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Weaving A Web To Freedom
Book Three: Fliegerabwehrkanonen Spells FLAK
Chapter Four
All In A Days Work
"Corporal Pfrommer, keep these men fanned out and search every building you come across. I want that man found! I'm going back to Gestapo Headquarters for a meeting. I'll swing back by and check on you later, that is, if you haven't reported to me that you have found him." Hochstetter had been searching all night and half the morning, and now angrily trudged back to his staff car. He hated leaving the search, but this meeting had to be kept. I can't imagine with the amount of blood that was lost that he could have made it very far without help.
"Pull off over there, Schultz!" Hogan pointed to a cut off leading off the road and into the surrounding woods.
Schultz did as he was instructed and then asked, "Why here, Colonel Hogan?" But Schultz was talking to an empty seat. Hogan was already out of the passenger seat, and standing outside the truck conversing with his men.
"Hmm, what did you say Schultz?" he asked turning to peak around the truck bed and through the cab.
Schultz had already climbed out of the cab, grabbed his rifle by the business end, and was dragging the butt of the rifle through the dirt, while waltzing around to Hogan's side of the truck. He arrived in time to see Newkirk, Kinch, Carter, and LeBeau disappear into the woods. "Hey, hey, hey, where are they going?" He now grabbed his rifle with both hands, "I am responsible for them. Please, Colonel Hogan, tell them to come back."
Hogan placed his hand on the rifle now cradled crosswise in front of the German guard and assured, "It's okay Schultz, they'll be back. Klink wants us to set up a little diversion for Hochstetter." Hogan now patted the guard on the arm confidently.
"Yes, the Kommandant told me that, but where are they going?" Schultz whined.
"There's an abandoned shack just up the road, they're going to make it look like the Underground has been meeting there." And do a little looking around for those guns Hogan thought.
Schultz looked at Hogan suspiciously, "How did you know there was an abandoned shack up the road? No, no, no, don't tell me! I know nothing."
The men would also look for the other men present at that ill fated meeting, by checking out some of their hiding places, in case they were wounded and needed help. Schultz did not take his eyes off of Hogan as they waited for fear he would disappear too. The German Sergeant watched as the Colonel frequently checked his watch, until finally Hogan said, "Okay, Schultz, lets go."
"Go where?" Schultz asked worriedly, as he watched Hogan climb into the truck behind the driver's wheel. "We can't go anywhere until they get back!"
"It's okay, Schultz, we're going to meet them over on the next road." Schultz froze dumbfounded. "All right, you stay here. We'll pick you up on the way back," Hogan promised.
"No, no, no, no, you can not go without me." Schultz climbed into the passenger seat and closed his eyes.
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"You arrived too soon; I barely had enough time to tell them about the guns!" Captain Voss was trying to explain to an irate Gestapo Major.
"I did not arrive too soon, I was on schedule. You got to the meeting too late!" Hochstetter was livid. "So you found out nothing about the men you met with? Did you at least learn if one of them was 'Papa Bear'?" Hochstetter was pacing back and forth in front of the Captain like a caged cat. So close! He thought.
"I do know Papa Bear was not there. I was able to at least get that far. It seems the radio frequency that 'Black Paw' mumbled in his delirium was not Papa Bear's, but another faction of the Underground. However, that Underground faction said they would get the message to Papa Bear." Voss wanted to wipe off the sweat that was rolling down his face and into his eyes, but he did not dare break from attention.
"When you ran from the barn, in which direction did you go?" Hochstetter had stopped his pacing and now stood in front of the junior officer.
"I followed the Underground agent east for about a half mile, before he jumped on a hidden motorcycle and sped away."
Hochstetter placed his hands on his hips and shook his head. "Well, we both struck out! But at least I wounded my suspect, for all the good that has done me, a trail of blood that leads to Stalag 13 and then a trail leading away from Stalag 13 with no blood visible. The man either stopped bleeding, applied a bandage, or…" Hochstetter's voice trailed off.
"Or what, Herr Major," Voss asked.
Hochstetter stared into space deep in thought. Or he slipped into the prison population at Stalag 13. But I checked the camp and the prisoners. He was not there!
