Chapter 12: Always With The Questions
Hogan walked into Klink's office "You wanted to see me Sir?"
Klink leaned back in his chair and stared at Hogan without a word. After a moment of silence, Hogan spoke up. "Sir is there something a matter?"
Klink leaned forward and folded his hands on his desk. "Have a seat Colonel."
Immediately Hogan's warning alarm went off. Something was wrong and Klink was not saying. Hogan sat in the chair across from Klink. Say something Kommandant. The silence is killing me.
"Colonel you have been in this camp for many years correct?" Klink asked
"You know I have. What's going on Kommandant?" Hogan was starting to get more nervous.
Klink stood up and walked around to the front of the desk and sat in the chair next to Hogan. Oh no! Something happened and I am going to be shot or hung and if it involves Hochstetter, both.
"Colonel, if you were able to leave camp undetected, you would not come back to camp right?"
"Kommandant, you know is every officers duty to try to escape." What is he getting at? Did someone bring him a brain and he is trying a new interrogation technique?
"Yes I have heard that, but it doesn't say anything about having to succeed, only try."
"Kommandant, if you are trying to say something, just say it." Hogan said defensively
Am I striking a nerve Colonel? I noticed that you have been uneasy since I asked you to sit. Maybe Hochstetter has been interrogating you the wrong way all along. It is nice to finally see you off guard. "Very well Colonel. Hochstetter is on his way here and he believes you had something to do with his missing prisoner."
Hogan gave a laugh. "How did he loose Miss Hoffman?"
"Colonel this is no laughing matter. He is determined to prove your involvement. He believes that Miss Hoffman is hiding here at Stalag 13 and that you can come and go as you please."
"I will be sure to keep an eye out for any females in camp for him. Kommandant, as for me being able to leave whenever I want…Don't you think that if I could leave, that I would be dumb enough to come back and subject myself to dealing with that maniac?" Hogan answered.
"You still don't understand do you? He is coming here to question you about her disappearance. He believes that you some how had something to do with it. He also believes you did this to make him look bad in front of his superiors and he intends to make you pay for his humiliation."
Hogan went visibly pale, but lightheartedly said. "He doesn't need any help from me on that matter."
"I will do what I can to protect you but…well you understand."
Hogan got a stern look on his face. "Understand that you are a coward who is afraid to stand up to someone of a lower rank." Hogan's words hurt Klink and he knew it. "Sorry Kommandant, I didn't mean…"
"Yes you did Colonel or you would not have said it. Don't you think I know what people really think about me? Despite what you say, I know how the prisoners really feel." Klink walked over to the picture of him with his plane and thought back to the days when he was brave. Days when he would not have cowered to someone of a lesser rank. Days when there wasn't a threat of getting shot or sent to one of the fronts.
Klink walked over to the picture of Hitler speaking into the microphone. Hogan was nervous that if Klink started studying the picture, he would see the microphone they had hidden. "Colonel Hogan, you have no idea what is like tolive here and have a person like him running the country."
Hogan walked over to Klink. "Sir I am really sorry for the comment. I know you try. Lets go over here and sit down and talk." Hogan started walking toward the chair. Klink got closer to the picture. "Sir, you can throw me in the cooler for thirty days for that comment." Klink raised his hand to the picture "Put me on nothing but bread and water. Take all the privileges away from me and the rest of the prisoners." Hogan was saying anything to get Klink's attention away from the picture. Klink's finger knocked a spider off of the picture andHogan let outthebreath he was holding.
Klink turned around and followed Hogan back to the chairs. "Colonel, do me a favor, when Hochstetter is here, say as little as possible and don't upset him. Please" Klink didn't act like he had heard a word Hogan had said.
"No promises, but I will do my best." Hogan answered. How could he be that close to the picture and not notice the microphone?
HH HH HH
Eva was wondering in the tunnels when she heard the radio start to beep. I better get someone from upstairs to answer it. She went over to the ladder, but didn't know how to open it. She saw a wrench hanging on a string near a pipe and decided that must be the doorknocker. She took the wrench and hit the pipe a couple of times.
After a moment, the ladder came down and the top opened. Newkirk poked his head down. "Did you need something luv?"
"There is a message coming in on the radio."
"Thanks. 'Ay Kinch, message coming in." Newkirk moved aside so Kinch could pass.
Once in the tunnel, Kinch rushed to the radio and put the headphones on. After a moment of scribbling he looked at the note. Humm? I wonder why Tiger wants to meet with the Colonel and LeBeau again at 2300. Oh well, it is none of my business.
HH HH HH
Hogan sat in the chair patiently waiting for Hochstetter. Klink had moved back to his seat behind his desk and did paperwork. Everyone jumped when the door flew open. "Glad to see you can follow orders Klink." Hochstetter walked into the room and slammed the door shut.
"How nice to see you Major. Did you finally catch that animal that…" Hogan greeted with a smile but was cut off.
"Shut up Hogan. Klink, I want to be left alone with Hogan while I ask him a few questions about his whereabouts earlier." Hochstetter pulled his gloves tighter on his hand and made a fist.
"I am afraid I cannot do that Major. As long as Colonel Hogan is in Luftwaffe custody, I must be present during questioning. Besides, I can answer that question for you. He was in his barracks the entire time."
Hochstetter walked up to Klink and with a sneer "How would you know? How many roll calls did you have during the time in question?"
"I…I… Shultz!" Klink yelled.
Shultz rushed into the office. "Ja Herr Kommandant?"
"Shultz, did you do any barrack checks since the Major left this morning?" When Hochstetter turned to face Shultz, Klink gave Shultz a slight nod.
"I… um…" Shultz leaned close to Hogan. "Did I?"
Hogan looked at Shultz "Don't tell me you already forgot about coming in there and harassing my men with your constant counting? Every time we started to plan an escape, Sergeant Shultz would come in and make my men stand in formation to be counted, which I did protest and intend to file a complaint about."
"I did? Oh I mean that's right. It is coming back to me. I did do a few barrack checks earlier. I most defiantly did." Shultz answered.
Hochstetter walked up to Shultz. "Was everyone present?"
Shultz glanced at Hogan for the answer. Hogan gave a slight nod. "Ja Her Major. All fifteen men were present."
"I doubt that." Hochstetter looked at Hogan. "Why did you rush into the barrack after I left this morning?"
"In case you don't remember Major, it was cold and you had me standing outside all night. I wanted to hurry up and get near the stove where it was warm."
Hochstetter walked behind Hogan and quickly put his arm around his throat choking him. "Tell me where Sleeping Beauty is."
