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Between The Lines
Chapter 18
Barrack 2
"Dirty Boche!" A stream of French words flowed from LeBeau's mouth.
Carter sat on Hogan's bottom bunk. "Well, they've admitted it anyway."
"For all the bleeding good that's gonna' do. Now they're just gonna' ram that stuff down the Colonel's throat!" Newkirk took his frustrations out with a swift kick knocking the chair into the desk.
"Looking on the bright side, at least the Colonel doesn't have to worry about his food anymore," Carter offered.
Three heads turned to silently look at Carter.
"You and your bleedin' Pollyanna…"
Kinch suddenly leaned toward the coffee pot. "Shh, you guys!"
"Klink, you better assign a guard to Hogan. He's all ready tried to escape once. He's liable to try again given the opportunity."
"He can't get out of the cooler, General Burkhalter."
"He got out of camp! I'm not going to risk it. Assign around-the-clock guards until Oberst Knefler gets here tomorrow."
"Yes, Herr General," Klink mumbled.
"Now!" Burkhalter demanded.
Klink immediately ran out of the office.
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The walk to the 'cooler' was a silent one. Hogan was still seething after his interview with Burkhalter.
Entering the cooler Schultz picked out a cell that would give Hogan the best view of who was coming and going. It did not go unnoticed by Hogan and a hint of a smile crossed his face.
The metal door squealed open. "Here you go, Colonel Hogan. I'm glad General Burkhalter moved you."
"Never thought I'd be glad to step into a cell, Schultz. But solitary had lost its appeal quite some time ago." Hogan walked in and did a 180-degree scan of the cooler. It wasn't much of a view but after the pitch black of solitary at least it was a view.
Schultz nodded. "I'll bring you some clean blankets, soap, water and towels." Locking the cell door, Schultz frowned trying to find the words to explain himself to Hogan.
"Colonel Hogan…I was only following orders. Kommandant Klink said it was for your nerves and with everything that you have been through, I…"
"Forget it, Schultz." Hogan cut Schultz off mid sentence. "You're not the problem. "
Schultz turned toward the stairs. Someone was coming.
"Who could that be?" Schultz watched as Langenscheidt stepped into the hall. "What are you doing here?"
Langenscheidt nodded toward Hogan. "I have the first shift of guard duty."
"Are you serious," Hogan asked, incredulously? 'Where do they think I'm going? This has to be Burkhalter's idea."
Pulling his cap down in front he plopped on the cot in frustration. The one good thing about solitary was he still had contact with the camp. This was going to be much more confining. "Great!"
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Mean While Back in the Tunnel
…"It's confirmed, Mama Bear, Colonel Knefler is returning tomorrow. Over." Kinch and London were exchanging information on the Colonel's current dilemma.
"It matches with what MI6 has passed on, Papa Bear. Send your sample with the package you're picking up tonight. Newfellow1, repeat Newfellow1. Mama Bear Over and out.
Kinch removed his earphones and shut down the radio. Waiting anxiously for this moment Wilson and Newkirk looked at him to hear what London had to say.
"It's what we thought…kinda…it's another test but not the same motive. It's specific to the SS."
"Blimey, the SS, what are they testing, Kinch?"
London doesn't know. They're expecting more information tonight. But they do know the Nazi's are satisfied with the technique they tried on the Colonel the last time, and are using their 'truth serum'. There is no progress as of yet to speedily indoctrinate a person. It's still a matter of wearing a person down and programming them, which takes time. So it's not any attempt at 'brainwashing'."
"That's all good news, I guess, but that doesn't explain what their up too. Are they taking the Colonel out of camp?" Wilson asked.
"They haven't got that information yet either. We're to send the drug we confiscated with the airman we bring in tonight." Bumming Newkirk's cigarette Kinch took a drag. "London says code: Newfellow1, on the flier, Newkirk."
Newkirk nodded, and took his cigarette back. Newfellow1 meant London had cleared him as missing in action. Evidently someone along the way had already contacted London and the flier had the pass code.
Not being privy to their codes Wilson looked puzzled but shook it off. "I don't feel like I know anything more than I did before London radioed," Wilson admitted.
Kinch folded his arms in front of his chest and leaned back on the radio table. "Well, You do and you don't."
"How's that," Wilson asked?
Newkirk knocked the ash off his cigarette and spoke up." We know what it's not. We just don't know what it is."
Wilson took a deep breath and shook his head. "I think you've all been hanging around Colonel Hogan too long."
Kinch smiled. "You take your information anyway you can get it, Wilson. Sometimes knowing what something's not can make a difference. Knowing that they are not testing a truth serum or trying to brainwash him he can look at other possibilities.
Newkirk dropped the butt of his cigarette and ground it out with his boot. "It kind of un-muddies the water, if you know we mean."
"Whatever you guys say. I'll just stick to what I know. How are you going to get this information to the Colonel," Wilson asked?
Kinch smiled, "That's just details. The important thing is we now have a little information to give him." Kinch patted Newkirk on the back and looked at Wilson, "Excuse us, Wilson, while we go work that out."
