Chapter 10

Hogan studied Lehmann's face as he pondered the man's question as far as how much he should reveal. He decided quickly to tell the doctor no more than he needed to know until he was certain he could trust him.

"I'm waiting, Colonel Hogan. If that's even your real name."

Hogan reached a quick decision. "Look…" he began, "If you expect me to be honest with you, then I expect the same from you. As your daughter said, you have to start trusting somebody."

The doctor appeared torn. He knew both were right. He had to start trusting somebody; they only had each other to depend on, and with all the Gestapo around who knew when their underground contact would be able to reach them. He let out a deep sigh.

"Fair enough, Colonel," he agreed. "I have two sons, Josef and Dieter, neither of whom you have met as you were unconscious when they were sitting with you. And Greta you know. I decided to get my family out of Germany after my wife was killed. I sold all our valuables and took what little money we had left hoping we would have enough to get out of Germany and make our way to London. Then I began secretly treating members of the underground. Unfortunately, one of them was seriously injured and I couldn't save him. But before he died he gave me some information that he said had to be gotten to London as-soon-as-possible. Since I needed to get my family out of Germany, I agreed. We were eventually brought to this safe house where we were to be picked up by another underground contact who is to get us to our next destination where we would be introduced to somebody named Papa Bear who could get us out of Germany." He sighed wearily. "But then we heard these huge explosions and saw the fire. I assumed that was the Berlin Express blowing up. Josef and I went to check it out. We were on our way back here when we came across you lying unconscious in the woods." He looked into Hogan's eyes. "Your turn, Colonel."

Hogan's eyes narrowed. Since his confusion from the concussion had cleared up, he recalled a message received from London the day before the message recalling him home for reassignment about a German family he was to get out of Germany because they had important information London wanted right away. Could it be possible?

"Before I say anything, what kind of information did the underground operative give you?" he asked. He was extremely interested in Lehmann's answer. He noticed the doctor's hesitation. "I'm not asking out of curiosity," he said calmly. "I have a reason which I will explain once you answer my question."

Lehmann licked his dry lips. Something told him it was important to tell Hogan the information.

"Before he died, the underground agent told me that the Germans were arranging the assassination of General Patton.(1) He gave me a list of names of those involved in the assassination plot. My children don't know about any of this, and I would prefer it kept that way. "

Hogan whistled. He was now convinced that Lehmann and his family were the ones London had been talking about.

"I believe it's your turn to be honest, Colonel."

"As I told you, I am an escaped prisoner-of-war from Stalag 13 who was on the Berlin Express and being transferred to Stalag 15 when the train suddenly exploded. And my name is Robert Hogan, Colonel, US Army Air Corp, serial number 0876707."

"Forgive me, Colonel," Lehmann interrupted warily. "But both Josef and I got a look at what was left of that train. There's no way humanly possible you could only suffer an injured shoulder, a broken forearm and a concussion. Not with what we saw."

Hogan smiled. "I jumped from the moving train just before it exploded. That's how I broke my forearm and got the concussion. The shoulder injury was a result of the train explosion." he said.

"You jumped from a moving train?" Lehmann asked with raised eyebrows.

"Yes. I needed to get back to Stalag 13. Also, there's a certain Gestapo Major who would believe I had something to do with the sabotage of the Berlin Express, even though I didn't." He chuckled. "I mean, I wouldn't plan on blowing up a train and then be on it."

"And what about having to return to this Stalag 13?"

"It's as I told you, I have four men there I need to get to. Maybe we can help each other."

"I have to think about this, Colonel Hogan ," Lehmann remarked. "We, that is, my children and I have been on our own for six months, and find it hard to trust anybody. Surely you can understand that?"

"Yes, I can," Hogan replied. "But there comes a time when you have to take a chance on someone or something. In times like these, trying to do what you're doing is dangerous enough. But you have a family to protect as well."

"Don't you think I know that, Colonel?" Lehmann answered getting up and beginning to pace the floor, rubbing the back of his neck. "And now with all those Gestapo out there, our contact can't come and get us for who knows how long." He stopped pacing and stared at Hogan again. "For some reason Greta trusts you, and she's become a pretty good judge of character. Perhaps I should, as you said, take a chance. We can't stay here indefinitely. And the information must be gotten to London."

