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Between The Lines

Chapter 21

Surprise!

Hohemark Hospital

"We have arrived, Professor."

Von Tillermaan turned toward the voice. Oberst Knefler was leading the way. Extending his hand, Tillermaan grasped it with both of his. "Welcome. We have been eagerly awaiting your arrival."

"Let me introduce your alpha." Knefler turned and looked at Hogan. "He is still a little drowsy. I kept him sedated for the drive. He has not had your medicine yet today. I know you wanted to observe the effects for yourself."

Tillermaan stepped toward Hogan and looked him up and down. "So this is the alpha I've heard so much about." Tillermaan raised Hogan's head to look into his face and Hogan jerked away.

Hogan's eyes were still a little blurry, but he could definitely make out the white lab coat in front of him. "I don't know what you have in mind, but you won't get away with this. You'll have to answer for all you have done when this is over."

The anger in Hogan's voice registered with Tillermaan as he raised his hand, motioning to the three orderlies to come forward. "Take him and get him showered and changed. Send word when he's ready and the doctors and I will meet you in exam room one." Tillermaan stepped back, allowing the orderlies to pass with a struggling Hogan.

Knefler smiled, as he watched Hogan escorted down the hall. "I think he will serve your purpose." Turning back to Tillermaan, he looked at his watch. "If all you have planned for him today is to get your baseline assessments done, I think I will go to my home in Bad Homburg and rest before tomorrow's testing."

Tillermaan nodded. "Of course, you must be tired. We will take over for now. Nothing exciting is happening tonight."

"I may even indulge in the baths tonight. Auf wiedersehen, gentlemen."

"I've heard the baths in Bad Homburg are not to be ignored." Tillermaan smiled and added, "Enjoy your evening." Watching Knefler walk down the hall, Tillermaan turned to go to his office. Passing the showers, he wondered what Hogan was thinking. Sorry, Colonel Hogan, I can't make this easy. We have to keep up appearances.

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Stalag XIII

"It's about time you guys got back." Kinch watched Lebeau step off the ladder as he checked his watch. Newkirk was right behind. "Everything go okay?"

"Right. We handed Withers on without a glitch. But getting back wasn't as easy." Newkirk swiped his hat off his head. "I think Hochstetter's got something going on. There are patrols all over."

"We had to wait ten minutes for a patrol to leave the area around the tunnel entrance. Has the underground sent any messages?" LeBeau asked as he rubbed his hands together, trying to warm his fingers.

"I haven't heard anything from the underground. I wonder what ole Wolfgang's got on his mind now?" Kinch started back down the tunnel. "You guys get back into uniform and hit the sack. You're done for tonight. Baker and I will wait to hear from London."

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Tillermaan left exam room one, followed by doctors Wagner and Fischer. With the baseline assessment completed, they decided to wait until morning to assess the effects of the pre-medication designed to lessen the side effects of Ayahuasca.

"The lab should have the results of the blood work in the morning and we will be set to begin. We will draw a blood sample after each route of administration and assess vital signs during the procedures. That I will leave to your capable hands. I will assess his mental state. Are there any questions?"

Tillermaan watched as the orderlies brought Hogan out of the exam room. "Excuse me a minute, doctors." Stopping the orderlies, he ordered. "Take the restraints off when you get him to his room."

Doctor Fisher spoke up. "We'll have to keep him restrained during the testing. He won't cooperate."

"Would you?" Wagner asked.

"I agree, but we'll give him some freedom while he is in his room. I'll give him a few moments to himself and then have some food taken to him. After he eats, I'll attempt to spend some time with him and draw some lines between experiences and inner emotions and thoughts." Looking at the physicians, he continued. "Both of you go home and get some rest before tomorrow, and I will see you in the morning."

Tillermaan began walking toward his office, trying to decide his best approach to explain to Colonel Hogan that the man in charge of his testing was, in fact, his contact.

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Frankfurt Underground

Reconnaissance was key to making a plan work, and Klaus and his team had divided into two groups to decide the best place to abduct their target. The abduction would have to leave no room for doubt that the American Colonel was not involved. The testing would have to be underway and the Colonel securely locked away under observation.

