Chapter 13: Progress

Klump barged into Barracks 2. He did a casual search of the place by throwing blankets and mattresses off the bed; making a mess of everything else.

"Looking for something?" Kinch asked, annoyed with the sergeant.

"Just making sure you're not hiding anything," Klump said as he walked into Hogan's room.

After they heard the can of pencils knocked on the floor, Kinch went to protest. "Now look here you big over grown Kraut. We work hard at keeping this barrack nice and neat. How dare you come barging in here and start throwing things and making a general mess?"

"It didn't look neat to me. You have pencils on the floor and your blanket is on the floor and look at his clothes…" he opened Hogan's locker.

"You leave his clothes alone!" demanded Kinch as he stood in front of Hogan's locker.

"You can't stop me from searching. Out of my way." Klump pushed Kinch out of the way.

The men who were watching were appalled and protested. Klump laughed. "Without Colonel Hogan to testify, no one will believe you."

"I intend to speak to Kommandant Klink about it right now no matter how busy he is." Kinch headed for the door.

"He wants to speak with you anyway," said Klump.

When Kinch and Klump left, the men started to straighten the place up.

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"Kommandant, we need to talk. What happened to your men not harassing the prisoners? Since Klump arrived, all he's done is harass us. He grabbed Carter by the collar over having a mouse in the barrack. He waltzed in there and threw our belongings all over the place. When I tried to stop him from destroying Colonel Hogan's room, he pushed me out of the way. How do you expect me to keep my men in line when you don't keep yours? Or are you like every other filthy Kraut and lied." It then crossed Kinch's mind he just barged into Klink's office and went off on him. He may have just earned himself a stint in the cooler. Problem was, he was too angry to care.

"Are you finished, Sergeant?" asked Klink. The irritation of Kinch's actions was clear on his face.

"Yes, Sir," responded Kinch more calmly.

"Klump, can you explain your actions to me?" asked Klink.

"I check the barracks ever hour to make sure the prisoners are not doing anything verboten. The rules clearly state all pets are verboten. The mouse was being treated as a pet so I was going to remove it. Part of my job is to search the barracks, looking for radios and contraband. I was searching for such items in the barracks at the time in question. I was doing a very through job. The sergeant interfered be stopping me from searching Hogan's locker. I believed he acted in such a manner because a radio was hidden in there."

"That's Colonel Hogan to you, Kraut!" yelled Kinch.

Klink slammed his fist. "Sergeant Kinchloe, you will calm yourself. If anyone around here is going to be yelling it's going to be me! You know the rules about pets and the sergeant does have the right to search any barrack he sees fit. Interfering with a search in any way, shape or form is a punishable offence. For punishment, everyone in Barracks 2 will go on a road work detail."

"According to the Geneva Convention, you can't force prisoners to work without compensation," said Kinch.

Slowly rising to his feet, Klink put his hands on his desk and leaned forward. "Your compensation, Sergeant, is everyone not spending time in the cooler. Don't bother me with such trivial things in the future. You have fifteen minutes to get your men ready or thirty days in the cooler for everyone in Barracks 2."

Kinch was so upset at Klink he didn't salute before he stomped out the door, slamming it behind him. He treaded heavily into the barracks grumbling. "I don't believe it! Did someone steal the real Klink and replace him with that stupid Kraut?"

Everyone glanced at each other. Kinch was usually mild mannered and quiet. They could tell the stress of everything was finally getting to him.

"Klink said Klump has the right to search the barracks at any time. Klump denied grabbing Carter and said he was right to try and take Felix. Can you believe that nonsense?" said Kinch.

"Something funny is going on here. From the way you talked earlier about Klink, he is acting the total opposite," said Newkirk. "Wonder what got into him?"

"Maybe it's Klump? He didn't start acting this way until he got here. You think there's a chance he's Gestapo and Klink is acting tough to cover his own hide?" asked Olsen.

"Could be. We better get outside. Klink volunteered Barracks 2 for a work detail." said Kinch.

"And what do we get in return?" Newkirk asked not liking the idea of going on a work detail when it wasn't in their favor.

"He said compensation is not spending anytime in the cooler. Without Colonel Hogan to take charge, this place is turning into a real POW camp," said Kinch.

"Can you believe the nerve of Klink? If I didn't know better I would say he is trying to act like an enemy," said Carter.

Newkirk shook his head. "Andrew, he is the enemy. But he's starting to act like all the other Kraut kommandants."

"Oui, he is starting to make me want to escape," LeBeau added as he was remaking his bed.

"If we're not out front in… ten minutes, all of us get thrown in the cooler for thirty days," said Kinch looking at his watch.

"What is it we are doin' exactly?" Newkirk inquired as he looked for a missing card.

"Road work," answered Kinch. There was a collection of grumbles and complaints. "Let's get going."

An idea came to LeBeau. He didn't necessary like it, but it might be dramatic enough to work "I have an idea of something that might just help the colonel." LeBeau looked down. "Since it took something dramatic to get him in this condition, it's going to take something just as dramatic to get him out."

"For the love of Sam. What's your plan?" asked Newkirk.

