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Weaving A Web To Freedom

Book Three: Fliegerabwehrkanonen Spells FLAK

Chapter 20

Meanwhile, Back At Camp

"The Honor Guard needs to meet the truck!" Carter demanded.

"Andrew, don't you think the Colonel would have rather it just be us? After he's ready for burial the Honor Guard will escort him!" Kinch was trying to reason with Carter.

"I know what you're thinking, mate! You think because of the degradation he has already been exposed to with the propaganda pictures, we need to make up for it!"

Newkirk was trying to offer a sympathetic ear.

"But Kinch is right. We need to meet the gov'nor alone."

"We don't even know if they will bring, mon Colonel back to us. They may have just dumped his body in a hole!"

LeBeau had seen too many of his friends taken away and not return to allow himself to hope for any considerations.

This statement set Carter off, "They wouldn't do that! Klink wouldn't do that…would he? I mean, I thought Klink respected the Colonel! No…Klink will bring him back!"

Carter paused, "Won't he, Kinch?"

Kinch was shocked that the Kommandant participated in the propaganda photos at all. Now, he wasn't sure what to expect. But he was definitely hoping Carter was right. Before Kinch could answer Carter, the barrack door swung open.

Schultz waltzed into Barrack Two unannounced. There was none of the usual teasing being tossed at him. He paused as he looked at the sullen faces.

"Why is everybody so gloomy?" he asked.

"It's not the same without the Colonel," Carter mumbled

"Carter!"

"What Andrew means Schultz is …it's just not the same without the Colonel being here." Newkirk walked to the stove.

LeBeau shook his head.

"That is what I came to tell you, Kommandant Klink and Colonel Hogan are on their way back to camp." Schultz said, casually.

"See, I told you Klink would bring him back!" Carter straightened from the bunk he was leaning against.

"Shh! Andrew, let Schultz finish!" Newkirk looked back at Schultz waiting for more.

"Go on Schultz," Kinch encouraged.

"Go on what?" Schultz asked, apprehensively.

"Tell us the rest," LeBeau said.

Schultz turned to look at LeBeau, "The rest of what?"

"Oh, blimey I can't stand this! Tell us that Colonel Hogan is dead! There it's been said." Newkirk turned and paced to the opposite side of the barracks.

"Colonel Hogan is DEAD! Where did you hear that? Colonel Hogan is not dead? I worried once or twice he might end up dead, but he's not!" Schultz said, remembering how they found him.

The four POW's slowly started converging on Schultz.

"Are you having a go with us, Schultzie? Cause if you are it's in bad taste!" Newkirk studied the Germans face.

Schultz slapped his right hand to his chest, alarmed at the accusation. "I would not lie about that! How could you think such a thing?"

"Wait a minute, Schultz, are you telling us Colonel Hogan is alive?" Kinch asked, the excitement etching its way into his voice.

"Ja, of course he's alive! Don't you think I would have told you if he wasn't? What made you think…oh, you must have heard the other guards talking. I shouldn't have said anything to them about finding Colonel Hogan almost frozen to death. That is how rumors get started. Never listen to rumors. You should have come and asked me! Is that what you've been thinking? That Colonel Hogan is dead?" Schultz shook his head.

"Sit down, Schultzie, let me get you a cup of coffee," LeBeau offered as he bounced between the stove and the table.

"How about a candy bar, Schultzie," Newkirk offered. "I've got a lovely chocolate one right 'ere!"

"Shoot I'll give you my whole stash of candy," Carter hollered, smiling from ear to ear.

"Okay Schultz, tell us where you found the Colonel! Is he all right?" Kinch sat down next to the Sergeant.

"Did you say he was almost frozen to death?" LeBeau questioned, setting a cup of hot coffee on the table in front of the German.

"Where's he been all night and day?" Newkirk asked, jumping into the barrage of questions being hurled at Schultz.

Carter stood quietly by. He didn't really care about the answers to any of these questions. The important thing to him was that the Colonel was alive and coming "home"!

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Wrapped in Klink's coat, Hogan looked out the car window as the building he had been confined in disappeared. The last of his reserves seemed to disappear along with it, and sleep was beckoning.

He laid his head back on the seat.

Klink had questions of his own he wanted answered.

Looking at his battered prisoner, he asked, "Colonel Hogan, were the remarks at the restaurant the only reason Oberst Dozier gave for disciplining you?"

Hogan grimaced as he uncomfortably shifted in his seat preparing to answer.

"That's what he said." Hogan did not open his eyes.

"And he gave you no reason for putting you in the back of that truck and driving away before the cannons blew up?" Klink waited for an answer. "Colonel Hogan…Colonel?"

