Hi, my dear readers!
Thank you so very much for the big feedback. I knew that Klink detecting everything out and Hogan confirming his Underground-identity would meet your liking – and your bafflement. Yeah, 'ol' Klink' has his moments after all, and Hogan knows when he's entered a dead end; literary or not.
I don't want to reveal too much about the new chapter in advance, so I simply wish you fun,
Love,
Yours Starflight
Chapter 23 – A matter of trust
Hogan's admission hung in the air. For a moment there was nothing more than silence – the heavy silence that usually comes before a storm breaks loose. The colonel watched his German counterpart; tensed like he'd rarely been before. The next seconds would show if Klink really was an ally or not. And, dammit, he didn't have a weapon. But, even if he had one, he couldn't imagine using it against the older man. Hell, he would rather send Klink to London than harm him, yet… 'Please, Lord, let him be on our side!'
The Oberst let out a long and noisy exhale. "Finally," he breathed. "That took some doing!"
The German officer felt himself a little bit thrown off after he'd finally gotten the affirmation of everything he had puzzled out. A small part of him was angry that Hogan had indeed played him all these years, on the other hand he had allowed it. He had permitted his American counterpart's manipulation of him – he let him play his games and draw a red herring across his back. Even if Hogan's secretiveness was a sort of betrayal, Klink couldn't blame him; after all, the younger man was fighting against the worst madman of the world and his brutal regime.
And, as Klink had to admit, he was relieved that everything was in the open now. As much as he had enjoyed the challenge of guessing or finding out what Hogan was up to or had done, the times had changed dramatically within the last week. Hochstetter would do everything to take Hogan and him, Klink, with him when falling from grace and facing punishment. Burkhalter was no fool. Klink knew that Hochstetter had been able to wake suspicion and doubt in the general, which would lead to Burkhalter watching Stalag 13 and the whole area nearby like a hawk; ready to clamp down at the tiniest evidence that the major had been right. And Hochstetter would present everything he had found out during the trial to save his neck. Whatever Hogan's tasks and missions would be within the next weeks, Klink had to know about them to properly cover for them. They had to be more careful than ever before, or the next eager Gestapo-officer would stick his nose in Hogan's secret business.
The Gestapo…
"So, Hochstetter was right all this time," Klink sighed; shaking his head. "At least he doesn't get to learn about it. I would really begrudge him this satisfaction."
"What now?" Hogan asked; his eyes and his tone gave his anxiety and almost inhuman tension away.
Klink snorted and sat back down on the bed's edge, sighed, combed through the ring of his hair, rubbed his forehead and sighed again, before he looked up the other man.
"What I've done before – keeping my mouth shut, pretending to be blind and deaf, and covering for you. As I already stated earlier: I wouldn't do anything that could cost you your life. But given the fact that Hochstetter figured everything out, too, we've to be more cautious. The bastard will certainly try to get himself out of trouble by revealing everything he knows to the judges, even if he has no proof, and I'm sure Burkhalter and the Gestapo will be watching us vigilantly. Whatever your next tasks are, you have to be very, very careful, or we both face the hangman."
Hogan stared at him; barely able to believe what Klink just said – that he would continue to keep the missions a secret and even begged the colonel to be more cautious. The Kommandant would rather risk execution than letting him, Hogan, and the others down? "Why?" he rasped; not daring to hope that the older man truly was on his side, something that would eliminate any actions he would be forced to take against Klink. "Why do you protect me? Why are you helping us against your own country?"
"I'm no traitor, if you think that's the reason," the Oberst murmured, while he realized the state Hogan was in. Gently, he patted the empty spot beside him. "Come on, Robert, have a seat. You look ready to drop with exhaustion."
The colonel swallowed. The last hour had cost him more than he was ready to admit. First, reading the transcript of his own report concerning his captivity had forced him to re-live the whole hell in his mind again. Then, the fact that Klink had figured everything about the 'Unsung Heroes' out, and now the reviving hope that he and his men were still safe – that the man they had all thought to be part of the enemy (even if he was a humane and polite opponent) had protected them and would continue to do so.
And there was a further, private thing that made Hogan's knees go weak: A part of him had hoped, even longed, for all this. He had yearned to share his fears and superhuman responsibility with someone who could really understand how high the price was he had to pay day by day. He had hoped that the rising confidence he had developed for the older man within the last days wasn't a mistake – that his gut had been right again as he was letting down his guard around Klink more and more. He had somehow sensed that he could trust him, and the relief now, as Klink proved to be a real friend, with all the consequences of such a thing, was almost too much for the beaten up American.
Sitting down beside Klink, his shoulders slumped, while he rubbed his temples; once again ignoring the material of the mull. Klink watched him with sympathy. With contentment he saw that some color was returning to the younger man's deathly white cheeks, something that was visible despite the colorful bruises. "Relief can make someone dizzy, right?" the Oberst asked softly, placing a hand on Hogan's shoulder once more.
"You have no idea," the colonel murmured; feeling drained.
"Oh, believe me, Robert, I know exactly how fear and tension can almost drive you crazy – and the relief afterwards empties you like a plug pulled from a filled bathtub."
Hogan turned his head and looked straight at Klink. "A nice comparison," he deadpanned.