"I agree. Look, I know I have a concussion, but how long before I can travel?" asked Hogan.

"With luck, probably by the end of the week, although your arm and shoulder will take several weeks to heal."

"I don't think we can afford to wait until the end of the week," Hogan told him. "How far from where the train blew up is this safe house?"

Lehmann thought for a moment. "It's back off the main road a bit. In other words you could easily miss it when driving by if you weren't looking for it. Why do you ask?"

"I want to make certain the Gestapo wouldn't be able to find this place easily. It'll buy me some time."

"Time for what, Colonel?" asked Lehmann, curious.

"To hopefully find a way to not only get you and your family to your next destination, but out of Germany as well."

"How can you do that?" asked Bruno. "You are a prisoner of war."

Hogan smiled. "Dr. Lehmann, meet Papa Bear."

The doctor stopped dead in his tracks and stared at Hogan in disbelief "You are Papa Bear? A prisoner-of-war?"

"I don't like to advertise," Hogan replied with a smirk.

"But, but…how do I know you are not trying to trick me?"

"Doctor, if I was trying to trick you, I can think of other ways to do it besides endangering myself by admitting I'm Papa Bear. Besides, I had been informed there was a family I was to get out of Germany because they had vital information. I just didn't know who the family was."

Lehmann slowly sat down on the edge of the bed. He was still stunned by Hogan's disclosure. "I still don't understand. It's obvious to me that Papa Bear works with the underground. But how can a prisoner-of-war…?" his voice trailed off.

"Let's just say I needed a hobby," Hogan replied. "Now, what about having somebody going into Hammelburg and making contact with Max at the grocery store? We're going to need help if we are going to get you and your family out of here, and myself back to Stalag 13."

"Colonel, I thought you were being transferred from Stalag 13 to Stalag 15?"

"I was," Hogan replied. He had an idea where Lehmann was going.

"Then how can you return to Stalag 13?"

Hogan sighed wearily. "Because I intend to remain there despite the orders transferring me out. Now, what about the request I've made of you?"

Lehmann let out a deep breath. "I'll talk to my sons about it and send them to see you. You can explain what you want done."

Hogan smiled. "Thanks."

Lehmann got to his feet and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. Shortly afterwards, the door opened again and Greta entered, closing the door behind her. Walking to the bed she sat down on the edge, looking Hogan in the face.

"I heard the conversation between you and papa," she said, curious. "Why didn't you tell me you were Papa Bear, Robert?"

Hogan let out a large breath. "Greta, listen to me. I didn't say anything because like your father, I have to be careful as well. There are people out there who would love to see me arrested by the Gestapo or dead if they knew I was Papa Bear. So I must maintain my cover being nothing but a regular POW."

"But how will you get us out of Germany?"

"I don't know yet. But first things first. I have to let me men at Stalag 13 know that I am still alive because I'm gonna need their help. Once I do that, I will think of a way to get you and your family to London." He gripped her hand tightly. "I promise."

Greta licked her lips. "Will you be coming with us to London?" she asked.

Hogan looked at the teen with a faint smile. "No. My place is here with my men."

"Oh," Greta replied hanging her head sadly. Tilting his head to the side slightly, Hogan touched her face, feeling the wetness on his hand. Cupping her chin, he turned her face towards him and smiled affectionately at her.

"Greta, I'm extremely flattered. But I'm not the man for you."

"Yes you are," she said quietly. "You're everything I want."

Hogan shook his head and sighed. "As I said, I'm very flattered. But it just wouldn't work between us."

"Why?" she asked, wiping her eyes with both hands.

"Just accept my word for it. It wouldn't work out." Hogan didn't want to tell her she was too young because she would be hurt and she had been hurt too much already and often in the last five or six months. He was hoping what he said would be enough. He would just have to wait and see.

Just then the door opened again, and Dr. Lehmann entered with both his sons; one of them Hogan noticed had a limp.

"Colonel, these are my sons, Josef and Dieter. Boys, meet the man who is to get us out of Germany, Papa Bear."

"Colonel Hogan, I am Josef. Are you really Papa Bear?"

