Chapter 11:
Hogan sat in his chair facing Carter, who was sitting on Hogan's bunk. The American officer was determined to know more on what the young man knew regarding Walters and would try to be as easy about it as possible.
"What do you want me to do, Colonel?" Carter asked.
"I want you to tell me more on what you know about Walters. What happened after he killed Captain Fischer?" Hogan asked.
Carter rubbed the back of his neck.
"Gee, Colonel. I don't really know. I remember Walters telling everyone that it was a German spy that snuck into our base and killed Captain Fischer. Because of his threat, there was no way I was gonna crack."
Hogan nodded.
"Anything else? Did he harm you in any other way? I need a good idea of what we're going up against here."
Carter let out a huge sigh.
"He's hit a few guys here and there. Kicked them, manipulate them, thrown a few fists once and awhile...once locked a friend of mine in a bathroom. Wouldn't let him out for hours," he said.
"Why'd he lock your friend in a bathroom for hours?" Hogan asked, confused.
"Said that he wasn't treating Walters properly. So he ended up getting locked in the bathroom for about four hours without any food, water, or communication with other people."
Hogan shook his head and rubbed his face with his fingers.
"Boy, this guy's sure messed up," he murmured.
"What, Colonel?" Carter asked.
"Nothing...just realizing how bad this guy's disorder is."
"Oh," Carter was silent before speaking again. "Colonel..."
"Yes, Carter?"
"Are you sure there isn't anything to help Walters get better?"
Hogan sighed and looked at Carter with sympathy.
"I'm sorry, Carter, but I'm afraid nothing can help Walters now."
"It's a real shame, Colonel. He could actually be a decent person, if he wasn't like this."
"I know. Which is why I don't want him turned over to the Gestapo. But just because his brain is functioning a different way, doesn't give him the right to go around and abuse people and murder someone."
Carter nodded, when the two of them heard a knock at the door.
Hogan turned his head to the door.
"Come in," the colonel said.
The door opened, and Kinch walked in carrying a slip of paper. He made his way over to his commanding officer.
"Message from London, Colonel. Said that they'll have the information you want on Walters in about a couple days or sooner," Kinch reported.
"Good. Thanks, Kinch," Hogan said.
"Did you tell them Walters is a sociopath, Kinch?" Carter asked.
"No, not yet. I wanted to ask the Colonel first to see what he thought." Kinch answered.
"I'd rather we didn't. If we do, London will want us to send him back to England, and that's something too risky to accomplish for all of us," Hogan said.
"Got it, Colonel," Kinch said.
It was at that moment that there was another knock on the door. The three of them looked over and saw Newkirk and LeBeau enter.
"Mind if we stop in, Gov'nor?" Newkirk asked.
"No, go ahead," Hogan said, gesturing for them to come in.
Newkirk and LeBeau entered into Hogan's room and closed the door.
"What's going on out there, guys?" Hogan asked.
"Nothing really, Colonel. Walters just keeps wandering around the perimeter of camp like he's looking for something," LeBeau said.
"Kinda fishy might I add, Gov'nor." Newkirk commented.
"It does sound a little peculiar," Hogan said, rubbing his chin. "I wonder what he's thinking."
"Colonel, if he's the one who killed Corporal Mueller, and I'm pretty sure he is, who do you think he might target next?" Kinch asked.
"I couldn't tell ya, Kinch. We don't even know why he killed Corporal Mueller, let alone if," Hogan said.
Carter shifted uncomfortably on Hogan's bunk. It did not go unnoticed by Newkirk.
"You alright there, Andrew?"
"Yeah, I'm alright," Carter said softly. He then shook his head. "No, I'm not alright."
"What is it, Carter?" Kinch asked, worried.
"I don't know what it is, but I can't shake this feeling that something bad's gonna happen. I don't know what, but I don't like it." The young sergeant answered.
"You're just a little apprehensive over this whole situation is all, Andrew. Nothing more than that," Newkirk said.
"Newkirk, it's not that. I don't know what it is, but it's really starting to worry me," Carter said softly.
"Carter, everything's gonna be alright. You'll see," Hogan reassured.
"I don't know, Colonel. I feel like things are gonna get worse before they get better."
"Anything I can do to help with that feeling?"
"I don't know, Colonel. I really don't."
"Don't worry, mate. Walters'll be gone before yah know it," Newkirk said.
"Filthy bosche will never touch you again," LeBeau said, confident.
Carter sighed again.
"I hope you guys are right. I just can't shake this feeling." The young sergeant softly spoke.
Night came and soon enough, all of the prisoners were in their bunks fast asleep...well...except for one. Carter was staring up at the bottom of Newkirk's bed trying to fall asleep, but it was not succeeding. He kept feeling like something bad would happen if he closed his eyes and went to sleep. He turned over to his right and stared at the bunks across from his and still could not fall asleep.
After repeating the same thing four times, Carter grew tired of the whole charade and got out of bed. He walked over to Hogan's room and quietly opened the door. He found Hogan in the top bunk fast asleep. He had been up for a while waiting for anything to come over the radio. After it became 1AM, Hogan gave up and turned in for the night. Carter had faked being asleep in order to not try and worry him.
