Chapter 5: Amnesia

"Newkirk don't you recognize me? Its Wilson."

Newkirk looked at Wilson for a moment and then looked at the others around him. No one looked familiar to him. Even his own name wasn't familiar. "Sorry mate, but I don't know who you or any one else is."

"He's got amnesia. Wilson do you know much about this?" Hogan asked with great concern.

"Sorry Colonel, that is out of my range of expertise."

"This is not good. We need him to get the documents from Leroux. Newkirk, try and pick my pocket."

"Look…who ever you are…I don't know what game you are trying to pull, but I am not playing. Just explain to me what is going on around here." Newkirk looked Hogan up and down.

"You are Corporal Peter Newkirk, RAF. You are currently a POW at Stalag 13 in Hammleburg, Germany. Last night you were involved in an accident. The truck you were ridding in rolled down a hill and you were thrown out of it. You are an expert pickpocket. You could steal anything off of any one any where."

"None of that sounds familiar. And I am assuming by your accent that you are a Yank. The eagles on your shoulders also tell me you are an officer. I have no use for either one. Why should I believe you?"

Hogan was too hurt to answer his friend. "Because it is the truth Peter." Kinch finally answered.

"Am I the only Brit here? I seem to be surrounded by Yanks."

"I resent that." LeBeau defended

"Frenchies are even worse."

"Look fellas, he as been through a lot, don't let what he says bother you. We all know how Newkirk really is."

"Wilson do you think he will ever get his memory back?" Hogan asked trying to still hide his hurt.

"Hard to say Colonel. From what I have read and heard about amnesia, sometimes they get their memory back in a short time, sometimes it takes years and sometimes not at all."

"What are we going to do Colonel?" Carter asked.

"We will have to think of something. Newkirk we are going to go and let you rest."

Shultz was waiting outside the door to find out how Newkirk was. "Colonel, how bad is he?"

"Well Shultz, he has a cracked rib and amnesia."

"WAS!"

"I guess I better fill Klink in."

Hogan walked over to the Kommandantur. When he walked in the door, he saw Helga filing some paperwork. Hogan just stood there lost in the view. Helga sensed that she was being stared at, stood up and turned around. "The only reason you are paying attention to me now is because Maria isn't here. When she comes back are you going to start ignoring me again?"

"How could anyone ignore a beautifulfräulein like you?"

"Flattery will get you no where this time Colonel." Helga walked over to her desk and sat down and started typing. Hogan taking the hint started to walk toward Klink's door while keeping his eyes on Helga. Not paying attention, he ran into the door.

"Come in." Klink yelled.

Hogan opened the door and walked in rubbing his head. "Well Colonel I am surprised. You actually knocked."

No, but I guess I can let him keep thinking that. It might help keep Newkirk from getting into as much trouble. "I came to give you report on Corporal Newkirk sir. Sergeant Wilson says that he has a cracked rib and amnesia."

"Amnesia? Are you sure he isn't faking it trying to get a lighter sentence?"

"I am sure sir." Hogan just looked at the ground

Hogan is telling the truth. It is really bothering him. I wonder if Newkirk said something to hurt him. "Alright Colonel I believe you."

"Sir, I was wondering if it would be possible to talk to Maria?"

"Why?"

"Well sir, I know she is going to be coming back soon and would like to have LeBeau make her something special."

Oh boy. This is the lamest excuse I think I have ever heard come out of your mouth. Sorry Colonel, but I am going to make you work for this one. "Denied. I am sure she will like whatever LeBeau fixes."

"It was worth a shot. Later Kommandant." Hogan turned and left.

I have never known Hogan just to give up like that. I wonder if the real reason Hogan wanted to talk to Maria has something to do with what she is hiding. Something about this whole thing doesn't make since. Why would a prisoner try and escape when you can see a snow storm approaching. No food or warm clothes. Not to mention that his footprints will be easy to fallow in the snow. Newkirk is smarter than that. I think he was heading to the house on purpose. I wonder if Maria might be hiding the downed flier.

"Colonel Klink, Colonel Beauman is on the phone for you." Helga announces pulling Klink out of his thought.