After clearing his throat LeBeau said, "You know how much Colonel Hogan cares for Helga? And how upset he got when Price tried to force himself on her?" The men nodded remembering. It was the first time they ever saw Hogan loose control of his temper.

Hogan was headed for Klink's office when he heard Helga scream. The scream came from her car. Hogan yanked open the door. He pulled Price out of the car by his hair then slammed him on the hood of her car so hard, he dented it. Before anyone could get there to break the fight, Hogan had knocked Price into next week.

"You can't be serious? You still suffering the effects of Koch?" asked Newkirk.

"It may work," said Kinch after some thought. "Providing Klump is truly here to help the colonel and Helga goes along with it. Newkirk, tell Klump I want to speak with him? LeBeau, talk to Helga to see if she'll come here?"

Within a few minutes, Klump and Helga were standing in Barracks 2. In Hogan's office, Kinch explained the plan to them. He could tell Helga wasn't pleased with the idea, but for Hogan's sake, she would give it a try.

Kinch walked up to Hogan. "Colonel, we have to go on a work detail. Klump has agreed to let Helga stay in here with you. I know how tempting it will be to be alone with a beautiful lady, but try to control yourself."

HH HH HH

Klump went on his rounds while Schultz took the men to work on the road just outside of camp. Helga sat alone with Hogan playing cards.

Somewhat expectedly, Klump walked in a couple of hours later. "Just making sure you're alright, frauline."

"Danke, Sergeant." Helga went back to playing cards.

"Since we're alone, I thought about getting better acquainted with you." Klump put his hands on Helga's shoulders.

Helga froze as she reached for a card. Her heart raced. She didn't know if she could go through with it now. She glanced at Hogan. The lifeless expression on his face gave her the resolve to go through with it."I'm not alone. Colonel Hogan and I are playing a friendly card game of Go Fish."

Klump laughed. "How can you play with someone who isn't all here? I'm not concerned with him. He doesn't know what's going on around him." He lifted Helga to a standing position.

Every muscle in her body tensed. She new they had to make it seem as real as possible. She believed with all her heart, some how Hogan was able to hear everything. "Sergeant, I think it's time you leave. If you don't, I'll have to report this."

"Why should he believe you? Up till now, I haven't shown any interest in you. Knowing how friendly you are with the prisoners, especially Hogan, he may think they put you up to it to get rid of me."

Helga pulled from his grasp and ran to the far side of the table. "Colonel Hogan, please snap out of it and do something."

"He can't help you." Klump climbed over top of the table. Helga tried to make it to the door. Just as she reached the door, Klump grabbed her from behind. As he carried her over to Carter's bed he said, "It'll be much easier on you if you stop struggling."

He pinned her arms behind her as he laid her on the bed. The wink he gave her told her it was still an act. At any time, she could stop it by saying Hogan's full name as they had previously decided. Both prayed it would work.

"Get off of me creep! Colonel help! Please Colonel, help me!" Helga yelled, "Robert, please, I need your help!"

HH HH HH

"Get off of me!" Lisa yelled. She heard the front door close. "Someone please help me!"

The urgency in Lisa's voice frightened the fourteen year old Robert Hogan. "Lisa is that you?"

"Yes Robert, help me please." Hogan rushed upstairs to his sister's room to find their cousin Charles on top of her.

"Get off of her and let her go!" Hogan demanded

"Look cuz, this doesn't concern you. Now be a good kid and leave us a lone," said Charles.

Even though Rob was only a kid, he was determined to do what he could to protect his younger sister. He jumped on Charles' back and started punching him for all he was worth.

"Get off of me." Charles threw Hogan against the wall. This gave Lisa enough time to run out of her room. When Charles tried to follow, Hogan tackled his legs causing him to fall. Hogan sprang to his feet and ran with Lisa to a neighbor's house.

HH HH HH

"Robert, please help me!" Helga's call for help made it through Hogan's thoughts to the area where his consciousness chose to hide.

"Get off of her and let her go." Hogan said still staring blankly ahead.

Klump and Helga stopped struggling. They glanced at Hogan and then at each other. "I must be hearing things." Klump said

Hogan slowly turned his head to glare at Klump. "I said get off of her and let her go." With unexpected quickness, Hogan pulled Klump off of Helga. He landed a solid punch to Klump's jaw, sending him backwards over the table. Klump stood up, wiping the blood from his lip. Hogan readied himself incase Klump attacked. Helga took the opportunity to move behind Hogan. "Now get out of here. I don't want to see you here again."

Without a word Klump left to tell Kinch the plan worked. Hogan took Helga into his arms. She wrapped her arms around him and cried.

"Its okay Lisa he's gone. I won't let him or anyone else hurt you?" said Hogan.

Helga pulled away a little to face Hogan. "I'm not Lisa. Don't you recognize me, Colonel? I'm Helga."

Hogan let go of her. He put his head in his hands and walked around. Then he stopped and looked back at her. "Helga?" Hogan glanced around the room as if realizing where he was for the first time.