"But mirrors the feeling, doesn't it?"
For a second the colonel's mouth curled, then he whispered, "You said you're no traitor, and I never took you for one. I know that you don't agree with what is going on here in Germany, yet it never occurred to me that this would be enough for you to… rebel against your country."
"I'm not rebelling against my country, Hogan. I love my fatherland dearly, but it doesn't exist anymore. This madman and his fellows have perverted it into nothing more than a sick, twisted and dark parody of the Germany I know. This Germany here is filled with death, blood-shed, cruelty, fear and despair. And it more and more keeps turning into a demonic twilight zone day by day – not just because of the war, but mainly because of what the regime does."
His face became stern. "You asked me why I support you. The answer is easy: I want my country back, Hogan. I want this beautiful land to heal. I want the people here to once again live in freedom and peace, not in fear that some guys in black clothes or leather-coats spying on them are going to throw them into jails and labor camps as soon as they don't agree with the dictatorship the mighty people in Berlin call 'politics'. I want the destruction of my country to stop and I want the children not to cry as soon as they hear some noises in the air. I want the little ones to play openly on the streets again without risking being too late to find shelter during the next aircraft attack – I want women not to have to keep weeping their eyes out because their fathers, brothers, husbands or sons will never come home again. I want an end to this insanity – and this can only happen when the war is finally over."
He realized that he had talked himself into a mixture of rage and sorrow, and tried to calm himself down, before he continued. "After my graduation at the Academy I made an oath to protect my land, no matter what – even if it would cost me my life. I have to stop this ongoing insanity, but being a Kommandant of a POW-camp in the middle of nowhere, I don't have a chance of accomplishing much of anything. Hell, I rarely get any information about what is really going on outside, but I can support those people who fight these madmen from beneath. That's why I help you, Hogan, by covering for you or feeding wrong information to the Gestapo or SS. On the outside I may support them and bow to their demands to prevent them from becoming suspicious, but do you have any clue how often I led Hochstetter – or other guys who came to investigate odd incidents – on a wild goose chase? I've lost count, but at least I can do something."
His gaze held Hogan's firmly. "You and your men have fought the Nazis in your own way, and harmed and prevented so many of their schemes that it really influences the war. The acts of sabotage, the vanished scientists or staff-officers, the information you gathered and certainly sent to London – this all slowed down this crazy machinery of war that is squashing my country. Your activities have brought and are still bringing the United Allies advantages that will cost Hitler the victory in the end, and I pray that this day comes soon."
"You are not the only one who prays for it. Believe me, a lot of people think like you and yearn for an end to all this," Hogan said quietly; thunderstruck by all those admissions he'd just heard. He had known that Klink was no Nazi and that he feared but also hated the regime, but what the older man had just said surpassed the colonel's assumptions in spades. "You do know that you would be facing a firing squad if regime-loyal people heard you now?"
Klink snorted and took a deep breath. "Burkhalter and the others would certainly call me a traitor if they knew what I'm thinking, but in truth they are the traitors. They have first ignored and then even helped change this country into hell, where people are kidnapped and forced to build the regime's lunatic great projects – gigantic recreation homes on the island Rügen, the congress-hall in Nürnberg that is planned to be the middle of a whole district of 11 km² only for Hitler's party, the hidden factories and more. They took all our Jewish fellow citizens captive and transported them to camps – camps they're calling 'working camps', but I've heard enough rumors within the last two years of what they're for real: execution camps. I'm sick only imagining that this might be true – that they're killing the people there. Innocent men, women, children…"
He shook his head and balled his hands into fists.
"The same in Poland," he continued. "I don't think that the Poles attacked first. I'd bet my last shirt that it was a fake to give Hitler a reason to finally raid our neighbors. France, the Netherlands, Belgium, the countries in the East, Greece… I could weep if I weren't so furious. We were once the nation of poets and philosophers, now we're the land of murderers and butchers."
"Will," Hogan softly said while laying a hand on the other man's thigh in a soothing manner; using the English shortened version of the Oberst's given name for the first time ever. "Not all are like this. I've met a lot German men and women who are decent people with high ethical standards and good hearts. I'm sure, if given a chance to rebuild their country, Germany can be a good land again."
Klink gulped. The whole talk had made him take a ride on the same emotional rollercoaster Hogan had previously been on, yet the younger man's comforting hand on his thigh was indeed calming him down. "I hope so," he whispered. "I hope with all my heart that there are enough good people left who can build up our country again – a country that is worth living in. I know it will be a long, hard way paved with sharp stones, and I do realize that we won't be able to do it alone. Germany is almost torn to pieces, and until the war ends, I think there isn't much left that can be a solid root to let a new tree of life bloom." He moistened his lips. "But the same goes for so many other countries we attacked and then bled white. I dare not think of all the little towns, villages and areas that the Wehrmacht and the SS raided, all their people killed. When this insanity has finally burnt out, what will remain won't be only sorrow and tears, but also a lot of grudges and understandable hate. Overcoming this will be an even bigger challenge than building new houses and streets, and it will certainly last for decades."
He turned his head and looked straight into Hogan's eyes. "That's another reason why I support you, Robert. Our world needs people like you to heal – to become strong and better."
