Chapter 26---The Struggle Begins
Major Wolfgang Hochstetter was grumbling during the drive to the hospital. He had actually believed his obligation to the Reichsfuhrer had been satisfied; but then Burkhalter had decided otherwise. And even though the Major strongly disagreed with the General's explanation, he knew he didn't dare cross Himmler. Hochstetter enjoyed living; and if this is what it took to remain that way, he would just have to control his displeasure at this latest obligation and follow orders. He stopped his car outside the hospital, got out, and marched inside.
Approaching the nurses' station, Hochstetter forced a pleasant smile on his face.
Guten tag, fraulein," he said touching the bill of his cap.
"Guten tag, Herr Major," replied the pretty redheaded nurse. "How can I be of assistance to you?"
Hochstetter removed the paper from his pocket. Unfolding it, he handed it to the nurse. "I am Major Hochstetter, Gestapo. And I am in desperate need of these supplies with no questions asked."
Looking over the list, the nurse's eyes narrowed. "Ein moment, bitte," (1) she said picking up the telephone.
Hochstetter struggled to control himself while the nurse spoke with someone on the phone. After a few minutes, she hung up and smiled at the Major.
"Herr Major, Doctor Prust(2) will be right with you. Only he can authorize the amount of supplies you are asking for."
"Danke, fraulein," the Major replied politely. Despite the seriousness of his mission, Hochstetter took a moment to eye the pretty nurse from head-to-toe. If he only had the time, he sighed wearily.
"Major Hochstetter?" a voice asked. The Major turned and noticed a man in a white coat with graying hair, and wearing glasses, standing behind him; he was holding out his hand. Hochstetter shook it.
"Ja. I am Major Hochstetter. I trust you are Dr. Prust?"
"I am. I understand you need several supplies." He accepted the list from the nurse and looked at it. Prust had worked with the underground for only a short time. He had been informed of Colonel Hogan's situation by his brother, Otto Mueller and already knew the Colonel had been found and was dangerously ill. Prust was determined to accompany the Major back to Stalag 13 one way or the other. "This is a rather extensive list, Herr Major. I'm not certain…"
"I understand, Doctor Prust," Hochstetter remarked. "But perhaps you'd rather explain your problems with the list to Reichsfuhrer Himmler?"
Prust pretended to swallow nervously. "That will not be necessary, Herr Major. You will have everything on this list. The only problem is the penicillin. We don't have very much."
"Then give me what you can spare, Doctor. I will find some elsewhere."
Prust signed off on the list and handed it back to the nurse. "You will see that the Major gets everything on this list and as soon-as-possible. Verstehen?(3)"
"Jawohl, Herr Doctor." After the nurse walked from behind the counter and in the direction of supply, the doctor had the Major join him as they followed her.
"Herr Major, whoever all this is for sounds to be in serious trouble. I hope this person has a good doctor."
Hochstetter chuckled. "Only a self-taught medic. No doctor I'm afraid." He watched the nurse and the supply clerk load supplies into a large box.
"Medic? You can't be serious?" Prust knew Sergeant Wilson was a qualified camp medic; but from what he knew the Colonel needed a trained doctor. "Herr Major, I will accompany you to wherever you are going with these supplies. This person sounds like they need a real doctor if they're going to survive."
Hochstetter looked at Prust for a long moment, thinking. An idea had occurred to him which he hoped would save his neck. A slight smile appeared. "Perhaps you are correct, Doctor Prust. A trained doctor would serve the patient much better than a self-taught medic. Go get your medical bag and meet me outside. I will be waiting outside my car."
"Jawohl, Herr Major. Just let me make a quick phone call to have somebody take over for me here. Then, I'll get my coat and bag and be right outside."
Hochstetter watched the doctor hurry away. A smirk appeared. At least by bringing a real doctor, Himmler couldn't say he wasn't doing everything he could to save the life of, to Hochstetter anyway, one worthless American Colonel.
A weary and very scared Kinch made his way back to barracks two to take a break. He was still in shock over the Colonel's condition. If he hadn't been told the man he had seen lying in the bed was his commanding officer, he wouldn't have believed it. He stood outside the barracks to compose himself before he entered. He knew he couldn't let the other men see how frightened he was over the Colonel. Taking a deep breath, Kinch entered barracks two.
He was immediately surrounded by the other prisoners, all speaking at once. Kinch held up both hands asking for quiet; also, he felt as if he was being attacked by his own side. When things had quieted down, Kinch took a deep breath.
"Colonel Hogan is alive," he said. "But he's seriously ill right now. That's all I can really tell you at this point." He started to move away when someone asked a question that made him pause.
"What did the Gestapo do to the Colonel, Kinch? Did they beat or torture him?"
Kinch licked his suddenly dry lips; he had to be careful how he answered the question.
"No, the Gestapo didn't beat or torture him. It appears an experimental drug was used on the Colonel, and it's apparently made him very ill. There's nothing else I can tell you."
Kinch moved away, still hearing the grumblings of the other prisoners, and reaching the double bunk, hit the hidden mechanism. As soon as the lower bunk rose, Kinch stepped over the lower bed frame and disappeared down the ladder. He didn't notice Newkirk watching him intently. As the other prisoners began to go their separate ways in the barracks, the Englander walked toward the open tunnel entrance.
