Chapter 9: Close Call
Word spread quickly though camp Christopher and Hogan were injured. Many men crowded in the tunnels to see if there was anything they could do to help.
LeBeau asked, "How do you propose we get Christopher to the hospital and explain his wounds? Roll call is in thirty minutes."
Wilson, still looking at his patient, said, "We might have to tell Klink the truth, or something like it, and suffer the consequences later." Wilson was doing all he could to stop the bleeding so Christopher could be moved.
"We will use the same cover story as we discussed earlier. This time we add Christopher was injured in the cave in. We were able to dig him out but not Wright," Hogan stated.
"I think we need to add you to the story as well," Wilson said, glancing at Hogan.
"I'm fine. Worry about Christopher," Hogan ordered. He slowly stood, bracing himself against the wall. "While I am getting changed into my uniform, change Christopher into his. Once finished, move him to the showers. I'll meet you there. Those not involved, back into the barracks. Newkirk, that includes you."
"But, Sir…" Newkirk protested.
"No 'buts'. I promised Wilson I would make sure you would rest your arm, and that is what you are going to do. Kinch, I need you to get some objects we could use for digging. Carter, wire the fake tunnel to implode without bringing the showers down."
"Yes, Sir," Everyone said as they left to do as asked
Once everyone had left, Hogan, hobbled over to his locker and changed back into his uniform. Hogan was in pain and feeling faint, but he didn't want the others to worry about him while one of his men was dying.
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Once everyone had arrived, Hogan leaned against the wall and addressed the men. "I want you to quietly collapse the fake tunnel. Make it look like we dug Christopher out,"
"And you," Wilson added.
Hogan gave Wilson a disgusted look. "And me. Kinch, scatter the tools and rub some dirt on your face, hands and clothes. Make it look like you helped with the digging. The rest of you do the same." Hogan bent down to smear mud on his uniform.
Before Hogan could mention to someone about smearing mud on Christopher's uniform, Knox was already doing it.
Hogan's leg was in no shape for him to get Klink and had to send one of his men. "Kinch, get Klink and tell him Christopher and I were injured trying to stop Wright. Carter, implode the tunnel. Make sure you do it as quietly as possible. This plan rests on the Krauts believing the explosion of the ball-bearing factory caused the cave in." Hogan was met by dubious stares. "I'll explain later. Everyone stand back and let Carter do his thing."
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Kinch ran out of the showers to Klink's quarters as fast as he could. Surprisingly, he didn't run into any guards. Kinch knocked loudly, praying Klink believed him.
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Klink yanked opened the door and yelled, "What is it and there better be a good reason for disturbing me at 0530. Sergeant Kinchloe? What are you doing here?" Klink was more expecting Hogan to be knocking on his door and not one of his men.
"Sir, Colonel Hogan and Christopher were trying to stop Wright from escaping. I guess the explosion we heard caused the escape tunnel to cave in. We were able to dig Colonel Hogan and Christopher out but not Wright. Sir, both Colonel Hogan and Christopher are hurt badly. Christopher needs a doctor or hospital."
Klink squinted at Kinch trying to figure out if this was one of Hogan's pranks. He wouldn't put it past Hogan to set up something like this, maybe even to cover up a real escape. "Is this some sort of a trick Sergeant?"
"No, Sir. Please hurry. Christopher doesn't have much time," Kinch pleaded.
Klink saw the fear in Kinch's eyes for their wellbeing. When Klink noticed the blood on Kinch's uniform, he knew it wasn't a trick. Klink could only imaging how badly injured Hogan and Christopher were for Kinch to be this scared. Klink and Kinch ran to the showers.
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When they entered the showers, they saw Christopher lying on the floor with Hogan, Wilson and the others at his side.
"What is going on here?" Klink asked in shock as he saw Christopher's still body lying in a pool of blood. Even though he saw the determination in Kinch's eyes, he hoped it was still a prank.
Wilson faced Klink "Sir, Christopher has lost a lot of blood and could have many other injuries we don't know about. He needs more medical attention than I can give him. It appears Colonel Hogan's leg and shoulder were badly injured as well, but not life threatening."
