Do what you want with me
Hate me and laugh at me
Darken my daytime and torture my night
"Mon Colonel, staff car pulling up in front of Klink's office."
"Thanks, Lebeau." Hogan stood up from his desk where he was attempting to write another letter home. The letters somehow seemed easier to write when he was lying about his activities in camp. Hogan grabbed his crush cap and followed the Frenchman out to the compound. By the time he joined the rest of the guys at the bench outside the door, Klink was already on the porch of the Kommandantur building and his visitor was getting out of the car with a pair of guards. The two officers saluted each other and Klink ushered his guest back inside with the guards trailing behind.
"Looked like an SS uniform to me," commented Kinch as he leaned against the building.
"Yep. Full Colonel too if I made out his insignia right," added Hogan.
"Wonder what he's doing here?" asked Carter as he fiddled with his baseball.
"I'm guessin' that we won't have long to wait to find out. 'Ere comes Schultzie, to get ya gov'na," observed Newkirk.
"Alright, everyone play it cool and get on the coffeepot," instructed Hogan. "This is likely another one of those 'Show off the cowed POW' circuses Klink likes to put me through, but keep on your toes. It's been fairly quiet above ground lately – something interesting might be happening," he warned.
As Hogan crossed the compound to meet Schultz half way, his demeanor changed from serious, don't-mess-with-me Colonel to cocky, happy-go-lucky American.
"Hiya, Schultz! Who's the hot shot in Klink's office?" Hogan grinned, as he tipped his crush cap back on his head.
"Colonel Hogan, his name is Oberst Norbert and I am to come to get you ASAP," Schulz replied as the men met and headed towards Klink's office.
"Any idea what he wants?"
"Nein, but if it is SS, it can't be good!" Schultz paused to open the door to Klink's office. "Herr Kommandant! Colonel Hogan is here as requested," he announced as Hogan followed the Sergeant into the room.
"Thank you Schultz. Diisss-missed! Colonel Hogan, may I present Colonel Norbert of the SS," Klink almost bounced off his chair with nervous energy as he rose from behind his desk to meet his Senior POW officer. Hogan stopped in front of the desk as Klink continued, "He's here to see YOU!" Klink's finger emphasized his point by hitting Hogan in the middle of his chest.
"Me? What have I done to deserve that honor?" Hogan asked innocently, eyebrows climbing to meet the dark lock of hair that fell across his forehead.
"You were captured," came the terse reply from his left. Hogan turned to the sound of the voice and was face-to-face with the SS Colonel. A tall man, Norbert had a few inches on Hogan and as such could look down his nose at him. A feathering of grey at Norbert's temples told Hogan the Colonel had a few years on him too. Beyond that, Norbert looked every bit the proud German officer. Fit, not overweight, broad-shouldered, with hard steel blue eyes, he stood straight with an almost aristocratic air. He was a member of the so-called 'master race' and he filled the requirements to a T.
Norbert's cool blue eyes met and held Hogan's bright brown ones. Hogan met his stare, a contest of wills beginning as each sized up the other, daring each other to blink first. The silence in the room grew thick with tension and even Klink stood still watching the two enemy officers. Then, Norbert's eyes narrowed, hardening into icy grey.
"Take him to the cooler. I will question him there." The sudden announcement broke the silence and the duel between the two men. Norbert motioned to his two guards who stepped forward from their places by the office window to grab Hogan's arms and handcuff them behind his back.
"Now just a minute! Kommandant, I protest! Under the Geneva Convention…"
"SILENCE!" thundered Norbert, cutting off Hogan's plea to Klink. "You are nothing but a lowly American and unworthy of being a prisoner of the glorious Third Reich. You have no rights here," Norbert sneered. He made a quick motion with his hand. "Guards!"
At Norbert's command, the two guards tightened their grip on Hogan's arms and started to forcibly drag him from the room.
"Alright! Alright! I'm coming. Let's not get pushy!" Klink heard Hogan's comments fade as he was left standing alone in his office with his mouth hanging open in shock.