"What? Oh…I must have drifted off for a moment. What did you say, Kommandant?"

Hogan opened his eyes and struggled to sit up.

Klink put his hand on Hogan's chest and gently pushed him back down.

"Never mind, just rest for now. We'll talk later."

"That's okay, Kommandant…" Hogan's eyes fluttered closed and then struggled open again. "I'll just…" He mumbled before his eyes finally closed again and he fell silent.

Klink looked thoughtfully at his senior POW.

"Sleep, Colonel."

Klink gently lifted the sleeve on the coat Hogan was wearing revealing the swollen and bruised skin left behind from the handcuffs.

One of these days, Colonel Hogan, your luck is going to run out. I hope the war ends before that happens…for both our sakes.

He settled back, satisfied to guard his prisoner for the remainder of the silent ride back to camp.

Watching Hogan sleep in the coat that he had provided him, he thought, You know, Colonel, if the General Staff has their way, they'll put you in a German coat permanently.

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Newkirk laid his cards down as Kinch entered the room. "What did London say, Kinch?"

"They asked if we were sure this time. And they're concerned that if the Colonel spent the night with the SS, he may not be in any shape to command. They want a report on his condition when he gets back." Kinch answered as he hit the release sending the bunk back into position.

"Well if that isn't something!"

Carter jumped down from Newkirk's bunk where he had been watching the card game.

"Do they think we wanted to tell them the Colonel was dead?"

Taking a step toward Kinch he asked, "And what do they mean not able to command?"

"They mean, Andre, he may need time to heal."

LeBeau turned from stoking the stove and joined Carter.

"I've been so relieved the Colonel is alive, I haven't even thought about what condition he'll be in." Newkirk admitted.

"We need to prepare for the worst and hope for the best." Kinch answered, as he threw his hat on his head.

"I'll go tell Wilson the Colonel is alive and London wants a report."

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"Colonel Hogan," Klink jostled Hogan's arm. "Hogan!" Klink continued.

Taking in a deep breath Hogan became aware of the jostling of the car and opened his eyes with a frown. Reality began to register again as he realized where he was.

"I thought you might like a minute to wake up, before we arrived back at camp," Klink explained.

Hogan struggled to sit up, "Mmm, ow!" He paused for a moment and then continued to straighten up.

"Where are we?" Pushing against the seat he winced and looked out the window.

"Colonel Hogan…" Klink began, "…about tomorrow. I'll be taking you in to the hospital at Hammelburg…to take some pictures with Major Hochstetter." Klink broke the news as the staff car pulled into the compound.

Hogan's frown turned into a question, "Pictures?"

"Yes," Klink affirmed.

"With Hochstetter?" Hogan interrupted.

"That's right."

Hogan hesitated, "What for?"

"The propaganda ministry is collecting documentation of your changing…um, let's just say they're gathering information for later use." Klink tried to sidestep the question.

"They're trying to get me hung for treason! I have not changed my allegiance, Kommandant!"

"The matter is out of your hands. The General Staff has made the decision and we will comply. Your government won't hold you responsible if you have been…influenced unwillingly."

"I have not been…" Frustrated, Hogan stopped. "Let's just drop it! Is that all you're planning to do with me tomorrow?"

"No, there are the pictures that General Kaltenbrunner wants for your dossier also," Klink reminded Hogan.

"Does Hochstetter know about the pictures?"

"General Kaltenbrunner is the one telling him. He planned on telling him this morning but you delayed that a little," Klink admitted.

"I delayed…sorry I interfered with your plans! But Dozier…"

"Oberst Dozier, Hogan! Don't make that mistake in front of Kaltenbrunner…"

"Don't you mean General Kaltenbrunner, Kommandant?" Hogan corrected.

"You're not my superior, Hogan. You're a prisoner, I can talk anyway I like in front of you!" Klink said, asserting his authority.

"You, I can throw in the cooler...which reminds me. About your escape attempt..."

The staff car came to a stop in front of Klink's office.

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"A staff car just pulled in!" Louis reported from the door.

Then looking back outside he added, "Its Klink and the Colonel!"

"Let's go," Kinch headed out the door.

"Um…I'll be right back!" Carter took off running in the direction of Barrack Six.

Newkirk looked over his shoulder, "Now, what is he up to?"

Newkirk's voice trailed off as it dawned on him what was happening. Carter must have had the Honor Guard watching for Klink's return.

Newkirk shook his head and joined the others waiting for Hogan to exit the car.

"Where'd Carter go?" Kinch asked.

"He's trying to prevent a court martial!" Newkirk deadpanned.

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"Now, wait a minute Kommandant, I wasn't under your jurisdiction at the time. Dozier…" Hogan said exaggerating the name, "…relieved you of any responsibility."

