Between The Lines
Chapter Five
Kommandant Klink stormed around to the back of the truck. "Schultz, count the prisoners and secure the tools. Then bring Colonel Hogan to my office." Without waiting for an answer, Klink turned and headed for his quarters.
"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant." Schultz answered while simultaneously slamming his hand onto his helmet as the truck lurched into gear.
"Bloody Kraut driver!" Murmurs of agreement immediately filled the back of the truck from the jostled prisoners. Straightening his cap, Newkirk cast a fleeting glance at Schultz. "Sorry, Schultz, no offense meant."
"None taken," Schultz assured, as he looked with concern at the American Colonel sitting across from him.
"The Kommandant does not look happy, Colonel Hogan. Did something happen between you two?"
Hogan tugged his cap down over his eyes and looked thoughtfully from under its brim.
"Yeah, Schultz, something happened."
Squirming in his seat, Schultz squinted and asked with dread, "Is it something I should know about?"
"I hope not, Schultz, but I'll let you know if it is."
"You hope not?" Schultz repeated, fear tingeing his voice.
"Please, Colonel Hogan, it has been my experience that when something is going on between the two of you that I am better off knowing nothing… noothing!"
ccccccccccccccccccccccc
-Hammelburg-
Tiger and Lutz watched the front of Schiller's bakery while Dirk and Willie watched the back.
"I still say we could throw a few smoke bombs, go in, get Gustoff, and be out of there before they know what hit them."
Tiger lowered the binoculars she was peering through and glanced over her shoulder. "You've been hanging around Colonel Hogan too long."
Caught off guard, Lutz stared back at her, wide-eyed.
Before Lutz could recover and retaliate, Tiger continued, "We don't even know what part of the building they have Gustoff in. How would we get him out? It would be suicide."
Turning from her crouched position, Tiger slid down the wall under the window and looked up at Lutz. "I don't…" She paused, choking on her emotions, "Why would they think he had any information? Did somebody turn him in?" A wayward curl bounced down onto her forehead as her voice quivered with her next question. "What are they doing to him?"
Lutz awkwardly searched for something to say. He was a thinker, not a talker. And yet, he felt he needed to say something.
"Tiger… Gustoff…" The words stuck in his throat. "… he'll be okay." Lutz swallowed hard. He could well imagine the horrors going on inside of that building.
Lutz looked away from Tiger's penetrating eyes as he remembered how Gustoff had shared with him that Tiger's fiery spirit reminded him of his late wife, Effie. The old widower had given Tiger shelter in his home, treated her like a daughter, and taken on the role of mentor, diffusing Tiger's short temper over the actions of a certain American Colonel.
Reaching out, he peeled Tiger's hands off of the binoculars.
"Let me watch for a while. You've been at it all day."
With her hands now empty, Tiger hugged herself like a child as she watched Lutz lift the binoculars to his eyes.
Reconsidering Lutz's plan...rushing in and grabbing Gustoff was beginning to sound better and better.
But she could not let her heart rule her head. That was rule number one!
Her mind reeled with indecision. If only she could talk to Colonel Hogan just long enough to assure herself that waiting was the right thing to do. But then he would want to take over.
No, he would insist on taking over and he is still recovering… I won't risk it!
Closing her eyes, she bit her lip and scoffed.
So much for rule number one, Marie!
Cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc
-back at Stalag 13-
Still dressing, Klink stepped through the connecting door into his office
Now what are you going to do? You heard it for yourself. This Major Hegel is trying to extort diamonds from Hogan. The absurdity of that statement echoed in his head as he finished buttoning his shirt.
Placing his tie around his neck, the face staring back at him from the mirror demanded to know... How can Hogan get diamonds?
Klink grabbed the ends of his tie with a vengeance. Wrapping and tucking them into position, he cinched the knot securely around his neck.
Yes, I can feel that noose already!
A sudden intrusive knock on the door sent Klink stumbling as he turned to answer.
"Come in."
The door slowly opened, allowing Schultz to peer cautiously inside. "Herr Kommandant, I have Colonel Hogan with me."
"Well, don't just stand there, bring him in, Schultz!"
Opening the door wider, Schultz stepped aside. Hogan bounded through, stopping in front of the Kommandant, looking him up and down.
