Chapter 3

Carter had not slept well that first night in the barracks. His mind kept searching for the answers to questions that made no sense to him – answers that never came. Instead, the tears had come from the fear and insecurity he felt. He felt like a fish that suddenly found itself yanked from its peaceful lake home by a fisherman and thrown onto the land. Images of all the fish he had caught growing up had invaded his dreams, waking him up. He kept seeing the bulging eyes and the yawning mouth opening and closing, trying in vain to drink the fresh lake water. Suffocating. He would wake with a start to find that he had been holding his breath. His heart pounded and he gasped for air as the panic subsided.

When Schultz had come to the barracks to announce the morning roll call, he was exhausted. He had also realized that he couldn't simply cower and feel sorry for himself. Yes, he was scared. But he knew that if anyone could get him out of the mess he seemed to be in, it was Colonel Hogan. And Carter knew that he would be of no help to his Colonel if all he did were to blubber like a baby in his bunk.

That was three days ago. Over the past three days, Carter had set out to discover as much information as he could. He knew that he had to be careful – the last thing he wanted was for his bunkmates to think he was a German plant.

Now he was in front of the barracks tossing a baseball with Kinch. Newkirk and LeBeau were sitting on the bench next to the barracks door. Carter could almost believe that everything was back to the way it was before, except that his friends were not as jovial and friendly as they should be. As he tossed the ball, Carter thought about what he had learned over the past three days.

The first thought that came to him was to use the tunnel and visit the solitary cell in the cooler to talk to Colonel Hogan. This turned out to be a tricky prospect. Because of the fact that his friends were treating him as if he were a new prisoner and were watching him with suspicion, he was never alone in the barracks long enough to hop into the tunnel. And it turns out that even if he had been left alone, it would have been impossible. When he examined the bunk that served as the tunnel entrance, he found absolutely no trace of the trigger that opened it. Like the tree trunk outside the camp, it was as if the bunk never had been modified to be used as a tunnel entrance. That discovery had stunned Carter, and he was stunned even further when he discovered that the sink in the barracks was – a sink.

Then he had set out to find out about escaping from the camp. All he had heard from everyone was that there had not been a successful escape, and many prisoners had died trying. This was more shocking news to him. He couldn't remember any of the prisoners dying while trying to escape – Colonel Hogan wouldn't let that happen. But then again, Colonel Hogan should have been able to talk Klink out of five days in solitary for trying to escape.

His friends had asked him about his squadron, his capture and escape and since he had said that he knew Colonel Hogan, how he had come to know him. Carter knew that some of what he had to tell them would be lies, but he also knew that he couldn't make everything up. He told the truth about his squadron and how he got shot down, but instead of getting sent to Stalag 13 after his stint in the Dulag, he had himself sent to Stalag 17B.

When it came to the escape, he remembered a story he had been told by a real prisoner who had passed through Stalag 13 on how he had escaped from Stalag 17B. Since this was a true story, he was able to make it seem as if it had been himself that had changed positions with one of the Australian prisoners so that he could get selected for a work gang and slip away from there. Luckily there were not too many other questions about that, though Carter could tell that there was some skepticism in the story.

He told them that he had met Colonel Hogan when they were both in England. They had not been in the same squadron, but the pilot of his bomber had been a good friend of Colonel Hogan's. They did not know each other real well, but they had been on about as good of terms as an officer and Technical Sergeant could be.

Finally, Carter had said that he wanted to escape and would try with or without help. He could still remember what Newkirk had said to him. "You seem like a good kid, Sergeant. But we can't tell you anything until we talk to Colonel Hogan. If he thinks you're okay, then maybe you'll find out what goes on here. Until then, don't do getting yourself killed doing something that is impossible." Escape from Stalag 13 impossible? It took all of Carter's self control to keep from blurting out everything that they had done. Why don't you guys remember any of that? he kept thinking.

All of this went through Carter's mind as he continued to toss the baseball with Kinch. He had gathered a lot of information, but he had not really gotten any answers. As he threw the ball to Kinch, he saw a car enter the main gates. "Kraut car coming," he said. The other three men turned to look towards the main gate.