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Gestapo Headquarters Hammelburg
Hochstetter hung up the phone and stared blindly at the wall. A sneer slowly formed on his face. He needed a little diversion after the day he had been having.
The good people of Hammelburg had not been any help. It seems nobody saw anything. He would go back to leaking false information and see if he could stir up a little activity.
Looking at his watch, he stood to get his hat. There was another pressing matter to attend to at the moment. Pulling his gloves on, he went to gather the men he would need.
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'Cooler'
"Come on Corporal you can tell me. I'm locked up. I won't tell anyone." Leaning against the bars, Hogan urged Langenscheidt on with his story.
He needed a little useless chatter without high stakes. It helped to clear his mind and ground him. "The closest I'm going to get to any girls is to live through you. What happened next?"
Stepping closer to the bars and speaking low, the blushing Langenscheidt continued, "Well we went to her apartment and…"
A sudden noise from the stairs brought Langenscheidt to a stop. "Was ist los?" Straightening, he readied his gun and walked toward the noise.
Hogan watched as the Corporal confronted somebody on the stairs and disappeared.
The entrance to the tunnel quietly opened and Kinch peeked out.
"I thought that might be you guys." Moving down to the end of the cell, he motioned Kinch forward and waited for him to speak.
"Hi, Colonel. We've been following your progress. Glad to see you're out of solitary."
"You and me both. But I take it you didn't go to all this trouble to tell me that."
"You're right. First, London got some information from MI6 concerning you. They aren't looking to improve their 'truth serum'. It seems what you did the last time is sufficient and they have no new methods for quickly indoctrinating a man.
Hogan grimaced. "That good news but it doesn't make me feel a whole lot better, Kinch." Taking a few pacing steps he added, "But at least those are two things to take off the plate."
"Wait 'til you hear this. The SS is involved with whatever they're interested in now. They want you to learn what you can and send the information back to them."
Hogan laughed. "You're joking, right."
Kinch looked at Hogan stone faced.
"Come on, Kinch, that's not funny." Turning solemn, he realized, "Your serious aren't you?" Hogan paced along the bars thinking. "Well this puts a whole new spin on things. I was hoping they would be providing the information, not the other way around." Still thinking, he could only think of one thing. "I don't have anyway of knowing what they are planning until it happens. So you're going to have to listen to Klink's office for any information and send it on."
"You still sure you want to ride this through, Colonel?"
Don't tempt me, Kinch, Hogan thought. "I have to do it. If I disappear they'll tear this camp apart. It's the only way to keep the operation going."
"Colonel, we're bringing an airman in tonight and sending him on tomorrow night with the meds we confiscated from Klink's office. London sounds like their anxious to get it. They may be able to tell us more after that."
"Swell. I hope I'm around to hear their report." Hogan glanced toward the stairs. "Anything else, Kinch?"
"Knefler is definitely coming tomorrow."
"You're just full of good news aren't you? You know, there is something about being a rat in a cage that I find unnerving."
Hogan turned toward the stairs. "Langenscheidt is coming. You need to go. Thanks for the info and the heads up…I think."
"Good luck, Colonel," Kinch whispered, as he disappeared into the tunnel.
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Barrack 2
Carter and Newkirk entered the barracks just as the bunk covering the tunnel opened. Kinch looked at the two men and announced, "Mission accomplished."
"How's the Colonel doing," LeBeau asked?
"You know the Colonel, he puts up a good front." Kinch went to grab a cup of coffee. 'The trouble is he's pulled off the impossible so often that London expects it."
Chris Morgan, another resident of barrack 2, hurried in from the compound. "Don't look now, but Hochstetter just drove into camp."
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Hogan's Cell
Corporal Kohler had just replaced Langenscheidt on guard duty when an entourage of people could be heard descending the stairs to the cooler.
As Hogan stared down the hall, four SS soldiers and a Gestapo officer stepped off the stairs and turned in his direction. Slowly standing, he recognized the officer. He had met him at Gestapo headquarters in Hammelburg and immediately knew what he had come to do. Hochstetter, Burkhalter and Klink brought up the rear.
Burkhalter wasn't bluffing when he said he'd send somebody. A rush of adrenaline prepared his body for what was to come.
Hochstetter and Hogan locked eyes. There was no mistaking their dislike for one another.
Looking to Burkhalter he stiffened. "I'd ask you what your doing here but I think I know." Hogan stated, consciously trying to look calm.
"I told you I would send somebody to help you with your medicine. I'm giving you one more chance to do this the easy way, Colonel Hogan," Burkhalter offered.
Klink nervously gripped the end of his swagger stick. "Be reasonable, Colonel Hogan. Why make it harder on yourself? The results are the same," Klink urged, knowing perfectly well, he might as well have been talking to a brick wall.
Hogan straightened defiantly. "You don't really think I'm going to willingly participate in your experiments."
Hochstetter stepped forward with a satisfied sneer. "Open the cell."
Corporal Kohler looked to Klink and Burkhalter. "Do as the Major says," Burkhalter ordered.
Opening the cell Kohler stepped back and Hochstetter motioned three of the guards into the cell.
Hogan knew he was out-matched but a well-placed fist found its mark on the first guards face before the other two guards shoved him face first into the bars of his cell.
