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Between The Lines

Chapter 22

One Down Three to Go

Stalag XIII

"… Withers was passed along at 21:30. He's carrying the package. Over."

"Copy that Papa Bear. Our source says Colonel Hogan reached his destination and is well. Did you pass our message on to him? Over."

"Roger that. We could not verify he understood. But it was delivered. Over."

"Lie low for a couple of days. No activity on your end. We will let you know when to begin operations again. Mama Bear Over and Out."

Baker looked at Kinch. "At least we know Knefler got him there in one piece."

Kinch took off his headset and looked back at Baker. "Yeah, that's something. I just hope he stays that way." Kinch walked around the radio table and put his arm on Baker's shoulder. "It sounds like we're taking a couple of days off. We might as well go up and try to get some sleep."

"Try is the key word, Kinch. I know you. Until the Colonel gets back, you'll sleep with one eye open."

Kinch nodded. "I always do."

Kinch watched Baker disappear down the tunnel on his way to his barrack. Lie low for a couple of days. I wonder what's going on. Are they worried they're going to have to pull us out?

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Von Tillermaan's Office

Knefler cautiously opened the office door and stuck his head in. Seeing Von Tillermaan at his desk, he spoke. "You're up early."

Looking up abruptly, Tillermaan responded. "I could say the same about you." Leaning back in his chair, he checked his watch and motioned Knefler in. "It's only four a.m. We won't start for another hour."

"I decided to go to bed early so we would have a chance to talk. Am I interrupting?"

"No, I was just going over some notes. I visited your alpha last night after the doctors and I finished our base line evaluation. You're right, he's interesting, to say the least."

"I told you." Knefler sat down and looking at Tillermaan across the desk, he added, "He is always observing, even when he is physically exhausted."

Tillermaan nodded. "And he compartmentalizes extremely well, especially for a man under duress." Tillermaan conceded. "I can see why you have had problems getting through his defenses. If I could not see his heart beating in his neck, I would not have known the stress he felt. But his stress did not interfere with his focus and attention. He heard every word I said… and didn't say."

Knefler nodded. "His ability to tune out what is stressing him and focus on the job at hand has served him well, both as a research subject and in his former position in his army's air corp. He has a high level of emotional intelligence. He realizes his thoughts and emotions are irrelevant to the decisions he has to make."

"Precisely." Tillermaan agreed. "He can compartmentalize his anxiety and it won't affect his decision making. Which is why there was no way I was going to convince him to swallow the elixir on his own. Doctor Fischer will take care of the oral administration. After today we won't need to administer anything orally. How he copes is irrelevant to our testing, but I see how it affects yours."

Knefler starred blindly at the floor, deep in thought. "Those who don't understand what makes this man tick would call him obstinate. He's not. His actions are all calculated." Knefler looked up at Von Tillermaan. "He is highly disciplined. I have not been able to merge any of his ideals with ours. I have caused some momentary confusion during mental duress, but then he quickly compartmentalizes that confusion and will rely on his past knowledge and beliefs. My next effort is the ayahuasca. Past studies show that about thirty minutes after ingesting the ayahuasca there is a noticeable shaking and psychological defenses are diminished. I want to try a little psychotherapy. It appears to be a very short period. But maybe I can tell if it is worth exploring further. This precedes the 'spiritual state' that you and the SS are interested in, so it won't interfere with your testing. General Kaltenbrunner has already given his consent."

Tillermaan appeared thoughtful. Nodding approvingly, he agreed, "That sounds like a good use of time and subject, but why wasn't I notified of this before?" Tillermaan asked.

"I thought you would have been, but when I spoke to the General last night, he said he thought we had already discussed it and he had not mentioned this to you." Knefler leaned forward in his chair. "That's probably my fault. I apologize. Does this cause any problems for you?"