"That's Major Hochstetter," Newkirk stated. "He must be here to talk to Colonel Hogan."

"The Gestapo wants to talk to Colonel Hogan?" Carter exclaimed, catching the ball that Kinch threw to him.

"Relax mate," Newkirk replied. "It's none of your business."

This made Carter angry. "Look pal, at this moment, Colonel Hogan is the closest thing I have to a friend in this camp," he replied strongly. "That makes me concerned." He threw the ball back to Kinch a little harder than he intended.

Kinch caught the ball and immediately began to shake his gloved hand. "Hey, watch it!" he exclaimed. "These gloves don't have that much padding!"

Carter looked over at Newkirk and LeBeau, who were staring back at him with somewhat surprised expressions. "Sorry, Kinch," Carter said. "I mean, Sergeant Kinchloe." Carter took off his glove and dropped it on the ground next to the barracks. "I guess I'll just go walk around for a bit," he muttered to no one in particular. He refused to look back at the men as he walked away, feeling more alone than he ever had in his life.

---------------

Major Hochstetter followed Klink's secretary, Helga, into the Kommandant's office. "Heil Hitler!" he said, raising his arm in salute.

Klink returned the gesture absently, pushing aside the paperwork he was looking at. "Major Hochstetter," he said. "What can I do for you today?"

"It is time again to talk to Colonel Hogan," Hochstetter replied.

Klink leaned back in his chair. "Today might be difficult for him," he replied. "Colonel Hogan is presently occupying the solitary confinement cell in the cooler."

"Solitary?" Hochstetter responded. "What is he being punished for?"

"A few nights ago, Colonel Hogan had the urge to take a little walk after lights-out," Klink replied. "The bad part for him was that this walk took him outside of the camp."

"I see. Normally, you have prisoners you find outside of camp shot on sight," Hochstetter said with a chuckle. "Did he give a reason for being outside of the camp?"

Klink shook his head. "No, and I didn't expect him to," Klink said.

Hochstetter shrugged. "If you would have a guard bring him to my car, I will take him away for our session," Hochstetter requested. "Maybe I can coax an explanation out of him."

"I'm afraid that is not possible today, Major Hochstetter," Klink replied. "Colonel Hogan is being punished, and it would set a bad example if he is let out of the cooler a day earlier."

"But you can put him back in the cooler when I return him to you," Hochstetter replied calmly.

Klink leaned forward and rested his elbows on his desk. "Frankly, Major," he said. "I am a little skeptical about your plan to begin with. You have been taking Colonel Hogan every week for the last few months and attempting to hypnotize him. And yet you have not reported any information you have obtained."

"It takes time for him to become willing to accept our suggestions," Hochstetter replied nervously. "We are getting very close."

"I am getting a little impatient with your methods, Major Hochstetter," Klink retorted. "It seems to me that they are rather ineffective."

"May I remind you, Kommandant, that you did not exactly beat any information from Colonel Hogan with your physical interrogation methods," Hochstetter shot back.

Klink stood up. "And may I remind you, Major Hochstetter, that I am the local authority in this area, and I am the one allowing you to proceed with this experiment," he said harshly. "That permission may be revoked at any time."

Hochstetter smiled. Outside he remained calm, but inside he was extremely nervous. This situation was on the verge of becoming a disaster for him. If he lost his contact with Colonel Hogan, all of his plans to gain control of Stalag 13 as a base of operations for the Underground would be ruined. But he knew Colonel Klink well, and if he showed any sign of weakness – any sign of backing down now – Klink would pounce on the opportunity. "Colonel Klink," he said evenly. "General Burkhalter has approved this plan himself. I do not think you can simply override his approval."

Klink stared at Hochstetter without speaking. Suddenly he began laughing. "Major Hochstetter, you do not often stand up to me like this," he said. "All right, I will have Sergeant Schultz bring Hogan to your car." Then Klink stopped laughing. "But I expect to have a reason for his being outside of this camp when he returns," he said.

