Berlin, SS Headquarters, Office of General Klaus Schlesinger
August 15, 1944, 1730 hours
"Hochstetter, you incompetent fool!" General Schlesinger screamed.
Hochstetter stood nervously at attention in front of the General's desk. He had accompanied Inspector General Busse from Stalag 13 to Berlin after the fiasco with the Underground prisoners, and he knew that the odds were very good that he would not be returning to Hammelburg. It was bad enough that the four Underground leaders had gotten away. What made it worse for Hochstetter was that he had actually let them go … and even given them his car to leave the camp!
"I told you that those four were very important to the Underground!" Schlesinger bellowed. "And yet you allowed yourself to be tricked into letting them go!"
"Sir, I realize …" Hochstetter started.
"To let them escape is one thing," Schlesinger interrupted. "But to actually give them your car – what were you thinking?"
"Sir, I thought the war was over," Hochstetter said meekly.
"Yes, you have said that," Schlesinger replied. "You fell for an Underground ruse, you idiot! You could have at least checked with me."
"I did call Colonel Baumberg," Hochstetter said. "He confirmed it."
"And I also checked with Baumberg," Schlesinger said. "He recalls no such phone call from you."
"But I talked with him," Hochstetter insisted.
"You talked to someone impersonating Baumberg!" Schlesinger screamed. "The switchboard here at Headquarters remembers no such call coming through."
"The Underground is quite resourceful," Major Freitag replied from his seat at the side of the General's desk. "Especially in that area of the country."
"I promise you, I will catch them again," Hochstetter said with conviction.
"Major Hochstetter," Freitag said. "I think you would have a hard time catching a cold. So four Underground leaders that you let go should prove impossible."
Hochstetter glared hatefully at Freitag. "They will not get away with this," he said.
"I am afraid that I must agree with Freitag," Schlesinger said. "You seem to have trouble catching saboteurs and spies … and when you do get lucky, you have trouble keeping them."
"Sir, it is the prisoners in that camp!" Hochstetter insisted.
"The prisoners?" Schlesinger bellowed. "The prisoners made you think the war was over? The prisoners took over a radio station in the town and broadcast the message? The prisoners created a newspaper stating the war was over and then intercepted your call to Colonel Baumberg?"
"Sir, I know it is hard to believe," Hochstetter countered.
"It is impossible to believe!" Schlesinger yelled. "Time after time this happens, and you are always blaming the prisoners in that Luft Stalag!"
"At least he is consistent," Freitag commented.
Hochstetter let out a low growl. "I do not have to take that from you," he said angrily. Freitag simply smiled.
"Silence!" Schlesinger screamed. The General stood and leaned forward, resting his hands on the desktop. "Hochstetter, give me one good reason why I should not send you to the Eastern Front right now."
"Because we are trying to defeat the Russians," Freitag replied dryly. "We do not want to give them another advantage by sending him there."
Before Hochstetter could reply, Schlesinger began chuckling. "You might be right, Freitag," he replied.
Hochstetter stood silently in front of the desk. His head swirled with the events happening around him. His one big chance to prove to Berlin he was worthy of promotion had walked out of Stalag 13 … actually had driven out of the camp in his car. And now he was left with another black mark on his record. All because of … I know Colonel Hogan is behind this somehow. He was trying to get those men out of Stalag 13, and somehow he was able to succeed. I must find out how he is doing these things. He checked that thought – the way things were going, he was not going to have a chance to find out anything … except how cold the Russian winter was.
"Sir, perhaps we should give the Major one more chance," Freitag suggested. Both Hochstetter and the General looked at him in surprise.
"Are you serious?" Schlesinger asked. "Another chance to mess things up?"
Freitag shrugged. "Sir, he is a loyal officer," he replied. He then looked at Hochstetter. "You are a loyal officer, are you not?" Hochstetter nodded warily. "I do not think he is purposefully trying to mess things up – at least it does not seem that way."
"I am not so sure about that," Schlesinger muttered.
"Sir, I will find those men," Hochstetter insisted. "And I will get to the bottom of all of the sabotage in the area."
"Hochstetter, it would amaze me if you could even find your way back to Hammelburg," Schlesinger commented. He said back down in his chair and thought for a moment. "Very well, I will give you one more chance," he said. "But if you mess up just once more, you will not be so lucky."
"Danke, General," Hochstetter said, breathing a sigh of relief.
"You are dismissed," Schlesinger said, dismissing Hochstetter with a wave of his hand.
"Sir, um …" Hochstetter began.
"Major Hochstetter has no way to return to Hammelburg," Freitag interrupted. "His car is currently … being used."
"Used?" Schlesinger replied. "Oh yes, the Underground leaders that should be here in Berlin now are taking an automobile tour of the Reich. Arrange transportation for him, Freitag," he ordered, dismissing the men with another wave. "Get him out of here before I change my mind."
- - - - -
As he followed Freitag through the halls of Gestapo Headquarters in Berlin, Hochstetter was surprised at his good fortune. He knew he was lucky to be given another chance after everything that had gone wrong. But what surprised him most was that Freitag had suggested it. "I should thank you for suggesting that I be given another chance to prove myself, Major," Hochstetter said. The words came out in a rush – almost getting caught in his throat. He didn't like Freitag … but he knew he owed his life to the man at the moment.
"Not at all, Major," Freitag replied. "I meant what I said to the General … we want to defeat the Russians, and I feel that sending you to the Eastern Front will give them a big advantage."
"You are all heart, Major," Hochstetter replied sarcastically.
Freitag stopped abruptly, causing Hochstetter to bump into him. He turned to face the diminutive Major. "I assure you, Hochstetter, I am not," he said evenly. "I suggested it because I have every confidence that you will find a way to make another mistake, and when you do, I will enjoy hearing you try to talk yourself out of a firing squad."
"There will be no more mistakes," Hochstetter said, clenching his teeth so that his jaw muscles bulged. "And I will capture the man responsible for all of the sabotage in my area."
Freitag began laughing. "There is always a first for everything!" he exclaimed.
Hochstetter felt himself burn with anger as he resumed following Freitag down the halls. God damn you Colonel Hogan! Someday soon you will slip and I will catch you. And then I will have the last laugh.