"I see you've been temporarily reinstated!"
Klink glared at his senior POW and pulled on his jacket. "Hogan, I'm in no mood for your jokes!"
"Who's joking?"
Ignoring the comment, Klink walked to his desk and sat down.
"I have many questions for you, Colonel Hogan."
Looking over his shoulder, Hogan ordered, "You can leave us, Schultz."
Schultz turned to leave without a second thought.
"Schultz!" Klink yelled. "I have not dismissed you."
"I… I… I'm sorry, Herr Kommandant… but Colonel Hogan…"
Klink bolted from his chair. "Hogan is not in command here. I am!"
Stiffening, Schultz saluted. "Jawohl, Herr Kommandant!"
"That's better," Klink nodded. "See that you remember that or you'll be taking orders on the Russian front! Now, get out!"
"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant," Schultz saluted and cast a worried look at Hogan. The American Colonel was definitely on the carpet. Easing his way out the door, he hoped he wouldn't be called back.
The door clicked softly closed and Klink turned his icy glare on Hogan. "What is going on here, Colonel Hogan?"
The sternness in Klink's voice left no doubt—he meant business.
"You haven't figured it out yet?" Hogan stepped forward. "It's about Hegel using me to get rich, and then taking over your command."
Waving his hand at Klink, Hogan continued, "You heard Hegel yourself. He doesn't have a very high opinion of you. He plans to remove you from Stalag 13."
Klink frowned as he remembered Hegel's exact words. "… Hitler is trying to conquer the world. If he fails, it will be on account of bubble headed fools like your Colonel Klink!"1.
"Yes, I heard." Klink waved his fist under Hogan's nose. "I also heard your comment!"
"You didn't want me praising you to the Gestapo, did you?"
"Yes!... No!... Oh… I don't know what I wanted!"
Hogan folded his arms in front of him. "Face it, Kommandant! What better way for Hegel to make sure he's around to spend some of that money after the war than to get rid of you and sit back in the relative safety of running a prison camp?"
Klink turned and paced back to the security of his desk. "You think running a prison camp is safe? Ha! Only if they don't have you as a prisoner!"
Hogan's voice turned cold. "You don't really think he plans on letting me live, do you?"
As those words sunk in, Klink dropped into his chair and took a good, long look at his senior prisoner. Hogan was right. Hegel would get rid of anyone who knew what he had done. Their only chance was to catch Hegel in the act and turn him in. But…
Looking at Hogan, Klink demanded, "How would you get diamonds?"
"I told you, I can't tell you that!"
Klink leaned forward as his anger returned, and balling his fist, he struck the top of his desk, "I am the Kommandant here and I demand to know!"
Hogan had expected no less from Klink. Any caged animal, when backed into a corner, will strike out. But telling Klink the truth was the last thing he intended to do. It would end their operation just as surely as what Hegel had planned for them.
Besides, if this plan failed, Klink would know everything soon enough. Still, he had to tell Klink something, or risk losing the Kommandant's help all together.
Hogan took off his cap and held it subserviently in front of him. "Look, Kommandant, there are still a lot of good people in Germany who don't like what's happening. Fortunately, some of those good people are willing to help us."
Klink paused, digesting what he had just been told.
"You're getting help from somebody here… in Germany?—Who?"
"You don't really want me to risk their lives by telling you their names, do you? If this plan fails, Hegel would have twice the chance to get at them by making one of us talk." Hogan stared unflinchingly at Klink, hoping the Kommandant would buy his lie.
Klink looked hard at Hogan, weighing what he had been told.
Hogan was right. The Gestapo have many ways of making a man talk, any man. Even Hogan.
I guess I can wait for that information. But how did Hegel contact Hogan? Maybe one of my guards was coerced by the Gestapo and passed a message to Hogan from Hegel. Or maybe the vet brought a message in when he changed the dogs… or the courier from the railroad station or… Klink's mind reeled. There were a half-dozen people who came and went weekly. It could be any or all of them helping Hogan.
Klink removed his monocle, as he had an even more sobering thought. It could even be a secret branch of our own military that is watching the workings of the Gestapo and laying their own trap, using us as bait.
Klink finally answered, "All right, Hogan. I'll allow you to keep your secret—for now. What's next?"