Klink continued to look at Christopher in shock. "Move them to the infirmary. I will call Dr. Metzger to come out." Klink ran back to his office to make the call. He could tell by what he saw of Christopher's pale complexion, and the worried look in the prisoners' eyes, it was serous.
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Once they were in the infirmary, Wilson removed Christopher's jacket and shirt. Parker filled up a water basin and started to clean the wounds.
After the wounds were cleaned, they saw a stab wound and a bullet hole in the front and no bullet hole in the back. "He still has the bullet in him." Wilson applied bandages to slow the bleeding until Metzger could get there. "I'll take care of Christopher. You get Colonel Hogan ready."
"I can wait," Hogan said flatly.
"You will either get ready with or without help. The choice is yours." Before Hogan could protest, Wilson continued, "I am not taking 'no' for an answer. We need to get your injuries taken care of before the infection spreads. You can threaten me all you want, but you will not win." After a short pause, "Sir."
"Sergeant, you are getting close to a court-martial for insubordination." Hogan gave Kinch a nod letting him know to get everyone out of here.
Kinch ushered everyone out so no one would be in the way. When everyone was out, Hogan removed his jacket. "There, I'm as ready as I am going to be until you are completely finished with Christopher.
"There is nothing more Parker can help me with. Let him clean the wounds," Wilson stated.
Hogan didn't move. He sat there with his arms crossed, inconspicuously holding his injured arm.
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After Klink hung up the phone with Dr. Metzger, he sat at his desk and thought about what happened. Even though Christopher was the person with life threatening injuries, his mind kept focusing on Hogan. Hogan looked so pale. Were Hogan and Christopher really trying to stop Wright or were they all trying to escape? How many times have I warned them trying to escape is useless? They didn't listen to me and it cost Hogan the life of one of his men, maybe two. Klink hung his head. And almost Hogan's own life.
Klink looked out the window toward the Infirmary. He didn't want to think about what Stalag 13 would be like without Hogan, but his mind would not let it go. More than likely I would find myself transferred because Hogan wasn't here to get me out of trouble. Klink hung his head at his thought. He knew deep down Hogan was the only reason he was in command here and by nothing he did.
Klink thought back to the different times when either he or Schultz was getting sent into combat at the front. Somehow, Hogan managed to pull an ace out of his sleeve and got the transfer canceled. Klink sat there amazed how Hogan, in spite of being an enemy, had saved his behind more times than he could remember. Klink thought about how much he owed Hogan and knew he would never be able to repay him.
Repay him? The thought Klink had about an enemy officer shocked him. To the Nazis, Hogan was a man the Third Reich considered less human because he wasn't Aryan. To Klink, he was more than an enemy officer. Klink would not be able to admit it to anyone, but Hogan was the closest thing to a friend he had. He shook his head and paced. Who am I kidding? Hogan would never view me as a friend. As far as Hogan is concerned, I am nothing more than an enemy officer and his jailer. He only sticks his neck out to save mine because he is scared of who would replace me.
Klink walked over to the table and poured him a glass of schnapps, which he downed all at once. He stared at the empty glass thinking about all the drinks he and Hogan had shared. Yes, Hogan could be a pain in the backside, but Klink had come to accept the American officer as his equal. He often looked forward to Hogan's interruptions, if nothing more than to put some excitement into his dull life.
Klink imagined the rest of the war without those drinks or interruptions. As he thought, his mind drifted to all those who died needlessly during this war. He looked out the window to the men standing around the Infirmary, awaiting word on their friend.
Many of those men are too young to be fighting in a war. Names of his guards' children came to his mind. He heard them talk about the concerns they had about them being in combat. They are only in their teens. These kids should be worrying about girls not guns. This war has cause many young people, on both sides, to grow up too fast.
