No ownership of the Hogan's Heroes characters is implied or inferred. Copyright belongs to others and no infringement is intended.
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"I thought two interrogations a day were more than enough, Kommandant. Can't this wait until this afternoon's fiasco?"
"I'm sorry, Hogan, but I thought you might want to know right away that the Gestapo wants to speak with you again."
Hogan felt his heart fall down and splash into his stomach, making him nauseous. When Schultz had unexpectedly called him to Klink's office a week later, Hogan had been certain that the Kommandant had wanted no more than to wax ineloquent—again—about the changes the men were making to the camp since Hogan's arrival. He had even started to get somewhat comfortable in Klink's presence, and to see him as a somewhat awkward ally—someone who would keep up the appearance of following orders from Berlin, but who would keep him out of harm's way, if not for Hogan's sake, then for his own conscience. Now, that idea came crashing down with one dreaded word.
"The Gestapo?" Hogan repeated. Klink nodded. "What did you tell them?"
"I told them the truth: that I have been questioning you every day since you arrived over a month ago, but that you have not given me any information that I could pass on to Berlin."
"I wouldn't go that far; I gave you that lovely recipe for New England clam chowder," Hogan quipped, his mind still reeling.
Klink shook his fist in frustration. "Hogan, you know very well what Headquarters is looking for. They think I haven't been tough enough, and they are sending a man in to question you tomorrow."
"Why are you warning me?"
"Because I don't want you to do anything foolish when he arrives. There has never been a successful escape from Stalag 13, Colonel Hogan. I don't want you to try; you will only be thwarted and possibly shot."
"So you think I'd rather get hauled off to Gestapo Headquarters to be shot instead?" Hogan snapped.
"Of course not, Hogan," Klink answered seriously. "But I also cannot let you escape. I am simply warning you so you can prepare yourself."
"Thanks; I'll get the medic to start wrapping some bandages," Hogan said angrily.
Klink shivered. "Never mind that," he answered, his voice reflecting his frustration. "You will be here at fourteen hundred hours tomorrow." He stopped to add quickly, "But you don't know that, you understand?"
"Perfectly," Hogan replied, barely able to control his anger.
"Very well. Dismissed." Klink waved him out.
Hogan didn't bother to salute; he could barely see Klink any more anyway through the haze of confused emotions flashing before him. He rejected Schultz's attempts to make small talk as he strode back to the barracks, and swept past his men and straight into his quarters when he returned, leaving no chance for discussion.
The prisoners looked at each other, then at Schultz, who shrugged. "What's going on, Schultz?" asked Kinch.
"I know nothing," Schultz said.
"Come on, Schultz; you brought him to the Kommandant's office; what did ol' Bald Eagle want?" Newkirk pressed.
"I was not involved in their meeting; the Kommandant ordered me to leave the office."
Le Beau sidled up to the guard. "Oh, by the way, Schultz," he said smoothly, "I was planning to make a lovely crepe suzette tonight. I was thinking you might want some."
Schultz's eyes had closed and he was swaying slightly as he smiled at the thought of one of Le Beau's culinary delights sliding gracefully, willingly, down his eager throat. "Oh, yes, Le Beau, yes, that would be wonderful, danke!"
Le Beau's voice grew cold. "Then you'd better give us some information or it's potato soup from the camp kitchen for you."
Schultz frowned petulantly. "I told you; I do not know what Kommandant Klink told Colonel Hogan. All I know is that the Kommandant received a call from Gestapo Headquarters in Hammelburg, and when he got off the phone he ordered me to bring Colonel Hogan to his office."
Newkirk's eyes widened. "Gestapo, Schultz?"
"Ja. They will be here tomorrow. And you know how nervous they make the Kommandant."
"For someone who knows nothing, Schultz, you're a virtual fount of information," Kinch remarked.
"I am?" Schultz asked.
"You sure are; thanks, Schultz," Kinch said, now trying to shuffle the Sergeant out of the barracks.
"Yeah, thanks, Schultzie," Newkirk said, also trying to rid them of the guard.
