Chapter 14: A Trap
Klink gazed into the compound as he drank a cup of warm coco. The events of earlier played in his mind. I've never seen Colonel Hogan act like this before. I thought it would be good for his brother to be here. Now he has someone he can confide in and take some of the burden off his shoulders.
He sat in his easy chair wondering if it was an act because he and his men are on a mission or if it was real. It looked real enough to him. The blood from the split lips was convincing. Memories of when he and his brother used to get into fights came to his mind. When he was in his office, the look in Hogan's eyes was pure contempt for his brother.
The argument Hogan and Tom had when they first saw each other also popped into Klink's mind. Maybe it was supposed to be an act, but the feelings were definitely real.
Schultz barged into Klink's quarters. "Herr Kommandant, I went to check on Colonel Hogan to make sure he's alright and he is not in his cell. Do you want me to sound the alarm?"
Calmly, Klink answered, "No. You're mistaken, Schultz. It's dark in the cooler so you just missed him or didn't look in the right cell."
"I'm not mistaken, Herr Kommandant…" Schultz was cut off.
Klink stood. "Sergeant, I said you're mistaken. Colonel Hogan is in the cooler. You will not bring up the subject again. If there is nothing else, you're dismissed to continue your rounds."
"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant." Schultz saluted and left.
This means one of two things. Either Hogan is on a mission or, he really did escape. Whichever it is, I'll wait as long as I can to report it.
HH HH HH
Lightning flashed overhead. "Are we almost there?" asked Hochstetter.
Hogan pulled out the map. "We're here, and here is where we have to go. We should be there in about forty-five minutes."
"I hope the rain holds off that long," said Hochstetter.
"Gripe and complain. Is that all you do?" asked Hogan.
The rain did hold off until they arrived at the pick-up point. Hogan stopped the horse on the edge of the woods. In front of them was an old barn, which was falling down, and an old dirt runway.
The men dismounted.
"The plane should be here in about ten minutes." As soon as Hogan said that, it started raining.
"Great. Why don't we wait in the barn?" suggested Hochstetter as he pulled his coat tighter around him.
Hogan didn't want to wait in the rain either. From what he could make out of the barn, he didn't know if it would be any drier. Hogan tied the horse to a tree branch. The last thing he wanted was to have the horse get startled in there and cause the barn to fall on top of them.
The men cautiously entered the barn. There was a big hole in the roof. The area above the stalls was still intact, so they waited there.
They no sooner were settled when they heard a voice calling to them. "Attention Kewpie and Papa Bear. This is Lieutenant Hans Krueger with Gestapo. You are surrounded. Come out with your hands up."
"This is a trap!" exclaimed Hogan. "I knew better than to trust you." Hogan punched Hochstetter as hard as he could.
"I swear to you, Hogan, I had nothing to do with this. How could I have contacted him to tell him where the pick-up point was?" defended Hochstetter.
"Then you told him to follow us." Hogan ducked as chips of wood splinted around him from bullets.
"If this is my idea, why would I have him shoot, knowing I'm in here?" said Hochstetter.
"You would do anything to bring an end to me and my operation. Sacrificing your life to accomplish it wouldn't surprise me," said Hogan. "I have news for you. Your plan isn't going to work. I won't be taken back to Gestapo headquarters alive." Hogan waited for the shooting to stop. "Hey, Krueger, if you want me, you come in here and get me."
"Schießen!" yelled Krueger.
Hogan and Hochstetter flattened themselves as much as they could as bullets ripped through the decrepit barn. There was creaking and groaning above them. Suddenly, Hogan's world went black as the loft above him crashed down upon him, rendering him unconscious.
Hogan awoke with Krueger crouching next to him, shining his flashlight in his eyes. "Well, well, well. So you are the great Papa Bear. I warned you what would happen when I linked the two of you together. Tell me, how does it feel to learn the person who has tortured you all this time was really on your side?"
When Hogan tried to push himself up, Krueger punched him. "I didn't give you permission to get up. Where's Kewpie, or should I say Major Hochstetter?" asked Krueger with a devilish grin.
Hogan glanced around the dimly lit barn. He didn't see Hochstetter. Considering the black uniform and the darkness in the barn, Hochstetter could have been right beside him and he wouldn't have seen him. He probably snuck out to save his own skin.
"No answers for me?" asked Krueger
Hogan was yanked to a kneeling position. A since of relief filled Hogan when he stared down the barrel of the gun Krueger had pointing at his head. "Come out Kewpie or Papa Bear dies."
This is an answer to prayer. It looks like I'm not going to Gestapo headquarters alive, which means no more torture.
"It looks like your friend doesn't care if you live or not. I really would like to take you in alive, but as long as you're alive, there's a chance for you to escape." Krueger kicked Hogan's bad leg.
It was a good thing Hogan was kneeling or else he would have fallen. He squeezed his eyes shut tight, trying to not cry out from the pain.
"I could shoot you in both legs to make sure you don't run off." Krueger lowered his gun toward Hogan's legs. After a laugh he said, "But a dead body makes a better trophy any way. Once you're out of the way, I'll start questioning everyone at Stalag 13, starting with Klink and everyone in Barracks 2. Rest assured, I'll take good care of them and make sure they know you are the one who turned them in so you could have a quick death. Good-by, Colonel Hogan," said Kruger as he raised his gun back to Hogan's head.
