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belong to ML Breedlove. 2/2022'
Between The Lines
Chapter Fourteen
Hogan's escorts opened the door to Klink's outer office and shoved him inside where the Kommandant was nervously waiting.
"Don't antagonize him, Colonel Hogan!" Klink ordered as he stepped aside.
A shove from behind sent Hogan past Klink and into Klink's office.
Two SS guards immediately deposited him in front of his prosecutor, judge and jury, which, Hogan realized, happened to be rolled up into one man.
Hogan's heart beat a little faster as he studied the Germans face and wondered if the outcome had already been decided. He knew that was normal for these types of proceedings.
Following Hogan into the room, Klink positioned himself behind him. Klink wished he were better at reading Hogan.
Lastly, Schultz came in. Closing the door he stood in front of it, effectively guarding against interruptions.
"Tick-tick-tick". The clock was the only thing breaking the silence. And it seemed louder than normal.
Hogan was trying to look calm but was having difficulty. He felt off balance. He couldn't quite put his finger on it. But he had to get past it. Folding his arms across his chest he could feel his heart pounding.
The Gestapo officer at the front of the room soon became the focal point as the one-man, judge and jury, sighed audibly and began what was for him the mundane task of another trial.
"I have already spoken to Colonel Klink." The Gestapo officer announced.
"Now we will hear your side of the events leading up to the charges against you."
Looking his prisoner up and down he ordered,
"Begin, Colonel Hogan."
"Yes, Sir." Looking puzzled Hogan hesitated.
"From what point?"
Klink grimaced.
Leaning back the Gestapo officer was somewhat amused at the question. He had been told to expect the unexpected where this prisoner was concerned.
"From when you escaped, Colonel."
"Oh, right." Nodding, Hogan began again.
"My men and I noticed that the guard patrolling the north side of camp behind the delousing station took ten minutes to make his rounds. During that time the searchlights sweeping that area routinely missed the third section of wire, which was to the immediate right of the delousing station and the latrine. So we planned to cut the wire there."
Hearing this the Gestapo officer stopped writing. "Where did you get the wire cutters?"
Feigning embarrassment, Hogan cleared his throat and sheepishly offered, "We stole them from the guards tools when they weren't looking."
The Gestapo judge leaned forward, "Are you listening, Colonel Klink? You have a breach in your security."
Shaking his head and swallowing, Klink grit his teeth and nervously accepted the lie and…its implications.
After looking sternly at the Kommandant, the Gestapo judge waved his hand in the air toward Hogan.
"Go on, Colonel Hogan." 1
"Well sir, we were being pursued by Colonel Klink so we broke into this barn."1
Feeling the need to redeem himself Klink proudly proclaimed, "No on has ever escaped from…"1
"You're NOT testifying!" Abruptly cutting Klink off, he heard Hogan chime in.
"He really is a bloodhound, sir."1
Schultz's snickered and the Gestapo officer quickly responded with a terse warning.
"Silence!"1
Glaring at Schultz, he again motioned to Hogan.
"Continue, Colonel."1
"Well, we figured we had it made. Then this man walked in and surprised us."1
Nodding the judge offered, "Major Hegel?"1
"That's right," Hogan continued, "He had us cold. Then Colonel Klink arrived with his men and opened fire, not realizing of course there was a German officer in the barn."1
"And Major Hegel was the only one that was killed?" the judge asked.1
Hogan nodded, "Yes, sir."1
Klink panicked, "Sir, I assure you had I known…" 1
The Gestapo judge jumped to his feet. Gathering his papers, he declared, "Accident of war. Hegel died a heroes death."1
Marching out from behind the desk he stopped directly in front of Hogan.
"And we will see to it that you and your men are severely punished. You will be taken to Berlin for further questioning."1
Hogan's gut clenched and he momentarily stopped breathing. He'd been a guest of the Gestapo before and knew what that entailed. Taking a settling breath, he steeled himself for the chains he knew would be coming next.
"Sir, I must protest." 1
Hogan half turned and saw Klink stepping forward.
"Colonel Hogan is my prisoner. His crime is against the authority of Stalag 13. I will see to his punishment."1
Hogan, dumbfounded, remained frozen in place. Did he hear that right? The Kommandant is standing up to the Gestapo?"
Perspiration ran down Klink's back. He almost wished he had kept his mouth shut. Hogan must be rubbing off on him. Talking back to the Gestapo was suicide. But this was the moment General Burkhalter had mentioned and if there was any hope of saving himself, it was now. No one holds out against the Gestapo, not even Colonel Hogan.
Momentarily looking over his shoulder at his aid, the Gestapo judge suddenly looked back at Klink. "Very well, Klink."1
Prepared for a denial Hogan very nearly fainted. He momentarily closed his eyes and exhaled, feeling the tension release from his now drooping shoulders.