Hochstetter snapped to attention. "Jawohl, Colonel," he replied. "Heil Hitler!" He turned and walked from the office. Yes, I would also like to know why he was outside of this camp instead of in the barn meeting with me, he thought.

---------------

When Schultz had come to take Hogan out of the solitary cell, Hogan had been hopeful that his time was up. While he was in the cell, he had lost track of the passing time. With no windows and only a single dim bulb that was turned on and off at irregular intervals, he hadn't been able to judge how long he had been in the cell. But Hogan's cheer at being released from the cell quickly dampened when Schultz informed him that he was being delivered to Hochstetter's car.

"Hochstetter?" Hogan gasped. "What does Hochstetter want with me?"

"Colonel Hogan, it is time for your weekly interview with Major Hochstetter," Schultz said calmly.

"Interview?" Hogan asked. "I don't want a job with the Gestapo!"

"You always try to be a jolly joker, Colonel," Schultz replied. "And it usually gets you into trouble. You know that you have a regular session with Major Hochstetter every week. He takes you to Gestapo Headquarters and then brings you back here afterwards."

Hogan could not believe his ears. "And what goes on at these sessions?" he asked warily.

Schultz stopped and looked at Colonel Hogan. "Are you feeling all right, Colonel?" he asked. "I'm sure you would know more about your sessions than I would, since I am not there when you are having them."

"Yeah, right," Hogan muttered. "I mean no, Schultz. I don't feel all right. I don't think I am up to meeting with Hochstetter today. Take me back to my cell."

Schultz had motioned for Hogan to continue walking. "I am sorry you are not feeling well, Colonel Hogan," Schultz said. "But Colonel Klink has requested that you be delivered to Major Hochstetter, and I do not wish to make the Kommandant angry."

"I'd like to make the Kommandant angry," Hogan muttered under his breath. He then stopped and turned back the way they had come from. "I don't think I'm up to this today, Schultz. I'm going back to the cell," he told the guard.

Hogan heard a click behind him and stopped. When he turned around, he saw Schultz aiming his rifle at him. Hogan was shocked – he had never known Schultz to do this. "I didn't think you liked guns, Schultz," he said tentatively.

"I do not like guns," Schultz replied. "Unless I am the person holding one. Now please come with me before I have to shoot you."

Hogan didn't see any way out of this situation other than doing what he was told to do. He shrugged and began walking out of the cooler.

When they reached Hochstetter's car, Hogan climbed in the back. He looked at Hochstetter as he got in, but then stared silently straight ahead the entire trip to Gestapo Headquarters. When they arrived, guards escorted Hogan to a small cell in the basement of the building and left him there. When he heard the lock click on the door, Hogan began to get scared.

What in the hell is going on around here? Klink is acting like he actually runs Stalag 13! Schultz is not the lovable teddy bear that he normally is. Klink treating Carter as if he had never seen him before? Hogan began pacing around the small cell. And why didn't any of my men try to come through the tunnel to see in the cooler? Come to think of it, why couldn't I find any evidence of the tunnel entrance in the cooler cell? And what was with the tree stump? It wasn't just stuck; it was a real honest to goodness tree stump! And I wonder what Hochstetter wants from me. Hogan remembered the Erika's words the night in the barn. Hochstetter is Papa Bear? What was Erika saying? I am Papa Bear!

At that moment, Hogan heard the lock click and the door open. He turned to face the doorway and saw that Major Hochstetter was entering the cell – smiling. Uh-oh, Hogan thought. With a smile like that, he's got to be up to something!

Hochstetter closed the door and Hogan heard the lock click behind him. "Well, Colonel Hogan," Hochstetter said. "Maybe you would like to tell me what happened the other night at the barn?"

Hogan eyes Hochstetter suspiciously. "I don't know what you mean, Major Hochstetter," he replied calmly.

Hochstetter laughed. "Hogan, it's me you are talking to now, not Colonel Klink," he replied.

"Whether I am talking to you or Klink, I still do not know what you are talking about," Hogan responded. He did not know what Hochstetter was up to, but he was determined not to reveal any information.

"Hogan, you were caught outside Stalag 13 several nights ago," Hochstetter said.