Von Tillermaan wished he could have shared this with Hogan last night, but if the mission were successful, it would be of no consequence. Calmly, he answered. "No, not at all." Standing, he walked around the desk and asked, "Have you time for a cup of coffee before we observe the pre-meds effects?"

Knefler stood and opened the door. "After you, Professor. I'm buying."

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Hogan's Room

Without a watch or clock in the room, Hogan had trouble judging time. There wasn't even a window to allow for observing time by the sun or moon. Still, he managed a few restless minutes, or maybe it was hours of sleep, before he heard the door unlock and the lights flick on.

Three orderlies entered. They were not the same ones from the night before. Hogan threw his legs over the side of the bed and he was quickly pulled to his feet. His wrists were strapped to a belt, and the belt fastened around his waist. In less than a minute, he was going out the door.

Whisked down the hall to a second room, he quickly assessed his surroundings. The two doctors who had examined him the night before were already there. But no Von Tillermaan.

"Raise his shirt," Wagner ordered. Picking up the heart monitor, he placed it high on Hogan's chest and strapped it into place. Then, looking at the orderlies, he pointed, "Secure him in the chair."

Wagner quickly attached a blood pressure cuff to Hogan's right arm, while the orderlies moved his left arm from the restraint at his waist and strapped it to an armrest extended out to his side. Wagner moved to Hogan's left side, pulled the IV pole closer and sat down to start an IV. Hogan took a breath as he felt the needle slide in and he watched as Wagner attached the tubing and adjusted the flow to a steady, slow drip.

Aware he was being watched, Wagner looked at Hogan. "This will keep you hydrated and your blood glucose regulated." Hogan's stress eased a little. It appears at least one of these doctors was sensitive to his need to know.

Fischer pulled his mayo stand over and sat down, facing Hogan. Adjusting the strap across Hogan's forehead, he propped open his jaw, and began the placement of the feeding tube.

Just get through it. These first four hours are nothing new. Save your energy for the second four. Hogan's jaw tightened.

The door opened and Von Tillermaan and Knefler entered.

"Good morning, gentlemen. Do you have the lab reports from last night?

"They're on the desk behind you." Fischer answered, as he began administering the oral meds.

Knefler and Von Tillermaan looked over the results from the lab. "Everything looks good," Knefler commented, as he observed the tube being with drawn from Hogan's mouth.

Hogan sucked in a breath and coughing, momentarily closed his eyes. When he opened them, Knefler was sitting in front of him.

"Colonel, you could make this a lot easier on yourself."

"What… cough… and spoil all your fun?" Glaring intently at Knefler, he promised, "Enjoy yourself now because, after the war, I'm coming for you."

Knefler looked over his shoulder at Tillermaan and smiled. Looking back at Hogan, he patted his arm and stated,

"Colonel Hogan, after we win the war, you're already on my calendar."

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Hammmelburg Underground

"A long-range weapons bunker? Are you sure of your information?" Tiger looked worriedly at Lutz.

"No. Not at all. But the increased patrols all around would seem to support that they are looking for a place to build something."

"Do we know who started the rumor?" Armin asked.

"Like I said, it is all hear-say. Two engineering geologists are staying in town. It is said that the increased patrols are in place to make the area safe for them to study the land. It might all be speculation and have nothing to do with the extra patrols. I'm just saying we need to be careful and keep our ears open for information as to what the Gestapo is up to."

"It might just be Major Hochstetter's way of shaking the 'tree', hoping we'll get nervous and make a mistake," Tiger suggested. "But yes, we need to be careful. Let's do a little reconnaissance in the surrounding area. If there is a secret project going on, we don't want to land a plane in the middle of it."

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Testing Room four and a half hours later

With the pre-test completed and the effects observed and charted, the second part of the day's testing was ready to begin.

After the full dose of ayahuasca was administered, Von Tillermaan removed the strap restraining Hogan's head. "Start the timer."

Knefler flicked the switch, and the dial started ticking.