"Thank you put him through. Hello Colonel Heil Hitler. How nice to hear from you… You did, Great… I understand. Where? No we can't meet there. How about where you fell in that foxhole?… Good see you in about two hours. Good by. Heil Hitler" I really get tired of saying that.

"Fäulein Helga, I am going to be gone for a few hours."

"Jawol Herr Kommandant"

"I wonder where Klink is going in such a hurry?" Kinch asked Hogan

"I don't know, but I am going to try and find out. What do we have left in the red cross packages?"

"I think there are a few bars of chocolate and some coffee left."

"Not much. Get me the chocolate. We will probable need the coffee. Now I know how Klink feels about not having much to bargain with. Kinch, have the men finish the rocking chair. We need supplies."

Kinch brought Hogan the last two remaining chocolate bars and watched him walk across the compound to the Kommandantur. After Hogan went inside, Kinch went to tell the men to finish the rocking chair. I guess we shouldn't have taken advantage of our supplies in the past.

"Hello Helga. How are you doing?" Helga just kept typing. "I am sorry for my behavior in the past. Please forgive me. Here are two chocolate bars as a peace treaty." Hogan held the two bars out for Helga.

"Colonel, I know you two well. They are not a peace offering. You want to know why Klink left here like he did."

Either she is getting smarter, or I am really slipping. "You caught me."

"Is that the only reason why you flirt with me is for information? Noting more?"

"Its not the only reason. I do care about you. Since Klink knows about us, I have to be more careful. I don't want to get you into any trouble."

"He knows about you, not me. For all he knows I am a loyal German doing the best I can to ignore the passes made by a lonely American POW."

"That's good." Hogan nuzzles up to Helga, but then pulls away. "Yes Maria has changed things between us. Now I realize that the love I feel for you is more friendship. Not the kind it should be."

"And you have this other kind of love for Maria? Or is it pity?" She couldn't hide the coldness and resentment she was starting to have for Maria in her words.

Hogan looked hurt by the last words. But could that be the reason why I love Maria, out of pity? "I don't know Helga. I do hope that by me being honest with you it means something."

"It does. For some dumb reason, I can't stay mad at you for long. I don't know where he went. All I know is he received a call from Colonel Beauman."

"Thanks for the information."

Hogan gave her a peck on the cheek and left. Helga smiled, even if it isn't real between us, the game is still fun to play.

Newkirk had gotten the okay from Wilson to get up and walk around. He walked around the inside perimeter of the camp. Carter spotted him and went to talk to him. "Hi ya Newkirk! Its me Andrew Carter." Newkirk just glared at him. "Incase you were wondering, you stay in barrack two. If you would like I can show you to your bunk. Its right above mine."

"Blasted Yanks! Oh all right, since I 'ave nothing better to do. Thing is I don't know if you lot stole anything of mine."

"No one here would steal anything from you."

"Why's that."

"First Colonel Hogan would not allow it. Second everyone knows you would steal it back and then some."

"Does everyone around 'ere do as 'ogan says?"

"Yep. Even you after you get done playing devils advocate."

"I doubt that. 'Ave never listened to an officer or a Yank a day of my life."

"Gee Newkirk, I wish I could help you remember."

"What if I don't want to? What if I like the way I am now?"

"That's up to you. But we need you. We need your talents. Playing poker wont be the same without you trying to cheat everyone, especially Shultz."

"You mean to tell me I play poker with a Kraut?"

"All the time. Usually it is to distract him though or to get information from him."

"Just show me my stuff."

Carter led Newkirk to his footlocker. "You can sit on my bunk and go through it if you want."

Newkirk opened the footlocker and saw what you would expect. A change of clothes, warn deck of cards, toiletry kit, cigarettes and a false bottom? Newkirk lifted the lid and saw watches, clocks, a whisky bottle, a ring of keys, a gun and a piece of material wrapped around something. Newkirk took out the material and unwrapped it. A lock picking set? Could the Yank have been right about me breaking into things? He pulled out one of the instruments and held it in his hands. It sure does feel good to hold.