The young sergeant was hesitant on not letting Hogan get the sleep he deserved. He did not want to wake his commander up. He did so much all the time and earned all the rest he could get, but Carter was not getting any sleep unless he was able to sleep in Hogan's room for tonight. His fear of something bad happening was worse at night than the day time, but he would keep that information to himself.
Finally after just standing there for a minute, Carter swallowed a knot in his throat and called for his commanding officer.
"Hey, Colonel? Are you awake?"
Hogan moaned and pushed himself up in his bed to look and see who was at his door. He squinted his eyes and saw Carter standing before him.
"Carter," Hogan asked. "What are you doing? It's almost 1:30 in the morning."
"Sorry, Colonel. I didn't mean to bother you, but I can't sleep," Carter said, sheepish.
Hogan seemed to wake up a little more and looked at his technical sergeant with concern.
"Everything alright?" He asked.
"Well, uh...it's just that...could I sleep on the bottom bunk for the night in your room, sir?"
"Sure thing, Carter. Is something bothering you?"
"Just this bad feeling I keep having. I'd feel better sleeping in here for tonight. I promise it's only for one night, Colonel."
Hogan gave a tired smile.
"Alright, just don't snore like LeBeau does," he joked.
"You got it, Boy. I mean sir." Carter answered.
Hogan lay back down on his bed and tried to go back to sleep, while Carter crawled in under the blankets of Hogan's bottom bunk. He got comfy and sighed, then looked up at the bottom of Hogan's top bunk.
"Good night, Colonel," Carter said softly.
"G'night, Carter," Hogan said groggy and soon enough, the Colonel fell asleep.
The sergeant rolled over onto his side and thought to himself for a bit. He felt better being in Hogan's room. The anxiety he had before had lessened, but it was still there. He wondered how long this anxiety of his would last before it passed over. He knew for sure that he would not feel 100% safe until Walters was out of the picture, but how long would that be? Weeks? Months? Years? He could not answer those questions for himself.
Not realizing it, he was growing tired from all his thinking and fell asleep shortly afterwards.
"Roll call! Everybody up for roll call!" Schultz bellowed. He flicked on the light switches to barracks two and started his usual routine of banging on all the bunks. All the men groaned at his presence.
"Come on, Schultz. Can't we ever sleep in for once?" LeBeau whined.
"The Kommandant says everybody up for roll call and to take no excuses. I bet you boys were up with your monkey business going on," Schultz said.
"You wanna know what it was, Schultz?" Kinch asked, giving a slight grin.
"No, I do not," the big guard said. With that, Schultz made his way out of the barracks, leaving the men to get ready for their day. Newkirk, Kinch, and LeBeau were sitting up in their beds, when the door to Hogan's room opened, and Carter entered the main area yawning.
"Morning, guys," Carter said, smiling.
"Andrew, did you sleep in there with the Gov'nor all night?" Newkirk asked, suspicious.
"No, just for a little while. Why?"
"What time did you get up last night?" Kinch asked.
"Oh...around one-ish I would say," Carter said, shrugging his shoulders.
"What was wrong with your bed?" LeBeau asked, curious.
Carter looked over his shoulder to see if Walters was listening. The lieutenant seemed to be paying no attention to him and trying to go back to sleep.
"I couldn't sleep. I kept getting that bad anxiety feeling I've been getting lately," Carter softly said.
Kinch finished tying his boots and got to his feet while LeBeau and Newkirk finished tying their shoes.
"Carter, I think everything's fine. Nothing to worry about," Kinch said, smiling.
"I know, but…" Carter paused and looked over his shoulder again. Seeing it looked safe, Carter leaned in closer to Kinch to whisper to him. "What do we do about him?"
"Don't let him bother you. Besides, you heard what the Colonel said; we're always supposed to stay in groups of two or more, but never by ourselves. Walters can't harm you with us hanging around you all the time. How could he?"
"I guess you're right, Kinch. It's just...it's just that...I," Carter stopped, when he heard a door opening. He turned around to see Hogan dressed and putting on his hat. He made his way over to the men, who had finished getting dressed and ready for roll call. Seeing that his men had paused as soon as he made an entrance, Hogan wrapped his arms around himself and looked at the four men in front of him cautiously.
"Something you wanna say, gentlemen?" He asked, with a raised eyebrow.
"No, sir. Carter was just talking to us is all," Kinch said honestly.
Hogan turned his eyes to the young man.
"What about, Carter?"
"Aw gee. Why do I always gotta be put on the spot?" Carter softly asked.
Hogan was about to talk, when the door to the barracks opened. Schultz came in bellowing.
"Roll call! Everybody outside for roll call!"
The American officer sighed, then turned back to look at Carter.
"Anxiety?" Hogan mouthed.
Understanding him, Carter let his shoulders sag and nodded in a guilty fashion.
Hogan gave a friendly look and patted the young man's shoulder gently.
"We can talk later if you wish," Hogan said.
Carter nodded. "Later, sir," he whispered back.