Hockstetter pulled Hogan's hands behind his back and locked handcuffs down on his wrists. Then the guards spun him around, shoved his shoulders back, and kicked his feet apart. Placing one of their legs over each of his, they effectively pinned him against the bars of his cell.
The third guard placed himself immediately to Hogan's right and behind one of the guards pinning him against the bars. Placing his palm on Hogan's forehead, he shoved Hogan's head back into the bars. Straining to pull away, he watched the fourth guard come around the outside of the cell and grab his head from behind.
This whole maneuver was over in a flash. It was a well-rehearsed dance performed without error. He was now subdued.
The doctor calmly stepped forward. "Now we are just going to open your mouth by inserting this instrument along your cheek and between your teeth."
The calm in the doctor's voice was irritating. It was in stark contrast to the violent act being performed. Hogan clenched his teeth fighting the pressure put on his jaw.
"Don't fight it or we may crack a tooth," the doctor warned.
Sweat ran down the side of Hogan's face. His muscles ached as his mouth was pried open. A wedge cut the inside of his cheek as it was rammed between his teeth preventing him from closing his mouth.
Immediately a tube slid over his lips while fingers probed his neck forcing the tube past his airway. Wrenching and gagging, his cuffed hands grasped the bars behind him.
"Swallow. It will make it easier for you," The doctor advised.
The tube partially blocked his airway and he began to feel lightheaded from exertion. Can't breathe. Everything began to echo. His vision was fading, as he struggled to stay conscious. Swallowing involuntarily, the tubing slid down his throat and air filled his lungs. No longer in danger of passing out, He heard the next sentence loud and clear.
"Ja, good. Swallowing will move the tube along. We are almost there, Colonel Hogan."
This was not what Hogan wanted to hear. Pushing himself forward he met with resistance from the two guards pinning him against the bars.
One more push on the tubing and the doctor was satisfied. "Now we can get this over for you. Just relax."
Relax? No! He tried to move his head, his legs, anything. But it was useless. Four against one proved too much. Coldness began to flow through the tubing and he realized the medicine was on its way to his stomach. And he could do nothing to stop it.
And then it was over. The tubing and wedge were quickly extracted, leaving him sucking in air and coughing. Tears blurred his vision and spilled down his cheek.
The two guards holding his head released their grip and he sagged. He was spent. The doctor stepped forward and ran his fingers along either side of his jaw probing for injury.
The doctor nodded, "Good, no dislocation." Turning to face Hochstetter, he announced. "It is done, Herr Major."
"Ja, very good, Herr Doctor." Hochstetter answered with a self-satisfied grin on his face.
Hochstetter looked at his remaining two guards. "You can release him but leave the cuffs on. We don't want him to gag himself and undo what we have accomplished."
Exiting the cell, Hochstetter turned to General Burkhalter and asked, "Is there anything else we can help you with?"
Stumbling forward, Hogan regained his balanced and angrily yanked at the cuffs. With a raspy voice and between ragged breaths, he struggled to get his words out. "Take these cuffs off…and come in here. I'd like to…help you with something!"
Klink grimaced and stomped his foot. "Hogaan!
Unbelievable after what you just went through. Be quiet!
"Did you hear that General? Your prisoner threatened an Officer of the Third Reich." Hochstetter looked back at Hogan. There was nothing Hochstetter would like better than to return to that cell.
Burkhalter grinned and admitted, "Frankly, Major, I would have been surprised if he hadn't." But then addressing Hogan with a stern voice, he decided that a slight reprimand was in order. "But you will watch your tongue, Colonel Hogan."
As the remaining soldiers left the cell, Corporal Kohler locked the door. Putting an end to the ordeal.
Burkhalter was content to leave Hogan temporarily handcuffed. "Major, give the keys to the handcuffs to Klink's guard." Looking at Kohler he ordered. "Remove Colonel Hogan's handcuffs in Forty-five minutes and then bring him to the Kommandant's quarters."
Turning to Hogan, he ordered," We will see you for dinner, Colonel Hogan.
Dinner? You've got to be kidding me. Hogan looked at Burkhalter with animosity. If his voice were working properly he would have told him exactly what he could do with dinner. Right now, just swallowing was a feat.
Klink was last in line, as the entourage made their way out of the 'cooler'. Pausing at the stairs before exiting, he looked at Hogan and shook his head. He had to admit he admired his tenacity even if at times it drove him to drink. In all fairness, it's probably what has kept him alive despite his proficiency for verbal suicide.
Tasting blood, Hogan ran his tongue over the inside of his mouth while flexing his fingers trying to increase circulation in his hands. The cuffs were tight. A slight headache was starting, his eyes didn't want to focus and he was beginning to feel hot. He sat down on the cot to ride out this first wave. It was the same symptoms he had before. Only now he knew why. He did notice that he always felt worse right after he was dosed. That is, if he were guessing correctly when Klink had been slipping him the meds. The good news is the symptoms would pretty much subside in three to four hours leaving him tired.
Hogan shook his head. I'm definitely not looking forward to doing this again tomorrow.
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