"I am. But I would very much prefer that all of you forget I am. As far as all of you know I am only Colonel Hogan."

Dieter limped closer to the bed until he stood beside it. He looked into Hogan's face. "Colonel, I am Dieter. Are you really going to get us to London?"

"I promise you I will." Hogan then looked at the two boys. "Did your father tell you what I need done?"

"I explained everything to them, Colonel," said Lehmann. He gripped Josef on the shoulder. "Josef here has volunteered to go into Hammelburg and contact this Max. You'll just have to explain to him what you want him to say or do once he does." It was then that Lehmann noticed how quiet his daughter had been.

"Greta?" he asked, concerned.

The teen got to her feet and hurried from the room with everybody staring after her. Lehmann apologized hastily and followed her outside. Hogan sighed and shook his head knowing he had hurt the girl without intending to. It was unfortunate, he told himself, but he had to make her realize he couldn't return her affection even though he was very fond of her and thought of her as his own daughter.

Lehmann heard the door to his daughter's room slam shut as he opened the door to Hogan's room. He knocked on her door.

"Greta? It's your father. Can I come in?"

"Go away!" he heard her say, her voice sounding muffled.

Lehman gripped the doorknob and twisting it, opened the door and entered. He closed the door and found his daughter lying face down on her bed sobbing. He sat down beside her and put a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"What's wrong, Greta?" he asked quietly. He had a suspicion what it was, but wanted to hear her say it.

"Nothing! Just leave me alone! Please."

"You're attracted to Colonel Hogan, aren't you?"

The teen suddenly raised her head and looked around, wiping her face with a hand. "How did you know?" she asked, swallowing hard.

"I knew it the minute I saw the way you first looked at him when he was brought into the house. It wasn't difficult to figure out. Does he know how you feel?"

Greta sat up and wiped her face again. "I didn't exactly tell him, but he sort of knew how I felt."

"And?" Lehmann asked, curious. For some reason he wasn't worried about the Colonel taking advantage of his daughter. That was why he had decided to let Hogan handle it in his own way rather than speaking to his daughter himself. Lehmann knew if he spoke with his daughter, she would argue against every point he would raise; so it was better this way.

"He said he was very flattered, but that it would not work between us."

"He's right," Lehmann replied. "First there's the age difference between you. He is a grown man, possibly in his mid to late thirties, and whether you agree with me or not, you are only fifteen and still a child. He told you the exact truth. Besides, you are too young to know what true love really is."

"I'm not that young," she said with a faint smile, wiping her face. "And I know Robert told me the truth. It's just that I haven't felt an attraction to the opposite sex since Erik." She leaned her head against her father's shoulder and let out a deep breath. Sometimes I wish I was much older."

"Why do you wish that?" her father asked, curious.

"If I was older then things could work out between Robert and I."

"I realize you have been lonely since your mother died, and since Erik was declared missing in action. I also know as the only girl, it's been rough on you. But you must keep in mind what Colonel Hogan said. It would not work out. Besides, when you're older, you will one day meet the right man." He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a tight hug. He kissed her on the top of her head. "Are you all right now?"

She looked up at her father and smiled. "I will be, papa. If anything, Colonel Hogan did help me realize I can still feel something for the opposite sex. For that I will be grateful to him."

"Good girl. Now, I must return across the hall to Colonel Hogan's room and see what he wants to do and what he has requested of your brothers." He got up and with a smile at his daughter, exited her room, closing the door quietly.

Alone, Greta wiped her cheeks and let out a deep breath. "You're wrong, papa. You and Robert are both wrong. And I do know what love feels like because I love Robert. And he feels something for me. I know he does. And I'm not a child; I am a young lady. I just need to convince Robert that I really do love him and that he is the right man for me."

(1) Patton commanded the decoy mission called Operation Quicksilver instead of playing a major part in Normandy and Operation Overlord. This was due to the 'famous' slapping incident when he visited injured soldiers and met a soldier recuperating from battle fatigue at a hospital. It was this incident which caused General Dwight Eisenhower to relegate Patton to a minor role in Normandy. There were several death threats made against Patton as he was the one General most feared by the Germans.