Memories flashed through his head. Bits and pieces mostly. He walked over to LeBeau and Kinch's bed. He ran his hand on top of the mattress. He turned to Carter and Newkirk's bed. The pieces came together to form a clear picture. He remembered what happened. Falling to his knees, he laid across Carter's bed and cried. He clenched the blanked as hard as he could. Between sobs he said, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Helga didn't know the whole story between Hogan and his men, but she knew enough. She knelt beside him. "Colonel, what's wrong?"

"I killed them. All of them. I executed my men. My friends." Hogan buried his face into the mattress as he cried harder.

"No Colonel, their not dead," said Helga as she put her arm over him.

She jumped when Kinch and the men came in. Kinch motioned for Newkirk to keep the rest of the men out. "Helga?"

She looked at him with her own tear filled eyes. "He's back."

"We can take over. Better go before Klink misses you," said Kinch. After Helga left, Kinch knelt beside Hogan. "It's all right, Colonel."

Hogan stared at Kinch. "It can't be. I killed you. You're not really here." Hogan moved his hand toward Kinch. He expected it to go right through him. When it didn't, he fell backward and scooted away until he was against a bunk. "No! You can't be here. None of you can be here. I executed all of you. You're all dead. I pulled the trigger. I saw them drag your bodies out."

The men looked away from their commanding officer. None of them expected it to be such a shock, seeing them alive. They willed themselves to not hear their once strong leader in a babbling panic. It didn't work.

Carter slowly walked up to Hogan as you would to a frightened animal. He squatted down so he was at eye level. "Colonel, remember my face when you last saw me?" Hogan nodded. "Look at it now. It wasn't covered with bruises and cuts like it is now. Koch tricked you. The gun was loaded with blanks."

Hogan stared wide-eyed at Carter then touched his face. "Blanks?" Carter nodded "You're all alive?"

"Yes, Sir." Carter stood holding out his hand. "Can I help you up, Sir?"

Accepting the help, Hogan stood. Once standing, he pulled Carter into a hug. "I'm so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?"

Carter stood with his hands at his side, not knowing what to do. He decided to return the hug of his friend. "I forgave you along time ago."

Hogan turned to the rest of his men, doing the same thing. Each time they responded the same. "I forgave you along time ago."

Everyone sat at the table while they talked. Hogan stared at his men. "He'll be back to do it all over again. We have to close shop and get out of here."

The men glanced at Carter. Kinch answered, "No Colonel he won't. He along with your cousin from Stalag 1, are in England."

Hogan shook his head. "Cousin from Stalag 1? I don't know anyone from Stalag 1."

"Colonel, you were stationed there for a while …well he left you this note." Kinch handed the note Walker left.

Hogan read the first line. Howdy cuz! Then he looked to see who signed it. "Milt! Milton Walker was stationed at Stalag 1! How did he get here? It's too far to travel."

"Long story. The short version is the underground discovered him when they went there to bring you back here," said Kinch.

"What!" It now sunk in. "I was at Stalag 1! How? Why?" Hogan couldn't form coherent sentences.

Kinch filled him in as much as he knew.

HH HH HH

Klink continued to stare out his window at the mass of people standing outside Barracks 2. He finally saw Helga walk out the door. He waited for her to come in then called her to his office. "Frauline Helga, please come in my office."

"You wanted to see me, Herr Kommandant," said Helga, wiping her tears away.

Klink walked to the window, pointing to Barracks 2. "You mind telling me what is going on over there? First Klump leaves there rubbing his jaw, then the prisoners rush back. Only some of them go in while the others wait outside. Now you come out crying."

"Sir, LeBeau asked me if I would sit with Colonel Hogan while they went on their work detail. When they came back, Sergeant Kinchloe asked the rest of the men to wait outside," she said not telling him everything. "As for me crying, it hurt to see Colonel Hogan that way."

"Yes it does. Very well, you may go." Klink continued to stare at Barracks 2. What is going on over there? Klink didn't believe Helga's story, but he wasn't going to push the issue either.

HH HH HH

"Are you hungry, Colonel? I will make you whatever you want," asked LeBeau.

"Um, sure, LeBeau. Whatever you want to make is fine with me. Thanks," said Hogan. What has happened since I have been out of it?"

"Well, Colonel, this place has turned into a real POW camp. Klink has started acting like a real Kraut kommandant. He threatened to give us thirty days in the cooler if we didn't fix the road outside of camp. Not to mention he's started walking around with is side arm," informed Newkirk.

Hogan stared at him with no emotion. "What else?"

"You mean besides Klump getting pushy with the prisoners and any infraction of the rules lands you in solitary for thirty days, and everyone in camp is rioting and we have spent most of the time you have been gone confined to barracks…nothing," said Newkirk.

"Thanks. LeBeau, bring me my food when it's ready. I'll be in my room." Without a word to anyone, he went into his room and shut the door.

The men stared at each other. "Somebody mind explaining to me what I just missed?" asked Newkirk. "He acted like he didn't care."

Kinch motioned for Newkirk to keep it down. "Give him a break. His mind is already on overload after realizing we're all alive. The last thing he needs right now is to worry about camp problems. Let the rest of the men in."