"And your point is, Colonel?" Klink asked.

"My point is that there should be no punishment!"

Klink thought for a moment, "While it's true that your crime wasn't against Stalag 13…"

"Crime?"

"Silence!" Klink demanded.

Hogan turned his head and looked at the back of the seat in front of him.

Klink continued, "As I was saying, even though your crime wasn't against Stalag 13, I cannot let it go by unpunished. It sets a bad example. So you are confined to Barracks for the next two weeks..."

"Come on, Kommandant!" Hogan interupted, turning back to look at Klink.

"You're confined to the Barracks for the next two weeks followed by one week with no privileges, with the exception of tomorrow's outing to the hospital in Hammelburg." Klink finished.

Hogan fumed. "This makes as much sense as…"

"Hogan! Don't push your luck. I can always change it to the normal 30 days in the cooler."

Slipping out of Klink's coat, Hogan frowned, "Is that all, Kommandant?"

"No. Get some rest before tomorrow! You look terrible!" Klink finished.

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Hogan's men were encouraged when they saw he was sitting up.

"Can you make out what's going on? Why doesn't he get out?" Carter stared at the car, waiting.

Surprised, Kinch turned. "Where'd you go?"

"I …I had to…" Carter stammered.

"You had to stop the Honor Guard, didn't you?" LeBeau voiced.

Carter nodded.

Newkirk pulled out his cigarettes, "We might as well get comfortable. It looks to me like Klink is giving one of his lectures!"

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The car door finally opened. Hogan swung his feet around to get out of the car and quickly grabbed his side.

Kinch stepped forward, but Hogan waved him off.

"Your Colonel is in need of rest." Klink interjected as he exited on the opposite side. "I've confined him to your barracks. Have your camp medic look at him and then give me a report. And gentlemen, keep a close eye on him. Another escape attempt will not be treated so lightly."

Klink stormed into his office and Hogan turned back to his men.

"Escape attempt? Colonel, are you all right?" Kinch asked.

"I'm fine, just tired. It's been a long night. I'm glad to see you all made it back okay, from what I saw everything seemed to go as planned!"

"As smooth as the tumblers on a safe, Colonel! Newkirk smiled with pride.

"Yeah, it was great up until the bridge blew." Carter remembered.

"The explosion of the bridge was a good job, Carter, in fact, it might be what saved my life."

"Really, Colonel?" Carter asked, looking around at his friends.

"Mon, Colonel, let's go inside where it's warmer, you are not wearing a coat!"

Hogan nodded.

"What happened to you?" Newkirk asked.

"That's a long story…"

Hogan reached out and leaned on Kinch to steady himself. He had one more loose end to tie up before he allowed himself to rest.

"Something wrong Colonel?" Kinch asked.

"I need to see the Kommandant. I'll be back!"

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"Colonel Klink," Hogan began as he walked in unannounced, "Was anything ever decided about Biedenbender's defection."

Hogan walked to Klink's desk.

"I thought I confined you to your barracks." Klink answered, as he rose to his feet.

"I'm not breaking that order, I haven't been to the barracks, yet."

"You're splitting hairs. But why do you want to know?"

"I'm not sure. But I have a vague memory of Dozier mentioning his name." Hogan answered, avoiding any details.

Klink paced across the room. "In connection with what?"

"If I could remember that I probably wouldn't be in here talking to you."

"All I can tell you, Hogan, is he is not suspected of being a traitor."

He must have been standing with his eyes closed longer than he thought, the next thing he knew Klink was standing next to him asking him to sit down. He opened his eyes and grabbed the edge of the desk.

Klink placed a chair behind Hogan and guided him into it, "Colonel Hogan you need to lie down. You're in shock. I'm confining you to your quarters for the rest of the day."

"To my quarters?" Hogan began to protest, as he ran his right hand through his hair in frustration.

Klink spun back to face him. "I can have you confined in the cooler if you don't like your quarters!"

"Can I take a shower first?"

"Not yet! Behave yourself and you might be allowed to shower tomorrow morning. Now, you are dismissed!"

Klink walked Hogan to the door just as his Sergeant entered the outer office.

"Schultz, Colonel Hogan is confined to his quarters, not the barracks but his personal quarters, until tomorrow morning's roll call." Klink hesitated and added, "And no visitors for him the rest of the day. Is that understood?"

"No visitors! I need to talk to my men; after all, I am their commanding officer! Or are you relieving me of that too?"

"Don't give me any ideas!"

"Schultz motioned for Hogan. "Come, Colonel Hogan."

Hogan waved his hand to dismiss any help, but it didn't work, Schultz reached for Hogan's arm.