Klink, on the other hand seemed recharged. Saluting, he followed the Gestapo officer to the door before suddenly turning back to face Hogan.
"Hogan," Klink called.
Hearing his name, Hogan turned to look.
"You are the biggest liar I have ever met in my whole life." 1
With that said, Klink turned and hurried to catch up to the entourage of SS and Gestapo making their way out into the compound.
Hogan struggled to make sense of what just happened. What had gotten into Klink to make him stand up to the Gestapo like that? That was definitely not the Klink he knew.
Hogan walked toward Klink's cherished cigars hoping to calm his nerves.
Schultz followed.
"Colonel Hogan, he said a terrible thing to you."
"I know." Hogan answered, as he pulled the hinge pin out of the back of the cigar box.
"He called you a liar," Schultz exclaimed.
Taking two cigars out, Hogan complained sarcastically.
"He really knows how to hurt a guy."
Turning, he offered a cigar to Schultz who was already holding the lit lighter. Hogan leaned forward and puffed his cigar until the amber glow emitted a trail of smoke.
"Danke, Schultz."
Hogan inhaled deeply. The sweet smell of tobacco drifted through the room.
"You know, Schultz, I may have misjudged Klink."
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"I was told to make the American sweat a little." The judge admitted once they were safely in the compound.
"You certainly did that," Klink agreed, not admitting to his own anxiety.
Nodding, the judge added, "I will send General Burkhalter a transcript of this trial. I'm sure he will be talking to you about your security and the area of the compound that allowed the breach."
Klink flinched. "I'm sure he will."
Looking Klink straight in the eye, he continued. "You are very fortunate the High Command interceded in this."
Klink's mouth fell open. "You mean you weren't going to take Colonel Hogan and his men with you?"
Ignoring the question, the Gestapo officer looked around the camp. "I don't know what is going on here, but you and your prisoners are very fortunate." Shrugging his shoulders, he turned in bewilderment and saluted. "Heil Hitler."
Klink returned the salute and watched as the truck, filled with SS guards, and the staff car drove out of camp.
"Good riddance!" Turning, Klink marched back to his office.
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"What is going on in here?" Klink demanded as he found his senior prisoner and his Master Sergeant taking liberties with his cigars.
"Cigar, Kommandant," Hogan offered.
Taking the box Klink slammed the unhinged lid shut.
Rushing around the desk he placed the cigars back in their spot front and center and then sitting down, looked at Hogan.
Still filled with amazement, Hogan praised, "I don't know what you had for breakfast, Kommandant, but don't give out that recipe."
Klink sat up straighter and smiled. "Sometimes you just have to show the Gestapo you mean business."
"Well, it worked and I am grateful."
A huge grin lit Schultz's face. He approved of Hogan's acknowledgement. Even during a war there is some good.
" Now that the Gestapo is gone, we have a few things to discuss." Klink took on a more serious tone.
"General Burkhalter will want answers to your method and means of escape. I'll have to think up another lie to satisfy him. See what you started with your lies, Hogan. "
"Well, what did you want me to tell the Gestapo? That you gave me the wire cutters and pulled the guard to allow us to escape?"
Klink was back on his feet. "If you hadn't got mixed up with Hegel you wouldn't have to tell them anything. Now I want the truth, Colonel. No more lies. How did you get those diamonds?"
" You know I can't tell you that. Besides…they aren't real."
"What do you mean, they aren't real?"
Hogan stamped out his cigar and offered the ashtray to Schultz. "They aren't real." Laughing he added, "Where would I get real diamonds?"
Klink stomped his foot, "I don't care whether they are real or not. I demand to know where they came from? And how did you get mixed up with Hegel to begin with."
"If I told you that you'd have more problems to deal with. Let's just leave innocent people out of this. Neither General Burkhalter nor anyone else has to know about the diamonds, or Major Hegel's involvement in this. Let's just leave well enough alone."
"Hogaaan, You're not avoiding this! If you can get diamonds you can get guns for an escape."
"Guns?" Hogan laughed. "There's a big difference between someone being willing to give us cut glass versus guns. People aren't stupid, Kommandant."
Taking in a deep breath, Hogan continued. "Look, you've still got your command and your prisoners. Isn't that enough?"
Klink slammed his fist on the desk, ""No, it's not. I want to know your method of communication. Prisoners are not supposed to have connections outside of camp." Klink threw up his arms in disbelief. "They are not even suppose have connections inside of camp. And don't give me that mirror story again."
Hogan glared back at Klink without answering.
Klink looked at Schultz. "Take Colonel Hogan back to solitary."
Hogan glanced at Schultz and immediately directed his gaze back to Klink. "Solitary? On what charge?"
