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Weaving A Web To Freedom
Book Three: Fliegerabwehrkanonen Spells FLAK
Chapter 40
Are You Afraid of Ghosts?
The server set their drinks in front of them, and they waited discreetly for him to leave. Knefler picked up his glass and swirled the amber brew, sniffed, and took a sip. Nodding his approval, he leaned back in his seat. "Danke, herr Doktor."
Schmidt waved the thank you off as he pulled his glass away from his lips. "As I said before, you've earned it." The doctor rested his glass on the table, keeping his hand wrapped snugly around it. "I'm curious, Colonel, tell me, why all the questions about his being shot down? What does that have to do with his indoctrination?
"Directly, nothing." Knefler smiled. "Indirectly, it increases vulnerability by adding to the turmoil and heightened emotions. I'm sure you're familiar with the brotherhood that has developed among men who have worked together to survive some traumatic event and the closeness that has developed among them as a result. It is the same concept. Obviously, Colonel Hogan and I are not sharing a traumatic event. So, I borrow one from his past. The results are the same. Colonel Hogan relived the fear, pain, and anguish. His mind did not discern the difference because the emotions were real."
Schmidt nodded and pointed at Knefler, "You are a very devious man. Remind me not to get into any mind games with you!" Holding up his glass, the doctor tilted it in salute and downed its contents.
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Kinch turned to leave Schultz, and saw the others disappear inside the barrack. Anxious to talk to the Colonel about what had happened, he hurried to catch up.
Carter jumped forward as the door he was leaning against opened. "There you are, Kinch! The Colonel's been asking for you."
LeBeau was slipping a cup of coffee into Hogan's hands. "Have you eaten anything, mon Colonel?"
"No. At least I don't remember eating anything. But I'm not hungry."
LeBeau turned and walked to the stove. "You have to eat, Colonel. I will make you something warm, and so light it will melt in your mouth."
"Rough day, gov'nor?" Newkirk asked, sitting down across from Hogan.
Hogan turned to look at Newkirk and seeing Kinch, motioned for him to come and have a seat. It took a second for Newkirk's question to register. "Hmm?" Then, he nodded and said, "If how I feel means anything, yeah." Hogan rubbed the back of his neck. "Kinch, next contact with London ask them if they know anything about a Dr. Schmidt."
Kinch, frowning, sat down next to Newkirk, "I'm guessing that is someone you met today. What happened, Colonel?"
Hogan looked down at the table, deep in thought. "They gave me a shot of something before the pictures with Hochstetter…" An image of the cocky Oberst materialized in his head. "Knefler was smug...wouldn't say what they gave me." Hogan's hand tightened around the coffee cup. "Then Krantz showed up after the picture session, saying he wanted to talk to Hochstetter." Hogan was staring a hole in the table as he tried to force himself to remember. Come on THINK…what was he talking about? The break-in at SS headquarters! Then what? Trying to play it out in his mind, he rambled on. "I remember…I was outside …and the cold felt…good." Pausing, he wet his lips. "…so thirsty…Knefler held out his …hand." Hogan's heart began to beat faster as the scene unfolded. He opened his right hand and looked into his empty palm. Panic helped to keep Schmidt's drug induced sleep at bay, but Hogan's eyes still burned against the resistance to close them. "I took…I…" He blinked, as the white tablets he was ordered to take popped into his memory. They're just aspirin…it's okay…no danger… The fist he had made with his errant right hand began to relax as the panic subsided. Then, without conscious effort his eyes closed, and he teetered on the verge of sleep somewhere between the then and now.
The barrack door opened and Wilson slipped in. "Schultz said the Colonel was back and that he…" Wilson paused as he observed Hogan and the silent men gathered around him.
Nodding, the Colonel caught himself dozing off. Shaking his head, he opened his eyes and continued to relive the day's events. "He said they were aspirin for my fever...to buy time for the medicine to work." Watch it! You're talking too much. Your men don't need to know everything. Hogan looked up from the table and his eyes fixed on Joe Wilson, still standing just inside the door. "Come in Sergeant, I'm just trying to put this day together."
"Schultz said something about your being delusional with a fever today and that you were given a drug to fight the infection."
Newkirk looked at Kinch. "What kind of drug?"
"A 'new' drug," Kinch answered, still staring at Hogan.
LeBeau set a plate of scrambled eggs in front of his commanding officer. "These are so light, they almost float off the plate," he bragged as he placed what passed for a napkin on Hogan's lap.
A brief smile and a "Thanks, Louis," passed between them, but the Colonel made no effort to reach for the fork lying next to the eggs.
"What else do you remember?" Wilson asked, walking up behind Kinch.
Hogan stared into space. His mind played with the memories that were popping in and out of his head.
Louis watched impatiently. Finally, not willing to let his eggs get cold, LeBeau grabbed a forkful and called out, "Colonel." Hogan turned and was forced to either open his mouth or end up with a face full of eggs. He opened his mouth.
