Chapter 5: Loosing Control
Colonel Hogan found a secluded part of the tunnel that no one used. He punched the cold earth wall a few times. How could I have been so blind? I should have left someone here to guard her. I have put up with Hochstetter long enough. Something needs to be done about him. It is one thing for him to question military personnel, but an innocent civilian! He has gone too far this time. With that thought, Hogan headed for the tunnel entrance the led outside of camp.
"Roll Call! Raus, Raus, Raus!" Shultz bellowed.
All the men in the barrack filed out for roll call. "What are we going to do about Colonel Hogan?" Carter asked.
"I'll think of something." I have to. Kinch answered.
"Kinch, where is Colonel Hogan. Please tell me he didn't escape." Shultz begged.
"He'll be back in a moment, just tell Klink all present."
"He is not blind. He will notice that his senior POW is missing."
Shultz turned around when he heard someone yell "Reeeeeporrrrrrrt!" But it wasn't Klink's voice. Another colonel came walking out of the kommandantur.
"Sergeant, I asked for a report. Are you deaf?" the Colonel asked Shultz.
"Sorry Colonel, but where is Kommandant Klink?" Why does it seem like this whole camp has been turned upside down since Maria arrived. It is like when Hogan first arrived here.
"I asked you a question Sergeant! Put yourself on report."
"All accounted for Colonel." I can't believe I just lied to a colonel. I am going to be in such big trouble. Thought Shultz to himself.
As the new colonel turned and started to walk away from the prisoners, Colonel Hogan stepped out of the barracks and into his place in line. Shultz heard the door close and turned around. He was relieved to see Colonel Hogan. The new colonel turned around to face the prisoners. He paused when he saw Colonel Hogan. "Sergeant, where did that man come from? He wasn't there when you told me they were all present." Oh now Russian front here I come.
"I have been here the entire time Colonel." Hogan answered in his normal 'I'm smarter than you' tone.
"I will speak with you after roll call Colonel. I am Colonel Beauman. Colonel Klink is in Berlin for the day. In his absence, I will be in charge of this camp. You will find out that I will not tolerate any infraction of any of the rules. Any man found breaking any of the rules, will find himself in the cooler. Sergeant you may dismiss the prisoners." Colonel Beauman turned and went back into the kommandantur.
Colonel Hogan entered the office with his usual cocky attitude. "You wanted to see me sir?"
"Colonel…. Hogan, I am not a fool. I am a Colonel in the glorious Third Reich. You will give me the respect I disserve. Is that understood? Now you will come to attention and give me the proper salute."
Hogan just stood there, thumbs hooked in his pockets and glared at him. I really don't like you and don't want to deal with you. Just tell me what you want and let me get back to more important matters. I have a very important espionage and sabotage operation to run and you are keeping me from my duties. Hogan said to himself.
"You will come to attention now or find you and every one in your barracks in the cooler and the rest of the camp will have their electricity cut off at 1800 hours." Klink warned me about you Hogan. I will not play the same games with you that Klink does.
I really, really don't like this man,anddont have time for this.Hogan thought as he swallowed his pride yet again for the sake of the prisoners. Hogan stood at attention and saluted. His stomach twisted in knots at showing any Nazi respect, even if it was false.
"Very good Hogan. Thank You."
"That's Colonel Hogan…Sir." He said through gritted teeth. I gave you a proper salute. The least you can do is use my rank.
"Colonel, from now on you and your men will be in formation on time. Tardiness will not be tolerated. Colonel Klink has informed me of the goings on in camp. I will leave a guard posted at all times in front of Maria's door. Orders have been left that if Major Hochstetter shows up and does not check in here with me, he is to be escorted here. You and your men are not to touch him. We will handle it."
"Yes Sir. Is that all…Sir?"
"For now. I will be keeping a close eye on you and your men. Dismissed. Oh Colonel are you forgetting something."
Hogan bit his lip as he turned and saluted. I need a shower he thought.
That afternoon Major Hochstetter showed up and went right for barrack 2.
"Halt Major!" A guard shouted.
"Bah." Is all he said as he continued toward barrack 2. The men in barrack 2 went to stand in front of Maria's door. There was no way they were going to let him in there.
I guess now we know that Colonel Hogan didn't do anything to Hochstetter thought Carter relieved.
As Hochstetter reached for the handle, the guard had come up behind him and shouted "Major I would advise you to halt."
Hochstetter turned around and saw that the guard was now pointing his gun at him. "How dare you give me orders and point your weapon at me. I will have you sent to the Russian front so fast you wont know what happened." Hochstetter growled.
"You are not allowed to enter any building with out first checking in with Colonel Beauman."
"Who? Where's Klink?"
"Away on business. He is in charge until Colonel Klink gets back. Now Major if you please" The guard motioned toward the kommandantur.
Hochstetter and the guard walked to the kommandentur. Hochstetter burst into the office.
"What is the meaning of this? You cannot keep me from seeing my prisoner. How dare you give such an order?"
Doesn't any one around here salute a superior officer? "Major, you will not enter my office and start talking tome is such a manner. You will come to attention and give the proper salute and greeting before you start babbling."
Hochstetter thought for a while and then saluted "Heil Hitler. Now about that order."
"Major, I don't have to explain my actions to you, and I have this letter for you." Beauman explained as he handed the paper to Hochstetter.
Hochstetter read the letter "You have to be kidding! A temporary restraining order stating I am not to have any contact with my prisoner today!"
