Chapter 14 --- Death of a Protector
Hogan and his team all looked towards Schultz after his announcement.
"Schultz, did you just say there was nobody driving that car?" asked Kinch, not sure he had heard the rotund sergeant correctly.
"That's what I said," explained Schultz. "After the car crashed into barracks three, I checked to see if the driver was hurt, and when I looked, there wasn't anybody behind the wheel."
"Did someone go get Sergeant Wilson?" asked Klink anxiously from his porch.
"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant," replied Schultz. "One of the prisoners went to get him from barracks twelve."
Just then Sergeant Wilson, carrying his medical bag, came running. He knelt down beside the seemingly unconcious Davidson who was bleeding from just about everywhere. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. Hogan and his men approached and stood watching silently.
LeBeau mouthed a silent prayer and crossed himself. He paled at the sight of the blood, but swallowed and forced himself to watch.
"Blimey," Newkirk muttered softly.
"Golly," was all Carter could manage.
"Amen," Kinch softly remarked.
Hogan hung his head and remained silent. He blamed himself for what happened. He could tell things didn't look very good for the Captain.
Wilson hung his head and shook it. He glanced over his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Colonel. There's nothing I can do. His injuries were just too severe. I'm afraid he's gone." Slowly standing, the camp medic handed Hogan the captain's dogtags. Hogan gripped them tightly in his hand.
"Thanks, Joe. I know you did what you could."
Wilson sighed. "Too bad it wasn't enough." He then looked in Klink's direction and shook his head. "He's dead, Kommandant. I'm sorry."
Klink appeared to be stunned by the news as if someone had punched him in the gut. He shook his head and let out a deep breath. "Thank you, Sergeant Wilson. Schultz, see to the removal of Captain Davidson's remains. And after you've done that, see to the removal of that car." He then turned around and walked back into his office while Major Von Strasser remained on the porch watching what was happening and paying close attention to the Senior POW officer.
"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant," the rotund guard replied sadly. Turning slowly, Schultz looked at Hogan who appeared to still be in shock with LeBeau, Carter, Kinch and Newkirk around him. "I'm sorry, Colonel Hogan," was all he could say.
Hogan looked into Schultz's face with eyes wet with unshed tears. He nodded. He wiped his eyes with the back of the hand in which he clutched the dogtags.
"It's all my fault," Hogan quietly said. "If it wasn't for me he wouldn't have died. It's my fault."
"Don't blame yourself, Colonel," said LeBeau. "None of this was your fault. Captain Davidson knew what he was doing when he pushed you out of the way of that car."
"Listen to Louie, Colonel," added Kinch, resting a hand on Hogan's shoulder. "You had nothing to do with any of this. If it hadn't been for the Captain, that could've been you lying there dead right now."
"But I did have something to do with it, Kinch," Hogan uttered, his voice breaking. "He lost his life saving mine. It shouldn't have happened but it did. I'm responsible."
Newkirk gripped Hogan's other shoulder. "Don't say that, Gov'nor. The bloody bastard who's trying to kill you is responsible, not you. You want to blame someone, blame him. Not yourself."
Hogan, sighing, tilted his face towards the heaven and squeezed his eyes shut for a brief moment as he tried to come to terms with what happened. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he looked at Kinch, LeBeau and Newkirk with tears running down his face. "But I am to blame," he said. "He was sent here to keep me alive, and he gets killed instead."
Carter, who up until now had been quiet, stepped out from behind Hogan and walked around him until they were standing face-to-face. He looked into the Colonel's stricken face. Hogan avoided Carter's eyes.
"Colonel, look at me. Please."
Biting his lower lip attempting to regain control over his emotions, Hogan looked at Carter.
"Colonel, you didn't do anything wrong. Captain Davidson was sent here for one purpose and one purpose only. And that was to protect you from someone who wants to kill you. He knew what the risks were, but he accepted the assignment anyway. You didn't assign him this job. You didn't order him. Heck, you didn't even ask him. London did. And he still agreed despite all the risks involved. It's like Kinch said, Colonel. That could've just as easily been you lying there dead instead."
