Chapter 10---A Visitor Comes to Camp

The faux Hogan and ten of his men trudged back into their barracks, exhausted after having completed the work detail they left on right after roll call. Jackman collasped onto the bench while Carter, LeBeau and Newkirk collasped onto their respective bunks. Only Kinch sat down beside Jackman on the bench at the table.

Jackman tossed Hogan's crush cap onto the table and ran a hand over his black hair, similar to Hogan. "I hope this doesn't happen often," he muttered.

Kinch smiled. "Only now and then," he kidded. He slowly got to his feet. "I know it's not tea, but do you want some coffee?"

"Why, Kinch," Jackman replied innocently, smiling tiredly. "What in the world made you think I drink tea?"

Kinch, smiling tiredly, poured two partial cups of coffee. He handed one to Jackman.

"Y'know, Kinch, something just occured to me today regarding your Colonel Hogan." He slowly sipped his coffee, hoping to acquire a taste for it while he was here.

"What's that?" asked Kinch, sipping his own coffee.

"Well, after we all talked about Colonel Hogan, I began to realize just how amazing a man he really is. I mean, in one night I must've learned more about the man than from all the people I spoke with in Allied headquarters."

"Colonel Hogan is quite an amazing man, I'll grant you that, Lieuten...I mean Colonel."

Jackman looked at Kinch with a slight smile. "Look, when we're alone here in the barracks, why don't you and the others call me Noel."

"Okay....Noel," Kinch replied, smiling. "Agreed." Kinch suddenly looked perplexed. "Noel, tell me something."

"What is it?"

"What did you mean when you said in one night here, you learned more about Colonel Hogan than from all the people you spoke with in Allied headquarters? Didn't they give you the information you needed about the Colonel?"

"Well, and don't get me wrong. What I meant was that the Allied High Command could only tell me about Robert Hogan the officer and soldier. With you fellas, I learned what makes Hogan the type of man he is. In other words, you taught me about Robert Hogan the man as opposed to Robert Hogan the soldier. Not that what kind of soldier he is isn't important, but I think it's more important to actually understand the type of man he is and what makes him so special to you men that you would apparently be willing to give your lives for him."

"He's the Gov'nor," said Newkirk, leaning on one elbow on his top bunk.

Jackman and Kinch both turned around and looked up at Newkirk.

"I mean, the Colonel understands people, y'know what I mean? He can be your best friend in the world, or your worst enemy if you betray of cross him. He pulls no punches with you."

"Colonel Hogan's a great guy for an officer," Carter sat upon his bunk located directly under Newkirk's. "He doesn't tell us how to do our jobs. He just let's us do them."

LeBeau rolled over onto his stomach and with arms folded in front of him, rested his chin on his arms. "Colonel Hogan is the best commanding officer anyone could ask for. He doesn't try to make us into what he thinks we should be. He just lets us be who we are. He somehow knows when you need a pat on the back or a kick in the pants. Don't ask me how he knows....he just does."

"And he's sure given me plenty of kicks in the pants," Said Carter, excited. "Why I remember this one time...."

"Carter! Shut up please!" Newkirk leaned over the edge of his bunk and looked down at the young Sergeant below. "The bloody war will be over before you finish the bleedin' story!"

Carter smiled sheepishly and simply shrugged his shoulders. "Well he has," he muttered softly. He suddenly glared up at Newkirk after the Englander's pillow hit him in the head from above.

Suddenly, the barracks door burst open and an excited Sergeant Schultz entered, waving a letter he had read in the air.

Jackman and Kinch looked at each other and smiled.

"Colonel Hogan! Colonel Hogan! Wait until I tell you my news!"

"Let me guess, Schultz," Jackman grinned slyly. "You've been transferred to the Russian front."

"I am so excit....No! That is not my news. Colonel Hogan, be nice."

"I am being nice, Schultz," Jackman replied innocently. "Not everybody gets excited over going to the Russian front."

"For the last time, I am not going to the Russian front! Now, do you want to hear my news or don't you?"

Jackman looked at the Sergeant with a grin on his face. "Sorry, Schultz. What's your big news?"

"My cousin Fritz is in town and is coming tomorrow to visit me here at Stalag 13. I am so excited! I haven't seen him in nearly six years!"

"Your cousin, Schultz?" asked Jackman. "I don't seem to remember you mentioning a cousin Fritz."

"Sure I did, Colonel Hogan. Remember the night we played poker in the barracks? I told you about my cousin Fritz and his wife, Emilie and their four children."

Kinch's eyes gave Jackman a warning look which he caught.

"Sorry, Schultz. Now I remember. Must've slipped my mind for a moment."

"So what kind of work does your cousin do, Schultzie?" asked Newkirk, sitting up on his bunk now.

"He drives a delivery truck for whoever needs something delivered. It's not much of a job if you ask me. But I suppose it's the best he can do. Y'know what I mean?"

