Chapter 11: Off We Go

Tom entered Klink's outer office. He paused to stare at Hilda. "If only we were on the same side."

Hilda quickly turned around from her filing. "I didn't hear you come in, Colonel. Is this visit business or pleasure?"

Tom walked over to Hilda and took her hand in his. "I wish it was pleasure." When he kissed her hand, Hilda immediately blushed. "Is Klink in?"

"Ja, he is," said Hilda.

"Thanks, doll." Tom entered Klink's office without knocking.

"OUT!" Klink yelled. "You will not barge in here like you own the place."

Tom shrugged. He stepped out the door and closed it. He waited a moment then knocked.

"Come in." After Tom entered the office, "What do you want? Can't you see I'm a busy man?"

"Kommandant, we're still having a problem in camp with men fighting. We've tried different ideas to curb the fighting and nothing is working. I would like permission to have any man caught fighting thrown in the cooler for two weeks," said Tom.

"Can't your brother do anything to keep the men under control?" asked Klink.

"Rob said it's now my responsibility. He gives me suggestions on what to do but nothing is working. I fear if we don't get it under control soon, a riot will break out. I don't want to see any of the men hurt," said Tom.

"Very well. I'll let Schultz know. You will inform him of any prisoners fighting and he will escort them to the cooler. If that is all, you're dismissed," Klink saluted.

Before Tom realized what he was doing, he saluted Klink back. I can't believe I was tricked into saluting a Kraut. I don't care if he is on our side.

HH HH HH

Hogan stood in the compound staring at the woods beyond the fence. It didn't set well with him he had to risk his life for someone he despised and would rather see dead. He still had a bad feeling about the whole ordeal. If this was still some sort of set up, Hogan was determined he would be the only one in the trap. If that be the case, he was determined to go down fighting. If what Hochstetter said was true, Krueger or whoever it would be who caught him would not hold back.

Hogan finally noticed Tom standing near him. "It's done," Tom said.

Hogan didn't respond. He quietly walked into the barracks where the men were doing things to pass the time. "Thomas, get Kinch and Newkirk. Tell them to make sure Hochstetter is well secured then everyone comes up."

The time passed slowly as he waited for everyone to join the group. Once they were there, he started his speech.

"As you have noticed, things have changed around here. This camp has more men than it can handle. We are losing control in this camp. It will only be a matter of time before orders are ignored and prisoners start trying to escape. Tom can not do this alone. He needs the help of every one here. Go to the barrack leaders and stress the importance of them maintaining control in their barrack. If they don't know about the operation, don't mention it. Tom is in charge now. Tonight, I'm escorting Hochstetter to the pickup point alone."

The men voiced their concern. Hogan held his hand up to settle the men down. "Something still doesn't feel right. If this is a trap, I'm the only one they'll catch. If I get captured, Tom will lead the operation. What he says goes."

The men hung their head. Most of them understood why Hogan said Tom would run the operation and not to close up shop. They knew he would make the ultimate sacrifice to protect the operation and his men.

"When you meet with the barrack leaders, inform them of the new rule. Anyone caught fighting will spend two weeks in the cooler," said Tom.

"Yes, Sirs," the men replied.

HH HH HH

A few hours later, Hogan walked alone around the compound with his hands in his jacket pockets. Many of the prisoners were practicing for the upcoming football game.

Hogan was standing a few inches away from the warning wire, staring off in the distance. The guards in the towers immediately aimed their machine guns toward him. He knew they were pointed at him. When he first arrived, it used to bother him to have their guns trained on him and the sound of a round being chambered would cause his blood to run cold. Now he was used to it and it no longer bothered him.

One of the guards informed Klink, Hogan was acting strange. Remembering what happened not to long ago, Klink immediately went outside1.

"Hey, Bobby!" yelled Tom, running out of the barracks.

Hogan shot Tom a death stare. "You know I hate being called that."

"Get away from the wire. Let's go back in and talk about it." By now, Tom was standing next to Hogan.

Hogan stared outside the fence again. "There's nothing to talk about."

Tom placed his hand on Hogan's shoulder. Hogan immediately knocked it away. "Don't you ever touch me again! Leave me alone."

"Bob…Rob, can you at least please come away from the wire. The guards in the tower look nervous," urged Tom.

"What does it matter? As usual, you've taken everything from me. You took my girl in high school. You took my room when I went to camp. Then by some miracle, out of all the POW camps, you have to get sent to this one. Now you have taken the only thing I had left, my command." Hogan stared at the ground. He didn't want to look at anyone or anything. "I have nothing left."

"You can't be serious. It's about that order I gave you isn't it? Face the fact we're soldiers and I outrank you. Here's another order; get away from the wire," ordered Tom.