Hogan bowed his head and shook it. "Carter, I should have ordered him to keep out of it. Maybe if I did...."
"Colonel, nothing you said would've changed anything. Captain Davidson knew exactly what had to be done when he saw that car coming towards you. He knew what the possibilities were and he did the only thing he could. He gave his life so you could live. Knowing you like we all do, you would have done the same for one of us and you know it. I can't think of anything more honorable than a sacrifice like that. Can you, sir?"
Hogan let out a deep breath. He managed to collect himself. "Carter, you always seem to know what to say at times. How did you become so wise?"
Carter shrugged, then winced from the pain in his shoulder. "Something must rub off on me from you guys, don't you think?"
Kinch smiled as he looked at Carter. "You always know the right thing to say, Andrew."
"Well done, mate," added Newkirk.
"Magnifique!" chimed in LeBeau.
Wilson looked at Hogan. "Are you all right, Colonel?"
"As well as can be under the circumstances, Joe. I can only hope that Captain Davidson died instantly and didn't suffer any pain."
"I can at least tell you that, Colonel. He didn't suffer. It appeared he died instantly."
"Thanks, Joe. That's a small consolation anyway."
"Sorry, Colonel. I'll stop by later to check on both you and Carter."
"Seems our friend has struck again, Colonel," Kinch said. "He's tried twice now to kill you. The first time he only injured Carter. But this time he killed someone who, ironically, was sent here to protect you from him."
"Kinch, have you tried again to reach General Brennan?"
"Not yet."
"I want you to contact London and ask for the general. We need to verify Davidson's story first. Then, we need to inform the General of Davidson's death."
"Understood, Colonel. I'll take care of it."
Sergeant Randall slowly approached the small group. "Colonel Hogan."
"I'm sorry for your loss, Sergeant. I know Captain Davidson was your commanding officer."
"Thank you, sir. I also want to thank you for what you did for me in the Kommandant's office with that SS Major. But you shouldn't endanger yourself on my account."
"Sergeant, as Senior POW officer here...."
"Colonel, I've seen firsthand what Von Strasser is capable of. When he threatened to slice your face with that straight razor, he would have done it. And he wouldn't have stopped slicing until you had no skin left on your face to slice."
"Sergeant, I have dealt with crazy Krauts like Von Strasser before. I agree he's crazier than Major Hochstetter of the Gestapo, and they're both nuts. The only difference is Hochstetter is your typical bully."
"Colonel, the next time Von Strasser questions me, I don't want you there. I've already lost Captain Davidson. I couldn't handle being responsible for the death or mutilation of the Senior POW officer as well."
"Sergeant, I will be there to protect you. Is that understood?"
"Yes, sir." Randall saluted Hogan who gave a half-hearted salute in return.
"Dismissed, Sergeant."
Randall, understandingly dejected, turned and slowly approached the body of his captain.
Watching his receding back, Hogan's eyes suddenly narrowed as his eyes scanned the entire compound and the small group of prisoners outside the barracks.
"Are you looking for something, Colonel?" asked LeBeau.
"Not something, LeBeau. Someone."
"Who, sir?" asked Newkirk.
"I don't see Sergeant Mitchell anywhere. Have any of you seen him?" asked Hogan.
The four men all looked at each other, then at their commanding officer.
"Come to think of it, Colonel," said Kinch. "I don't think any of us have seen him since you and Sergeant Randall were ordered into Klink's office this last time."
"You think he could be the assassin, sir?" asked Newkirk.
"I don't know, Newkirk. This isn't the first time he's been missing when something's happened."
As if on cue, Mitchell strolled into view from the direction of where the men knew the motorpool was. He paused when he saw the expressions on the faces of Hogan and his men. He looked almost surprised to see Hogan. Then, he noticed the body of Captain Davidson being covered with a sheet and loaded onto a stretcher by two of the guards with Schultz barking orders. He looked at Hogan again.
"What happened here, sir?" he asked. "What's going on?"
"You mean you don't know, Sergeant?" asked Kinch with narrowed eyes.
"You seem to be the only one in camp that doesn't," LeBeau chimed in.
"Now why is that, mate?" asked Newkirk with a sneer.