Hogan felt the blood pressure cuff engage and watched Von Tillermaan taking notes. All eyes were on him. The clock ticked off 10… 15… 20… 25 minutes. The room was beginning to look off kilter. Blinking his eyes, trying to keep everything in focus, his guard went up. What's happening? He felt susceptible, like the rug had been yanked out from under him.

"Blood Pressure elevated 120/ 78, Respirations increased 20, Heart rate 100." Von Tillermaan stepped in front of Hogan and looked into his eyes. "Pupil's dilated." Looking at the timer, he announced, "90 minutes." Motioning to Knefler, he said, "This is what you are waiting for."

Watching Hogan begin to tremble, Knefler pulled up a chair. "Colonel Hogan, I'm here to help you."

Help me? "You can't help me… nobody can." His vision was changing and Knefler faded from view.

Fischer spoke up. "Respirations and heart rate are increasing, typical readings for a fight-or-flight mode."

How'd I get here… I'm not. I'm in Hohemark… but… His B-17 'Goldilocks' materialized around him. No time. "Plane is losing altitude… can't hold her…" Hogan looked down at his shirt and saw blood pooling.

"I'm hit." He could feel the air rushing in through the tear in the fuselage. Reality was the here and now. He could feel his plane, 'Goldilocks', in his hands. She was struggling.

"… bail out, I'll try to hold her steady… BAIL OUT NOW…"

"You did your best." Knefler whispered. "Your in German hands now. You're safe."

Safe? "Where… Hospital? How… German… safe?"

"We saved you, you're safe." Knefler repeated, "Germany took care of you."

The voice materialized into a dancing light… saved… me?

"Ugh, sick…" Hogan's body gave a shudder and Tillermaan thrust a basin in front of him, catching the ayahuasca as it was expelled. The shaking stopped.

"I was waiting for that. Going to have to make some adjustments to the pre-med." Tillermaan acknowledged. "He is moving into the next phase now, Oberst Knefler."

Doctor Wagner rang out a cloth and as he wiped Hogan's face, announced, "We're at one hundred twenty minutes."

Hogan exhaled. "Thanks."

Knefler looked at Wagner and teased, "You're appreciated."

"I'm a doctor." Wagner stated in his own defense. "Some things come naturally."

Knefler vacated his seat, and Von Tillermaan sat down.

"Colonel Hogan, what are you seeing?"

Hogan looked around. "Hearing. They are telling me that they see me. We are… one."

"Someone's talking to you?" Von Tillermaan asked.

"No… yes. Not with words. They are in my head. I hear them."

"What are they telling you?"

"Shh." Hogan looked around the room, seeing what they could not. I didn't know you felt connected to us. This is crazy, but yet I understand it. He could see Von Tillermaan, but he looked far away, and then faded out.

"Volition. He has decided to interact with what he is seeing and hearing. He has tuned us out." Von Tillermaan explained. "What occurs now is all in here." Von Tillermaan placed his hand on Hogan's head. "How are his vital signs?"

"He has calmed down to a resting state. Time is at 150 minutes: Heart rate sixty beats per minute, Respiration 12, blood pressure 100/68."

I'm going to do an EEG. Von Tillermaan pulled the machine over and attached the electrodes. Knefler joined him. "Alpha brain waves, he's awake and resting, a meditative state."

"At 180 minutes: Heart rate sixty beats per minute, Respiration 12, blood pressure 90/68."

The timer continued to count as the time passed. The doctors watched as vital signs remained calm and Hogan's breathing dropped into a rhythm. "EEG still shows a meditative alpha state. "

Hogan closed his eyes. I can still see. How? Peaceful. A disembodied voice called his name. What? Who are you? How do you know me?

Several more minutes passed.

"Brain waves are picking up to Beta." Von Tillermaan announced.

"Vital Signs are increasing as well. Breathing is deepening, heart rate increasing but still normal." Fischer studied Hogan watching for signs of awareness.