"'People like me'? Will, I'm a spy and a saboteur. I lie, I cheat, I delude, I've even killed – and the latter not only during my time as a bomber-pilot."
He gave Hogan a short smile. "I know, Robert, yet you are still a good man. I'm aware that you have to kill sometimes. It's what soldiers are forced to do whenever there isn't any other choice left. Yes, there are enough men in uniform who kill just because they can and even feel great about it. And there are men like you – who only kill if there isn't another option left. As far as I recognize you keep the number of victims low. You still have scruples, you are still human. You are a warrior in the best sense of the word. I can support such a man, but not those maniacs who are only ruled by their hunger for power and might, no matter the many lives they took, uncaring of how much pain and tears they're bringing upon other people."
The American officer carefully rubbed his neck. "To admit the truth, the killing-aspect is the only part of being a soldier I hate. You never only kill a person, you also bring sorrow over many other people with every life you take. Yes, I wouldn't hesitate to eliminate the big bubble-beard in Berlin or his fanatical fellows, because I don't think they can be stopped otherwise. But I usually try to spare my opponents – even the black-clad ones. I interrupted a mission once because a patrol of SS-guys came along. They would have been caught in… in what we were about to do. I ordered a stop to our preparations and returned later to finish what we had started." He took another deep breath. "I know that the SS is the worst unit of the German army and that they bring a lot of pain, even over their own people, but the guys were still so young. Their whole life lay in front of them and… and I do know that a few of them are misguided or simply forced to serve. Just like Schmidt." He slowly shook his head. "I couldn't take responsibility for their death, enemy or not."
Klink smiled and patted Hogan's hand. "There you have your answer as to why I regard you as a good man."
"Yeah – and sometimes showing mercy comes back to you and bites you in the ass," Hogan grumbled.
Klink sighed for the uncounted time and lent himself sideways back on one of his underarms – square over the mattress and the blankets; not caring that he crumpled the envelope with the documents in the process.
"That's the risk every good man takes when he puts mercy over justice. Sometimes it comes back and punches us straight in the face, yet we would do it again. And do you know why?"
Hogan looked down at him; surprised about the casual behavior the Kommandant displayed by lying there like this. "Because we're better than them?" he guessed, and Klink smiled at him again.
"Exactly. If we would change, we wouldn't be better than those guys we're fighting."
Hogan watched him closely – and felt some more tension melting away. Yes, this could all be one big charade of Klink's to lull him into a false sense of security, but his inner voice, his gut, told him that the older man wasn't following a scheme of his own – that he, Hogan, and the others didn't need to fear any betrayal from the Kommandant.
"And because we two are thinking the same way, you began to support me," Hogan mused. "You took some big risks here, you know."
Klink snorted and sat up again. "My dear Robert, do you have any idea how many risks I've taken – or how often I had to use crass methods to keep you alive? I tried to keep you safe since I became suspicious of your true role here within the camp – and of your deadly games. Why, do you think, did I send Schultz to you to warn you about the arrival of a radio detector? I knew that you must have a radio, otherwise you couldn't gain the knowledge of most of the newest events you have. Why, do you think, did I stall for time with Hochstetter in Hammelburg last year while you and your men were inside the house to 'save' LeBeau? I knew that in truth you'd smuggled this woman from the Underground away before the Gestapo could get her. Let me guess, the old lady you so gentlemanly offered a ride in my staff-car was said woman, right? You costumed her perfectly in the time I stalled for you, so everyone saw an old granny in her, but in truth she was the Underground-agent Hochstetter was after. And there were so many more cases in which I played the dumb idiot, laid false trails or simply jumped on the train you presented to Burkhalter, Hochstetter and the others." He chuckled, as he saw the awe on Hogan's face. "And I did it without even being sure that you were, indeed, a spy and saboteur, yet I sensed that you faced danger whenever one of the brass became suspicious, so I covered for you. Just in case, you know."
"You… did all this on purpose to cover for me?" Hogan wasn't just thunderstruck, he felt overwhelmed. "You risked your neck dozens of times only because you thought I could be an Underground-agent? And later, as you became more and more certain in your assumption you supported me in secret?" He shook his head. "You… you are incredible."
"What should I have done?" Klink shrugged. "I already told you that I loathe the regime, that I had no real chance of fighting them successfully, and I felt it deep in my bones that you are the man who throws so many sabots into the war-machinery that it could one day be enough to stop the insanity. So I helped you. And, by the way, you know I like you." The latter was the underestimation of the century. Klink himself was taken aback by how strong his feelings for the younger man ran – especially now as he saw the utter gratefulness and wonder in Robert's soft brown eyes. For a second he thought he could also see affection in them, and the Oberst's heart began to beat quicker.
For a moment they held each other's gaze, then Hogan sighed and his shape relaxed fully. Resting both underarms on his thighs, he murmured, "If I would have known that you are on our side, several things would have certainly gone differently – and would have been easier. Like you covered for me, I tried to keep you safe in return, too, but I had to mask it and keep it a secret. The two times you were arrested in the camp, I got you out. Right, the first time I had to play with open cards, and the second time I had Schultz' support, who – by the way – came to me for help. Despite your grousing at him at every given chance, he likes you."