"Yeah," Carter added.
Mitchell swallowed nervously. He was getting a bad feeling. "Colonel?" he asked, looking at Hogan.
"Sergeant, somebody has twice now tried to kill me. The first time Sergeant Carter was hit instead of me. And just a few minutes ago someone sent a car from the motorpool towards me. Captain Davidson pushed me out of the way. But unfortunately, he was struck by the same car and killed. And now here you are coming from the same direction as the motorpool."
"Colonel, what are you saying? Are you accusing me of this?"
"You know what they say, mate...." Newkirk didn't finish as he lit a cigarette.
"Colonel, I swear to you I didn't do this!" Mitchell pleaded his case directly to the Colonel.
He advanced towards Hogan, but stopped when the others tightened their circle around their commanding officer.
"You're responsible for what happened to the Captain?" asked Randall angrily. He had overheard. Lunging at Mitchell, he tried to grab him around the throat but was stopped by Kinch. Randall tried to break free but was no match against Kinch's strength. It was then that Hogan and the others spotted several of the guards running in their direction with guns pointed. Hogan knew he had to do something quickly as things were rapidly deteriorating and could escalate into a full-blown riot where someone could get hurt or worse.
"Schultz!" Hogan yelled to the fat guard. Schultz looked up and saw the guards with their guns and ordered them to stand down and immediately lower their weapons. As they did, Hogan looked at Mitchell and Randall. "Kinch, take Randall into my quarters and keep him there until I get there."
"Right, Colonel." Kinch half dragged the furious Randall away. "C'mon. You heard the Colonel. Let's go." After Kinch had disappeared with Randall, Hogan let his eyes fall on Mitchell. "Newkirk, I want you and LeBeau to take Mitchell into the tunnel and keep him there until I need to speak to him. I don't need a full-scale riot taking place here."
"Yes, sir," replied Newkirk, grabbing Mitchell's arm. "You heard the Gov'nor. Let's go." Newkirk led Mitchell into the barracks with LeBeau following. Hogan then looked at the other prisoners in the compound.
"All right, listen up. I want the rest of you men to wait out here until you receive permission to re-enter the barracks. I realize you're all upset by what has happened, but the last thing we need is a riot taking place where the guards could open fire and somebody could get hurt or worse. I expect all of you to control yourselves and remain peaceful. Is that understood?"
There was a chorus of 'yes sirs' from the small crowd as they began to disperse yet remain within close proximity to the barracks. Hogan looked at Carter with a grim look. "Let's go, Carter."
"You got it, boy. I mean Colonel." The young Sergeant walked beside his commanding officer. As they passed the small crowd, something strange happened. The prisoners stopped what they were doing and snapped to attention. Each man gave Hogan his sharpest salute. Carter opened the barracks door for Hogan who paused in the doorway. Turning, he gazed out at the spot where Davidson had landed, then at the car which was now in the process of being removed from the side of barracks three. Finally, he gazed at the small crowd of men still standing at attention. He returned their salute.
"At ease, men," he replied tiredly. He then started to enter the barracks.
"Colonel?" a small voice called out. Hogan paused again, looking over his shoulder. A young corporal stepped forward and faced the Colonel.
"What is it, Corporal?" Hogan asked.
"I....that is we....the men and I. We just want to apologize for letting our emotions run wild for a moment. It won't happen again, sir."
"Thank you, Corporal. Look, I understand that while Captain Davidson had not been here that long, he was still one of us. And I also understand how his sudden death resulted in emotions running high. But I cannot allow emotions to run so high that it results in the guards becoming trigger happy, shots being fired and a full-scale riot possibly taking place. That would serve nobody any good, least of all us. I meant what I said before. If you men want to talk amongst yourselves, fine. I just don't want any more outbreaks of violence. Understood?"
"Yes, sir, Colonel."
That said, Hogan slowly entered the barracks with Carter behind him. The door then closed.
Von Strasser, who had watched everything had made up his mind about two things as he turned and made his way back inside the Kommandantur. One being this bumbling assassin had to die and would die quickly. The other? That Colonel Robert Hogan would die as well, but not before Von Strasser had fun with him.