"We're at 200 minutes." Wagner announced.

Von Tillermaan again sat in the chair facing Hogan, observing him beginning to flex his arms against the straps holding them. "Do you see me, Colonel Hogan?"

"Yes, I always knew you were there. You just weren't in the real. I mean…" Hogan looked down at the restraints and the confusion began to clear. Looking around, he tried to judge how much time had passed. The IV bag was nearly empty. There was a lingering peace that he pushed away and replaced with wariness. "How long?" he whispered.

Von Tillermaan looked at Knefler. "Stop the timer. He's done."

"Final Time: 233 minutes." Knefler announced.

"Doctor Fischer, would you get his blood drawn for the lab? Doctor Wagner, get his final set of vitals." Von Tillermaan stood and went to remove the EEG electrodes. "Good job, gentlemen." Walking back to the chair in front of Hogan, he quickly shone a light in his eyes. "Good. Pupils react normally." Leaning over, he removed the IV from Hogan's arm as he continued to talk. "There is nothing to stop us from moving forward with our tests. Let's push our time frame back a little for tomorrow. You can all sleep in. I want to use tomorrow morning to compile today's test information for General Kaltenbrunner. He will join us tomorrow. We will test both the intramuscular and intravenous routes. That will just leave the inhalation test for the third day, and we will wrap this up."

"What's your time frame for tomorrow?" Knefler asked.

"I'm thinking we will start the second test at 1pm that gives the General time to arrive and eat before we begin. We will start the third test at seven p.m. It will be interesting to see what back-to-back test do to our results. It will be helpful in determining the frequency the ayahuasca can be administered to our SS volunteers."

Hogan listened with his eyes closed to what was being said and happening around him. Exhausted, either from a lack of sleep the night before, the testing… or both, all he wanted to do was lie down.

As the doctors finished their tasks and handed their charting to Von Tillerman, Knefler watched Hogan and made plans.

"Thank you, doctors. Would you mind sending the orderlies in as you leave?"

"Of course. We will see you tomorrow afternoon," Fischer announced as he and Wagner headed out the door.

Knefler watched the door close and approached Von Tillermaan. "I am encouraged by his responses during my analysis, as the ayahuasca was taking hold. I wonder if there is anyway to extend that period?"

"That is something to work on later. Right now, I'm only interested in what happens biologically during the meditative stage," Tillermaan stated. "I need to make sure vital signs and brain waves stay in normal range and there is no permanent damage before we administer this to our volunteer SS subjects."

"Have you heard of LSD?" Knefler asked.

Surprised by the question, Von Tillermaan stopped what he was doing, and looked at Knefler. "Yes. A Swiss scientist, Albert Hoffman, published a report on it earlier this year. It causes a restless state with dizziness and an intoxicated like condition, according to Hoffman's paper."

Von Tillermaan was interrupted as the orderlies entered the room. "Take our subject back to his room. Remove the restraints. I'll look in on him later."

As Knefler watched, his alpha being half carried out of the room, he continued. "I think it would be interesting to test its ability to lower resistance and open the mind to suggestion."

"That is not the goal of this study. The SS is interested in the psychic ability of ayahuasca to expand the mind's reach. But I can see possibilities with LSD for indoctrination purposes if that is what you're getting at."

"That is exactly what I'm getting at."

Von Tillerman knew what Knefler was implying. "When we are done here, you may do whatever you want with your alpha. My sole interest in him is in these next two days' testing."

Knefler smiled, "I'll help you take these papers to your office and then let's have dinner. I'd like to talk with you some more."

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Gestapo Hammelburg

Hochstetter had been tramping around in the woods for days with the two geologists sent to him from Berlin.

"Have you determined a location for your underground facility yet?" Hochstetter scanned the forest they were standing in. He couldn't understand why these geologists were taking so much time making a decision.

"I am still considering Sodenberg. Basalt is good for tunneling."

