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Chapter 6

Wool Gathering

"He's still feeling the effects of the sedatives. But those will wear off completely over the next five hours," Weinzaphel explained. Hogan's last dose of medication had been skipped in preparation for transporting him out of the hospital. The orderlies and nurses had gotten him up and dressed and he was now sitting at the nurse's station in the prisoners' hallway waiting on his paperwork to be finished.

Biedenbender wanted to see Colonel Hogan in a conscious state, to feel his moral fiber, and had come to personally hand him over to the guards from the Durchgangslager der Luftwaffe. This was the only time he had allowed himself to seek out a pilot that he had shot down. This was the only time it had been…personal.

"Thank you, Doctor. Your contribution to our efforts has been duly noted."

General Biedenbender watched from behind Hogan as the American fought to stay awake and observe what was going on around hima battle he wasn't always winning. His head kept drooping forward as he slipped in and out of consciousness.

Are you confused, Colonel? Good. But don't worry; things are about to become very clear to you. This thought pleased Biedenbender and he smiled knowingly.

Turning to the Luftwaffe soldiers that had come to transport the prisoner, he smirked. "Do you know who you have here?"

"Jawohl, Herr General, an American Colonel." The soldier looked at the papers in his hand, "Oberst Hogan, Herr General." The young Corporal looked back at Biedenbender and the name registered. The lad's eyes widened and he looked again at the General standing in front of him. "General…Biedenbender?" he hesitantly questioned.

"I am. Do not take your eyes off of this man. The Fuhrer himself has an interest in him, and should he escape while being transported, he will personally pull the trigger at your execution. Do I make myself clear?"

The young soldiers stiffened as they chanted together, "Jawohl, Herr General!"

Biedenbender puffed his chest out with pride at the sound of his new title. He had been a General for just over a week and he was enjoying the recognition. Looking at the guards, he nodded in Hogan's direction and said, "Take him!"

Jumping at the order, the soldiers rushed to carry them out, and going around to the front of the sitting prisoner, yanked him out of the chair to his feet. A wave of pain gripped Hogan as his newly healing injuries protested the action. He bowed forward to relieve the stress on his wounds as the guards fastened the cuffs on his wrists. The restraints puzzled Hogan and he stared at his wrists trying to make sense out of what was happening.

Seeing Hogan's confusion and discomfort, Biedenbender could not resist the opportunity to taunt the man he had brought down to earth. As he approached Hogan, he thought, Get used to it, Colonel. You're going to be confined for the remainder of the war. And after we have defeated you and your allies you will have your war crimes to answer for. You may never get out of those shackles!

Biedenbender, leaning in from behind Hogan, stopped next to Hogan's ear and in loud, heavily accented English, said, "You have done well, Colonel Hogan. Now it is time for the real adventure to begin."

Hogan cocked his head slightly toward the voice, but his vision was already darkening and his knees buckled as his world went black. Catching their charge, the guards half dragged, half carried him to the waiting staff car.

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Biedenbender stood silently and watched as Hogan disappeared from view. Well, Colonel, this is where we part company, but not contact. I have saved you for interrogation. Kommandant Killlinger will learn all of your deepest secrets, which he will of course share with me. Then you will be sent to a POW camp to sit out the remainder of the war. Not the glorious end to your career that you were anticipating I'll wager!

General Biedenbender glanced around at the prisoner's rooms as he walked to the exit. No amenities here. The windows were all barred as well as the end of the hall where the confinement unit joined the rest of the hospital.

"Herr General, Heil Hitler!" the guard snapped and saluted before unlocking the caged door.

Biedenbender acknowledged the young man, returned his salute, and then inquisitively asked, "Do they ever give you any trouble?" Biedenbender nodded toward the prisoners' rooms.

"Nein, Herr General!"

Biedenbender nodded, "So it is usually pretty quiet."

"Nein, Herr General."

Biedenbender frowned and looked at the guard questioningly.

The young private straightened as he realized the General was waiting for an explanation.

Stammering, he complied.

"There is usually a lot of moaning and crying, Herr General. Pain medicine is not wasted on prisoners." The soldier paused and added, "Unless the Red Cross is coming."

"I see." Biedenbender nodded. It seems I did you a favor by keeping you sedated, Colonel. Biedenbender shook his head in disgust. Oh, well, it couldn't be helped. Now that we have you, I couldn't take a chance on you getting away.

As if on cue a painful gurgling cry rang out from one of the rooms. Biedenbender looked over his shoulder as the guard explained. "Morning dressing changes, Herr General."

Nodding Biedenbender concluded, Well maybe you didn't miss out on everything, Herr Colonel…but you probably won't remember it, he realized with disgust as he walked off the unit.

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"We do more than care for the sick and injured, Herr General," the nurse answered. Biedenbender had strolled through another part of the hospital on a fact finding mission. "The experiments conducted here will give us information to help our soldiers and enable them to carry out their jobs more efficiently."

"So I've been told." Biedenbender smiled at the nurse. He had heard about the Fuhrer's scientists and that there were experiments being conducted in various places around Germany. One of those places was Hohemark and he decided while he was here, to learn what he could. You never know what information will give you an edge at a critical time. This young nurse could be a good source of that information. Now that he was playing with the big boys, he needed to remain cautious and well informed of what was going on all around him. "I have been given a few days leave to…review my new responsibilities. I came here to wrap up a loose end and thought I would spent the night in your lovely town. You would certainly make my time here less lonely if you would have dinner with me tonight."

"Danke, Herr General, I would like that."

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