CHAPTER 2
About two hours later, the barracks door opens and Schultz, their barracks guard, comes in and shouts his usual "Raus, raus! Everybody raus! Roll-Call!"
Newkirk, who is lying on the top bunk right beside the door, mumbles "Gives us five more minutes, Schultzie."
Smiling at those boys antics, Schultz walks over, hits the side of the bunk with the flat of his hand and says "Jolly joker. Up, up, up! You have two minutes to fall out."
Grumbling Newkirk, LeBeau, Kinch and the rest of the men get out of their bunks and dress.
Remembering the need for someone to be with their hurt CO, LeBeau runs over to the bunk entrance, climbs down the ladder and goes to their guests. Seeing him coming at them at a fast pace, Michelle gets up from her seat on her bunk and asks anxiously "Is something wrong with Colonel 'ogan?"
Louis shakes his head, smiling a bit; knowing the concern for his Colonel is genuine from this lovely woman. "Non, everything is alright. He is sleeping. But he needs someone sitting with him and we have to fall out for roll-call. Would you come up and sit with him in his office?"
Michelle nods and follows LeBeau up the ladder leading into their barracks. He leads her over to the Colonel's quarters and quietly opens the door. Carter is startled by their sudden entrance and hastily let's Hogan's hand go, which he held within his own. Louis walks over to his mate and lays a hand on his shoulder "There is no need to hide your affection you have for our Colonel, mon ami. We all feel the same way. He has conquered all of our les ceours, our hearts, I mean."
Patting Carter once more on the shoulder, he gives a shake with his head to let him know it is time for them to leave. Getting the hint, Carter rises from the chair and bowing like a gallant man, says to Michelle "The seat is all yours, Ma'am. Take good care of our Colonel."
Laughing lightly at the gesture, Michelle takes the proffered seat and sits down, while Carter and LeBeau rush out to join the rest of the men outside for roll-call. Schultz is doing his usual count and comes to a stop when he reaches the place where normally Colonel Hogan would stand. Then the shout from the camp's Kommandant Wilhelm Klink can be heard, reverberating throughout the compound "Schultz! Repooort!"
Schultz turns around, salutes his superior officer and dutifully reports "Herr Kommandant. All prisoners are present and accounted for. – Well, mostly all, that is."
Hearing the mumbled last words from his Sergeant of the Guard, Klink comes closer and seeing that one man in particular is obviously missing, he asks the man closest to him, Corporal Newkirk.
"Where is Colonel Hogan, Corporal Newkirk? Has he escaped and left you all behind?"
Angry at that blunt accusation against his commanding officer, Newkirk answers through clenched teeth "He hasn't escaped, Sir. He got hurt and is currently residing in his bunk, recovering. The Gov'ner would never leave us. Never."
Contemplating those words, Klink heads over to Kinch. "Is this true, Sergeant Kinchloe?"
Kinch opts to tell their thought of story to cover up the truth.
"It is true, Kommandant. Late last night, Colonel Hogan went through a terrific nightmare. We all could hear his tossing and turning and even quiet whimpers. And the next we heard was a very loud thud, then nothing. Fearing something bad might have happened, we rushed into his quarters and found him lying on the floor beside his lower bunk, a small pool of blood forming underneath his head. We surmised that he fell out during his tossing and on the way down he must have hit his head on his foot locker, which knocked him out cold. We gently lifted him up into his lower bunk, covered him and got Wilson. But I think it would be good if a real doctor would check him, Sir."
"Hmm, fine. I will call my personal physician and friend Dr. Hausner and ask him to make a house call. As soon as he arrives, I'll send him over with Schultz to take a look at Hogan. That will be all. Dissmisssed!"
Turning on his heel, Klink saunters back into the Kommandatur and into his warm office. The prisoners all turn back into their barracks, talking among themselves in quiet tones, not wishing to be overheard by the guards.
Filing back into the main room of barracks two, the men start individual tasks. Some just hop back into their bunks to nap, others read a book or old magazine and the four men of Hogan's core team, take seats around the table, starting a game of Gin. Newkirk deals out the cards and LeBeau moves to the potbelly stove to start their breakfast. He also starts putting together the needed ingredients for Apple Strudel, to bribe Schultz with, if he comes in and finds Michelle with the Colonel.
As soon as the first fresh pot of coffee is ready, LeBeau fills the cups from his mates and fills another one to bring it to Michelle. On second thought, he takes two filled mugs and heads over to the Colonel's office. Garlotti sleeping in the cot closest to the Colonel's quarters, hops of his bunk and opens the door for Louis to walk inside. He thanks Garlotti with a nod and smile. Garlotti just nods back and closes the door behind LeBeau. Then he joins the core team for a cup of coffee and the Gin game.