"Go on, Schultz; I cannot cook if you are standing over my shoulder," Le Beau said, adding the coup de gras. Schultz left as quickly as possible.
"Gestapo," Kinch muttered when they were alone.
"Sounds like they're coming back for Colonel Hogan," Newkirk concluded.
"Do you think so?" Le Beau said, still doubtful.
"Why else would the Colonel act the way he did when he came back?" Kinch asked.
Le Beau nodded. "Poor Colonel." He looked at Hogan's closed door. "What can we do?"
"Too bad the blasted tunnel isn't finished yet; we could get him outa here tonight," Newkirk lamented.
"Let's get the Escape Committee together," Kinch suggested." We need to have an emergency meeting."
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Hogan stopped pacing long enough to respond to the knock on his door. "Come in," he called, then resumed treading his well-worn path, thinking, worrying, plotting.
"Colonel, can I have a word?" Kinch asked, stepping hesitantly into Hogan's office.
Hogan paused. "Sure, Kinch, what is it?" he asked. But he couldn't stop his feet, driven by his racing mind, and he started pacing again.
"Colonel Hogan, we know the Gestapo is coming back," Kinch began, clearing his throat.
Hogan stopped dead in his tracks. "Who told you that?—Schultz, I suppose," he said.
Kinch nodded. "He wasn't good with details, but we gather they're coming to get you."
Hogan nodded. "You add one and one together very well," he said grimly. "Klink wanted to warn me so I wouldn't do anything stupid before they get here."
"Like try to escape?"
"Exactly." Hogan started pacing again. "I feel like a caged animal heading for the slaughter. I almost wish he'd let them surprise me. I just keep trying to think of a way out of it."
Kinch felt a pang of sympathy for his commanding officer. Hogan couldn't stop moving; his arms were crossing and uncrossing, his fists clenching and unclenching, his feet walking that path back and forth across his room, his brow furrowing and unfurrowing, his eyes probing every corner of his office, as though searching for some solution in the dark, hidden spots. He is a caged animal, Kinch thought. He's absolutely frantic with fear. "Do you think you can talk your way out of it, Colonel?" he asked.
"They knew about me when they took me down, Kinch; they know I was given security clearance to hear a lot of things they'd love to know. The only talking they want to hear is every bit of information I'm not willing to give. They know their—methods—didn't work the last time. What are they going to try this time?" Hogan had stopped pacing while he spoke, and now tiredly sank onto his bunk. The realization had hit him: the Gestapo knew that torturing Hogan had brought no answers when he was at the Dulag Luft; so what would they do now when he refused to divulge Allied secrets—kill him? He shook his head. "I can't give them anything, Kinch," he said, shaking his head. "I just can't."
"Maybe you won't have to, Colonel," Kinch said quietly. Hogan just shook his head regretfully. "Colonel, the Escape Committee just had a meeting; we want to get you out of here today."
Hogan looked up. "But the tunnel's not finished, Kinch, and the transmitter's not here," he said.
"We'll manage," Kinch insisted. "So we can't use the tunnel—we'll use the plan you came up with a few weeks ago: we'll get you out over the fence."
"In the daylight?" Hogan asked.
"Yes, sir. We've got it all planned out. We distract the guard in the tower with the ball, you get over the fence and away."
"But that puts you in danger if the guards catch on!" Hogan said, now finding holes in the plan that he thought was so plausible until he saw the tunnel, until he had gotten to know the men of Stalag 13, until he came to feel a protectiveness toward them that came from sharing a trying situation against a common enemy.
"It's a chance we're willing to take, Colonel. All escapes involve risk." Kinch smiled. "Come on, sir, think of it. It'll be a real boost to the men's morale."
Hogan considered, his mind still wildly concocting and rejecting plans. "Do they really want to try this?" he asked, unbelieving.
"Absolutely, sir," Kinch answered. "The vote was unanimous. What do you say?"
Hogan tried to steady his breathing, which he suddenly realized was completely out of control, and nodded. "If you're sure…"
"We're sure."
Hogan paused, then looked Kinch straight in the eye, trying to convey everything from a confidence that he didn't feel, to a gratitude that he did. "Then we'll do it."