When Hogan didn't move, Tom grabbed his arm to pull him away from the wire. In a swift movement, Hogan landed a punch on Tom's jaw.

Tom staggered backward a little. "Do you know what the penalty is for striking your superior officer?" asked Tom.

"I didn't strike my superior officer. I punched my brother. If you don't leave me alone, I'll do it again." Hogan stood poised to either defend himself or initiate an attack.

"Rob, what has happened to you? You were never like this. We were never like this," said Tom

"You're what happened. You let being the big brother and higher rank, go to your head. I can't take it any more." Hogan charged Tom, knocking him to the ground. The two men rolled on the ground, each exchanging blows.

Klink motioned for the nearby guards to break the fight up and bring the men to his office. Once the two officers were in Klink's office, "What on earth do you think you two are doing?" yelled Klink. "Brothers or not, this is no way for officers to behave. How do you expect the rest of the men in camp to work out their problems if their commanding officers are fighting? The both of you aught to be ashamed of yourself for your actions. I have no other choice but to in force the new camp rule about fighting. Since you're the SPO, you'll be confined to barracks for two weeks. And you," Klink pointed to Hogan. "You know better. I've never seen you act like this. You have been in this camp long enough to know I won't tolerate fighting. I hold you to a higher standard than everyone else. If I confine you both to barracks you'll keep fighting. So you'll spend thirty days in the cooler."

"Come on, Kommandant. I was provoked into the fight. Call it extenuating circumstances. Don't you think thirty days is a bit much?" asked Hogan.

"Well SPO Hogan? Do you think it's a bit much?" asked Klink.

Tom grinned as he rubbed his sore jaw. "Nope."

"Some brother you are," said Hogan in disgust.

"Schultz, escort SPO Hogan to his barracks. Langenscheidt, escort Colonel Hogan to the cooler. Dismissed," ordered Klink.

HH HH HH

As soon as Langenscheidt left the cooler, Hogan crawled through the trap door in the floor, into the tunnel. Hogan didn't change clothes for the mission. He figured it was best, if caught, to be in uniform. Hogan put a small gold colored tube containing one capsule in his pocket. If it looked like he couldn't get away…lets just say he was determined to not be tortured by the Gestapo again.

"Major, ready for a fifty-three mile hike?" asked Hogan as he checked his weapons.

"Can't we somehow get a ride there like earlier?" asked Hochstetter.

Hogan wished the same thing. He prayed his leg would hold up2. It was doing much better. On the outside, only a scar remained. On the inside, he can tell he had been over doing it and the hairline fracture wasn't healing like it should. Not to mention the infection he had in his leg still hurt like heck. Just to be safe, he took two aspirin and put two in his pocket.

"Thought I'd find you here," said Wilson.

"Don't start on me. I have a job to do and I'm going to do it," said Hogan.

"I know you well enough to know when you make your mind up about something you won't change it for anything. I also know your leg is going to need extra support and you won't use the cane." Wilson put his hand up to signal he didn't want to listen to his protest. "I'm not going to put you in a cast. I've been working on a lightweight support I can put on your leg."

"I don't have time…" Hogan was cut off.

"Yes you do," ordered Tom. "The sooner you let Wilson do what he needs to, the sooner you can leave."

"Just hurry up," said Hogan as he sat on a near by table.

Wilson lifted Hogan's pant leg and undid his boot. He placed the carved wood on either side of his leg, securing it in place by a wrap. "I know this isn't the most comfortable, but it should help."

Hogan stood on it. It did help! "Thanks Wilson."

"Rob, I can't let you go," said Tom.

"We have already had this discussion. I'm going," said Hogan.

"You're not senior officer any more. The responsibility no longer rests on you to go on the dangerous missions. I'm not asking you as your superior officer; I'm asking you as your brother. It's my job to look out for you," said Tom.

"You don't know the area or the people," said Hogan.

"I did learn how to read a map. Please, Robert. These men need you here. They look up to you. I'll never get the kind of loyalty they show for you from them," begged Tom.

Hogan saw the concerned looks on his men's faces. "Bring Hochstetter here. The map to the location is in my locker behind you."

"I'm glad you've come to your senses," said Tom as he turned to get the map.

"I'm sorry, Tom," said Hogan as he hit Tom over the head with a chair, rendering him unconscious.

The men stared in amazement at Hogan. "Don't let him follow me. Let's go Hochstetter."

"You knocked out your superior officer," said Hochstetter.

"If I can do that to him, imagine what I can do to you," said Hogan.

The men walked to the exit. Since it wasn't dark yet, they had to be extra careful. All was clear when Hogan looked through the periscope. "Up the ladder and get to the woods without a sound. I'll be right behind you."

"Yes, Sir," said Hochstetter.

1 Broken by Nitestalker

2 Brainwashed and Reliving the past by Nitestalker