Chapter 13 --- The Second Attempt
The early morning was clear, mild with signs of the sun rising. The prisoners were grumbling again about the early hour at which they had to leave the barracks for roll call. Hogan was in his usual spot in the formation. He did feel somewhat better having had a full night's sleep, even though his headache was still evident. The nauseousness and dizziness had subsided somewhat. And the aspirin had helped. He was grateful his men had seen to it he was not disturbed after he had turned in. To everyone's surprise, Carter was up and present for roll call. Even though the Colonel argued with Carter to take it easy and that they would cover for him, Carter managed to convince Hogan he could make it. Besides, Carter figured there would be less of a problem for the others and for Hogan if he was present. He would just keep his hands in his pockets to protect his injured shoulder. Hogan finally relented. He noticed Von Strasser was walking beside Klink towards the formation. Hogan even noticed Schultz looking uncomfortable at the sight of the SS Major.
Kinch leaned forward and whispered something into Hogan's ear. The Colonel glanced over his shoulder and noticed Randall seemed terrified at the sight of the SS Major. But he also noticed the SS Major was not looking at Randall, but was staring at him instead with his cold, dead eyes.
"Schuuullltttzzz, repoooorrrttt!" bellowed Klink as he and Von Strasser neared the men. Turning, Schultz saluted both men.
"Herr Kommandant. Herr Major. All prisoners present and accounted for."
Klink returned the salute. "Very good, Schultz." Klink noticed Von Strasser staring at Hogan and secretly feared this maniac was now zeroing in on his Senior POW officer, and remembered the warning he had given him the day before as far as considering selecting a new POW officer. Klink secretly feared for Hogan, especially in his current condition.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Von Strasser slowly approached the American Colonel until he stood face-to-face with him. The two men stared into each other's eyes, each unyielding.
"Something I can do for you, Major?" Hogan asked sweetly. "Or do you find me irresistable for some reason?"
Von Strasser smirked. "Not at all, cripple. I was just imagining how you'd look if both your eyes were put out with my using a sharp instrument of some kind."
Hogan smirked at the Major. "If I was blind at least I wouldn't have to see your ugly face."
The smirk disappeared from Von Strasser's face and was replaced with a look of rage as his face reddened. He suddenly reached out and clutched Hogan by the throat with one hand. The other prisoners started to come to his aid, but a look from Hogan stopped them in their tracks.
"I could just as easily crush your windpipe by squeezing as hard as I could, Colonel. But that would be too easy and too quick. I would want to enjoy working on you and being the most creative I could possibly be."
Hogan's brown eyes never wavered despite the slight pressure he felt around his throat. He would not allow this maniac see the fear he was causing.
"Major, I must insist you release Colonel Hogan immediately," said Klink with more bravery than he felt. "I cannot allow you to manhandle my Senior POW officer."
Von Strasser released his grip around Hogan's throat and clasped his hands behind him again. Smirking, he turned and walked away to stand beside Klink. He gave the Kommandant an angry look as if to let him know he didn't like being interrupted when conducting his passion of torture and/or mutilation. He glanced at Schultz.
"Sergeant Schultz, you will bring Sergeant Randall to the Kommandant's office immediately. I wish to continue where I left off yesterday." He promptly turned and walked back towards the Kommandant's office. Schultz glanced at Klink as if looking for help. Sadly shaking his head, Klink could only salute his Sergeant-at-arms.
"You heard the Major, Schultz. Do as you're told."
"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant." Schultz saluted and then turned towards the prisoners. "Prisoners, dismissed. Sergeant Randall, you will come with me, bitte."
Randall looked at Hogan with pleading eyes. The Colonel nodded at Randall as he slowly made his way towards the young man. LeBeau, Kinch, Carter and Newkirk gathered around Hogan and Randall.
"Are you all right, Colonel?" asked LeBeau, concerned.
"I'm okay, LeBeau. He's trying to rattle me is all. But I'm not gonna give him the satisfaction," said Hogan.
"What do you want us to do, Colonel?" asked Kinch.
"Stay out of it for now. I can handle Von Strasser. I want you guys to listen in on the coffee pot. If I need help, one of you guys can barge in and interrupt. But for now stay out of it."
"But, Colonel," added Newkirk. "That Major's a bleedin' maniac. He's out to hurt you or worse. How can you ask us to stay out of it like that?"