A split second before Krueger pulled the trigger; Hochstetter emerged from the shadows, knocking Hogan out of the line of fire.
The gun went off and Hochstetter let out a loud groan when he hit the ground. In the dim light given off by Krueger's flashlight, everyone saw the blood on Hochstetter's hand when he pulled it away from his side.
Not fully thinking about what he was doing, Hogan rushed to Hochstetter's side. "Why did you have to go and do that? You could have stayed hidden?"
Hogan felt something hitting his leg; it was the empty gun he gave Hochstetter at the bridge. Remembering he still had the bullets for it in his pocket, he turned his body so it blocked Krueger's view and loaded the gun as he and Hochstetter talked.
"Sorry I failed you. Sorry about everything. Sorry I won't be able to complete my mission and…protect…you." Hochstetter's voice trailed off.
"One down and one to go," said Krueger, training his gun back on Hogan. "Now it's your turn to die."
The flash of lightning made Hogan's face seem harder as he glared at Kruger. "It's not over yet. What's that?" Hogan asked, pointing to a spot behind Krueger.
Krueger turned his attention and flashlight in the direction Hogan indicated. "I don't see anything." Krueger dropped the flashlight when he turned back and faced Hogan.
Hogan aimed his gun at Krueger's head. With an ominous grin, Hogan said, "Oops." A since of release came upon him when he pulled the trigger. Much of the anger he harbored inside disappeared.
Airplane engines could be heard in the distance. Hogan knelt beside Hochstetter. He was still alive. "Don't die on my now. If anyone's going to kill you, it's going to be me. Besides, the plane is here and there are armed Gestapo we have to get past."
"Colonel…I'm not going to make it; save yourself," said Hochstetter weakly.
Hogan glanced out a few of the bullet holes, getting an idea of how many Gestapo they faced. From what he could make out, they were staring at each other apparently awaiting orders from Krueger. "Good, just as I figured. Krueger wanted as few people as possible to know about us. There're only about six men out there."
"And only two of us and one gun…Not good odds," said Hochstetter. "I guess surrounding them…is out of the question….What else…do you have…on your mind?"
Hogan picked up Krueger's gun and handed it to Hochstetter. "Two guns improve the odds some. Just hit what you aim at. Think you can do that?"
Hochstetter held his hand over his wound as Hogan helped him stand. "Do you trust me now?"
"No, but what choice do I have. I can't get out of here alone. Besides, I still have orders to get you to London alive," said Hogan.
"Okay, Colonel…how do you…purpose we do this?" asked Hochstetter through gritted teeth. "Do we do it…like the American westerns? We run out…with our guns blazing."
"We'll take out as many of the guards as we can while we have some cover," said Hogan. "The rest, we'll get on the way to the plane."
"You realize…if we don't get them all…you'll be a sitting duck…once you get me…in the plane," Hochstetter said. His strength was fading fast. Hogan helped him to his position.
"I know. I guess it's a good thing Klink threw me in the cooler for a month. Looks like I might have to go to London for a while," said Hogan with a smile. "You take that side and I'll take this side. Make sure you keep an eye out for anyone trying to get in. Ready?" asked Hogan.
"No, but let's get it over with before…I pass…out," said Hochstetter.
Hogan fired the first shot. His shot sent the guard to the ground. Hochstetter followed. A creak was heard coming from the back door. Hogan immediately pointed his gun at the door. As soon as he saw the guard come in, Hogan fired.
Hochstetter aimed his gun in Hogan's direction. Before Hogan could say anything, Hochstetter fired. The sound of a body landing on the floor caused Hogan to turn around. He was so focused on the guard coming in the one door; he didn't notice the guard coming in the door behind him. He nodded his thanks to Hochstetter.
With a brief smile, Hochstetter collapsed to the floor. Hogan ran to him. "No passing out now; planes landed." Hogan put Hochstetter over his shoulder and headed for the plane. "Shoot at anything that moves behind us. Don't fail me leg."
One of the remaining guards hid around the corner of the barn, preventing Hochstetter from shooting him. However, the other guard wasn't so lucky.
When the guard, who was hiding, came into the open, Hochstetter fired, but nothing happened. Specks of mud flew up as bullets hit the ground around them.
"My gun isn't working," said Hochstetter.
Hogan was too focused on getting to the plane to pay any attention to what Hochstetter was saying. Hogan signaled for the plane to start going down the runway. The pilot of the plane complied.
One of the men inside the plane held out his hand for Hochstetter. When Hogan was close enough, he released Hochstetter into the man's hands. The man in the plane quickly moved Hochstetter to the side and pulled Hogan in just before bullets hit the plane. The man took the gun from Hogan and returned fire. The last guard wasn't a threat any more.
"Get me the medical kit; Kewpie has been shot! Radio ahead to let them know to have a medical unit waiting for us when we land. I need to barrow the radio when you're done to let my men know what happened," ordered Hogan.
"Yes, Sir," replied the man who just saved their lives.