Chapter 37---Skyhawk's Ultimatum
Carter returned to the barracks a few minutes later. Striking the hidden mechanism, he watched the lower bunk drop down. He then approached the others, removed a bottle of aspirin from his pocket, and handed it to Kinch.
"He said for the Colonel to take two now, and then two every 4 hours. He also said they won't reduce the pain by much, but it should help some."
"Thanks, Andrew," Kinch replied, getting up and grabbing a glass from the window sill, filled it with cold water from the faucet. He then walked towards Hogan's quarters and knocked on the door. He heard Hogan's reply permitting him to enter. Opening the door, Kinch entered, and found Hogan lying on the bunk, sweat covering his face.
"What is it, Kinch?" Hogan asked, looking up. "Message come in from London?"
"No, sir. I hope I didn't wake you." It was a statement more than a question.
"Not really. I was just lying here with my eyes closed trying to fall asleep. Not having much luck."
"Maybe this will help a bit. We got Wilson to give us some aspirin for you to take for pain. You have to take two now and then two every four hours. They might reduce the pain a bit." He handed Hogan the glass, then unscrewed the aspirin bottle and shook out two aspirin into his hand. He handed them to the Colonel who put them in his mouth and emptied the glass. He handed the empty glass back to Kinch who sat the aspirin bottle on the Colonel's footlocker.
"Thanks, Kinch," Hogan replied laying his head back down. "Wake me if you hear from Skyhawk again, or it's time for roll call. Not before."
"You got it. Just get some rest, sir."
"I'll give it a try, Kinch. And thanks."
"You're welcome, sir." Kinch quietly exited the room and closed the door. He saw the others watching him as he sat back down.
"How is he?" asked Carter.
"In a lot of pain," Kinch explained grimly. "He wasn't even asleep when I went in. He's really hurtin'."
Newkirk sighed. "That tears it for me," he said. "The Gov'nor's not gonna meet that bastard alone. Not if I have anything to say about it. I mean me left hand might be in this ruddy cast for another couple of weeks, and I might need help loading a gun, but I can still shoot with me right hand."
Kinch looked at his watch. "Well, we'd better turn in and get a few hours sleep before roll call."
Morning came too soon for the men of barracks two.
"Everybody out for roll call! All prisoners out for roll call. Mach schnell! Raus! Raus!" Schultz's voice boomed throughout the compound as he pounded on the door. Grumbling, the men slowly got out of bed and began getting dressed. In a few minutes, the men slowly exited the barracks and formed two lines. Schultz counted each prisoner and noticed Colonel Hogan was not present nor was LeBeau.
"Where are Colonel Hogan and the little cockroach?" he asked in a low voice. "They are still here, aren't they? Tell me they're still here."
"Relax, Schultz," Kinch answered. "Colonel Hogan's in his quarters and LeBeau's with him. Check for yourself if you don't believe me." As if on cue, the barracks door opened and Hogan, holding his side and sweat dripping down his face, slowly made his way to the front line with LeBeau holding one arm with the other wrapped around the Colonel's waist. The other men in the two lines were stunned to see Hogan appear for roll call, especially in his current condition. Once Hogan was standing beside Newkirk, LeBeau took his regular place in line on the opposite side of Newkirk.
"Colonel Hogan," Schultz was concerned by Hogan's appearance. "You don't look well at all. Perhaps you should go back inside and lie down. The Kommandant will understand."
"I'm here now, Schultz," Hogan replied through gritted teeth. "Let's just get this over with." Hogan knew it was important for his men to see him present and believe he was all right
Schultz shrugged his shoulders.
"Schuuuuuuuultz! Repooooooooort!" Klink's voice could be heard, causing Schultz to roll his eyes. Spinning around, he saluted. Klink returned the salute.
"Herr Kommandant, all prisoners present and accounted for."
"Very good, Schultz." Klink's eyes fell on his Senior POW officer. While he was pleased to see Hogan present in the formation, he was alarmed at his appearance. He could tell the American was still in a lot of pain. "Colonel Hogan, while it is commendable that you are in formation, Your appearance tells me you are still not well. You are from this moment on excused from roll call until Sergeant Wilson says you are well enough. Also, any prisoner who sits with Colonel Hogan I want to know who it will be in advance so that person will also be excused from roll call."
"We'll make up a schedule, Kommandant," Newkirk replied. The Englander ignored Hogan staring at him. He knew the Colonel didn't want to be confined to bed nor have a babysitter to make sure he stayed there.
"Schultz, you may dismiss your prisoners," Klink ordered.
"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant," Schultz replied, saluting.
"Oh, Kommandant," Hogan called out. He saw Klink stop, turn, and walk back in his direction.
"Yes, what is it, Hogan?" he asked.
"I just wanted to know what's happening as far finding out who killed General Metzger is all. Did they catch anybody yet?"
"Not yet, Hogan. Oh, by the way, before I forget. Major Hochstetter has been ordered by General Burkhalter to leave you alone unless he has concrete proof of your involvement. He will not even be allowed in this camp. So hopefully, we won't be seeing him again regarding this matter."
Hogan raised an eyebrow faking surprise. "That's good to know. I don't think I could take any more of the Major's hospitality right now."
"I understand Hogan. Here's hoping neither of us will see him again until this case is solved." He saluted Hogan, turned, and headed back to the Kommandantur.
