Chapter 6 -- The Mystery Deepens

LeBeau was still standing watch when Kinch stepped back into the barracks from the tunnel. He poured himself a cup of coffee before sitting down with Newkirk and Carter. LeBeau closed the barracks door and joined them.

"From the look on your face, mate, I'm almost afraid to ask…." said Newkirk sarcastically. "….but what did London have to say when you told 'em?"

Kinch handed Newkirk the piece of paper on which he had copied London's response. "Read it yourself," was all Kinch would say, his voice sounding as annoyed as he looked.

Newkirk read the message. "Are they bloody crackers or what!" he exclaimed, his voice rising in anger.

LeBeau and Carter exchanged concerned looks. "What's wrong?" LeBeau asked finally. "What did London say? Are they going to help us rescue Colonel Hogan?"

"Get this…." Newkirk continued. "London says they'll review the situation further based on the information that the Colonel is still alive. But for the time being, we're still shut down!"

"What does that mean, they'll review the situation?" LeBeau was angry.

Carter was incredulous. "That's the silliest thing I ever heard. It almost sounds like London has no intention of helping us rescue Colonel Hogan."

"That's exactly what they're saying, Andrew" Kinch told him.

"Well, we don't need them," LeBeau remarked with a sigh. "Did you speak with the underground? Will they help us if necessary?"

Kinch smiled. "I spoke with one of their contacts, code name Lancelot. He says whatever we need to rescue the Colonel, they're ready to help. All we have to do is let them know."

"Good," said Carter. "Now all we need is a plan."

Hogan slowly opened his eyes and tried sitting up. He massaged his forehead. The pounding in his head was relentless. His entire body ached. Whatever he was being given was making him sick and nauseous. Also, he touched his lower lip where he had been struck and felt the beginning of a scab forming. He turned his head at the sound of the cell door opening. He saw Heinman, the doctor, and two burly guards enter. Heinman smiled wickedly.

"Time for another injection, Colonel Hogan," he said. "You will roll up your sleeve for the doctor."

Hogan didn't move. He glared at Heinman defiantly. "Y'know, Heinman, I'm getting sick of this. Why don't you roll up your sleeve? Better yet, why don't you, the doctor and the bobsy twins here all drop dead!"

Heinman smirked. He motioned with his head to the two guards who advanced toward Hogan, each one roughly grabbing one of his arms and holding him down. Hogan struggled against being held, but in his condition, it wasn't much of a struggle. He watched the doctor fill the syringe and then roll up his sleeve. The syringe was jabbed into his exposed arm again. Within minutes, Hogan felt as if his stomach would turn over and empty. The guards released him and Hogan leaned the back of his head against the wall. He felt so sick and nauseous he didn't know how much more of this he could take. He tried to struggle to his feet, but the room was spinning so rapidly, he thought better of it and stayed seated.

"Why are you doing this to me?" he managed to ask weakly. It took a lot of effort to speak. "I mean, why me? What makes me….so important?"

Heinman simply smiled. "I see no harm in telling you, Colonel. You are important to us because of your obvious value to the Allies."

Hogan felt himself blacking out. Importance to the Allies? What is he talking about? Hogan never got the chance to get an answer to his question. He had passed out and fell sideways on the bunk.

Major Frolichman sat behind his desk thinking about the prisoner in cell 21. It shouldn't be long now, Colonel Hogan. Maybe less than a week. Maybe less than a day. But very soon you will wish for death by the time they're through with you. Frolichman almost felt sympathy for Hogan. Almost. It was then there was a knock on the door.

"Come."

The door opened, and Captain Heinman entered followed by Doctor Erlichman. Heinman and Frolichman exchanged salutes.

"Well, Captain?"

"Major, Colonel Hogan has just been given his third injection. However, he still managed to put up a feeble struggle and had to be subdued by two guards before the doctor here could administer the drug."

A remarkable man this Colonel Hogan, Frolichman thought to himself. Too bad I can't keep him here. The things he could tell me with a bit of persuasion from me.

"Major?" Heinman noticed Frolichman appeared lost in thought.

Frolichman looked at his aide. "Is there something else you have to tell me, Captain Heinman?"

"Major, Doctor Erlichman feels that Colonel Hogan is ill. Possibly as a result of the continuous injections."

The Major nodded slightly. He stared at the doctor. "Is this true, Doctor Erlichman?"