"Herr, Major, are you all right?" Voss asked, when he did not get a response to his question.
"What?" Hochstetter looked back at the young officer. Realizing his thoughts had strayed from the conversation, he said, "Yes, yes, I'm fine. You're dismissed for now Captain. If you remember anything more let me know. I may need for you to make contact again, after I think this through. Do not discuss this with anybody. If we can break this spy ring, your career and mine will take a giant leap forward."
"Yes, sir, I will wait to hear from you." Voss saluted and sharply swung around to make his escape.
Voss was glad to be out of there. He knew the Major didn't normally deal favorably with failure. But he realized Hochstetter was right; breaking this spy ring could make his career.
Exiting the building he thought, I'll get some rest and then go over the whole operation one more time. Maybe I did miss something.
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"Good job fellas!" Hogan praised. It had taken all day and five rendezvous with the truck while doing a circular sweep of the area around the camp before they located the guns in an area south west of Stalag 13. A place the Germans thought the Allies would not bomb because of the proximity to a POW camp. They had not been able to count exactly how many. They were too heavily guarded. Kinch and Newkirk had even taken to tree climbing for a better view, but the most they could see were the barrels of about four cannons. In addition to locating the guns, they were able to stash the explosives the Germans had so generously provided. They would make use of them later…if everything went according to plan.
"Now, what are we going to do with this information?" Kinch asked.
"You would bring that up. We're going to have to find a way to knock out that radio detection truck without it looking like we did it." Hogan quickly cut off any further discussion as Schultz approached.
"Colonel Hogan, we must go back to camp now! Kommandant Klink is going to be very angry. We've been gone all day," Schultz fretted, as he lowered the gate on the back of the truck. Looking inside, he noticed the bag with the explosives was gone. "Colonel Hogan, w…where are the explosives? You can not take them without me knowing it! Now, where are they?"
"Relax, Schultz, they're safe…for now," Hogan added.
"But where are they?"
"Well, we…"
"No, no, no, don't tell me! What am I going to tell the Kommandant?" Schultz begged.
"You'll think of something, Schultz!" the Colonel answered, and then added, "Okay, we can go back now. You won't even miss dinner." Hogan started to get behind the wheel, when Schultz stopped him.
"Nein, Colonel Hogan, get out. I will drive this time. We will have no more monkey business today!" Hogan smiled and climbed out of the driver's seat, patting Schultz's stomach as he passed on his way to the other side of the truck. One thing you don't want to do is get between Schultz and his next meal!
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…Cukoo…cukoo…cukoo… "Fifteen hundred hours, where are they? If that bumbling Schultz has let them escape…he'd better have gone with them!" RING…RING "Hello, yes, let them in and tell Sergeant Schultz I want to see him and Colonel Hogan in my office, immediately." Klink slammed the phone down. He didn't know which emotion to go with, relief that they were back or anger that they were gone so long. No matter, he still wanted answers! Downing the glass of Schnapps he was holding in one gulp, he deftly poured himself another, allowing the tension to gradually melt away. RING…RING "Hello, he's here now? Yes, let him in…what…he is in…then why didn't you say so!" Klink slammed the phone down again, grabbed his coat and cap and hurried out the door.
"Halt, what are you doing with this man, and why is this truck here?" The swaggering, black uniform clad, Gestapo Major shouted at the two men trying to make good their escape. Hogan sighed inwardly, he was tired and feeling impatient. It was obvious Hochstetter was not going to let them pass unchallenged. Taking in a breath he turned, put on a chipper expression and started his lie.
"Major Hochstetter, what brings you back to our barbed wire haven?"
The Major scanned Hogan and brought his eyes to rest on Schultz, who tensed and began to stutter. "I...I…"
"Yes? You what?" Hochstetter questioned, as he came to a stop facing the Sergeant. Schultz was unable to answer, the only things he could think to say were the things he knew he couldn't. Hogan quickly stepped up to answer.
"Schultz was just taking me to see the Kommandant about a work detail for me and my men tomorrow." Klink heard Hogan's fabrication as he exited his office, and realized his senior POW officer was covering their tracks. Hochstetter can't get mad over something that hasn't happened yet.