"As I told Klink, I was taking a walk," Hogan replied.

Hochstetter laughed again. "You are a funny man, Hogan," he said. "I know you were taking a walk. You were supposed to meet me at the barn that night." When Hogan didn't reply, Hochstetter continued. "Erika told me that you were there and ran away quickly when you heard my car coming."

"Erika?" Hogan asked. "I don't know anyone named Erika."

"Hogan, what is wrong with you today?" Hochstetter asked. "Of course you know Erika. She's one of the Underground contacts in the area."

Hogan was getting flustered. "I know she's in the Un …" he blurted out before he realized it. "I mean, how did you know she's in the Underground?" Hogan watched Hochstetter for signs that the Major noticed his brief slip of the tongue.

Hochstetter just stared at Hogan in disbelief. "How do I know?" he asked. "Hogan, I brought her into the Underground."

Now it was Hogan's turn to stare. "You what?"

"Why are you insisting on acting as if you are hearing this for the first time?" Hochstetter asked. He was starting to get a little impatient with the American.

Hogan rubbed his temples. All of this was starting to give him a headache. "Sorry," he mumbled. "I'm not feeling well. I guess it's from being in solitary for the past few days."

"You ought to be thankful that you weren't shot," Hochstetter replied. "You already know that Klink has been known to shoot escaping prisoners."

"Klink?" Hogan asked in disbelief.

Hochstetter was becoming very impatient. "Hogan, we do not have much time," he said testily. "Tell me why you didn't stay at the barn that night?"

"I wasn't at the barn," Hogan replied defiantly.

"Hogan," Hochstetter growled.

"Okay, Major, if it is so important, humor me for a minute," Hogan replied. "Remind me why I was supposed to be at the barn that night."

"But you know why!" Hochstetter exclaimed.

"Humor me," Hogan repeated.

"All right, if it will allow us to move forward, I will," Hochstetter replied as he sat in one of the chairs in the room. He motioned for Hogan to sit in the other chair before he began talking. "Over the course of our visits, we had come up with a plan where you would escape from Stalag 13 and avoid being recaptured by Kommandant Klink. You would meet Erika and me at the barn, and then she would hide you away until Klink had to report your escape to Berlin. That would ruin his perfect no escape record. Once he reports you to Berlin, you will come out of hiding and I will appear to capture you. This will allow me some leverage to be able to take over Stalag 13 from Klink."

Hogan looked dubiously at Hochstetter. "And after you have taken over Stalag 13? What happens to me and my men?" he asked.

"Hogan, you know what happens," Hochstetter replied impatiently.

"Humor me," Hogan said again.

Hochstetter sighed. "The reason for taking over Stalag 13 is to allow you and your men to become part of the Underground, operating from the camp," he said.

Hogan tried not to react to the statement, but he felt his eyes grow wide with surprise. "You're joking," he replied. The words came out quick and breathless, betraying Hogan's utter surprise.

"I've told you all this before," Hochstetter said. "Klink is getting too close to finding out who the Underground leaders in this area are – namely the identity of Papa Bear."

"And you don't want that to happen," Hogan stated skeptically.

"No, Hogan, I do not want that to happen," Hochstetter replied.

Hogan smiled broadly. "And you expect me to believe that," he said.

"Hogan, I assure you that I have no desire for Colonel Klink to know that I am Papa Bear," Hochstetter replied.

This time Hogan's reaction was more visual. It felt as if his jaw had dropped to the floor as he sat there staring at Hochstetter. Erika said the same thing the other night. Now Hochstetter is admitting to me that he is Papa Bear. This has to be a game that Hochstetter is playing to try to trap me. But why would Erika be a part of that game? Did Hochstetter find out about her and force her to try to catch me?

"Yes, Hogan, that would be a very unpleasant prospect for me," Hochstetter said.

Hogan still could not believe the things that were going on around him. Nothing made sense to him. "But why is Klink hunting down the Underground?" he asked. "Isn't that the job of the Gestapo?" There. Let's see you come up with an answer for that one, he thought.

