If my life were important I
Would ask if I'd live or die
But I know the answers lie far from this world
Hogan awoke to the dark, cold dampness of the solitary confinement cell. He stirred slightly and instantly regretted the movement. Everything hurt. One name floated in his consciousness and made him see red.
Norbert.
The bastard had thrown every question in the book at him. Name, rank, serial number. Those were easy. Expected even. Then there was birth date, birth place, mother's name, childhood friends… Hogan didn't understand what the Colonel could have wanted with that information but refused to give it anyway. Last posting, commander's name, details of his last combat mission… that information was years old, it would have been worthless to the Germans but he had withheld it anyhow. Stripped of his warm bomber jacket and crush cap, Hogan had been made to sit on a hard metal chair with his hands cuffed behind his back. For hours the questions had gone round and round until he had been too hoarse to even repeat his own name. For every question he didn't answer there had been pain – a punch to the gut, a slap across his face, a jab to his kidneys, a blow to his ribs, a crack across his shoulders, a strike to his knees… until finally he couldn't hold on to consciousness any longer.
Gingerly, Hogan began to move, taking stock of his injuries. Surprisingly, nothing appeared broken, only bruised. The SS were masters of inflicting pain but not damage. Before long he had loosened enough of his muscles to sit up and lean against the cell wall, although it took most of his energy to complete the effort. He leaned his head forward onto his arms propped on his raised knees and closed his eyes. Soon, he was drifting to sleep…
Hogan awoke to the jangle of keys in the lock. The door crashed open and light from the hallway flooded the cell, blinding the prisoner. Hogan raised his arm to shield his face, barely able to see through watering eyes the two guards who entered. Oberst Norbert followed them in. Before Hogan could react, one of the guards grabbed his arm and extended it, while Norbert quickly stepped forward to inject him with a needle.
"What was that?" Hogan asked, rubbing the painful injection site. One thing was for certain, the German Colonel was no Red Cross nurse!
"Just a little something to help you sleep. Now just lay back and enjoy your nap while we take a short trip," replied Norbert.
Cold dread surged through Hogan as his head started to spin from the drug. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I've never been fond of any of my German travel agents. Where are we going?" he asked.
"You've been injured. A short stay in the hospital is necessary," replied Norbert smugly.
"No! Really, I'm feeling much better now. Just a little rest and I'll be fine. Maybe a little bread and water… All set for another interrogation session. Trust me! Hospitals aren't necessary…" Hogan's protests faded as he collapsed and succumbed to sleep.
The guards fetched a stretcher from the hall, loaded the unconscious Colonel on it, and took him out to the waiting truck.