"Yes Major. You are dismissed. Have a good day. Heil Hitler" I can see why Klink doesn't like that man. If he ever gets promoted to colonel, there will be no stopping him.
Hochstetter left very angry. I will get to the bottom of this. No one keeps me from seeing a prisoner. No one!
The men in barrack 2 relaxed as they saw Hochstetter leave. "I wish I knew what was going on around here." Hogan commented to no one in particular. "Men, lets go for a walk." They all stepped outside and fallowed Hogan to a part of camp where they could talk without German ears listening.
"Men, we are loosing control of this camp to the Germans. We have to stop this. Since we cant get into my, I mean Maria's room, we have no way of knowing what is going on in Klink's office. Next time any Krout goes in there, I want some one outside of the window. I wish I know what caused Hochstetter to leave so angry?"
BARRACK 2
"Colonel, Klink just got back." Informed LeBeau
Hogan ran outside to great him. "Kommandant, I need to have a word with you."
Klink stopped and faced Hogan. "I know what you are going to ask, and for now I am not going to answer your question. You will probably find out later though, so you will just have to wait." Then Klink went into his office and left the dumbfounded Hogan staring after him.
If I don't get some answers soon, I am going to hurt some one. Hogan thought as he walked back to the barracks.
"How did your meeting go Colonel?" Beauman asked hopefully
"It went well. We will get a one-month break. After that, I don't know what I am going to do"
"You'll think of something. You're a smart man Colonel."
"I wish I had your confidence. How did things go while I was gone?"
"I can see why you don't like Hochstetter…"
"He was here? Did Hogan and his men give you any problems?" Klink asked worried
Beauman laughed "No problems. Does anyone here know how to salute a superior officer? First, Hogan came in here and didn't salute and then Hochstetter. Neither one of them have any respect for authority do they. I took care of the problem though."
"How…" Klink started to say when interrupted by Hogan barging into the office.
"Kommandant, I have been patiently waiting for answers. I am not leaving here with out some." Hogan then noticed Colonel Beauman giving him a look that said 'are you forgetting something'. Hogan glared at Beauman, waiting to see if he was going to make him salute again.
"Ahem. Forgetting something…Colonel?"
If looks could kill, Beauman would be history. He looked at Klink to see if he still had to obey Beauman. Klink looked from Beauman to Hogan and back to Beauman trying to figure out what was going on. Klink was able to read the expression on Hogan's face. Klink smiled and looked at Hogan "I believe Colonel Beauman asked you a question."
Oh come on Kommandant. Some how I am going to get even for this. Taking a deep breath, Hogan stood at attention and gave a salute. Klink and Beauman had a smile on their face that went from ear to ear. Never a camera around when you need one thought Klink. Need to ask Beauman how he managed to get Hogan to salute.
"Let me finish getting caught up on camp business, then I will talk with you. You're dismissed."
Hogan growled deep in his throat as he glared at the two colonels and left. I am starting to really not like it here.
"Beauman, you must tell me how you got Colonel Hogan to salute. What is your secrete?"
"I know what means the most to him, the welfare of the prisoners. I just threatened to punish the entire camp along with him. Surprise you never thought of that."
"I have, but after reading his file and all he had been through, I didn't have the heart to."
"Klink my friend, you are getting soft in your old age. I am sorry though for the problems you are having. Let me know what else I can do to help. Now, I have to be getting back. Good-by Wilhelm."
"By Jason and thanks."
As soon as Beauman left, Colonel Hogan was in Klink's office. Hogan just stared at the Kommandant without a word. "Have a seat Colonel." Hogan, relieved that he didn't have to come to attention and salute any more, sat down, If I had to keep saluting and coming to attention, I was going to wind up getting myself in a lot of trouble. Klink told him what had happened. "Now Hogan, you are not to do anything. This is a German matter so let us handle it." Klink watched Hogan turn red with anger. He knew at any moment he would explode like a volcano. He was not wrong.
"If I get my hands on that man, I am going to tare him apart!" Hogan shouted as he stood up.
"Hogan, if I have to keep you locked up in the cooler with 2 guards at all times, I will. Now let me handle it!" Klink yelled back. "I know it is rough for your men by having a guard posted at her door. Since Hochstetter is now on a short leash, I am going to remove the guard. You and your men may now resume caring for her."
"Thanks Kommandant. What do you mean Hochstetter is on a short leash?
"That is all you need to know Colonel."
Hogan didn't bother to see if there was anything else Klink wanted to tell him. He hurried back to barrack 2 to check up on Maria.
Hogan went right to Maria's door and just stood there. He took a deep breath as he went in. She was still lying on the bed, unmoving. If it wasn't for every once in a while her chest rising when she breathed, you wouldn't know she was alive. Hogan walked over to her and sat on the stool beside the bed. "I'm sorry Maria that I wasn't here to protect you. From now on, one of us will always be with you."
The men just stood in the doorway and watched in silence. Kinch was the first one to speak. "Colonel, you haven't had much sleep in the last few days. Let someone else take the first watch?"
Hogan turned to Kinch and nodded. Carter was the first one to speak up "I'll take the first watch Sir." Hogan left Maria's room and just nodded his approval.
That evening, Carter sat on the stool and talked to Maria. It was hard for him to just talk to people. No one wanted to hear what he had to say. "You're a very good listener. I have a hard time getting people to listen to me. They say all I do is ramble about things that people don't care about. None of them even like listening to my ideas. I can come up with good ideas, maybe not as good as COLONEL HOGAN! Come in here fast!"