Erlichman licked his dry lips. "Ja. I have no idea what will happen if I keep giving him this drug. It is an experimental drug to begin with, and we don't know what could happen. Also, I never had a chance to examine Colonel Hogan before he began receiving the injections."

Frolichman's eyes never left Erlichman's face. "You're quite concerned about this man, aren't you?"

Erlichman swallowed hard. Frolichman appeared to be staring into his very soul. He was afraid of the Major. He had heard the whispers about Frolichman from others and didn't want to cross him.

"I don't know how much more of the drug he can tolerate before it could possibly kill him. I mean, we know so little about the side effects of the drug. He is already ill."

"And what are you recommending?"

The doctor took a deep breath before continuing. "The only thing I can suggest is that we stop giving him this drug for now. From what I understand, everybody thinks he's dead anyway. And he is locked up."

Frolichman's eyes shifted to his aide. "And do you agree with the Doctor, Captain?"

"I don't know, sir. But a dead prisoner is of no use to anybody. Especially us. They will not trade for a dead man."

Frolichman took a long moment to digest this information. When he finally spoke, he did not look at the doctor.

"Very well, doctor. We will stop the injections for now. However, should Colonel Hogan try to escape, the injections will resume and I won't care if he dies from them. Do I make myself understood, doctor?"

"Jawohl, Major."

Frolichman waved his hand. "You are dismissed, doctor."

Erlichman glanced at Frolichman and then Heinman before exiting the room leaving Frolichman and Heinman alone.

"Questions, Captain?"

Heinman looked uncomfortable. "If I may, sir."

Frolichman motioned for his aide to be seated. "Ask."

"Major, I don't understand why this man is so important. I mean, why Colonel Hogan?"

The Major stared at his aide. He put his fingertips together. "What I tell you stays in this room. Understood?"

"Yes, sir."

"I visited Stalag 13 a year ago and was introduced to a Colonel Robert Hogan, the Senior POW officer there. I thought nothing of him at the time except that he was very insolent. But, imagine my surprise when, several months later, I saw this same Colonel Hogan walking around the streets of Berlin, acting like a free man. I must admit I became curious. So, I purposely returned to Stalag 13 pretending to visit the Kommandant there, a Colonel Wilhelm Klink who, in my opinion is as incompetent an officer as I have ever seen. Imagine my disbelief when I saw the same Colonel Hogan there. This man apparently can come and go as he pleases from the POW camp." Frolichman paused for a moment before continuing. He smiled like a cat who had caught himself a mouse. "Did you know, Captain, that Colonel Hogan operates the largest espionage and sabotage unit in Germany? And all from within the confines of his POW camp right under the nose of that idiot Klink."

Heinman expressed his shock. "How do you know all this, Major?" he asked.

Frolichman continued smiling. "Let's just say I had a source who met with an untimely death after passing this information to me. Most unfortunate."

"This all seems too unbelievable," said Heinman.

"Unbelievable but true," Frolichman explained. "Colonel Hogan has a series of tunnels under the camp which allow him to come and go as he pleases as well as an underground radio with which he makes contact with London." He held up a hand before Heinman could ask a question. "I believe, Captain, that any man who can do all these things must be a valuable asset to the Allies. And that is why I believe this Colonel Hogan would be a prize of immense value. I believe the people who are holding our operative would gladly trade our operative for the great Colonel Hogan also known as Papa Bear to the underground."

Heinman thought he understood. "But wouldn't it be to our advantage to interrogate this man. He could give us valuable information."

"Perhaps. But Colonel Hogan from what I understand, can tolerate a lot without cracking. I'm afraid he would not survive our uh, interrogation methods, if you understand me, Captain." he shrugged. "Besides, who knows. If our trade with them falls through, we may get a chance to question Colonel Hogan and extensively."

"Who else knows about this, Major?" asked Heinman.

"Just the two of us. This kind of information I want kept quiet. You never know when it might become valuable later on." He stared at his watch. "I have a meeting I must attend and I am late." He looked at Heinman. "You are dismissed, Captain Heinman."

Heinman got to his feet. He saluted the Major. "Jawohl, Major." He turned and headed for the door. With his hand on the doorknob he paused and glanced at Frolichman.

"One last question, Major. What will happen to Colonel Hogan once the trade has been made if I may ask?"

Frolichman sighed. "Captain, all I can tell you is that once the trade is made, Colonel Hogan will pray for death by the time they are through with him. Knowing of their tactics, he will either be a vegetable for the rest of his life, or he'll be dead. Whichever is of no concern to me."