"I know that our relationship is… chaotic. He drives me up the wall almost every day – but I also know that he is a loyal soul and a true friend." Klink grimaced and sat up again. "I know that I'm not always fair to him, but… I'm sitting between two chairs my whole life, Robert, and sometimes it is difficult to react or to do what is right." He glanced back at the colonel. "But I'm aware of his loyalty – and of yours. I know that both times it was you who got me out and even saved my reputation – as low as it is. And I don't speak of the several times you prevented my transfer to the Russian Front or me getting into real mortal trouble. I remember very well how you helped me after Major Strauss from Stalag 5 found out about my… short private drawings from the camp's exchequer. If you wouldn't have intervened, I certainly would have faced serious punishment, maybe even an execution. Did I ever thank you for the many times you helped me?"
"Yes, while we sipped cognac," Hogan smirked. Then he turned serious again. "But, really, Willie, if I would have known of your true intentions, many things would have been easier for me."
"I know what you mean. Yet I wasn't absolutely sure of you being… well… Papa Bear. I was only finally completely convinced of you being an Underground-agent after I got you away from Hochstetter's clutches and Burkhalter told me all the details Hochstetter had gleaned. I wanted to speak with you about it, but first I wanted you to heal a little bit. And if you wouldn't have thrown your angry fit earlier, I wouldn't have brought up the topic so soon."
"Sparing me again?" Hogan huffed, but felt himself softening, as he caught the older man's gentle smile.
"I can't help it – I care for you." Klink shortly lowered his gaze before he asked, "Are you going to tell your men that I know who you are for real now?"
"Yes, yet I think I've to prepare them first – I've to take it slowly. They do accept you and, after you officially saved my butt two times within the last days, I think they've begun to develop some respect for you, but…"
Klink began to chuckle. "Newkirk and Kinchloe almost became my bodyguards while von Neuhaus was here in my quarters threatening me. They placed themselves behind him like solid heaps of rocks, and glared at him as if they wanted to strangle him. And when the whole chaos broke loose outside as the SS-rats had to leave my camp in haste, they accompanied me – making sure that I'm okay." He smiled. "Do you think it means that I've found mercy in their eyes?"
Hogan snickered, satisfied. "Maybe. But still… give them some time. It will be difficult for them to realize that you're not the enemy they thought you to be – especially for Newkirk, I think – but that you are on our side and have even kept us safe within the last two years. They will have a hard time understanding this."
"Distrust and grudges, eh?" Klink made a face. "I can accept this, yet I would really feel better if your men would regard me as an ally. Not because it would stroke my ego, but because I could support you better if I know what you and they are up to. As I said, Hochstetter will try everything to take you and me with him during his fall, and we will have to be very, very careful within the next weeks. I don't think that the war will last for very much longer, and I really have no urge to face a firing squad a few days or weeks before we reach the finish line."
"Believe it or not, but I'm totally on the same page here," Hogan joked, then a shudder ran through his body – something that wasn't missed by the older man.
"You should lie down again, Rob," he said softly; concern lay in his eyes. "The last hour was almost too much for you."
"Like I said: I'm not made of glass," the colonel grumbled.
"No, you are simply human," Klink replied and rose. Waving his hand towards the mattress, he smiled, "Come on, lie down and try to find some sleep. There is nothing left anymore that could rob you of your rest now. Your secrets are still safe, your men and you are safe and maybe now I can relieve you of some burdens in the future."
Hogan, who was about to crawl under the blanket, looked questioningly up at the Kommandant.
Klink met the asking glance and gently explained, "I know that you are still a little bit wary, and this is okay. Only a fool would be too trusting in your position, and I understand that you will have a hard time, too, realizing that your idiot enemy is in truth your supporter and keeper. I will not hassle or pester you to share every scheme of yours with me. If you entrust me with something, I'm glad. If you decide you still want to keep several things away from my knowledge, I can live with that. But please always remember one thing: I'm here for you – and your men. I will continue to protect you as much as I can, no matter what. It would be easier for me if I learn in advance what your tasks will be, but I managed to cover for you and your men for two years now, I'm able to do so further without having detailed knowledge of what you are doing. Only share with me what is comfortable for you, not more, okay?"
For the uncounted time Hogan could only stare, baffled, at the German officer, then a true, warm smile spread over his bruised face. "God, how much I was mistaken about you."
Klink began to laugh quietly and couldn't help himself: He rubbed his hands in satisfaction. "That I was able to fool you like this, is grist for my mill. You are the cleverest man I've ever met – a true fox. And that I could lead you on a merry dance for so long shows me that we two have something more in common."
"And what's that?" Hogan asked; mirth appeared in his eyes as he became aware of the humor of the whole situation.
"We two are masters of masquerades."
The American colonel burst out laughing – and held his sides a second later; groaning but also chuckling.
Gripping for the envelope, Klink walked towards the door. "Try to rest, Robert, or we will both face a grousing medic."
"Aye, sir," Hogan answered, anything but serious.
Watching the younger man finally slipping beneath the covers, the Oberst was about to leave the room, but he really wanted to know one thing. "May I ask how many tunnels are beneath my camp?"
