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Weaving A Web To Freedom

Book Three: Fliegerabwehrkanonen Spells FLAK

Chapter 34

Surprises

The staff car pulled up in front of the Hammelburg hospital and a young dark haired Corporal exited. Quickly walking around to the curb, he opened the car door for the Abwehr Colonel. Carter stepped out and looked around.

A silent observer took notice. - The Abwehr have arrived. – Nimrod looked at his watch. – And on time, too! Not bad. They are quite capable of functioning without their CO. - Nimrod stayed out of the way, inconspicuously smoking a cigarette as the two imposters began their charade. Carter took a step forward and turned abruptly, coming face to face with Olsen.

"What are you doing?" Olsen questioned under his breath, looking at Carter's ashen face. "The hospital is that way!"

"We may have a problem," Carter whispered.

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Krantz had finished his talk with Major Hochstetter and had hoped to use Kaltenbrunner's message as a means of meeting up with Colonel Knefler to ask him a few questions. Instead, he ran into Doctor Schmidt who advised him not to interrupt the SD officer while he was outside with the American Colonel. Krantz took this as prudent advice and decided to wait for a more opportune time. In the meanwhile, he was making his way out the front of the hospital to take a walk and think. Pausing on the hospital steps to fasten his overcoat, he was regaled by a familiar voice.

"Well you never know what the wind is going to blow in!" Looking up, Krantz's eyes fell on the source of the remark and his face took on a big smile.

"Lieutenant Hildebrand, what are you doing here? And is that anyway to address a superior officer on the streets of Hammelburg?"

Hildebrand offered a formal salute, clicked his heels, and proclaimed, "Heil Hitler!" Krantz casually returned the salute and mockingly answered, "That's better! At ease, Lieutenant." Grinning, Krantz fell into the familiarity of life long friends, "What are you doing here, Jonathan?"

A gleam lit-up the young Lieutenant's face, "I brought Gretchen in to pick up some supplies for the infirmary." Winking he added, "Nice assignment, huh?"

A cocky smirk and a nod of the head acknowledged the remark. "Leave it to you to get the cushy assignments," Krantz cajoled.

"Well, actually, I offered my services." Hildebrand confessed. "You can't just wait for things to fall into your lap! Sometimes you have to help them along. That is just one of the things I've learned from you! And with all due modesty, I'm better looking than our Doctor Wagner back at SS headquarters. So I figure I at least have a chance to win the hand of the fair fraulein. That is, unless you've decided to get back into the picture."

"Nein, that's over." Krantz answered without a hint of his previous cheerfulness. "So where is she now?" Krantz asked.

Jonathan moved off to one side of the hospital entrance, out of the way of traffic entering and exiting the building, and drew Nicholas along with him. He nodded toward the hospital, "She's inside. I just stepped out to get some fresh air. I can't stand hospitals," he answered. "So what are you doing here, Nicholas?"

As the two SS officers focused on their conversation, an Abwehr Colonel and his aide quickly and quietly passed behind them.

Cap pulled down and his coat wrapped tightly around him, Carter hurried past Krantz, and barreled into the building followed by Olsen. Once inside, they slowed their pace and took a direct path away from Krantz and toward the security office.

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"Colonel…" Knefler began as he walked ahead and off to the side of Hogan and the guards. "…this doesn't have to be an ordeal. All I want to do is talk; no force will be used if you cooperate." Knefler was on his way back inside with Hogan, intending to spend a little time trying to ascertain what part of the previous indoctrination had stuck in the American's subconscious.

"I told you…" Hogan's eyes caught what he thought was a familiar figure ahead of them at the end of the hall. – What the…Carter…Olsen? Oh brother! I've got to turn Knefler around before he sees something. -

Hogan yanked his arms free of his guards and attempted to turn around. The guards were on him before he got half way turned, yanking him back to face them. "Ugh," Hogan allowed his legs to give away under him and the two guards quickly grabbed hold once more and struggled to keep him from sprawling out on the floor.

Knefler turned at the sounds of the struggle and stepping in front of Hogan, grabbed the front of his jacket to help keep him on his feet. "Trying to leave us, Colonel?

Hogan slowly stood up and raised his head, shooting a glance down to the end of the empty hall.

"I'm trying," he mumbled, as his legs buckled again on purpose. – That was close! What is Carter up to? Has something happened at camp? I hate being on the outside of a plan!

"Whoa, Colonel, you're not going to pass out on me are you?" Knefler held Hogan's chin checking his awareness. "You should have eaten something."

"I've lost my appetite," Hogan answered pulling his head back out of Knefler's clutch and losing his balance for real.

"Just a little longer and you can rest." Knefler answered as he turned and motioned for the guards to follow.

"I don't need any rest."

"Really?" Knefler was glad to hear the American still possessed what they wanted, unflinching determination. This alpha did not disappoint. if Hogan quite fighting, how would they know if their methods would work on all subjects . They needed to strip his determination away with him clutching and fighting every step of the way.

"We will have a nice conversation then."

The German Oberst continued to lead the way to their destination, not knowing how close he had been to uncovering the secret identity of the man known as "Papa Bear"!

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A young female clerk stepped up to the counter of the security office.

"May I help you, Herr Oberst?"

"I am here for the personal effects of…" Carter pulled a form from his pocket and opening it read, "…a Leutnant Rupert Hoffmeyer. Here are my orders."