Shultz opened the door. "Oh there you are Newkirk. How are you feeling?" Newkirk didn't answer. "Kommandant Klink would like to see you and Colonel Hogan in his office."

"I don't take orders from Krauts."

"Newkirk please don't be this way. I already feel bad enough for what happened, but you should have given Maria the medicine bag while we were there."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'll explain later. Please come don't get Kommandant Klink any more angry at you."

Hogan steps out of Maria's room. "Hi Shultz."

"Kommandant Klink wants to see you and Newkirk in his office."

"Okay Shultz, we will be right there."

"Speak for yourself. I am not going."

"Let me put it to you this way Corporal, either you can go nicely and I might be able to get you out of your punishment. Or you can stay here; have Klink order you dragged to his office where I wont have any chance of keeping you out of the cooler. Right now we need you out of the cooler."

"You made your point." Newkirk put his things back in his footlocker and followed Hogan and Shultz to the Kommandantur. When they walked in the outer office, Hogan gave Helga a wink. "Is that Maria?" Newkirk whispered to Hogan. He just looked at him.

"No that's Helga."

"Kommandant Klink, I have Colonel Hogan and Corporal Newkirk here."

"Its about time. Show them in." Hogan and Newkirk walked in. Hogan motioned for Newkirk to stand at attention. Newkirk rolled his eyes and did so. "Well, well, well. I am treated with respect for once. You actually walked in after you were announced. Are you feeling okay Colonel? Why didn't you barge in here like you usually do and start demanding that I don't throw Corporal Newkirk in the cooler?"

Hogan didn't really want to answer that question. "Sir, How can you sentence a man to the cooler for thirty days when he doesn't even remember committing the crime. Yes it was poor timing in Newkirk's part with the storm coming, but he was getting desperate. We have the rocking chair finished for you to sell in town for us. We are running low on supplies. Corporal Newkirk doesn't deserve to be sent to the cooler. Right now, you will be sending a man to the cooler who is innocent. This Corporal Newkirk is not the same one that tried to escape yesterday and I believe that his injuries are punishment enough. Sir."

"I'll be. You do know proper military procedures. I was starting to think that you didn't know them and that's why you never demonstrated any. And this entire time, not one snappy comeback. Given the situation and your actions Colonel, I will let Corporal Newkirk off with a warning and garbage detail for a week. You're dismissed."

"Sir thank you Sir." Hogan saluted and Newkirk after rolling his eyes saluted also. Klink reveling a moment in this, and making Hogan suffer a little more, finallyreturned their salute.

Both men turned and left. When they got back in the barracks, Hogan went into Maria's room and Newkirk fallowed. "'Ay, what was all that blabber Klink was spouting about military procedures and such?"

"Usually Klink has to bribe or threaten me to show him respect. Most of the time we get into a dissection about it. I usually barge into is office with out being announced. I don't stand at attention and my salutes are more mockery than anything. But today, for your sake, I swallowed my pride and accepted his ridicule and taunting. Not because I am the Senior POW here. I don't have to come to attention to get what I want from him. I have stood in front of Klink many times defending the prisoners here, without showing him any true respect. But this is the first time I, of my own free will, showed that Kraut respect!" Hogan said as he had a hard time keeping his emotions under control.

"Why would you do such a thing like that for me? I am not that important."

In a much calmer voice, Hogan answered "Don't short yourself Peter. You are important. I also want to show you that not all Yanks or officers are bad. That some are willing to put their friendship above their personal feelings or discomfort."

Newkirk looked at the floor. The realization of Hogan's actions struck him hard. Never in my life 'as someone cared about me so much, at least I don't think so, and a Yankee officer to boot. I guess I can go easy on 'im and everyone else. They are trying to be friendly and they don't act like they are out to get me. "I am sorry sir. I know I 'ave not been the easiest person to get along with. I would like to make it up to you blokes some 'ow."

"Thank you. All I ask is that you try. If you want to still help, you can work on your picpocketting skills."

"You mean like taking your watch." Newkirk held up Hogan's watch.

They both laughed "Exactly."