A still small and a normal eye looked with great innocence at him. "What do you mean?"
"Please, Hogan, not this story again," Klink groaned. "There were three tunnels you allowed me to discover – or revealed them by leading others to them. I still remember very well how the inspector broke into one and was stuck there. Or how you tricked Hochstetter into believing that there was an attempted mass-escape, revealing the tunnel in Barracks 3. Or the tunnel in your barracks beneath the washing-sink. I convicted you and your men to 30 days in the cooler, but got you out only a few days later, because I couldn't stand to see you and the others suffering." He took a deep breath. "You and your men indeed come and go like you want, otherwise you couldn't fulfill your missions. So there have to be a few tunnels more. How many are there?"
Robert watched him, saw the amusement deep beneath the curiosity in the older man's eyes and smiled, "Well, we've a few tunnels. Don't ask me how many."
Klink paled and stared at him. "Are they secured? Or do I have to fear that the whole camp will vanish in them?"
Hogan chuckled. "They held until now. I see no reason why they should collapse or should cause any other problems."
"But they did cause problems, right? This sudden well with 'healing abilities' was one of them, wasn't it?"
Sheepishly, the colonel looked at him. "Well, you and Burkhalter enjoyed the bath, didn't you?"
"Yes, it was my absolute dream to lay side by side with Burkhalter in bathtubs," Klink complained. Then he cocked his head. "But the warm water was pleasant. Yet, I don't know how it was possible that a spring with many minerals appeared and vanished again."
The colonel shortly pursed his lips and decided that there would be no harm in telling the story. "Well, one of the water-pipes broke and I feared that our tunnels would be found during any engineering work. So I came up with the idea of a well that holds a lot of minerals."
Klink frowned. "I had the water checked in a lab. How did you…" He hesitated and then his eyes widened. "You mixed something into the water our scientists found!"
Hogan grinned at him like a boy relishing in a prank gone well. "Yep," he said; nodding with a broad smirk.
"And I bought the trick," the Kommandant gasped.
Again, the American made an affirming gesture while he smiled impishly.
Klink let his head sink into his neck; looking accusingly at the ceiling. "Why me!" He glared back at Hogan, saw the mirth in his eyes – and felt himself melting. Good God, what did this man do to him! "And why this whole theater?" he asked; already assuming the answers.
"We needed your and Burkhalter's uniforms for our mission," the colonel replied nonchalantly; chuckling as he saw the Oberst grimacing and heard him grumble something he couldn't understand. "Don't fret. It wasn't anything dramatic. We only had to smuggle a few people away and couldn't do it the usual way because of the added guards in the area."
"How many people have you smuggled away since you started this reckless game?" Klink wanted to know. The answer made him almost dizzy.
"A few hundreds."
"Sweet Lord!" The German officer shook his head. "And all the time it didn't occur to you that one of them could be caught and would maybe give you away?"
"Oh, I knew about the risk. But like you said earlier: We've to support those who fight the Nazis or otherwise help prevent Hitler from winning the war. And bringing those people to safety is one of the many things we're doing here. Just remember last December as we persuaded Hochstetter to send arrested Underground-agents away in his own car. It was one of the many tricks we had to use to save other people's lives."
"Yes, risking your own in the process," Klink growled.
"I had and still have a guardian angel," Hogan answered; his smile softened. "A guardian angel in a German Luftwaffe-uniform."
The Kommandant sighed. "Just remember to inform you 'guardian angel' about your next tasks, Rob, or even he may not be able to help you in time for once. I don't want to see you beaten and bruised ever again – or about to get killed." His voice was gentle; almost pleading. And his eyes told what his mouth still stayed silent about: 'I couldn't bear losing you.'
Hogan's gaze roamed over the older man's face. The worry he saw was real – so was the care. He meant something to the Oberst, this much was certain. And if it wouldn't sound too odd, he would say he meant a lot to Klink.
"I will remember this, Wilhelm," he replied quietly and downright serious. "You are right, I still have to learn to utterly trust you, but I will remember that you have been protecting me for many months now – and that you even stood up against the Gestapo to keep me safe. You are a real friend – a honorable man between wolves and harpies – and I'll turn to you when I know that I'm going to need help."
"Even if you don't want to admit that you're in need of support, just don't forget that I'm with you – no matter what."
"I know," Hogan answered softly. "Thank you, Will – for everything."
"You are welcome, Rob," he replied gently; his eyes shone with a warmth that did odd things to the colonel's suddenly quicker beating heart. With a "Sleep well," Klink left the room – happier than he had been in a very long time. Robert had trusted him enough to lay his life and that of his men in his hands. And the Oberst would never betray this trust. Yet his happiness resulted in several more things: Finally he would be able to support Robert better; finally everything that had weighed him down, too, was out in the open. They shared more now than only a forced working-relationship, some bargains, jokes and chess-games. They were depending more on each other now than ever before – and it felt so right. Because he knew together they were second to none: The experienced fox and the aging eagle.
And then he had to grin as he recalled the typical behavior of those two wild animals. A fox strolled through the undergrowth, got wind of something worthy enough of being tracked down, followed his incredibly fine nose and didn't give up until he had succeeded. His wits and cleverness redeemed his small figure and gave him the chance to beat even larger opponents. All this made him one of the most successful hunters within the woods.