Relieved, Hogan exhaled and uncrossing his arms, leaned on Klink's desk.
"Okay. Hegel has given me forty-eight hours to try to get the diamonds. Two nights from tonight, my men and I will sneak out of camp and meet Hegel. You follow with your men. We'll make the deal. Then you show up with your guards and catch Hegel with the diamonds."
"You'll sneak out of camp? How will you do that?" Klink asked defensively.
"Pull some of your guards away from the fence on the east side of the camp. We'll cut the wire and..."
"Cut the wire?—With what?" Klink interrupted, alarmed. He suddenly wished he hadn't turned down General Burkhalter's offer to electrify the fence.
"That's where you come in. You'll have to slip me a wire cutter."
Klink exhaled, relieved by the request, and then stiffened again. "You want me to give you a wire cutter?"
"Where else are we going to get one?" Hogan asked, feigning innocence.
Klink pinched the bridge of his nose. His head was spinning… like it always did when he tried to talk to Hogan. But this time, he also had the added burden of Berlin breathing down his neck.
I've got to be careful. If this is a Gestapo trap and something happens to Hogan, my career is over. What am I saying—my life would be over! If Hegel is a traitor and isn't stopped, Hogan will be dead and I'll be on my way to the Russian front. What a mess! I need time to work through this.
"I'll think it over, Colonel Hogan. You're dismissed."
Hogan straightened. "What do you mean, you'll think it over? This is your life we're talking about, too!"
"I said, dismissed! I'll send for you when I reach a decision."
Hogan didn't move.
Klink dropped his hand to his desk and stared determinedly at Hogan. "Would you rather wait in the cooler, Colonel Hogan? Because I would be happy to arrange that for you!"
Hogan looked puzzled at Klink, not quite able to hide his shocked expression
"Don't think too long, Kommandant." Hogan turned to leave. "We haven't got much time." He slapped his cap on his head and stormed out.
The missing salute went un-reprimanded as the door slammed closed.
Klink buried his face in his hands. Maybe it would be better to let General Burkhalter handle this. No, that would earn me a sure ticket to the Russian Front.
As the phone began to ring, Klink looked through his hands. Now what?
Grabbing the phone with a vengeance, he yelled, "Hello!"
Speak of the devil and…
Klink straightened in his chair. "Jawohl, Herr General. I was just thinking about you… What about? Well, I was… Yes, sir. I mean no, sir, it wasn't important." Klink laughed nervously. "Oh no, Herr General, I didn't mean you weren't important… Yes, sir, I'm shutting up."
Klink listened and pulled at his collar. "How is Colonel Hogan responding?" Klink's mind raced. Does General Burkhalter know about Hegel? Klink grimaced as the voice on the other end of the line screamed for an answer. And then it donned on him…
"Oh, you mean how is he responding to the medicine." Burkhalter's muffled yelling leaked into the room from around Klink's ear. "Yes, what else could you mean…"
Klink stumbled over his words. He hadn't gotten any of the potion into Hogan. His first attempt had failed, and he had been too busy spying on Hegel to try again.
"Well… he's a… well, sir, you see…" Klink stopped to listen and then sagged with relief at Burkhalter's suggestion. "Yes, sir, you're right… it's a little too early to tell."
Klink sighed and confirmed, "Yes, sir, I assure you he suspects nothing and… What? Oh yes, sir. I will continue to give it to him… uh… how will I know when he's had enough?" Klink frowned. "I don't need to worry about that… just keep getting it in him… you and Oberst Knefler will be here to check on him in a few weeks. Yes, sir, I understand… I'll…"
Klink's hand shot up as the voice on the other end of the line ended the conversation in two words and Klink responded in turn, "Heil, Hitler!"
Pulling the phone from his ear, Klink broke out in a cold sweat. As if I don't have enough to worry about. Now General Burkhalter wants me to dose Hogan. If I give Hogan this new drug, will he be able to help me with Hegel? And if I don't give it to him, what will I tell General Burkhalter when he brings Knefler here to examine Hogan?
Klink walked to the window and stared at Barracks Two. Suddenly being transferred to the Russian Front almost didn't sound like such a bad idea... almost.
ccccccccccccccccccccccccc