look the same but this picture," Kinch said pointing to the one on the left, "is about fifty years old. See the tinting and the sepia? This one," he said pointing to the one on the right "is about twenty years old. See the difference in the clothing?"

"So who are they?" Hogan asked no one in particular.

Kinch shrugged, "If you ask men I would guess they were father and son."

"This is Klink's album. It can't be his kid. He's never been married."

Kinch gave Hogan a knowing smile, "Since when was that a requirement to having a baby?"