Chapter 19 --- Hogan's Nightmare

***There is a some torture endured by Hogan in this chapter.

Von Strasser placed the cool stainless steel razor flat against Hogan's cheek just under his right eye. Hogan's eyes watched the blade as if trying to predict where it would inflict the first moment of pain. He swallowed nervously yet in relief when the razor was removed. Instead, Von Strasser stood over him and fondled the razor lovingly.

"Let me tell you a story, Colonel. A story about why I am really here and what you have to do with everything so you will understand why I must do what I have to do. I'm sure you've been told there is a traitor on Prime Minister Churchill's staff in London. I'm sure you were told by one of the operatives who was subsequently killed."

Hogan shook his head indicating he had not been contacted by anyone.

Von Strasser raised his eyebrows. "No? Well, it doesn't matter because it's true. The SS did assign one of it's own to Churchill's staff to covertly gather information on you, your organization and the underground. Of course our man has yet to turn over this documentation to us but he will very shortly. And once we have it, the underground and your organization will be finished. But that is not where I come in."

Hogan strained against the restraints without success. He fell back on the table and swallowed the lump which had formed in his throat. Von Strasser smirked and, placing the razor against the Colonel's cheek, ran the blade down to his jaw lightly, leaving a thin trail of blood in its wake. The thin trail of blood trickled down Hogan's cheek. The Colonel winced from the stinging sensation. His eyes bore into Von Strasser.

"That was just a small sample of what is to come, Colonel Hogan. I cut you lightly this time. At first I will cut you lightly, but the longer I continue, the deeper the cuts will become until eventually you will beg me to kill you because nobody will want to look at your face when I'm through. But now, where was I with my story? Oh yes, I was telling you how I became involved and why I'm here."

Kinch checked his watch again as he and LeBeau watched barracks two. Suddenly the door to the barracks was yanked open from inside and Olsen and Randall stormed out and in front of the guard, began a shouting and screaming match. Then, they began to physically fight with each other. The guard, distracted by the sudden altercation between the two prisoners, momentarily forgot what he had been told to do and started trying to break up the fight between Olsen and Randall.

"C'mon!" Kinch whispered to LeBeau. The duo quickly made their way onto the porch of the Kommandantur and inside the office without being seen by the guard. Kinch noticed that Hilda, Klink's pretty blonde secretary was not at her desk and at this particular moment he didn't care where she was. He and LeBeau hurried to the Kommandant's office and Kinch pounded on the door. It was a long moment before the door opened and Klink stood in the doorway, surprised to see them.

Newkirk and Carter still hugging the wall of barracks twelve, began to mentally compare notes on the places Von Strasser would be able to take the Colonel if he didn't want to be interrupted to try and cut down on the places they'd have to look.

"The only two places I can think of is the cooler and barracks nine," said Newkirk.

Carter, puzzled, glanced at him. "Why barracks nine?"

"Because it's empty, that's why. I think we should check there first. After all, it's closer than the ruddy cooler."

"Let's go then," said Carter as he and Newkirk quietly made their way towards barracks nine.

"What are you doing here, Sergeant Kinchloe? Corporal LeBeau?" Klink asked nervously. He had an idea why they were there. He turned away and sat back down behind his desk. He grabbed a handful of papers.

"Kommandant, you've got to help us rescue Colonel Hogan from that lunatic SS Major," said Kinch with emphasis. "We need you."

"There's nothing I can do to help Colonel Hogan, Sergeant. It's an SS matter," Klink responded trying to read the papers he had in his hand. "I can't get involved."

Enraged, Kinch yanked the papers out of Klink's hands, tossing them aside. "Kommandant, we're not asking you. We're telling you we need your help if we're gonna save Colonel Hogan. You know that maniac is going to kill him if he hasn't already! But if he hasn't, do you want his death on your conscience?"

Klink rubbed his temple as a headache was beginning. "No, of course not. But what can I do?"