"That's right Major," Klink confirmed, "and to what do we owe the honor of your visit?"
"Nobody is going anywhere tomorrow! This camp is locked down, nobody in or out! Schultz, take Colonel Hogan into the Kommandant's office. I wish to talk to him," Hochstetter ordered.
Swell, the perfect ending to a long day! Hogan began trying to psyche himself up to deal with what he knew was coming.
"Kommandant you will not be needed, I will let you know when I am finished." He and two Gestapo guards began to follow the prisoner inside.
"Just a minute, that is my office and I have work to do," Klink protested as Schultz and Hogan disappeared inside. I haven't had a chance to find out what they did out there all day!
"You may come in and get your paper work and take it to your quarters to complete it." Hochstetter turned and hurried inside followed by Klink.
"Are you sure you don't want me to stay?" Klink asked, as he slowly gathered his papers. He didn't like leaving Hogan to Hochstetter, but he was especially apprehensive now, not knowing what Hogan and his men had been doing all day. He didn't believe Hogan would willingly reveal their agreement, but who knew what might be mumbled if the Major became aggressive.
Hochstetter motioned for his guards to sit Hogan down in the chair he had pulled out into the middle of the room. He realized he was limited as to how intently he could question the American Colonel. But if he could implicate Hogan with the underground that would change...he hoped. At any rate the confrontation they had earlier demanded some disciplining.
"Nein, Herr Kommandant, Colonel Hogan and I have a few things to discuss, and I do not want to be interrupted."
Schultz had backed out of the way of the Gestapo guards, and watched them take over his prisoner, slamming him into the seat.
"Frankly, I don't mind if the Kommandant stays. We have no secrets, I've already told him what I think of you," Hogan was sharpening his tongue; preparing to fight back the only way he would be allowed.
Hochstetter whipped his head around and gave Hogan a sideways glance. "Cuff him!" he ordered.
Klink hesitated.
Hochstetter looked back at him and shouted, "OUT!"
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Hogan's men had barely made it into the barrack before the German staff car barreled into camp. The men had gathered at the barrack window and watched the Major confront Schultz and Colonel Hogan. They were still staring at Klink's office when they saw Klink and Schultz leave. Kinch, LeBeau and Newkirk left the window, leaving only Carter still gazing across the compound.
"What do you suppose Major Hochstetter is doing back here?" Carter asked.
"The gov'nor knew he'd be back," Newkirk interjected. "'ell he practically invited him."
"How? Why? He already searched the camp." Carter felt helpless as he remembered Hochstetter's last threat. "He's come back to question the Colonel, hasn't he? Just like he promised he would if he didn't find the man he was chasing."
"Oui, Andrew, you are right," LeBeau said, with resignation and then mumbled something in French.
"Well what are we going to do about it?" Carter turned from the window, "Are we just going to sit here?"
"What do you mean, what are we going to do about it?" Newkirk turned away from Carter, took out a cigarette, and honing his sarcasm, continued, "We're going to make sure nobody bothers the Colonel when he gets back and goes into his room to recover." Newkirk's anger was evident as he scrunched up the now empty pack of cigarettes and threw it at the table, while kicking the bench out of his way.
Kinch, mutely, watched his comrades deal with their anger and swallowed his own, as he opened the trap door to the tunnel. The Colonel would be checking on Dirk, I'd better carry on without him while he's…occupied, or have a good reason why I didn't when he gets back. . Starting down the ladder and into their underground labyrinth, he said, "I'll be in the tunnel checking on Dirk, yell for me if you need me." He continued his decent, and attempted to focus his mind away from the interrogation taking place across the compound.
LeBeau watched Kinch disappear, and then headed into Hogan's room to plug in the coffee pot, a listening device used to listen into the Kommandant's office.
Carter knew what LeBeau was planning to do when he saw where he was heading and asked, "Louis, are you sure it's all right to listen in? I mean, do you think the Colonel would mind?"
Louis without turning around, proclaimed, "Probably, but I'm not asking!" and barreled ahead.
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"I know why you're not getting through to Stalag 13," the young underground agent said as he entered the room." All eyes stopped to look at him.