An eagle had the best eyes of all creatures and was the ruler of the skies. With his unbeatable eyesight he was able to see a mouse from a thousand meters afar and could act on it. His cries warned other animals of upcoming danger. He didn't fear anything and could even oust a whole murder of crows or an unkindness of ravens, gaining victory over them.
It reminded Klink of Hogan and himself – the clever Underground-agent and the 'flier' who was looking out for him and even put up with black-'feathered' enemies. The fox and the eagle. An unruly friendship but all the more strong for it.
Yet Klink knew that he had to regain some more of his inner strength. The eagle's wings hadn't been used for a long time; they were stiff and weak. But not any longer. He may have aged, Burkhalter and the others may have almost doused his spirit, they may have forced him to bend his backbone to its limits – but they hadn't broken him.
The eagle was still alive – and now, as the love of his life had been threatened, he had remembered his nature. Eagles were strong and free, and their biggest advantage was their eyesight. Well, Klink's left eye was anything but sharp, but he was thinking more in the figurative sense just then. If he would keep his eyes (and ears) open like before, he could support his 'fox' – hiding him beneath his wings whenever necessary and giving him 'warning cries' if needed.
The Kommandant became aware that he was standing in the middle of his living room, lost in thought and with a wrinkled envelope in his hand. He shook his head and chuckled to himself. 'Just see what a serious talk and a show of trust from this crazy Ami is doing to you, Wilhelm,' he rebuked himself, anything but serious. 'You begin daydreaming and thinking in fables. Woe you if he should ever return your feelings. It really doesn't befit an Oberst to be on cloud nine.'
Yet there was a far too cheery and happy smile on his face while he went to the guestroom to find some rest before lunch would be served. He felt ten years younger.
*** HH ***
In the sleeping-room Hogan lay beneath the blankets and comforter; lost in thought, too. But contrary to Klink, his weren't that hilarious. Despite everything the Kommandant had said – and Hogan simply sensed that the older man hadn't told any lies – he was unsure if revealing his secret had really been wise. He believed Klink when he'd said that he wouldn't betray him, yet he knew first-hand how easily the Oberst prattled things away when being under stress. Then, on the other hand, Klink had guesstimated Hogan's activities for two years and had covered for him without opening his sometimes big mouth. As strange as it sounded, the older man seemed to be someone completely different when it came to him, Hogan, and his missions.
The American officer was still baffled as to how Klink had figured everything out – how the older man had been able to draw a whole, correct picture from the many puzzle-parts he collected within the last two years. Hogan had always known that his German counterpart was intelligent, even if he was a fool most of the time. Or so Hogan had thought. There had been moments in which the colonel had begun to doubt the Kommandant's idiotic behavior; hell, sometimes he had even sensed that Klink had looked straight through him, but had skipped from giving him away. From time to time there had been a certain gleam in the Oberst's eyes – a knowledge Hogan had ignored, because it was easier like this. Well, given all the new things he'd just learned, it had been him, Robert E. Hogan, who had been the idiot to believe that he really had the older man fooled for this long. Klink had his moments – and how often had been revealed within the last half hour.
Groaning, the colonel carefully rubbed over his face. If Klink would have truly been an enemy, he – Hogan – and his men would have been dead for months now. There had been so many cases that even a blind and deaf man would have been able to see through, Hogan had been thunderstruck that Klink hadn't gotten on his trail. Well, the Kommandant had been on his trail – and had stayed silent. Even more, he had covered for him.
Every detail Klink told him earlier made it clear that the older man had him figured out for a longer time now, therefore any further denial would have been for naught. Yet a part of Hogan – the hard trained, wary part of him – asked himself if it had been smart of him to admit the truth.
The other part of the American – the lonely, tired and longing-for-trust part – was glad that this endless game of hide and seek had finally come to an end. At least between him and Klink. The Oberst was right when he said that everything would be easier from now on. Hogan would only have to think about the next missions, and not also about the camp's commanding officer and how to keep him away from his tail. It really was a relief, this much was for sure.
Well, there was another big part he would have to consider now: How to tell his men that the 'old idiot' was aware of their secrets, of Hogan's Underground-identity and of many things that had happened in the past? Okay, the latter was proof that Klink was on their side – that he wouldn't give them away because he could have done it for many months now. But knowing his men, Hogan didn't look forward to giving them the news. The first who wouldn't be too difficult to convince was Kinchloe. Kinch trusted him blindly and rarely doubted him, yet there had been times in which the sergeant had obviously thought his superior had lost his marbles. More or less the same went for Baker. Carter would maybe protest in the beginning, but would calm down quickly. It was his character, and Hogan didn't think that he would have a lot of trouble making the youngest member of his team see that Klink was, indeed, an ally. Yet there were his two other friends, whose deep-rooted grudge against most Germans and whose temperament could become a problem.
Both, LeBeau and Newkirk, had all the reasons in the world to distrust a German officer and to loathe the members of the German army; ally or not. What had been done to so many people in France was a war crime, and the way Hitler attacked England – and especially London – had left deep wounds. Hogan could understand that his two friends were going to be very, very wary concerning Klink, yet he would have to try to make them understand.