"You can show Von Strasser who really runs Stalag 13 is what you can do, Kommandant!" LeBeau added.

"Von Strasser already knows I'm in charge here."

"Does he?" asked Kinch. "Seems to me he thinks he is. Kommandant, he's manhandling your prisoners. He's already murdered one of them in cold blood. He's threatened to do to LeBeau what he doing to Colonel Hogan. And now he's taken Colonel Hogan from the barracks and is doing God knows what to him with that straight razor."

Klink looked up into Kinch's face. He remembered the SS Major's fondness for the straight razor. But still, he nervously wrung his hands.

Exasperated, Kinch slammed his hands, palms downward on Klink's desk, startling the Kommandant. "Dammit, Kommandant!" he shouted. "What do you think is going to happen if Von Strasser murders the Colonel? You're going to lose total control of Stalag 13! You're already losing control! Look around you! The prisoners are about ready to riot as it is. The Colonel was trying to keep them in line. What's going to happen if Colonel Hogan dies. I'll tell you what will happen! The prisoners will hold you accountable for his death, and you'll have total chaos here! Your guards will be forced to start shooting and people are going to die. Is that what you want?"

"You know it isn't," Klink said quietly.

"Then help us, Kommandant," LeBeau begged.

Klink studied the frightened looks on their faces for a what seemed an eternity. Then, he slowly got to his feet and walked over to his floor safe. He turned the dial several times. Opening it, he reached inside.

"May God help me," he uttered under his breath as he pulled out a holster containing his sidearm. Removing the pistol he checked to make sure it was fully loaded. It was. He closed the door to the safe.

Kinch and LeBeau both looked at each other with hope. Then, they looked at Klink.

"Do you know where he's taken Hogan?" Klink asked, hoping he sounded braver than he felt as he buckled the holster around his waist.

"We have Newkirk and Carter finding that out," Kinch replied. "I'm sorry for how I acted Kommandant. I didn't mean to scream at you like I did."

"It's not a problem, Sergeant Kinchloe. I know you and Corporal LeBeau are afraid for Colonel Hogan. But sometimes a person needs to have the obvious pointed out to them before they fully understand it's consequences. Now, let's find Colonel Hogan."

Kinch, LeBeau and Klink hurried out of the Kommandantur and were met by Carter and Newkirk.

"We found 'em!" shouted Newkirk. "They're in barracks nine!"

Von Strasser placed the tip of the razor on Hogan's chest near his right armpit and very lightly drew it across Hogan's chest stopping at his breast, again leaving a thin line of blood behind. Hogan shut his eyes and winced in pain.

"You see, Colonel, Major Heisler of the SS is the traitor on Churchill's staff. He sent Sergeant Mitchell here to kill you. Sergeant Mitchell was highly regarded by the SS as an assassin. He was recruited when he lived in Germany. He was very good at his job. He really was. But Major Heisler didn't have faith in Sergeant Mitchell, so he asked me to be his back-up in case the good Sergeant failed which he did twice. So I decided to get rid of him because he was such a miserable failure and to handle things myself."

Hogan listened to Von Strasser talk as his eyes never strayed from the straight razor now stained with blood. The Major placed it again lightly on Hogan's chest, but didn't move it. He paused as if trying to reach a decision.

"See, Major Heisler who by the way, has been going under the name of Major Brendel, knew I was coming here anyway as I had tracked Sergeant Randall to Stalag 13," Von Strasser continued as he now drew the razor downward. Hogan shut his eyes from the pain. "It was perfect. I was coming here and he wanted me to kill you if the assassin should fail. All I asked was that he grant me one favor if I agreed. Do you know what that favor was? That favor was to have my way with you for awhile before I kill you. Now, wouldn't you call that a good friend?" He sighed as he admired the three cuts he had made. "Time for me to start cutting much deeper, Colonel. I'm afraid this is going to hurt quite a lot however."

He placed the tip of the razor against Hogan's throat and prepared to slit his throat.

It was at that exact moment that the barracks door was kicked open.