The tension momentarily relieved, laughter cut through the air as Hogan's men watched LeBeau take matters into his own hands.
"Mmmm." Nodding, Hogan took the fork to prevent any further attacks and commented, "Very good, Louis."
"Oui, I know. Eat!" the Frenchman ordered, as he stepped back to the stove to begin cleaning up.
As the laughter died down, Hogan held the fork to his plate as if getting ready to stab another mouthful, but did not follow through with the action. Instead, he continued piecing memories together like a jigsaw puzzle. "Yeah, that's what Knefler said. The Third Reich had a new drug to fight infections." Hogan closed his eyes to relieve the heaviness he was feeling in them. It wasn't long before his head bobbed with sleep and he caught himself with a jerk. "Damn it!" he exclaimed, his face reddening.
Wilson silently watched.
Carter and LeBeau stepped closer to the table, wanting to help, but realizing there was nothing they could do.
Hogan pulled the still hot coffee up to his lips and gulped some of the black brew down. "Knefler took me back inside…" Pausing, Hogan replayed the scene in his mind. tied me to a He looked at his right forearm now covered by his shirt and jacket and rolled his hand into a fist. Can't remember! Not willing to share his humiliation and helplessness, he was again consumed by the anger that he had felt at the time and exploded. "I've got to keep Knefler away from me!"
Seeing Hogan struggling to remember unnerved Carter. "We could send him an exploding pen, Colonel." Carter spewed out eager to help.
Not to be outdone Louis offered, "Just get him here and I will prepare him a new dish in exchange for the new drug they gave you!"
"I say we meet em' in a dark alley! I have a few things I'd like to say to em'. Krantz included!" Newkirk pounded his right fist into his left palm as he shifted his weight in anticipation.
Kinch nodded his agreement to all of the suggestions and added, "Those are all good for a start, but I'll finish up!"
Hogan ran his hand down his face, in an effort to absorb his emotions before they gave him away. He sat staring at the coffee mug in his hands. Afraid to look up, he cleared his throat and in a less than steady voice, said, "Thanks, fellas."
Tearing his eyes off of his Colonel, Carter looked at Kinch and asked, "What do you mean when you say a 'new' drug?"
"He means 'never been tried'…on a human!" Louis angrily blurted out and then apologized. "Sorry, mon Colonel. I didn't mean to…"
"No, no that's okay, Louis." Hogan waved his hand dismissively. "It's the truth. I'm being used as a guinea pig for the Third Reich!"
Carter couldn't contain himself any longer. "Those guys can't do that! I've had about enough! I can take a lot but they have pushed me to the edge." Carter, red faced and animated was stopped by Newkirk.
"And what are you going to do about it, Andrew? Go up and ask them pretty please to stop?" Newkirk jabbed the butt of his cigarette out and shook his head.
Under the cover of Carter's tirade, Louis stepped back to Wilson and lowering his voice, asked, "What can we do? The Colonel needs food and rest, but he's not eating or resting!"
Wilson stepped further back pulling LeBeau with him and quietly assured him. "We can do nothing for the moment. He's running on pure adrenalin and anger. Both of which will run out." Joe glanced back at the table where Hogan was sitting and nodded for LeBeau to look. "It's just a matter of time," he whispered.
Hogan's eyes glassed over and he appeared dazed.
Alarmed, Kinch reached for Hogan's shoulder and said, "Colonel, are you all right?"
Carter and Newkirk quieted.
Kinch could feel the heat emanating from Hogan's neck and face. Still fevered.
"No, he's not all right!" Newkirk stood and walked around the table to stand next to his Colonel. He looked at Wilson questioningly, waiting and wondering why he didn't intervene. Joe gave him a "just wait" wave.
Blinking, Hogan shook his head, "Sorry." Come on, focus! You've a job to complete. Orders to follow. Taking another swig of coffee he asked, "Are we still on for London's pick up tonight?"
Newkirk gave Kinch a "do something" look.
"Yes, Colonel, 2300 hours," Kinch answered and waited for a response. But Hogan remained silent. Reaching across the table, Kinch touched his hand. "Colonel?"
"What?" Hogan looked at the faces staring back at him, and realized he had drifted off again. "They drugged me!" He said angrily. "And I could do nothing. They think they can do what they want…" The anguish was evident in his voice.
Wilson perked up and stepped forward. It was not like the Colonel to voice his despair in front of his men. Unless… "Do you mean they gave you something in addition to the medicine they gave you to fight the infection?"
Hogan nodded, "Knefler said he wanted to talk. Schmidt gave me something and…I…can't…quite remember…"
Well that explains a lot.
Hogan blinked slowly and rubbed his temples. "I've got to think of a way to stop…them...before…" Squeezing his eyes shut he shook his head in a last futile attempt to stay awake.
The battle lost, Newkirk caught him as he gave out. "It's okay, gov'nor. We'll think of something. You won't have to stop them alone."