And, maybe, Klink's selfless deeds within the last days had softened the Heroes' opinion of him. That Kinch and Newkirk had played 'bodyguard' for Klink spoke its own language – a language Hogan hoped would be the base that would lead to his men's acceptance of the Oberst and his offered help.
Sighing – and tired of now having a new topic he would have to turn over and over in his mind – Hogan carefully shifted on his right side. His gaze found the window. He couldn't see much more than gray skies and falling snow, but somehow the dancing white flakes calmed his still troubled and stressed mind. Hogan loved the summer, but he had also come to like the winter. At home, in the US, he had loved to use his skis together with his older brother; here in Germany he had first loathed the iciness, but somehow this time of the year didn't bother him anymore.
Maybe he simply had come to terms with this country and this place he had first sarcastically called 'home', but which had really become something close to 'home' over the last almost three years. Maybe another reason for his beginning to like the winter lay in a further thing: During winter, nature found rest; the snow covered the ugly tracks of the war and clothed everything in a cloak of peaceful silence. Silence could be relief – and relief was the main emotion that went through Hogan now, after he didn't have to hide anything in front of a man, who had become a strange mixture of friend and confidante for him, anymore.
Taking a deep breath, Hogan tried to relax, but he was far from doing so.
All the reasons Klink had given him for why he fought his own regime and supported him were sound and logical, yet Hogan had a certain feeling that the Kommandant had kept something from him. A further thing that was maybe one of the main reasons for Klink's help. And the colonel couldn't shake off the thought that it had to do with his person.
'I care for you…'
Yes, this was more than obvious. As it seemed, Klink had already developed real friendship and trust for him many months ago – at a time when he, Hogan, had regarded the older man more as a useful idiot than someone he could respect. Well, he had begun to like the naive and foolish Kommandant a little bit over the last three years, but he had never imagined to call him indeed a friend one day. He had known that Klink somehow liked him, too. Otherwise the Oberst wouldn't have put up with him like he did. Yet the last days had shown him that the German officer would rather stand up even against the Gestapo and his superior instead of letting Hogan down. Klink had risked his life in many ways since the whole mess started – and he did it without a second thought, all to keep his senior POW officer safe.
'I care for you…'
This was more than 'caring'. Yes, Hogan did understand that he was the best candidate for Klink to fight against the regime in his own way. As much courage as the older man had shown within the last days, it was beyond any question that he wouldn't have stood a chance of survival if he had decided to be an active member of the Underground. So he did what he could do best: Masking and covering everything. Hell, he had been this good at acting and pretending that he even had Hogan fooled for two years. The colonel had to admit that he was still baffled at how well the Oberst had played his role – being the idiot on the outside, and assuming/knowing exactly what was going on, but hiding it. He had helped Hogan like this more than if he would have fought alongside him.
Well, again in his own way Klink had done the latter – by covering for him. And even this was a big risk if Hogan's secret would have been revealed. There was absolutely no chance that Berlin would have believed Klink didn't know what was going on. And this brought Hogan to another conclusion: If Hochstetter or maybe another Gestapo-officer would have been able to break him, he would have sealed not only the fates of his men, but also Klink's.
And the intensity of the shudder that ran through the American at this thought surprised him. His men were most important to him. He would fight for them – protect them – 'til his last breath. Yet merely imagining Klink being hurt and killed sent dread through Hogan – a twinge of something close to pain and panic. And it had nothing to do with the fact that he owed Klink.
The truth was, he didn't want to see the older man suffer, yet exactly this was what had happened over and over again. If you put all the pompous, vain, silly behavior aside, what remained? A vulnerable man with a good heart that had been stomped on far too often. Every mockery, every sneer, every insult were taken by Klink with ignorance or foolish chuckling, yet – for the first time ever – Hogan realized how much it must have hurt Klink.
The man was intelligent, warmhearted and far too kind for this cruel, sinister time. How profound and deep his thoughts were had been proven within the last days. There was so very much more to Wilhelm Klink than first and second sight showed – and none of the people he encountered considered how much they had all hurt the man beneath the uniform.
Hogan took a deep breath. That was what had happened within the last days: He had seen the real man who was behind the uniform and gauche behavior. The man who was forced to hide if he didn't want to get more hurt, maybe even killed. He had seen the caring, gentle side of Klink – the side that had no problems nursing him back to health no matter the scope. The side that allowed him to sleep in the older man's quarters and even in his own bed. The side that brought him warm milk with honey, watched over his sleep, tried to keep his nightmares at bay and offered him comfort. The side that had put his, Hogan's, safety and welfare above his own.
Hogan had always only partly regarded Klink as an enemy. He knew that the Kommandant could become dangerous for him and his operations, yet he had never seen a real opponent in him. In his eyes, Klink was too foolish to be taken this seriously – at least this had been his first explanation to himself as to why he didn't develop real dislike for the older man. Then, over the months – years – he had somehow realized that the Oberst wasn't that bad. Still foolish, still gauche, still incompetent, but Hogan had recognized that the German officer was no Nazi and that he had a good heart.