LeBeau climbed down off his top bunk and approached the rotund Sergeant, playfully poked him in the stomach. "Is he a nice man, Schultzie?"

Schultz wagged his hand from side-to-side indicating so-so. "He used to run around with some unsavory types, know what I mean? But, he says in his letter he stopped doing that and now associates with some very nice German people who are dedicated to the Fatherland."

"Dedicted to the Fatherland?" asked Carter, puzzled. "I thought you said these were nice people, Schultz?"

"Jolly joker!" Schultz mumbled. He then looked at Jackman, eyes pleading. "Colonel Hogan, I need you and your men to do me a big favor."

"Sure, Schultz. What do you need? Some extra candy bars?"

"And you are another jolly joker. No, what I need is for you and your men to be on your best behavior tomorrow while my cousin is here. I want to make a good impression on him when he comes."

"No problem, Schultz," Jackman replied, finishing his coffee. "Don't we always behave?"

Schultz gave Jackman a look. "Do you really want me to answer that, Colonel Hogan?"

"That was then, Schultz. Don't worry. We'll make you look bigger than old what's his name. Y'know, the little Corporal with the mustache."

Schultz suddenly looked nervous. "Please, Colonel Hogan. Don't joke about this. I want my cousin to be proud of me tomorrow."

"Don't worry, Schultz. I promise we'll all cooperate. Won't we, fellas?"

There was a chorus of 'yes sirs' heard.

Jackman gave Schultz his best Hogan grin. "Satisfied?"

"Jawohl, Colonel Hogan. Danke." Schultz turned and left the barracks, excited.

Alone, Kinch smiled at Jackman. "I do believe you're getting the hang of being Colonel Hogan," he said.

Jackman shrugged. "You were right though when you said fooling Schultz would be easy."

"Schultz prefers to look the other way on a lot of things he's seen us do," Newkirk jumped down off his bunk and, lighting a cigarette, sat down at the table.

Kinch chuckled. "His favorite expression is 'I see nothing! I hear nothing! I know nothing!'" He sipped his coffee.

"The one person I'm concerned about is Hilda. I mean, there's a saying that no two men kiss alike. Well, when I kissed her, she looked at me oddly. Almost like she suspected something wasn't right. She could expose me to Klink."

"I wouldn't worry about Hilda, too much," LeBeau added. "She's crazy about Colonel Hogan. And she helps us on occasion by giving us information. Besides, you look and sound like the Colonel. So if she suspects something, she can't prove anything."

"LeBeau's right. Just try to limit your contact with her. We can't afford any trouble until we find Colonel Hogan and get him back here," said Kinch.

"The real problems are gonna be if General Burkhalter or Major Hochstetter show up," said Carter.

"General Burkhalter. Now you told me he is Klink's superior officer. But who is Major Hochstetter?"

"Gestapo," Newkirk sneered with disgust.

"Hochstetter and Colonel Hogan have had their run-ins in the past," added Kinch. "Usually with the Colonel being arrested, beaten, starved and tortured to within an inch of his life. Several times he's come as close to death as a person could come without actually dying. Hochstetter's tried unsuccessfully many times to prove the Colonel's involvment with the underground and of being Papa Bear. And he'll stop at nothing until he gets what he wants, and that's Colonel Hogan. You don't want to tangle with him in any way. He would know in less than ten minutes that you weren't the real Colonel Hogan."

Jackman shuddered having heard about the Gestapo Major and what he'd done to Hogan in the past. "What do I do if he should show up?"

Kinch looked directly into Jackman's eyes. "You let us worry about Hochstetter. If necessary, we'll get you out of Germany and find another way to fool Klink and Schultz. But I wouldn't worry about Hochstetter unless he shows up. We have enough to deal with right now."

The next morning, Klink was about to order Schultz to dismiss the prisoners from roll call when a privately owned black car rolled through the front gates and pulled to a halt in front of the prisoners, Klink and Schultz. The driver's door opened and out stepped a man of about mid-to-late forties with salt and pepper hair. A wide smile broke out on Schultz's face when he saw the driver get out. He hurried towards the driver, excited.

Jackman, standing in Hogan's place in the formation with hands clasped behind his back, leaned over to Newkirk and whispered in his ear. "Schultz's cousin Fritz?"

"Not sure, sir. We've never met him." Newkirk whispered back. "But I certainly hope so unless Schultzie's been keeping secrets from us."

Jackman, smiling, stood up straight again and watched the two men hug each other.

"Fritzie, it's so good to see you again after all this time!" Schultz said. He pulled his cousin into another bear hug.

"And it's good to see you also, Hansie. You're looking well as usual. How have you been?"

"Okay, considering. And you?"

"Schuuullltttzzzz!" a voice bellowed from behind them before Fritz could respond.

Sergeant Schultz then remembered roll call wasn't finished and hurried back to the Kommandant. "Sorry, Herr Kommandant," he apologized, saluting.