"All prisoners dismissed," Schultz announced. As the prisoners dispersed, Hogan's men surrounded him. Kinch grabbed Hogan's arm hoping to help him back inside the barracks, but Hogan refused.
"You really should rest, sir," Kinch told him. Hogan looked him in the face.
"Kinch, I want to go to the infirmary and see how Baker is doing."
"You can do that later today, Colonel," Kinch explained. "Or we can get Wilson to come here and tell you how he's doing. But we don't think you should be on your feet so much. You need to rest."
"Dammit, I wish all of you would stop treating me like I'm an invalid! I don't need to be confined to bed and have babysitters watching over me like I'm a child! So just knock it off! All of you! And that's a direct order!" Hogan immediately saw the hurt expressions on the faces of his men and felt guilty for his outburst of a few minutes ago. He knew his men were concerned about his welfare and wanted to take care of him as he always took care of them. His face softened.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell like I did. It's just that I'm tired of lying in bed doing nothing, especially with Skyhawk taking over where Metzger left off. Please accept my apologies."
"It's okay, Gov'nor," Newkirk replied. "We know you've got a lot on your plate right now." He shrugged and smiled. "Hell, I'm surprised you haven't blown up before now."
"Oui, mon Colonel, you have a lot to deal with," LeBeau added. "Officers have just as much right to blow up as anyone else."
"They sure do, boy. I mean Colonel." Carter smiled. "I don't know how you keep your cool so well. I mean if I had to deal with everything you have to I know I…."
"Carter, stop you're yammerin ', will you?" Newkirk rolled his eyes in exasperation.
Hogan found himself grinning at the exchange between Carter and Newkirk. He then looked at his second-in-command. The radioman didn't say anything, but simply gave him a smile and a nod letting Hogan know he understood and there was no problem between them. Normally, no words had to be spoken between him and Kinch because they thought so much alike.
"You still want to go to the infirmary, Colonel?" asked Kinch.
"No. Just get me back into the barracks. Carter, go get Wilson and tell him I want to see him as-soon-as-possible about Sergeant Baker."
"Sure thing, Colonel," Carter turned and sprinted away in the direction of the infirmary.
As the others watched Carter race off, Kinch aided his commanding officer to the bench outside the barracks where Hogan insisted on sitting outside for a while. The day was warm and the sun was shining with a light breeze. Hogan watched the activities of the other prisoners as he gazed over the compound. Then, he glanced up at his core unit; Kinch was leaning against the barracks wall with one foot against the wall and balancing on the other, LeBeau was sitting beside him and Newkirk was leaning against the wall opposite LeBeau. A smile appeared on his face. He knew he was luckier than most officers he had met in his career who while having the respect of the men under him, didn't have their loyalty or devotion, much less friendship. He had all three with all the men under his command, but especially the four in his unit. They would, as Newkirk put it once 'follow him into hell' if need be. These four gave him their friendship, their devotion and their loyalty, and he would be forever grateful for that. And they were as fiercely protective of him as he was of them; even though they drove him crazy with their constant nagging when he was incapacitated as he was now.
His men were in danger, and that, to Hogan, overrode any thoughts of taking time to recover from broken ribs. He would just have to suck it up and deal with the pain until Skyhawk was eliminated, even if it killed him in the end, and they would just have to understand and accept that.
Just then, the barracks door opened and Olsen appeared. He had a frown on his face as he handed the Colonel a folded piece of paper. "It was this Skyhawk again, Colonel. I told him you were unavailable now and he seemed to get angry. He said to give you this message."
"Thanks, Olsen," Hogan replied with a sigh. Unfolding the paper he let his eyes scan the message before he balled it up in his hand. His eyes took on a faraway look telling his men something in that message bothered their commander.
"What's wrong, Colonel" asked LeBeau, concerned. "What did Skyhawk have to say that bothers you so?"
"Don't try protecting us, Colonel," Newkirk added. "We want to help. Just tell us what you want us to do."
"We're ready to do whatever you need, Colonel," Kinch chimed in. "And you don't have to ask. We're volunteering."
Hogan's eyes misted over as he looked up at his men. So loyal, so dedicated, so willing to lay their lives on the line for him. He sighed. "Skyhawk has upped the ante a bit," he explained, staring at the ground. "He says he will contact us again at 1200 hours. And if I'm not available when he contacts us, one of you will die when you least expect it. He figures that will make me available and talk with him."
The others exchanged stunned looks before all finally resting on their commanding officer.
"But Colonel," LeBeau said. "How can he do that? He would have to get into this camp to get close to one of us."
"And we know everybody in this bloody camp by name and face, sir," added Newkirk.
"Colonel, just how does he expect to get away with something like that? There's no way he could sneak into this camp unnoticed. I mean, Klink's guards aren't the brightest in the world, but I still can't see how he'd get past them and inside this camp."
"You're all forgetting two important things," Hogan replied.
"What's that, sir?" asked Newkirk.
"First, we have Corporal Reinhold who hasn't been seen since the day Metzger died. And two, if Skyhawk did kill Metzger, and I believe it's likely he did, then he got inside this camp and got out without being caught or even detected. So I want you three to tell me that he couldn't get in this camp again and kill any one of you." Hogan looked at each of his men separately.
The three men, mulling over what Hogan had said, looked at each other. Finally, Newkirk broke the silence.
"Mates, I'd say we got a bloody problem. And that's putting it mildly."