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The car hit a dip in the road, causing it to slide sideways. Hildebrand quickly brought it back under control. "Oh no, we aren't running off the road tonight, at least not until after dinner." The young Lieutenant was looking forward to his evening. It had been busy at SS Headquarters lately. What an eventful couple of days these have been! Oberst Dozier's Eighty-eights destroyed, and the Oberst killed in the sabotaging of the bridge. Colonel Hogan snatched from our grasp by General Kaltenbrunner. SS Headquarters broken into, and the Gestapo's discovery at the hotel of the three men suspected of the break-in. Ja, it has been a busy few days. Nicholas was not happy having to shift his investigation from the two men in his grasp to the three phantoms still on the loose. Lucky for those two POW's that he is a man who prides himself on being right. But unlucky for them that he is also persistent. And if he thinks there may be something to Major Hochstetter's suspicions, he will keep his eye on them and the happenings around Stalag 13. And lucky for me, I'm a childhood friend of the up and coming Captain. Hildebrand smiled. But for tonight all of that is behind me. Tonight I will focus on the fair Gretchen and our "friendly" dinner.
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Kinch walked out of Hogan's room, to the questioning eyes of the men huddled in the dark of the outer common room. "Wilson says he'll probably sleep off the effects of the drug by morning.
Joe walked up behind Kinch and added, "The Colonel acts like he has been given some type of hypnotic drug. His wound looks better. They've cleaned it and dressed it. And it appears they did give him something to fight the infection. It's still red, but the swelling in the tissues is going down. His fever is also lower. The fact is, they may have saved his life."
The chatter started.
Striking a match, Newkirk lit the end of his cigarette. "So the 'Nasties' have developed their own drug to match our penicillin, have they?"
"Maybe," Wilson answered.
"What do you mean, maybe? I thought you just said what they gave mon Colonel is working to stop the infection?"
"I mean," Wilson said, "I'm not so sure it is a drug developed by the Germans. Remember, we had a rather large shipment of penicillin turn up missing. I think we have a pretty safe bet on where it is!"
Carter scratched his head. "You mean you think they gave the Colonel penicillin? Why wouldn't they use it on their own sick soldiers?"
"Maybe because they weren't sure if the medicine was real or an Allied attempt at biological warfare." Louis shook his head disgustedly.
Wilson nodded. "And what better way to test something you're unsure of than on your enemy's own men."
BAM! The door to Barracks Two slammed open. The light flicked on with a snap. Dr. Schmidt, Colonel Klink and four burly SS guards on loan from Major Lustig stormed into the room, stopping short as they observed the gathering taking place.
"What is going on here?" Klink demanded. "It is lights out. You should all be in bed!"
Wilson spoke up. "I was just telling the men that Colonel Hogan is okay, Kommandant. Sergeant Schultz told us you wanted us to observe him for side effects. So far all he has done is sleep."
Schmidt smiled, happy to hear the American was still somewhat subdued. Straightening he looked at the man making the observation. "And who are you?"
"That is the prisoners' medic, Sergeant Joseph Wilson, United States Army Air Corps," Klink answered.
"A medic? And what makes you think you are knowledgeable enough to judge a man's health?" Schmidt demanded.
Not wanting to give too much information, Wilson only said, "I was a medical student before enlisting." No need for you to think I'm more than a medic who is capable of giving first aid and morphine. Not a doctor preparing for his "Boards", capable of offering serious medical assistance to the underground.
Schmidt stared silently at Wilson, sizing him up. "That is hardly enough to make you an expert."
"No sir," Wilson agreed.
Schmidt stepped forward and the Allied soldiers closed ranks in front of Hogan's door. The SS guards raised their guns.
"Step out of the way!" Klink ordered.
Nobody moved.
"All right, everybody step aside, let the doctor through." Wilson spoke from the back of the gathered men. "Come on, like the doctor said, I'm only a medic. Let him make an educated assessment."
"Step away, men! Let them through," Kinch ordered.
The wall of men opened a path to their commanding officer's door, and the German entourage moved through. Schmidt stopped to look at Wilson and ordered, "Step inside Sergeant."
Schmidt walked up to where Hogan lay on the lower bunk and pulled the blanket back. Wilson and Kinch had removed the Colonel's shirt and pants and Schmidt now reached to raise the t-shirt above the bandaged left side. He had no more reached for the dressing when Hogan grabbed his wrist. Through half-opened eyes Hogan saw the German face and his eyes opened wider. A knot formed in the pit of his stomach. Seeing Schmidt in his room unnerved him. And Hogan had no doubt that that was the exact intention. The German was making a point and Hogan didn't like it.
"What are you doing?" Hogan demanded in a stern though tired voice. A voice intended to give no hint of the dread within.
The question barely preceded the sound of guns being made ready.
Schmidt looked sternly at his prisoner and said, "If I were you Colonel, I'd let go of my arm. Before I have to start saving your life all over again!"