Hogan nodded, and all the men in barracks two walked outside into the early morning spring breeze. Walters was the last one to exit the barracks. He walked around near the end of the line and smirked. He kicked Carter in the shin, who yelped out, grabbed his leg, and rubbed it. He looked up and glared at Walters who only chuckled.
The lieutenant walked around Hogan, went to the opposite end of the line, and stood in his spot. The American colonel's eyes never left Walters until he stopped. Were he not so tamed, he would have run over to Walters and smacked him upside the head for hurting one of his men. It had not been the first time, and Hogan was determined that it would be the last once and for all. He eventually darted his attention away, when he heard the doors to the Kommandantur's close and a booming voice ring out in Stalag 13.
"Schultz, reeepoooooooooooort," Klink commanded.
Schultz saluted his commanding officer who returned the same sharp salute.
"Herr Kommandant, all prisoners present and accounted for," Schultz said, smiling.
"Thank you, Schultz." Klink turned to look at Walters. The lieutenant was glaring coldly at the Kommandant. He thought the man was a complete moron, but he did not look like much of a challenge. He was still interested in knowing why no one has ever escaped from the great and tough Stalag 13. To him, it was basically a summer camp. He could walk right out the front gate of the camp right now if he wanted to and no one would ever realize a single thing. He could not leave, though. Not now. He had a certain someone to finish off and take control over the prisoners first.
Klink turned away from the man's stare and made his attention to Hogan. The colonel was glaring down at Walters again. He would handle the man after roll call. Before he could return his gaze on Klink, Newkirk yelled out to the Kommandant.
"Ehy, Kommandant! Lieutenant Walters there kicked me mate, Andrew, in the shin!"
Walters snapped his attention to Newkirk with piercing eyes. It made the Englishman shake a little.
Hogan stepped in front of Newkirk with an arm over his chest and stared hard at the lieutenant, letting him know that he was not doing anything to one of his men with him around.
"Gentlemen, that's enough! Lieutenant, stop kicking the prisoners, and Hogan, get back into your spot in line," Klink demanded.
"Gladly, Kommandant," Hogan hissed, looking at Walters. The lieutenant had nothing to say other than snap an evil eye at the colonel. He hated the man to his bones.
"I expect all of you to be on your best behavior, when General Burkhalter gets here in a couple of weeks! Anyone who doesn't comply to those orders will serve sixty days in the cooler and two months without recreational privileges! Diiiiiissssssssmisssssssed!" Klink spoke loudly. The old Kommandant turned sharply on his boot and walked back to his office followed by Schultz.
All the prisoners of barracks two split into their separate ways, and Hogan's men surrounded their commanding officer. They were not risking a chance at Walters coming toward him without them there by his side.
"You alright, Carter?" Hogan asked, concerned.
"Oh, I'm alright, Colonel. Just a little sore is all." The young sergeant answered.
"Probably have a bruise, too, from how hard he kicked yah," Kinch said, crossing his arms.
"Speak of the bloody devil himself," Newkirk said, with a sneer.
Hogan looked up and saw Walters making his way over. The American colonel stood his ground, crossed his arms, and glared hard into the lieutenant's eyes. He made sure to stand in front of Carter specifically with Kinch, LeBeau, and Newkirk surrounding both of them.
"You better tell your Englander to keep his trap shut, if he wants to see another morning," Walters threatened.
"What my men do is none of your concern. I think you keep forgetting that I'm the one in charge here. Until that changes, you'll listen and follow my orders," Hogan ordered.
"I can make that change real quickly, Colonel."
Carter swallowed a knot in his throat and latched onto his commanding officer's arm tight. Hogan looked over momentarily before returning his eyes to Walters.
"Let go of him, Rat," Walters warned.
"I won't let you hurt Colonel Hogan," Carter said meekly.
Walters started making his way towards Carter, when Hogan stopped him with a frightening voice.
"You lay one hand on him, I'll have you thrown in the cooler so quickly, you won't know what hit you."
All of Hogan's men shook at hearing their commanding officer speak. They had never heard Hogan speak like that before. He sounded almost like Hochstetter in a sense. It even seemed to send Walters the chills. After snapping out of his shock, he snarled at Hogan and stormed off to another part of camp.
Hogan kept watching him, until Walters was out of sight. Once he was, he lessened his expression and turned to his men worried.
"You guys alright?" Hogan asked.
"Oui, Colonel...it's just we've never heard you talk like that before...it was kinda spooky," LeBeau said softly.
"I agree, Gov'nor. Yah sounded as bad as Hochstetter does." Newkirk added.
"I mean business when it comes to you guys. Anyone who tries to say or do otherwise is gonna get a hard hand on my end of things," Hogan said, rough.
Carter let go of Hogan's arm and looked at his commanding officer.
"Boy, I was sure worried he was gonna hurt you there for a moment, Colonel." Carter shivered.
Hogan smiled softly and patted Carter's shoulder.
"Don't worry about me, Carter. I'm gonna be alright," he said friendly.
The young man sighed and looked at Hogan and his friends helplessly.
"Then why am I still so scared?" He asked softly.