"Attempted escape." Klink grabbed his swagger stick and struck his desk. "You need time to think and solitary is just the place for you to do it."
Hogan retaliated, "That's a bogus charge and you know it.
Stepping toward the desk laughing, he challenged. "And when's the last time solitary changed my mind."
Klink leaned toward Hogan and half whispered, "We'll see, Colonel Hogan. Given enough time even you may change."
Klink stared at Hogan wondering what affect this new drug would have on Hogan's mind. That was another unknown to worry about. How much would Colonel Knefler eventually get out of Hogan?
Hogan folded his arms across his chest in defiance. "Don't hold your breath."
Klink dropped into his chair. "Anyway, its not totally up to me," General Burkhalter thinks your attempted escape was real and ordered you kept in solitary till he arrives and I won't add disobeying orders to my problems. Explaining your 'escape' is going to be quite enough to deal with."
"Burkhalter?" Hogan rubbed the back of his neck and thought out loud, "I suppose it makes sense. Of course he would show up with the death of a Gestapo officer. I wonder why I didn't think of that sooner."
"Yes, this is his Stalag too. So don't think this is over yet." Klink warned.
That little bit of information answered a lot questions. Klink still has some dancing to do. Sighing, he looked back at Klink and changed the topic. "What about my men? They were just following orders. Let them out. They've been punished enough."
Caught slightly off guard with Hogan's request, he sat back in his chair. Even on his way to solitary he was thinking of his men.
"I will give it some thought, Colonel Hogan."
Hogan's temper began to heat up. "What's to think about, Kommandant? Did the General say anything about my men having to stay in the cooler?"
Rising to his feet Klink turned a shade of red Schultz had not seen before. "I am running this camp, Colonel Hogan. You are a prisoner and so are your men. I will decide what punishment is enough."
"If you are running this camp, prove it. Release my men!"
Schultz's eyes widened as Hogan persisted.
Shaking his fist, Klink bellowed, "Schultz, take Colonel Hogan to solitary, NOW."
"Jawohl!
Schultz put his great bulk between Hogan and the Kommandant and, grabbing Hogan's arm, yanked him toward the door.
"Come, Colonel Hogan. Solitary is not such a bad place."
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"Hey, someone's coming." Louis stepped closer to the bars of his cell.
Hogan and Schultz stepped into view.
"Hey, Colonel, what's the verdict?" Kinch asked, jumping to his feet.
Smiling, Hogan announced, "We're not going anywhere. They ruled it an accident of war."
"Whew, best news I've heard in a long time," Newkirk added.
"So when do we get out," LeBeau asked.
"About that, the Kommandant is still undecided." Hogan shook his head.
Schultz butted in. "Colonel Hogan tried to convince the Kommandant to let you out. Oh boy did he try, but it is all still too fresh in the Kommandants mind. Give it a little time, boys. He will work it out."
Carter spoke up, "It's already been a week."
"It's been nine days Carter," Newkirk pointed at the marks on the wall of his cell.
"Yes, " Schultz admitted, "but the trial was today. Colonel Klink needs a day to recover." Looking at Colonel Hogan, he nodded toward solitary. "Come, Colonel Hogan."
LeBeau grabbed his bars and demanded, "What are you doing Schultz? Aren't you going to leave the Colonel with us now that the trial is over."
"Nein, he goes back to solitary."
Loud protest came from the four cells.
Hogan raised his hand to quiet them. "It's alright. Burkhalter's orders. He's coming to camp in a few days. It'll be okay."
Kinch took another step forward. "Burkhalter, Colonel?"
"Yeah, as Klink reminded me, it is his camp too." Hogan frowned. "Everybody has to have their say. I should have anticipated that."
"Oh Blimey. We're never going to get out of 'er'."
"Hogan determined to be positive for his men added, "It's just one more hurdle. We've dealt with Burkhalter before, we'll do it again."
Schultz looked at his watch and grimaced. "Sorry, Colonel Hogan. I have to take you to your cell now. I have already been here to long."
"Ok Schultz thanks for the detour. See you, men later. Hopefully in the barracks."
Schultz motioned his prisoner forward and they soon were out of sight.
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"Sorry, Colonel Hogan."
"It's not your fault Schultz."
Opening the cell Schultz motioned Hogan inside.
"Schultz. Would you let me know when Burkhalter arrives?"
Schultz nodded. "If I can, Colonel Hogan."
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Schultz ambled back out of solitary and nodded toward his four other prisoners.
"I'll see you boys later."
"It's really unfair to keep the Colonel in solitary, Schultz." Carter said, looking up from his cot.
"After the day he's had, I don't think he minds. He could use some time alone to rest."
"Was the trial that bad?" Kinch asked.
"Any time the Gestapo is involved, it's bad. Emotionally it takes a toll, you know that."
Schultz continued down the hall to the exit.