Inside Hogan's office, LeBeau gets a nice surprise. Colonel Hogan is awake and is leaning halfway up against the wall, his back cushioned with rolled up blankets, while additional blankets cover his lower half. Michelle has moved the chair a bit closer and holds both of his hands in hers, stroking over them gently, while humming a soft tune.
LeBeau smiles at that and puts down the cups on the desk. He steps nearer to the bunk and says happily "Mon Colonel! I'm so glad you are finally awake. You had us all so worried" ,he stops his word flow and turns around to grab one of the steaming mugs. With that in hand he turns back to his Colonel, holding it out to him "Here, Mon Colonel. I just made a fresh pot."
But instead of taking the mug in his hand the Colonel keeps on looking straight ahead, not looking at Louis or Michelle. Taken aback, Louis asks "Are you alright, mon Colonel? Should I get Wilson for you?"
Shaking his head and regretting the movement directly afterwards as a searing pain shoots through his skull, Hogan turns his head in the direction that LeBeau's voice just came from.
Clearing his throat, he tells him softly "No, I'm not alright, LeBeau. Get the rest of the team in here, so I don't have to say it twice."
Knowing an order when he hears one, Louis hastily walks out into the main room to fetch Kinch, Carter and Newkirk.
Once all of them are inside the office and the door closed behind them, Hogan once more clears his throat. "Is everyone here now?"
Confused why their CO would ask such a question, Newkirk dares to come closer and peers into his Colonel's eyes. Following an impulse, he holds out his finger and moves it directly in front of his CO's face. No reaction comes forward, his expression neutral, no eye movement visible. Shocked at his discovery, Newkirk turns around to his mates. "Mates, we have a problem; a big one at that. Seems the Gov'ner lost his eye sight. He is blind."
Shocked at hearing this they all start to talk at once. Having already a nasty headache, Hogan uses his best command voice and shouts "Knock it off! And that's an order!"
Immediately all voices cease and instead they all look expectantly at their commanding officer, who even though bedridden at the moment, excludes authority. Knowing he now has the full attention of his men; Hogan tells them "Newkirk is sadly right. I'm as blind as a bat. Could be a result from the head trauma I suffered. So it is possible that this is only temporary. But if not, if this turns out to be permanent, I have to bail out so to speak. Get back to London and then going state wise. I hate to leave you guys and this operation behind, but we will cross that bridge when we come to it."
Waiting a moment to let this sink in, Hogan turns to his little chef "LeBeau, about that coffee? You still have it for me? I could use the caffeine."
Happy to be able to help his ailing Colonel, LeBeau takes one of the cups and goes over to his CO. Standing directly before him; he leans forward and carefully puts the cup into his Colonel's hands. Once he is sure that Hogan's grip on the mug is secure, he let's go and steps back, waiting with bated breath what will happen.
He and the rest of Hogan's core team watch closely what their CO is doing. Hogan lifts the mug a bit higher and inhales the aroma of the strong coffee. Satisfied that it is indeed strong enough to wake the dead, he lifts it higher to his face, till the rim reaches his lips. Then he carefully tips the mug and takes his first sip of the brown liquid. That action of his is followed by a burst of applause from his men and Michelle.
"Way to go Gov'ner. I bet not even this ailment would stop ye from doing what ye set out to do; to cause trouble for the Krauts at every opportunity."
Newkirk's comment is followed again by applause from his mates and similar comments from them, regarding their commanding officer. Hogan only smiles slightly, shaking his head a little, trying not to aggravate his injury, but proud of his men and their obvious belief in him and his abilities.
Their little Pow-Wow is interrupted by the opening of the barracks door and Schultz shouting their names. As one they leave the Colonel's office and meet Schultz in the main room. Schultz looks at them and then turns to the person with him; an elderly man with a round but friendly bespectacled face, carrying a big leather bag with a white cross on it marking him a doctor.
He says "Dr. Hausner these are Colonel Hogan's men. They are all nice, but very worried about their commanding officer."
Dr. Hausner nods in understanding. "Their worry for their commander is very obvious, Sergeant. I would like to see to my patient now, if you don't mind."
Kinch comes forward and pulls the doctor aside, away from the others and whispers into his ear "Doc, there is something you should know about the Colonel. He can't see. He believes it to be a result of his head trauma. Can you look into that?"
"But of course, young man. That is why I'm here, is it not? To go and take care of your Colonel; and this I will do."