It had changed the colonel's feelings for his counterpart. A part of him had learned to respect him – not as the camp's Kommandant, but as a human being. This was certainly more than most other men within those wires did. Hell, Hogan still felt sorry for Klink as he learned that all guards had volunteered to be part of the firing squad that had been set up for the Oberst's ordered execution a few months ago. This was something the Kommandant hadn't deserved. Hogan had often enough witnessed - via the 'coffee-pot' - how Klink had even defied Hochstetter's demands of getting Klink's men for his purposes. Klink had risked a lot of trouble with the Gestapo to keep those within his responsibility safe. There was not much Klink could do, but he used his authority to the last extent to protect his men – and his POWs – and got only loathing and disdain in return.
Hogan had felt bad for him. Maybe this was another reason why he began to see more in the Kommandant than just the silly guy he could use to go on with his missions. Pity was never a good adviser, but it hadn't been real pity that had moved Hogan during those hours last year as Klink was about to be executed. It had been his sense of justice and growing sympathy – and it had woken Hogan's protective instincts. Somehow on the way he had developed the urge to keep Klink away from deep trouble – the man beneath the uniform, not the Oberst. Thinking back, there had been a few occasions when he had been really worried for his German counterpart. And it had peaked in his rising horror as he saw Klink falling during the ambush last week.
Those seconds in which he thought the attack had cost the older man's life had deeply disturbed him. He had thought of it before – the day after the mess – but only now he began to realize how deeply it would have hurt him if Klink had been killed that day. How much he had come to like this man was only shown now – now that he was ready to admit it. He would have mourned for Klink – greatly. Sweet Lord, the mere thought of losing him sent pain through his whole being, and for a moment he was confused about it. Then he remembered that he saw a friend in the Oberst, and friends cared for each other. Maybe this was indeed the further reason why Klink covered for him – because they were friends.
'I care for you…'
There! Klink had even admitted it and…
And Hogan saw those blue eyes in his mind – the deep gentleness and even affection.
'I care for you…'
The memory of those words, spoken in that soft tone, filled the younger man with warmth and security. Again he felt his heartbeat quicken – like it had done a few times within the last days. Good God, what was going on here? He didn't know, but one thing he was absolutely certain of:
"I care for you too, Willie," he whispered. "A lot."
Closing his tired eyes he let his thoughts drift away. With the knowledge that he was really safe for once – as safe as you can be in a POW-camp in the middle of the enemy's territory – he felt a heavy burden being lifted from his shoulders.
Klink was on his side; he distracted his enemies, covered for him and protected him. Him and his men. This was all that counted – yet he was absolutely sure that there was more to it.
Something Hogan couldn't grasp. Something that was there but out of his reach and invisible, yet he felt its mighty presence. A presence that was powerful, yes, but not threatening. Rather the opposite. It whispered words he couldn't understand – as if they belonged to a language that wasn't made for human ears and mouths – but he got the message. It spoke of warmth, light, brightness, happiness…
Hogan tried to get nearer to this something to see what it was, but he couldn't. Somehow it remained in the shadows – shadows which promised shelter, security, even bliss.
And as Hogan was slowly slipping into sleep, he thought he saw this something clearly. It wore Klink's face while the older man's voice echoed gently through Morpheus' realm,
'I care for you…'
TBC …
Yeah, Klink cares for his 'fox' and will look out for him like the 'eagle' he has been named after in earlier times – last but not least, love gives you wings. I do hope you liked the little mind game of the two 'animal'-identities. I know that in several episodes people refer to Hogan as an 'eagle in the cage', but with him officially 'grounded' and Klink being called the 'Iron Eagle', I thought about another symbol for Robert. A fox hides in holes, knows the 'underground' where he hunts and his cleverness is legendary. I thought it would be a nice contrast, and also fitting symbols of the two men's self-given duty in a certain way.
Some of you may also ask themselves what a 'sabot' has to do with stopping the war-machinery. The words 'sabotage' has its roots in it. At the end of the 19th century the workers in France threw their shoes, wooden footwear called sabots, into the agrarian machines they were forced to work with to stop them – protesting like this against the beginning industrialization which they feared. Klink refers to this tale / fact.
In the next chapter Hogan begins to realize the other reason why Klink covers for him and protects him. This 'something' that lurks for Robert still in darkness becomes clearer and clearer, because with a big burden less his mind starts to remember more of what happened between his almost-death and coming to his senses in Stalag 13. And this will lead to something neither he ever imagined, nor Klink ever dared to hope for.
And the Heroes will get the shock of their lives, because two of them become aware of the two colonels' share of knowledges none of the officers usually could have.
I'm more than curious what you think of this new posted chapter. There are a lot of stories in the web which tell the tale of Klink learning about the 'Unsung Heroes' and how he takes it – or how Hogan has to arrange himself with the fact that his German counterpart is aware of things he thought he were able to keep a secret. That Klink isn't a true Nazi comes out in the TV-show over and over again, yet his anxiety and his cowardice prevented him mostly from acting like he wanted. In my story he finds the strength to do what is necessary – because of his love for Hogan. I hope, you liked my vision.
Have a nice rest of the week and a beautiful weekend,
Love
Your Starflight