Herr Nadelman looked at his partner.

Milo Obenauer was the younger of the two geologists and was perhaps the more logical. "I think Sodenberg would be an easy target. And besides, we need to make it easily accessible for supplies. This would be the perfect spot, Herr Nadelman."

Hochstetter was doing his best to remain calm. "Can't you make a decision and be done with it?" He had little tolerance for indecision.

Nadelman, not wanting to submit to logic, looked around and nodded. "We will submit both locations and let them decide."

Growling, Hochstetter turned and marched off in the opposite direction.

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Hohemark Hospital

Von Tillermaan had allowed a few hours to pass after returning from his dinner with Knefler, hoping to allow Hogan some time to get some rest and eat.

He had been reviewing the test results and was satisfied with the results. No harm had been done physically to Colonel Hogan. Now it was time to find out how his psyche was holding up.

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Hogan's Room

Deep in thought, Hogan sat on the bed trying to make sense of what he had been through.

The paranoia shook him. He had felt fear many times before, but this was beyond feeling it. It grabbed him. It wasn't just remembering fear; it was tangible, it lived, and he physically experienced it. Right down to the vibrations of 'Goldilocks' in his hands and body.

I could not trust myself. I could not tell what was real. I kept telling myself I was in a lab, but… I wasn't. What makes things real? If you perceive yourself physically feeling and seeing something, how do you make yourself believe it's not real? I've got to stay with what I know. I knew I was in a lab to begin with. I've got to make myself hold on to that reality.

But after that… it was so peaceful. The voices were so kind and understanding and… sensible. But 'they' had to be me. There was no one else talking to me…

Hogan heard the door unlock and his attention was suddenly in the present.

Von Tillermaan stepped into the room and closed the door.

"How are you?"

"I was just trying to figure that out." Hogan answered. "I have never felt so… so… I can't put it into words. When I was being subjected to other tests, I would get momentarily confused, but I could bring myself back. I could eventually decide what was false. But this stuff… it engulfs you. You are living it."

"I could not explain that to you yesterday. That is why I said you would understand better today, and advised you to just relax and experience it. It is a complete surrender of the mind, but it does subside."

"I don't like surrendering." Hogan bluntly responded. "But I haven't found a way not to." Quietly, he admitted. "You know there is a peace that overtakes you. I think it is because it is you talking to yourself… if that makes any sense."

"That is an interesting insight, Colonel Hogan." Von Tillermaan made a mental note of that. "Tomorrow you will undergo two tests, starting in the afternoon."

Hogan waved his hand. "I know. I heard you explain it to Knefler and the doctors. I also heard you say General Kaltenbrunner would be here. You told me not to worry about that earlier. Does that still stand?"

Von Tillermaan smiled. "It still stands." Looking a little more thoughtful, he added, "Oberst Knefler was right, you don't miss anything."

"What?" Hogan asked, frowning.

"Knefler is awed by your ability to focus regardless of what is going on around you. I have to admit, you are interesting in that respect."

Hogan put his hands on his hips and widened his stance. "Let's just stay focused on what we're doing and leave me out of this."

"Don't worry, I am completely focused on what we are doing. Now I need to talk to you about something a little more serious."

"More serious? Are you serious?" Hogan shook his head, and then sarcastically added, "Go on. I can't wait."

Nodding, Tillermaan began. "There are several drugs that have come to the forefront recently that alter perceptions. We chose ayahuasca because it has been used for thousands of years and we had a long history to look back on and we did not find any life threatening results. But there is another new drug discovered in the late 30s that has no history, and I view it is something to stay away from until we know more. It is called LSD. Colonel Knefler has it in his mind to test it on you."

Hogan took a step forward. "When?" Panic was beginning to set in.

"Not immediately, but soon."

"How soon?" Hogan looked hard at Von Tillermaan.

"Let's just say if our mission fails, you had better make good your escape."

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