Out loud he says "Now lead me to your Colonel so I can treat him."
While Kinch shows the doctor the way into the Colonel's quarters, Newkirk, Carter and LeBeau take their seats around the table, drinking their coffee, preparing for a long wait. Schultz who has nothing better to do is joining them, leaning his rifle on the table beside him and taking of his helmet. Minutes later they are engaged in a friendly game of Gin, talking amiably while doing so. Kinch also joins in, after being asked to leave by the doctor.
Inside Hogan's office, the doctor has introduced himself to Hogan and Michelle and without further ado starts his examination of his patient. Michelle assists him, whenever he asks her for it. Knowing now that this young man cannot see what is happening, Dr. Hausner explains every little step to him, making sure his patient knows exactly what is being done to him and why. Nearly an hour later the exam is done and Hogan is once again lying flat on his back, resting comfortably thanks to an injection filled with a sedative.
During the examination, Dr. Hausner found extensive bruising on the middle of the Colonel's back, turning it into an array of colors, ranging from black to a light yellow-green where the bruises are already starting to fade.
As there is not much that can be done for those bruises, Dr. Hausner just takes out a small metal container and hands it to Michelle. "This is a healing ointment. Just spread it evenly on his bruises and they shall heal faster."
Michelle takes the container, dips her finger into the ointment and starts spreading it over the extensive bruises, marring the Colonel's back. She takes her time, enjoying the feel of the muscles slightly rippling beneath her fingertips, admiring the Colonel's strong physique. Hogan compliments her "You have very gentle hands. I can get used to this kind of treatment, Michelle."
A bit shy, she answers "You are such a charmer, Colonel 'ogan."
Grinning, he says "I'll try."
In the meantime, the doctor readies rolls of bandages, gauze and medical tape to take care of the head wound, as well as the one in the Colonel's side. Finally Michelle is done with the ointment and Dr. Hausner starts to peel away the thick gauze pad that was put onto the wound above Hogan's right hip, after they had rolled him over onto his back again. Satisfied with the look of the stitches and the wound itself, Hausner uses another potion for the wound, before he puts a fresh gauze pad over it. Michelle secures it with the medical tape.
Even though the treatment must be painful, Hogan doesn't let it show, not even grimacing. He keeps a straight face and just concentrates on his breathing.
Dr. Hausner is amazed at how much pain this young man/officer is able to take and hopes that everything will turn out right for Colonel Hogan in the end. Using a small pen light, he shines it into both of Hogan's eyes. Feeling someone close, Hogan wants to know what is going on.
Hausner explains it "I just used a pen light to shine into your eyes, Colonel. But your pupils are not reacting, which sadly confirms the diagnosis of your man Newkirk that you are indeed blind. As a doctor I can say with certainty that this is a result of your head trauma, which you have suffered. There is some swelling inside your brain which is putting pressure on your ocular nerves; hence the blindness. As soon as the swelling goes down we will know more. That will take up to 72 hours. But to ensure that your eyes can heal, I will bandage them, if that is alright with you, Colonel?"
Having no other choice in the matter, Hogan nods. Hausner takes two round soft gauze pads and lays them over each of Hogan's closed eyes. Then he grabs a bandage roll and with Michelle's help wraps the bandage around Hogan's head, keeping the pads in place. As soon as that is done, he helps Hogan to lie down again. Knowing his patient needs lots of rest, he readies an injection with a sedative.
Nearing Hogan, he tells him "Colonel, as you need lots of rest and you are still in considerable pain, I will give you something that will help you sleep. It is also for the pain. So don't be surprised when you feel a short prick in your arm."
Looking in the direction of the doctor's voice, Hogan nods and allows to be drugged, knowing it is for his own good.
Not even a minute after, the sedative works and Hogan has fallen into a drug induced sleep. Packing up his things, Dr. Hausner shakes hands with Michelle and exits the office. He lets the men know that their commanding officer is now in a drugged sleep and that he won't wake up for at least the next 10-12 hours.
Thanking the doctor, Kinch shakes hands with him and they say their goodbyes. Schultz follows the doctor out and leads him surprisingly not to the Kommandantur, but to the guest quarters. So Klink made sure that the doctor is on hand, when needed for the Colonel; a nice gesture from their Kommandant. Smiling Kinch turns to his mates and they restart their game, this time with a new player in their midst, Michelle.
Garlotti is now standing guard at the door to warn them of any unwanted visitors. But they aren't interrupted and after a few games, Michelle heads back into the tunnels to rejoin her friends Maurice and Jean.