"Dummkopf! Can't you at least wait and dismiss the prisoners first? What kind of example are you setting for the other guards? I swear, Schultz. If you weren't the best guard I have...."

Schultz smiled. "Danke, Herr Kommandant!" he said.

Klink frowned. "Don't thank me, Schultz. I'm not exactly thrilled saying it, believe me. Now, do you think you could dismiss the prisoners?"

"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant." Schultz saluted Klink and then whirled around and faced the prisoners. "Prisoners disssssmiissssed!"

As the prisoners dispersed, Schultz's cousin Fritz approached him and Klink. "Herr Kommandant, may I introduce my cousin, Fritz Schultz. Fritz, this is Kommandant Wilhelm Klink, the famous Iron Eagle I told you about in my letters."

Fritz extended his hand to Klink, and the two men shook hands. "I'm glad to finally meet you, Herr Kommandant. Hans's told me quite a lot about you."

"Really? He mentions me in his letters?"

"Jawohl, Kommandant. I never get a single letter that he doesn't mention you at least once." Fritz winked at his cousin.

Outside barracks two, Jackman leaned against the barracks with his arms wrapped around himself. He was surrounded by Kinch, Carter, LeBeau, and Newkirk with Kinch standing beside him.

Jackman found himself chuckling as he watched the trio. "Look at them, will you? The way Klink's acting, you think he was greeting the Fuhrer."

Kinch chuckled himself. He glanced at Jackman. "You look like you have something planned, Colonel."

"Yes I do, Kinch my boy. I think we're going to do what Sergeant Schultz asked us last night. We're going to behave and introduce ourselves to his cousin Fritz." That said, Jackman strolled towards the trio with the others following. As they got close to the trio, Jackman called out. "Hey, Schultz! Aren't you gonna introduce us?"

Schultz saw them getting closer and swallowed nervously. He glanced at his cousin who didn't seem to notice. "These are a few of the prisoners I am in charge of. This is Corporal LeBeau, Corporal Newkirk, Sergeant Carter and Sergeant Kinchloe. And finally, this is the Senior POW officer, Colonel Hogan."

It didn't go unnoticed by Jackman nor the other prisoners when Fritz was introduced to the faux Hogan that he paled immediately. The man swallowed hard and appeared as if he had just seen a ghost.

"Are you all right?" Jackman asked Fritz. He smiled and chuckled. "I mean, I've never had a man about to faint upon meeting me before. I usually only have that kind of effect on girls."

"I, I'm all right. Colonel Hogan, is it? I guess I'm more tired from my trip that I thought," said Fritz looking at his cousin and Klink. "I think I should lay down for a little while and rest. It has been a long trip."

"Let me get your bags, cousin Fritz. Then I will show you to the guest quarters where you can lay down and rest for awhile."

Pulling two suitcases from the back seat, Schultz and his cousin headed in the direction of the guest quarters. As they walked away, Fritz looked over his shoulder and saw the faux Hogan smile at him and wave goodbye.

"Hogaaaaannnn!" Klink bellowed.

The faux Hogan looked at the Kommandant. "What'd I do now?" he asked innocently.

"I want to see you in my office on the double! Right now!"

"Boy," the faux Hogan shook his head. "Try to be friendly with someone and you get into trouble."

Klink wagged a finger in the faux Hogan's face. "I promise you Hogan! I will get to the bottom of things! There's something different about you. Has been since you recovered from the flu and I intend to find out what it is."

"Lead the way, Kommandant," the faux Hogan remarked, grinning. As he followed behind Klink, he looked over his shoulder at the others and rolled his eyes in exasperation. He saw Carter give him a 'thumbs up' sign. Acknowledging it, the faux Hogan followed Klink across the compound in the direction of the Kommandant's office.

Kinch, however, was more interested in watching Schultz and his cousin Fritz. "Interesting, isn't it?" he asked.

"You noticed it too, mon ami?" asked LeBeau.

"So did I." said Newkirk.

"Notice what?" asked Carter. "I didn't notice anything."

Newkirk rolled his eyes in exasperation. "You mean, Andrew, you didn't notice the reaction of Schultz's cousin Fritz when he was introduced the the Colonel?"

"Oh, I saw that. I thought you meant there was something else."

Sighing, Newkirk momentarily covered his eyes with his hand and shook his head. He looked at Carter. "Andrew, one of these days we have to get you some kind of help. Like a nice professional bird for you to talk things over with. Would you like that?"

"I don't need to discuss anything with any professional lady."

Newkirk shrugged. "You could be right. It might be too late for that anyway."

Ignoring them, LeBeau asked Kinch. "Why would Fritz react that way to meeting Colonel Hogan. They've never met before anyway."

"He wouldn't," said Kinch. "Unless it's because he didn't expect to see him here." Kinch suddenly smiled deviously. LeBeau noticed it.

"What are you thinking, mon ami?"

"LeBeau, I think we might have just gotten our first break as far as finding out what happened to Colonel Hogan," Kinch replied.