"Because I'll feel better knowing that my men won't get hurt. This Major is a maniac, Newkirk. You're right about that much. But I can't help Sergeant Randall if I have to worry about you guys also. So please, follow my orders this time and stay out of it."
Hogan looked around as Schultz ambled into view. "Colonel Hogan, I agree with your men. Be careful with this SS Major. He's crazy. And I don't want to see either you or Sergeant Randall get hurt. He even has the Kommandant afraid of him."
Hogan sighed. "I know, Schultz. Shall we go before Von Strasser gets upset?"
Schultz motioned with his hand for the two men to follow him. Watching Randall and Hogan leave with Schultz, Kinch motioned for Newkirk, Carter and LeBeau to follow him.
"Where are we going, Kinch?" asked LeBeau.
"We're gonna do what the Colonel wants us to do, and that's listen in over the coffee pot. And be ready in case he needs one of us to interfere on his behalf." They entered the barracks.
"Andrew, why did you get out of bed?" asked Newkirk, anxiously. "We could've covered for you at roll call."
"Gee, Newkirk. I went though all this with Colonel Hogan. I'm tired of layin' down. I got bored. Besides, I'm okay. Really."
"How do you feel, mon ami?" asked LeBeau.
"I feel okay," said Carter. "My shoulder hurts though. Where's Colonel Hogan?"
"The Gov'nor's gone to old Klink's office with Sergeant Randall who's being questioned again by this SS Major Von Strasser. He's a real piece of work," Newkirk added.
Davidson approached the trio. "Do you have any idea what's happening with my Sergeant?" he asked, intense worry evident.
"We're about to find out," Kinch replied as he and the others headed to Hogan's quarters. Davidson went with them. Kinch plugged in the coffee pot.
"Ah, Sergeant Randall, Colonel Hogan, how nice of you both to join us. Please be seated," Von Strasser remarked in a sickening syrupy voice. With hands clasped behind him as he had the day before, Von Strasser slowly walked around the chair Randall was seated in. Hogan could see Randall was terrified and was trying to put up a brave front.
"What is it this time, Major?" asked Hogan. "More of the same ridiculousness as yesterday?"
"Not at all, Colonel. You see, I decided today to include you in my questioning of Sergeant Randall."
"Me?" asked Hogan, eyebrows raised. "How so?"
Klink's eyes shifted from Von Strasser to Hogan and back to Von Strasser. He had a feeling he wasn't going to like this at all. He racked his brain to come up with something to help both his prisoners without success.
"Yes," Von Strasser reached in his jacket pocket and removed a straight razor. "You, see, Colonel, I'm going to ask Sergeant Randall here a series of questions, and for every non-answer or wrong answer he gives me, I shall cut you with this straight razor. However, if he answers me, I will not cut you. So you see, Colonel, I'm going to make Sergeant Randall here responsible for how much pain you endure."
Klink got to his feet, outraged. "Major Von Strasser, I will not allow this outrageous behavior in my Stalag, nor your mistreatment of my Senior POW officer. I insist you cease this behavior immediately."
"Klink, I suggest you sit down and shut up or I will include you in my game as well."
The Kommandant slowly sank back in his chair. Schultz, seeing this Major was out of control, reached for the office doorknob.
"Sergeant, I suggest you remove your hand from that doorknob unless you want to lose that hand. Do you understand me?"
Schultz's eyes darted from Von Strasser to Klink to Hogan and finally back to Von Strasser. He swallowed nervously. "Jawohl, Herr Major." He released the doorknob and met Hogan's eyes with his own. "I'm sorry, Colonel Hogan."
Hogan's eyes were focused on the straight razor in Von Strasser's hand. "It's okay, Schultz. Don't worry about it. I don't blame you."
Von Strasser smiled evilly. "Shall we begin?" He looked at Randall. "Now Sergeant Randall, I want you to confess to me that you murdered Captain Klauss Von Strasser in cold blood."
Randall curled up in the chair he was sitting in and his frightened eyes looked at Hogan who shook his head slightly.
Kinch looked at Newkirk. "Newkirk, get over to Klink's office as fast as possible."
"Right. But what do I say when I get there?"
"Tell 'em there's a fight in the barracks between two of the prisoners and it's out of control and Colonel Hogan's needed to break it up. Hurry!"
"On me way!" Newkirk replied as he headed out the door at top speed.
"This guy's crazy!" exclaimed Davidson, stunned. "He wouldn't really cut the Colonel, would he?"
