The Substitute

Chapter 7

The next morning was brisk but sunny. Upon arriving at the hospital, the three conspirators went through the same security checks and were cleared to again visit Klink. This time, they hoped to stay longer and perhaps even figure out some way to get Klink released. Hilda was fully prepared to turn on the waterworks again if necessary.

After a morning checkup, medication and a tiring and shaky walk around his room, Klink was back in bed. His mood brightened the instant Hilda arrived, sweeping into the room with her golden braids and sunny smile.

"I brought you some crosswords, Kommandant." Hilda put the books on the bedside table. She puttered around the room, straightening the table, getting more water, and admiring the flowers sent over by Klink's mother. Some of the cards sent by guards were hanging on a bulletin board opposite the bed.

"Where are Schultz and Langenscheidt?" Klink asked Hilda, his eyes following her around the room as she fussed over all the fine details of making his surroundings more comfortable.

"Checking with the medical staff. Just to see how you are doing. It's good to get someone else's opinion. And so, how are you doing this morning?"

"Better since you arrived. I sat up for ten minutes after you left yesterday."

"Excellent. Here, let me help get you propped up. Slouching is not good." Hilda went over to the bed, and assisted Klink. She then straightened the covers. "Ah, hospitals, no matter how nice they look, are still hospitals. It's much better to convalesce at home. My mother always said that. Actually, I have an acquaintance with nursing training. She says the same. Once you are out of surgery and able to do certain things on your own...it's better to be home."

"That seems to be a new way of thinking," Klink said. "Perhaps it's the war."

"We miss you, Colonel. I don't know what else will happen." Hilda lowered her voice. "I don't think Hans and Karl have told me the whole story. I only hear what they wish me to hear. But it is obvious they are quite upset."

Klink patted Hilda's hand. "There, there. It will be fine. I will get better and then come back."

"But, what about the books, and money and efficiency? And I hear Colonel Hogan has been very angry."

Klink shook his head. "That is not good. Someone can get hurt. Or he may plan something. No, that is not good at all."

Hilda took a good look at Klink. He still didn't look too well, but his voice was stronger. That was a good sign.

Schultz and Langenscheidt appeared in the doorway. "Good morning, Kommandant." Schultz entered the room, while Karl held back.

"I'll let you two chat. Corporal, perhaps we can find some coffee or tea?" Hilda left the room. Once out of earshot, she pressed Karl. "So what did you find out?"

"Nothing. They would not release any information except to say he is progressing as one would expect. They are prescribing four to six more weeks of convalescence. There is no way they will release him now. It's only been less than three weeks since the surgery."

HhHhH

"Schultz. I am very worried that Hogan is planning a mass escape."

"Oh no, Kommandant. He has been behaving well and complying with the new Kommandant's orders."

"And does that not seem suspicious to you?

"No, well...yes."

"We can't let that happen. Now...I know that would make Werner look bad. Some men will undoubtedly make it, and make me look good. But that is very dangerous, and after all, we need to keep prisoners in our prisons."

This does not sound like Klink, Schultz thought. "I will talk to Colonel Hogan when I get back."

"Good."

Schultz sighed. "I hope there aren't more changes taking place while I'm gone."

"Schultz is it true?" Hilda walked through the door. "I can't believe it."

"Is what true?"

"Karl just told me the prisoners are locked in at night."

"What?" Klink pulled himself up then fell back down.

"Yes, I'm afraid Karl is correct. That happened the first day he took over. Regulations. And many camps do that," Schultz explained. He looked plaintively at the Kommandant, who was obviously uncomfortable with this way of treating prisoners.

"I never bothered when I first arrived," Klink stammered. "And then I thought it was dangerous. In case of a fire. We're a small camp, and the huts are also small. Oh my camp," he moaned.

"Come back with us, Kommandant," Hilda pleaded. "I will take care of you. I don't have a job at the moment and I don't have to report for auxiliary training for another two weeks. Or, I can get a nurse. As mentioned, I know several."

"That is an excellent idea," Schultz said.

"You're insane. I can barely lift my head. How will I handle the bookkeeping and other duties?"

"We will bring the books to you. We will manage. Hilda can assist and Karl is very smart."

Klink, adrenaline and fear pushing his body to obey his commands, sat up straight. "Help me out of bed," he ordered Schultz. "Hilda, if you will excuse us."

"Of course." Hilda left the room, shutting the door behind her. Out in the hospital corridor, she found Karl, who was leaning against the wall next to the elevators.

Schultz had taken care of his Kommandant several times when Klink was ill. It was a difficult task as Klink tended to-what was that phrase-Hogan used? Milk it. But this time, he saw determination in the Kommandant's eyes.

It took an hour to get the Kommandant washed, groomed, dressed, out of bed and seated in a chair. His face now ashen, Klink took a few deep breaths and then looked up at his sergeant of the guard.

"It's a good thing the nurse did not come in to check," he said. "They will not release me," he added.

"Have faith, Kommandant," Schultz said.

Meanwhile, Karl and Hilda had left to find Klink's doctor. After a search and a long wait for the doctor to finish his rounds, they followed the physician into Klink's room.

The Kommandant wasted no time in pleading his case to his doctor. "I am needed back at my command," Klink stated. "It is urgent."

"No," the doctor said without hesitation. "You are required to have a certain amount of time to recover from this major surgery. I have no clue as to what is going on here, but you three need to leave." He pointed to Hilda, Schultz and Karl. They looked at Klink, who nodded, and they left the room.

"I am glad to see you out of bed and sitting up. How long has it been? Ten minutes?"

"An hour," Klink lied.

"Wonderful. You need to be back in bed so I can examine you." He went over to the door and called for a nurse.

Klink's nurse was not happy. "I shall make sure he behaves, doctor."