"Where are you going, mon ami?" asked LeBeau, watching Newkirk step over the bed frame.
"I just wanna make sure Kinch is all right, is all," he replied casually. "He's had a rough go of things lately since the Gov'nor's been missing. LeBeau, watch the door." Newkirk disappeared down below. Once the lower bunk dropped down over the opening, Newkirk made sure he tripped the latch in order to lock the tunnel entrance. He didn't want anybody around when he talked to the radioman.
Striding briskly down the tunnel, he soon found Kinch in the radio room. He waited patiently as he listened to Kinch on the radio.
"Papa Bear to Goldilocks. Papa Bear to Goldilocks. Come in Goldilocks."
"This is Goldilocks, Papa Bear. Go ahead," said the British voice on the other end.
"It's urgent we speak with General Butler, Goldilocks. Repeat. Urgent."
"Hold a moment Papa Bear." It was then Kinch noticed Newkirk watching him. The Englander saw the anguish in Kinch's eyes.
"General Butler here, Papa Bear. Go ahead."
"General, Colonel Hogan has been found and returned to camp, but he's very ill. Our camp medic has a list of supplies we need airdropped as-soon-as-possible."
There was a moment of silence on the other end before Butler spoke again. "Papa Bear, what is Colonel Hogan's condition? Would it be better to have him returned to London where he could get better care instead of us sending supplies by airdrop?"
"Normally I'd agree, General," Kinch explained. "But our medic has informed me that in the Colonel's present condition, he would not survive the trip. Therefore, we feel it would be better if he stayed here with us, and we'll keep you updated."
"Any ideas as to what they did to Hogan?" Butler asked. "Did they use the new technique on him by chance?"
"We have no idea what they did to him at this point." Kinch knew that wasn't a complete lie.
"Do you need to be evacuated?"
"I don't think so, General. Everything is quiet here. But we'll let you know if things should change."
"Very well, Papa Bear. Give me the items on your list and I'll make certain these are airdropped within twelve hours or less."
Kinch then read off the list of items Wilson had given him.
"Got it, Papa Bear. We'll contact you once these items are airborne. Keep us informed as to Colonel Hogan's condition. Goldilocks out."
"We will, General. Thanks. Papa Bear over and out." Kinch removed his headset and tossed it on the table. He massaged his forehead as Newkirk came closer.
"You all right, mate?" he asked, concern apparent on his face.
"I've been better. Newkirk, are you sure nobody can hear us?"
"There's nobody down here, and I tripped the latch to keep anybody from coming down." Newkirk sat down facing Kinch. "Talk to me, mate."
Kinch let out the deep breath he'd been holding. He wiped at the tears that rolled down his face. "Newkirk, you wouldn't recognize the Colonel; and I don't mean just his appearance. His right arm has dozens of needle marks, some of which are infected. He's got a high fever from the infection. According to Wilson he's malnourished and dehydrated."
Newkirk rubbed the back of his neck. Kinch could see the compassion as well as the horror on the Englander's face. "Is he addicted, Kinch?"
"According to Wilson, yes."
"But what do you say?"
"I have to agree. Whatever was forced on the Colonel, he's addicted to it. He was even begging for the drug in the infirmary. Newkirk, Wilson had to have him restrained."
"Blimey," Newkirk replied softly.
"And what's worse of all," Kinch added. "Is that Wilson said we should be prepared." He couldn't look Newkirk in the face at that exact moment, but he didn't have to.
"Kinch, did Bluebird have any idea what this Diels might have given the Colonel?"
"None. But he'll try and let us know what the results show when the sample Hochstetter found is analyzed." Kinch sighed. "Y'know, Bluebird suggested that we keep the truth from the Colonel as well as from the other members of the unit and the men in camp. What do you think?"
"Well, I told you before I believe the men in camp should not know at all, and I still believe that. But keeping the truth from LeBeau and Carter? I'm having second thoughts about that. I mean, eventually, they're going to have to take turns sitting with Colonel Hogan to give you and Wilson a breather. Might be advisable if they ruddy well knew what they were dealing with."
"And what about Colonel Hogan? Do we tell him as well when he's better?"
"That's a tough one, mate. I recall saying the Gov'nor should never know and I still feel that way. Thing is, if we tell LeBeau, I believe knowing Louie as we do that he would understand. Andrew, on the other hand, has a way of letting things slip out accidently."
"You're right about that," Kinch agreed.
"By the way, what happened to this bloody Gestapo Captain anyway?"
"Bluebird shot him. He's dead."
"Too bad the bloody bastard wasn't taken alive. That way we could've taken turns showin' 'im what happens when somebody hurts the Gov'nor and thinks he can get away with it."
Suddenly, the radio came alive as a message came in. Kinch hastily put on and adjusted his headset. He requested the message be repeated. It was. He quickly wrote the message down on his pad. When the transmission ended, Kinch removed his headset.
"What's it say?" asked Newkirk, anxious.
"It's from our contact in London. The supplies Wilson requested will be dropped at 0100 hours. Newkirk, I want you, Carter and LeBeau to go get it and bring it back. We'll figure how to get it to Wilson once we get it here."
(1) "Ein moment" means "One moment."
(2)Dr. Michael Prust was first introduced in What If...? as Hogan's doctor and a member of the underground.
(3)"Verstehen" means "Understood."