"We're not gonna take that chance," said Kinch. "We have to get Colonel Hogan out of there before he does. Once the senior POW officer is not there, Von Strasser will have to stop his interrogation of Sergeant Randall. The Geneva Convention requires the Senior POW officer to be present at all prisoner interrogations."
"So you won't answer me, eh?" Von Strasser gloated. He turned towards Hogan. "Too bad for you, Colonel. Now let me see, where should I cut first." He stood directly in front of Hogan and studied his face. "You are a handsome man, Colonel. I'm sure you turn a lot of heads of the ladies. But I wonder how handsome you'll be if I were to slice up your face. I think I'll start right here...." He brought the straight razor dangerously close to Hogan's face, just under his right eye. Hogan held his breath for the pain he knew was coming when the door to Klink's office flew open, and Newkirk, out of breath, burst in. Von Strasser paused with the blade a scant few inches from Hogan's face.
"Colonel Hogan, sir, there's a fight in the barracks! Several of the prisoners! It's getting out of hand. You better come right away, sir."
Hogan and Von Strasser glared at each other before Von Strasser stepped back and allowed Hogan to get up. Hogan, Schultz, Klink and Newkirk could all see the SS Major was seething at having been interrupted. As Hogan and Newkirk headed out the door, Hogan glanced back at Von Strasser. "By the way, Major. According to the Geneva Convention, you can't interrogate a prisoner-of-war without the Senior POW officer being present. And as I have been called away, your interrogation is over for now."
Von Strasser's face darkened. "Klink, get these men out of this office! Now!"
"Yes, sir. Schultz, take Sergeant Randall back to the barracks and then help Colonel Hogan break up the fight in the barracks. I want any and all guilty parties thrown in the cooler. Do you understand?"
"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant." Schultz hurried Randall out of the office and closed the door leaving Klink and Von Strasser alone.
Hogan and Newkirk made their way out of the Kommandantur. Hogan looked at the Englander, but before he could ask Newkirk smiled.
"It was Kinch's idea, Colonel," he said.
"Thanks just the same," Hogan replied with a sigh of relief. "I wasn't looking forward to being carved up like a Thanksgiving turkey just for this maniac's amusement."
"We have to do something about this guy, Gov'nor. He's bleedin' crackers he is."
"I know. And we will, Newkirk. We will."
Hogan and Newkirk noticed several of the prisoners outside the barracks approaching them, including Davidson, Carter, LeBeau, and Kinch.
"Oh, Colonel Hogan," Randall called out. Hogan paused and turned. "What is it, Sergeant Randall?" Hogan glanced at Newkirk. "Get back to the barrcks. I'll be there shortly."
"Yes, sir." Newkirk jogged back to the barracks. As he did so, Captain Davidson, seeing his sergeant hurried towards him.
Just then a large black car came barreling towards Hogan out of control and seemingly from out of nowhere. Hogan was frozen in place, so stunned was he by the sudden appearance of the vehicle bearing down on him. He knew he'd have no time to get out of the way.
Davidson, seeing the oncoming vehicle, did the only thing he could think of to protect Hogan. He leaped forward, knocking Hogan out of the way before the vehice struck him. Instead, the vehicle struck Davidson and swerved before finally crashing into the side of barracks three. Davidson flew onto the hood of the car before landing face down on the ground and lay unmoving. Hogan slowly sat up, and was immediately surrounded by his men.
Klink and Von Strasser, attracted by the noise, came outside and were standing on the porch of Klink's office and saw the entire thing. Klink could only watch in horror as the car bore down on Hogan. Von Strasser had a smirk on his face as he watched.
Randall and some of the prisoners ran towards Davidson, while Kinch, Newkirk, Carter and LeBeau helped Hogan to his feet. Newkirk handed Hogan his crutches.
"Are you all right, Colonel?" asked a concerned Kinch. "That was too close for comfort."
"I'm okay, Kinch. What about Captain Davidson?"
"He's hurt bad, Colonel," Olsen remarked as he knelt down beside the injured officer. "Real bad."
"Where did that car come from?" asked LeBeau. "It seemed to come from nowhere."
Hogan dusted himself off and looked around for the vehicle and saw it resting against barracks three. He watched Schultz hurry over to where Klink was standing on the porch.
"Herr Kommandant, it's terrible. Just terrible."
"Schultz, I want the driver of that car arrested. Immediately. That fool could have killed somebody with his reckless driving."
"That's just it, Herr Kommandant. There's nobody behind the wheel."