"You don't understand," Klink protested. "They have turned my camp upside down. I can lose my command. And end up somewhere worse."

"Lie flat. I need to check the incision," the doctor said gruffly. "And no, I will not release you. This is a convalescent hospital and you are here to convalesce."

"My secretary has already arranged for nursing. I'm sure you need this bed for other deserving officers. I have very nice quarters. Clean, quiet. And a wonderful staff." Klink almost choked on his words. "You see doctor, I fear a mass escape. I was the only Kommandant able to keep Colonel Hogan locked up. He's..."

"Colonel Robert Hogan?" The doctor interrupted. "From the Eagle Squadron and the 504th? He's in your camp?"

"Yes, he is the senior POW officer. How do you know this man?" Klink asked as the doctor worked.

The doctor pulled the covers back over Klink, and handed the chart to the nurse. "Continue current medications, nurse. And let's try some solid food at lunch."

"Lucky you," the nurse said. "You get pudding and applesauce." She turned and left the room.

"It was no secret when Colonel Hogan was shot down," the doctor told Klink. "News of his capture made it through the ranks, even the hospitals. A colleague of mine treated his injuries. He escaped when he was being transferred from the infirmary to interrogation. With an injured arm, no less. Was recaptured just outside the fence. And then again two weeks later, with several other men. They were caught by some alert civilians," he chuckled. "An intriguing man."

"Yes, that is a good way to describe him." Klink knew about the escape attempts, although he and Hogan had never discussed his failure to successfully fly the coop during his time at the transit center. Klink chalked that up to shock over being shot down, concern for his crew and other issues. Of course, now that Hogan was healthy, Klink knew it was only his own knack for running a prison camp keeping Hogan behind the barbed wire.

"Well," Klink said. "He has not been successful at my camp...ever."

"So I've heard. Multiple times." The doctor rolled his eyes and headed for the door.

Klink somehow managed to push himself higher on the mattress. "I need to be discharged. Now. I have staff here to take me back to camp. Without me there, Hogan will escape. I'm sure he's planning a mass escape as we speak."

The doctor paused and said emphatically. "No. You are not well enough to be released. Absolutely not. The camp will have to go on without you. And if Hogan and others escape, well, look at the bright side, it will not be on your record." And with that he closed the door.

"Mmmph." Klink sunk down into the pillows. It was not only the threat of escape that concerned him. The insults brought upon his staff, the camp layout, and yes, the POWs, by the substitute Kommandant, were unacceptable. And Burkhalter! His reaction was a shock. Klink thought for sure that the idea of Hilda being fired would bring the general around. But no. One look at the budget cuts was enough for the sycophantic Werner to win over Klink's boss.

Klink had to get back to camp before he totally lost his command. His staff was willing to look after him, so why couldn't he be released? After all, he was taking up a bed and costing the Luftwaffe money as well.

The crew from camp watched the doctor leave the room, with Hilda smiling at him as he closed the door behind him.

"How is he, Doctor?" Hilda asked. "He seems to be coming along."

"Improving day by day, but he is not ready to be released, no matter what he says," the doctor said firmly. "Not even the famous Colonel Hogan could get me to sign the papers. So please inform your Kommandant that I am looking out for his welfare and he is staying here for his complete rest and convalescence. Most officers would relish the time off." He walked away shaking his head.

Hilda released the waterworks.

"Oh, Fräulein." Schultz patted her on the back. "It will be all right."

"Oh, get a grip, woman," the doctor stated, not being taken in by the shenanigans. For some reason, these three people wanted their kommandant back...but rules were rules, regulations were regulations, and they needed to be followed.

"I'm sorry doctor," Hilda sniffled. "Hans, Karl. It has been nice knowing you. You've been wonderful and thank you for taking me to see the Kommandant before you...Oh, and you too, doctor. Thank you for all of your assistance."

"What are you blabbering about?" asked the doctor.

"The guards," Hilda answered.

"Well, without the Kommandant there and the changes in the camp layout...plus the prisoners are mad, I'm sure they'll be a mass escape and then well, you know...I need to get out my cold weather gear. Kommandant Klink won't be blamed, but everyone else will," Schultz explained.

"What do you mean, everyone else will?"

"You know how it is, Doctor. Everyone." Langenscheidt pointed up to the ceiling. "Everyone else, in Berlin. and those that could have somehow prevented Klink's return. Of course, if you release him...even though he's still considered unfit for duty, I'm sure he can prevent this. He can talk Colonel Hogan into or out of anything."

"We've witnessed it multiple times. People being sent to the Russian Front that is. For much less serious mistakes," Schultz added.

The doctor swallowed hard. He had no idea if he was being scammed or if there was a modicum of truth to what these three were telling him. What he did know was that Luft Stalag 13 had no successful escapes. Klink's surgery was a success and his recovery was as expected. He really didn't care what happened to the Kommandant after his release. And he hated treating acute frostbite.

But his supervisor could find out.

He sighed and without a word went back into Klink's room. The door remained open and the three stood at the threshold, holding their breath, barely able to speak.

"Your staff here believes the war effort would be much better served if you were back in charge of your POW camp," the doctor said.

Klink nodded.

"And they can make arrangements to care for you."

"That is correct."

"If I release you, my neck is on the line. This is totally against rules and regulations."

"Well..." Klink thought for a moment. "When you have time, I can invite you for a tour. I have a prisoner who is a remarkably talented French chef. You can also meet Colonel Hogan at the same time. He can be quite engaging and interesting. He speaks fluent German and has a bit of a German background," he added.

The doctor thought for a moment. "I can use that as an excuse to conduct a follow-up exam. Perhaps a research study as to how officers recover when they are sent back to their cushy non-combat positions sooner rather than later. Yes...you have a deal."

The three breathed a sigh of relief.