"Then we are in agreement." Klaus looked around the table. "We will grab him when he leaves the hospital."

Gunter nodded. "It should be late at night. Can you get word to Von Tillermaan to run the testing into the late night?"

"Ja, that is not a problem. Gunter, your team will handle the abduction and move him through the underground where he will arrive at his pick up point. We will take care of his car." Klaus looked around the table. "Viel Gluck!"

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Hogan's room/cell Hohemark Hospital

Turning the knob, Von Tillermaan took in a breath and opened the door. The American Colonel looked up from the bed he was sitting on and they studied each other carefully.

"What's the matter? You haven't poked and prodded me enough?" Hogan, wearing hospital attire with POW stamped on the back, remained seated, and looked the white lab coated man up and down.

"Enough for now, Colonel Hogan." Tillermaan answered.

It was the first time anyone had addressed him since he arrived. Who was this man giving him his identity back?

Tillermaan saw Hogan's guard come down a little at the sound of his name. "We have a lot to discuss."

"Unless you want to discuss stopping these tests, there is nothing to discuss." Hogan's eyes narrowed into a determined glare.

Maintaining an air of authority, Tillermaan made no motion to advance. "I have a message for you from General Tillman Walters. I believe you know him as 'Pops'. He says to lower your radar, Papa Bear, and we'll get the 'Travelers Aid Society' back on course."

Hogan's glare changed to a look of surprise and he stood to take another look at this man standing in front of him. He was one of the ones examining him just hours before. Confused, he waited for more.

Seeing the uncertainty, Tillermaan continued. "You assist the underground with sabotage and espionage from your base at Stalag thirteen."

This was the second man to voice these words in the last several weeks. But he also knew about the name 'Pops'. And the only one who could have told him that was General Walters.

"Okay, you have my attention. Who are you?"

"My name is Otto Von Tillermaan, and I am the researcher in charge of your testing for the SS. I have been a double agent for England for the past four years. Now you are able to incriminate me. I've equaled the ground between us."

Hogan's interest was peaked. He took a step forward. "Go on."

Tillermaan breathed a little easier as he saw Hogan's guard come down a little more. "I met with General Walters in London. He wants Oberst Knefler sent back to London for War Crimes and we have worked out a tentative plan. If we can remove Oberst Knefler from the monarch program, we will have removed the driving force keeping you as a test subject and 'monarch' active. This plan requires you to submit to one more round of testing. Oberst Knefler's interest in your psyche and how to break it will keep him here observing you.

Hogan's jaw tensed as he ran this information through his thoughts, trying to decide if it was a trap. He kept falling back on the fact that this man knew details about the General and referenced 'radar' and 'Papa bear' together. It would be the best London could do for a code without having the opportunity to make and send an official code due to Hogan's own incarceration. His men did message him that there would be a contact. He had played longer odds before… he would chance it.

"Von Tillermaan? Are you the same Von Tillermaan who wrote the book on ESP?"

Now it was Tillermaan's turn to be surprised. "How did you know about my book?"

Hogan assumed somewhere along the way, while he was the subject of testing, Von Tillermaan's name had been mentioned and it got locked in his subconscious. "It's a long story for another time, after the war, if we live that long."

Hogan looked relieved. "But getting back to the here and now, you're in charge of the tests? What does that mean for me?"

Tillermaan was quick to respond. "You will be testing the medicine. We can't fake this. The doctors will be monitoring you. But don't worry. We have determined there will be no permanent damage and no long-lasting effects."

Hogan's look of relief changed to one of concern. "No long-lasting effects?" His unease changed to sarcasm. "You sure know how to 'sell' this stuff!" Hogan paced to the wall and back. Looking back at Tillermaan, he acknowledged. "I appreciate you telling me what is going on. From what I can see, you didn't have to risk letting me know. It sounds like there are no choices to be made."