Hochstetter sighed again. "I know, humor you," he muttered. "The Gestapo is tracking down the Underground and arresting people for the acts of sabotage. But the sabotage still occurs – mainly because the people arrested are not members of the Underground, but are really ardent Nazi supporters that I wish to get rid of."

Hogan sat silently, not believing that Major Hochstetter was saying these things.

Hochstetter continued, "Because of his record at Stalag 13, Colonel Klink has a great deal of influence with General Burkhalter. He has used this to basically gain control of this area. And he knows that if he can catch Papa Bear, where the Gestapo fails, he will increase his influence. He is a very ambitious man."

Hogan smiled. "Yeah, Klink would like to be a General and move to Berlin," he commented.

Hochstetter shook his head. "No, Hogan, not yet" he replied. "What he wants is to gain complete control over this area of the country and slowly expand the area that he in effect runs."

"You mean Klink wants to be a junior Hitler?" Hogan asked, half joking.

Hochstetter nodded somberly. "Yes, he does," he responded. "And if he catches Papa Bear …" Hochstetter trailed off.

Hogan pointed to Hochstetter. "You mean, if he catches you," Hogan commented. Hochstetter nodded again.

Hogan stood abruptly. "Wait a minute," he said. He was talking more to himself than to Hochstetter, as he found himself starting to believe that Hochstetter was sincere in what he was telling him. "You said that we have been having regular visits, whatever that means. What exactly are we supposed to be doing during these visits?"

"Is this another question where I am supposed to humor you?" an annoyed Hochstetter asked. "Really, Hogan. We are wasting a lot of time here." Hogan was silent. Hochstetter sighed. "All right, I am supposed to be attempting to use hypnosis methods in order that we can learn any military information that you may know. Klink has always been convinced that you know more than you let on. So he has allowed me to take you from camp each week to try to get this information."

This news floored Hogan. He didn't remember any visits with Hochstetter.

Hochstetter continued with his explanation. "Klink is getting impatient," he said. "So far, I have the backing of Berlin on this, but unless I can show some results soon, Klink will be able to put a stop to it."

"And have you had any results?" Hogan asked tentatively.

Hochstetter laughed heartily. "The time in the cooler must have affected you, Hogan," he joked. "But yes, I have achieved some results – or thought I had. We have been planning this escape of yours for a long time, and yet when we finally are about to pull it off, you run away back to camp. Why, Hogan?"

Hogan shrugged. He really didn't have an answer to that question because he still had the impression that this was all a ruse by Hochstetter to trick Hogan into admitting his involvement in all of the acts of sabotage in the area. "I guess I had second thoughts," he said simply.

"But Hogan, you wanted this," Hochstetter implored. "You wanted to be involved with the Underground. And when you get the chance, you say you had second thoughts?" Hochstetter shook his head. "Maybe you aren't the right person to lead and Underground cell," he muttered.

Ha! A lot you know, Hochstetter, he thought. I see now where this is heading. You want me to admit that I CAN lead an Underground cell and then you will get me to admit that I had something to do with all of the activity going on in this area. Well, I'm just not going to give you the satisfaction!

Hochstetter glanced at his watch. "Anyway, you must be getting back to camp now," he said. "Klink will be expecting you soon." He stood up and started towards the door. "Oh, and one more thing. Klink will be expecting to know a reason why you were outside of camp the other night."

"I'm not telling him anything!" Hogan replied defiantly.

Hochstetter chuckled. "Maybe you won't," he replied. "But then Klink does have ways of trying to get what he expects. In any case, I will be telling him that you told me you were trying to escape because you were afraid that these sessions were starting to get to you and you didn't want to provide us with any information." He knocked on the door to signal to the guard outside that they were finished. "Come, Hogan, it's time for you to return to camp. We will talk again next week."

Hogan numbly followed Hochstetter out of the cell. During the trip back to camp he was silent, thinking about everything that had transpired since the aborted meeting at the barn. He couldn't make any sense of things, and the more he thought about it, the more confusing it became.

When they arrived at Stalag 13, Schultz escorted Hogan back to the solitary confinement cell and locked him in. Well, so much for freedom, he thought.