Taking the papers and shyly looking them over the clerk handed them back, her eyes lingering on the kind face looking back at her.

"Ja, I will get them."

"Sehr gut," Carter answered, and casually turned to look at Olsen, with a sheepish grin on his face.

Steady boy, don't let that feminine smile distract you. Olsen thought. We still have to get out of here.

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Knefler and Hogan had passed into the area of the hospital redesigned for prisoners of the local Stalag and/or suspects from the Gestapo or SS. Being a small local hospital the rooms were few but adequate. Knefler had just opened the door to the prisoners examination room when he heard the voice of Captain Krantz.

"Colonel Knefler, do you have a minute?"

Knefler turned and looked at the locked bars at the end of the hall. Krantz was standing there. Knefler motioned for the guard to allow him to enter.

Looking at Hogan's escorts, he ordered, "Take the Colonel in and secure him in the chair. I'll be right in."

"What can I do for you, Captain?" Knefler asked.

"Begging your pardon sir, but I'm sure you can understand my curiosity over the importance of this American prisoner. It is not everyday a General arrives to remove a suspect during an investigation. I was wondering if you could relieve my curiosity and tell me why this prisoner is being treated differently."

Knefler opened his mouth to speak when he heard a scuffle taking place. He hurriedly entered the room.

"There is no point resisting, Colonel. You're just going to wear yourself out."

Hogan looked up, blood growing in the corner of his mouth. "This is not allowed. You cannot experiment on prisoners!"

Knefler took a kerchief out of his pocket and dabbed at the blood oozing down Hogan's chin. "You won't remember a thing. Perhaps in the future we will have no need for such heavy security."

Breathing heavily Hogan tightened his muscles against the straps holding him one last time and then relaxed.

Krantz eyes fell on the bruised wrists, and he reached down to run his finger over the left one.

"Those are some pretty dark bruises, Colonel. It almost looks like you have bands on your wrists," Krantz remarked.

"What?" Hogan wasn't sure what Krantz's point was but he was suspicious of the inference. Krantz? Again? Well, at least if he's with me, he's not torturing Newkirk or LeBeau.

Krantz did not answer, but looked at Knefler and asked, "May I speak to you privately, Colonel?"

Knefler moved off to the far side of the room with the SS Captain and turning their backs to Hogan, they talked.

Hogan looked around the windowless room. It was sparsely furnished. An exam bed had pushed to the side wall to make way for his chair. Their was a small metal table with a covered tray and two metal stools on wheels.

As Knefler and Krantz finished their conversation Schmidt entered the room.

"How is he doing?" Schmidt asked.

Knefler nodded at the doctor and walked toward Hogan. "You tell me."

Krantz moved off to the far corner of the room and sat down.

"He refused to eat," Knefler answered.

"Did you give him the aspirin?"

"Ja, he took them."

"Very good," Schmidt answered, picking up the tray, Knefler had prepared earlier.

Hogan watched as the doctor sat down in front of him.

"So you have no appetite today, Colonel," Schmidt stated, as he felt Hogan's forehead "That is not surprising, with your fever."

Schmidt rolled up Hogan's sleeve and wrapped the tourniquet around his right upper arm.

"What are you doing? Is this more medicine for the infection?"

"Not exactly." Schmidt answered as he palpated for a vein. "I don't suppose it would do any good to ask you to make a fist would it?"

Hogan looked at Schmidt unblinking. "That depends on if you also plan to untie my arm."

Schmidt caught Hogan's inference and glanced up. "It doesn't seem to matter, Colonel. You have good veins."

"So I've heard."

Schmidt picked up a alcohol soaked cotton wad and wiped the skin over the vein before picking up the needle.

Without conscious thought, Hogan balled his fist and pulled against the strap as the needle made contact with his skin. He watched as the needle, sliding at an angle, buried itself in his arm. Schmidt expertly guided the needle onto Hogan's vein and penetrated it. Hogan continued to watch as his blood flowed out and dripped onto his arm before laying his head back in frustration. The doctor attached a saline syringe to the end and injected checking there was nothing impeding the flow from the syringe before switching to a second drug filled syringe.

"We're ready when you are, Herr Oberst."

"Speak for yourself," Hogan warned.

Knefler nodded and pulled his chair a little closer. "Colonel Hogan, we're going to give you something to help you relax. It won't harm you. It will just help to take away your anxiety and allow you to listen with less trepidation."

"Let's cut the bull. What you mean is, you're going to drug me, tell me some lies and see if I believe them," Hogan corrected, as he stared back into the cold blue eyes.

Robert, what can we do to make you start trusting us?"

Hogan glanced down at his restraints. "You could untie me for starters."

Knefler smiled, "Would you allow us to continue to help you if I did?"

Hogan stared back at Knefler unspeaking.

"I didn't think so. You leave us no choice for now."

Knefler nodded at Schmidt as he continued talking. "You're going to feel some warmth going up your arm. Just relax."

Schmidt very slowly began pressing down on the plunger of the syringe.

Hogan looked from Knefler to the syringe and back to Knefler. "Go ahead do your best…I'll still be here when…" Hogan's vision began to swim. He blinked once slowly, "I'll still…" He couldn't remember what he was going to say...and now, he didn't care.