"We are not all cruel and sadistic monsters, although they do exist." Tillermaan paused. "It's Oberst Knefler's interest in you that keeps you coming back for more testing. You are the last of the original alphas that started out in the testing program. He wants to find your breaking point without pushing you over the edge beyond retrieval. That is why it's important to remove him."

"Tomorrow morning, we will give you another dose of the pre-medicine you were taking at Stalag thirteen, and we will monitor your body's reaction. This medicine is derived from an elixir the Amazonian tribes have used for thousands of years, called ayahuasca. It is safely used in their ceremonies. You will not lose consciousness. You will, however, experience heightened feelings and a floating sensation. As I mentioned before, there are no permanent physiological changes." Tillermaan did not want to say too much. Hogan had no means of grasping the full extent of what he would experience. And his reactions during testing had to remain genuine.

"What are they trying to prove?" Hogan questioned.

"They want to know if the soul can travel outside the body."

Hogan blinked, not sure if he heard right. "They want to what? This sounds a little out there to me."

"It's a field we know nothing about. But I do know after studying Ayahuasca that this poses no permanent changes. There may be some lingering affects but they subside. I know this is a lot to take in, but you will have to trust me on this. Once Oberst Knefler is no longer an influence, I think I can get them to stop 'monarch' or at least put it on the back burner again, until after the war, which means you can go back to your assignment at Stalag thirteen."

Hogan was silent for a moment, and then nodded. "That is why I am still here and not on my way to England. There's still much to be done."

Tillermaan understood. " There is much to be done on both sides. I have watched the madness spread since the mid 30s, Colonel Hogan. The German people, have been brainwashed by years of propaganda." Tillermaan pulled up a chair from the corner of the room and sat down. "There are many of us working from within to stop Hitler. But to do that, I have to maintain my image. The SS has to believe I have their interests as my priority. But know I am watching the testing carefully and I am in control."

Hogan sat down on the edge of the bed, looking at Von Tillermaan. "The war is not in my country, at least not yet. But I know it will be if we don't stop Hitler and his followers. Do what you have to do."

Tillermaan nodded. He had heard what he needed to hear. "All right then, tomorrow you will be awakened by five. You will be taken to the testing rooms by the orderlies. Doctor Fischer will arrive and give you the oral pre-med by tube, since you won't cooperate. We will monitor you for four hours. Then we will give you a full oral dose. You may vomit, but we hope the premeds will prevent this. Regardless, it will not affect the testing. You will have experiences only you can see. We will monitor your heart and blood pressure. I may attach you to an electroencephalogram machine, if not tomorrow, sometime during the days ahead in the course of the testing. We will draw blood after each day's tests. The oral administration of the drug will take approximately four hours to run its course. So the premed and the oral test will consume 8 hours. After which you will be allowed to rest until tomorrow."

Hogan took a breath, and prepared himself, like he would, for any other mission. "Can't say I'm looking forward to it. But at least I know what's coming."

"Over the next two to three days you will undergo the same procedure, with the administration mode of the drug changing from oral, to intramuscular, to intravenous, to inhalation via mask. The length of time you experience the effects of the drug may shorten. At some point, SS General Kaltenbrunner will attend the testing. If you are cognizant of his attendance, do not be concerned."

Hogan's eyes widened. "What do you mean if I'm cognizant of his presence? I thought you said I would not lose consciousness."

"You won't. You will know at all times you are in the testing lab, but you may be seeing things differently." Tillermaan smiled gently. "It is hard to explain. I will be close, monitoring you. Just try to relax and experience what you are seeing and hearing. After tomorrow, you will understand."

"How does Knefler fit in to all of this?"

"He will be observing how you react during the testing for his own agenda. You have nothing to do with Oberst Knefler. Neither you nor I am concerned about Oberst Knefler. Our full attention is on the testing. The Oberst is another operation all together. We are not involved. Understood."

"I think I get your meaning." Hogan realized, what he didn't know, he couldn't spill.

Tillermaan stood to leave and offered his hand. "Until tomorrow, Colonel Hogan."

Hogan watched the door close and lock. He would spend the rest of the night mulling over everything he had been told.

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