Klink remembered overhearing one guard mention his wife and child were killed in a bombing raid. The thought of children dying because of some madman's delusionsfilled him with anger he had never felt before. Klink slung the glass across the room where it shattered when it hit the wall. Amazingly, his anger was not directed toward those who were suppose to be his enemy, but toward those who were suppose to be his allies. He hated the war more than ever now, and the men in power who caused it.
The death of a prisoner caused Klink to do some major soul searching. Where did he stand in this war? In that moment, the spineless jellyfish of a commandant grew a backbone and made a resolve. No more would he sit by and watch his country go down in ruin.
He took another glass and poured himself another drink. He held it up to the picture of Hitler and said, "I vow to do what I can to help get you out of office. Including helping Papa Bear." Klink gulped down the liquid and hung his head. He stared into the glass as if for answers. "Whoever you might be."
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About a half hour after Klink made the phone call, Metzger arrived at camp. Schultz quickly escorted him to the infirmary. As soon as Wilson pulled back the bandages, Metzger looked at Wilson and shook his head. "You are lucky Klink called me instead of someone who is not a member of the underground. A first year medical student could tell this injury was caused from a gun and not a cave in. He has lost a lot of blood. He is going to need a transfusion." Metzger looked at Christopher's dog tags for his blood type
"Find someone who has B positive blood," Metzger ordered to anyone who would listen.
"Found one. Me," Hogan said.
Metzger studied Hogan for a moment, noticing how pale he was. A glimmer of something shiny on Hogan's pant leg caught Metzger's eye. Fresh Blood. "You have been through a lot. By the looks of things, you are in no shape to donate. If anything, you might be the next person to receive a transfusion. You," Pointing to Parker, "Make sure Colonel Hogan drinks plenty of fluids."
"Yes, Doctor," Parker, replied running to the sink for a glass of water.
"And line me up some donors," Metzger yelled.
"Yes, Doctor." Parker handed Hogan the glass of water then yelled outside for all B positive people to come inside.
Six people walked in. Metzger motioned for the first person to come over. "Lay down and roll up your sleeve."
The private glanced at Christopher and rolled up his sleeve. "Is he going to be okay Doc?"
"Time will tell. You will feel a slight pinch." Metzger inserted the needle into the private's arm. Next he inserted a needle into Christopher's arm. Metzger nodded for Wilson to start sucking the air out of the container. Soon the blood was flowing into a jar, out another tube and into Christopher's arm.
"Corporal," Metzger yelled.
"Yes, Doctor," Parker, replied.
"Find someone else who has medical training totake care of Colonel Hogan." Metzger ordered.
"I said I'm…fine…" Hogan answered.
Metzger looked over his shoulder in time to see Hogan's eyes roll back and body slump on the bed.
Before Metzger could move, Parker ran over to Hogan. He placed his fingers on Hogan's neck, checking for a pulse. "There's a pulse. He feels warm though."
Stubborn, bull-headed Colonel. If he doesn't start thinking about his own wellbeing for a change, it is going to kill him, Metzger thought angrily. "Infection setting in. Get someone to help you clean the wounds and dress them."
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Parker opened the Infirmary door. "Hey, Ducky! Didn't you once say you worked in a hospital?"
"A pet 'ospital," Ducky replied.
"Close enough. Get in here," Parker ordered.
Ducky ran inside. "What you need me to do?"
Parker removed Hogan's shirt. "Help me clean and bandage the Colonel's wounds. Doc said infection has already set in."
Ducky shook his head. "I 'ave never worked on a 'uman before. Only farm animals."
"Same difference. I'll take his shoulder and you take his leg." Parker grabbed some medical items and started cleaning the wound.
"I guess." Ducky started opening Hogan's pant leg and cleaning the wound. After Duck got inside the wound, "Oh dear."
"What?" Parker asked.
"It appears the bullet nicked the bone, causing a small hair line fracture. Nothin' serious though. 'E will 'ave part of 'is bone missin' and some pain walkin' for a while." Ducky answered
"How can you tell? Parker asked
Ducky wiggled his fingers. "Felt it."
Parker shook his head and went back to bandaging the shoulder. "Don't worry about it now. Just clean and bandage it."