"Well?" the man sitting at the radio said. "Are you going to tell us or do we have to guess?
"There is a radio detection truck and Gestapo guards surrounding the camp," Kris announced. I just came from there.
"That could mean that Dirk did go to Stalag 13, and has been found!" Willi exclaimed.
"Don't panic! Dirk wouldn't say anything, I'm sure of that," Lutz, who had now turned off the radio, assured Willi.
"How can you say that? Eventually everybody talks before the Gestapo finishes with them!" Willi continued to worry.
"We don't even know if Dirk went there for sure. It could be that the Gestapo is just checking out all the possibilities," Lutz said, scratching his head.
"I hope you're right. I guess all we can do now is keep looking for Dirk." Willi grabbed his hat and went out the door followed by Kris.
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"KINCH, the Colonel's on his way back!" Carter was leaning over the bunk rail calling out. He quickly jumped back as the husky Sergeant made it into the barrack in record time. Carter and LeBeau had stayed by the "coffee pot" during Hogan's ordeal. They had listened while their Colonel denied having any knowledge of the missing Underground agent, and while Hochstetter tried to change the Colonel's mind.
"How does he look?" Kinch asked as he joined the others at the window. The sun had set and the camp had taken on a gray hue with the last of the sun slipping out of sight.
"I don't know, he's still on the porch with Schultz." Newkirk was looking intently, trying to see through the shadows. "He's standing on his own power at least."
"There goes his famous, 'I don't need your help' hand sign," LeBeau observed. Hogan stepped off the porch and the available light showed them what they knew all along. Hochstetter had used some persuasion tactics. Turning and looking at the others LeBeau shared his observation, "Colonel Hogan is angry!"
"Boy, someday Hochstetter's going to get what's coming to him…" Carter was talking a mile a minute, as Louis went for a basin, filled it with warm water, grabbed a cloth, and handed it to Kinch who took it into the Colonel's room and waited.
The others watched as their Colonel slowly traversed the area between the office and Barrack Two, keeping his left arm wrapped across his stomach. As he reached the Barrack door, he took one last swipe at the blood on his cheek before entering. His anger was still evident on his face as he simply waved off any attempts to communicate with him and headed for the door to his room. "Give me a few minutes, guys and we'll discuss our next steps," he said, closing the door behind him.
"Right, gov'nor, take all the time you need." Newkirk waited for Hogan's door to close, "From the looks of you, you've earned it," he added, when he was sure his commanding officer couldn't hear him.
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Hochstetter remained alone in Klink's office, while he made a private phone call.
"I'm not getting anywhere here. We will proceed with our alternative plan."
"Jawohl, Herr Major," Voss replied.
"You will have to act fast, before they find out about 'Black Paw' and become suspicious. I'll remain here and continue my investigation while you make contact with the Underground. They should know by now that Siegfried Reichmann, alias 'Black Paw', has been picked up and believe you are in need of asylum." Hochstetter was using his water-dampened kerchief, to wipe Hogan's blood from his right glove as he talked.
"You did not learn anything more at Stalag 13, Major?" the Captain asked.
"Nein, Captain, Colonel Hogan claims to know nothing about our wounded Underground agent. I'm not sure I believe him, though I have no reason not to. I have released him for now." Content that his glove was again clean, he folded the soiled kerchief, and tossed it on the desk next to the carafe of water, as he continued talking. "Be careful not to arouse suspicion, Captain. We must take this slowly. Contact me when you have some information, understood?"
"Jawohl, I will be careful," Voss chirped.
"Very good, Heil Hitler!" Hochstetter replaced the phone on the cradle and stood to go to Klink's quarters, where he had sent the Kommandant, while he "talked" to the American Colonel. He would inform the Kommandant that he could have his office back and that he would be staying in his guest quarters for a few days. Hochstetter knew he was playing a dangerous game. He had purposely told the Underground about the anti-aircraft guns being in the area, hoping to smoke out their leader, "Papa Bear". If the SD found out what he had done his life would be forfeit. On the other hand if he caught the elusive "Papa Bear" he would be a national hero. One doesn't advance in rank without taking risks. he thought, as he closed the door to Klink's office.