Chapter Eleven – Hero's Welcome
Oskar spent the rest of that day crying, frustrated and angry at the country that had put him through this. Schultz didn't know what to do or say. He only knew it was best for him to remain there now. He didn't care if he was absent without leave. He had a lot of people to take care of.
Moses and some of the other younger children savored the cool, crisp air, amazing at the bright sunlight. He remembered little of the outside world, outside of the practices. The older Rubin children continued to try to recall their parents, the concept of how many perished overwhelming all but Oskar and, perhaps, Albert, as the sheer numbers were so large.
The next day, with Schultz finally resigned to never returning to Germany, an ambulance pulled up. Jones walked in to where they were weeping and reminiscing a short time later. "I think you're all going to want to come to see this." When Schultz asked what it was, he simply insisted that they all come and look.
Oskar was very hesitant, but the younger ones told him he had to come, too. They still believe anything can happen, he told himself, longing for the time when he, too believed in fairy tales.
Suddenly, he raised his head, tears began streaming down his face. "Mother! You are alive!" He raced up to the stretcher and hugged her warmly. She couldn't move very well, but she was able to greet each of them weakly. "What did they do to you?" he asked fearfully.
"Does it matter?" Gretchen asked. "I always said…the important thing is…that you children are safe."
Only now did Schultz and the children notice Hogan, Carter, Newkirk, and LeBeau. "How did you do it?" they asked almost all at once.
"That's what I'd like to know myself," Bedford admitted.
"Well, there wasn't any hope for us; we called in the nick of time as it was. But, there was one man who would storm Hitler's bunker if he thought he could get at information leading directly to me," Hogan explained, modestly hiding a grin.
Newkirk couldn't help but laugh. "When Kinch called later to make sure Heidelberg Gestapo had gotten his call, they told him the bloke was almost breathin' fire on the phone."
"They refused at first, but then were afraid if they didn't take her up there, he was gonna send the whole city of Heidelberg to the Eastern Front," Carter noted.
"Oui, and tell them about the raid, that is the best part," LeBeau declared.
"Oh, yeah," Hogan said, "Carter had done this blustery general beforehand telling Hocstetter he had to stay put because of an inspection, so of course, Heidelberg Gestapo had to bring her up to us. We waited on the side of the road, with a few others, and ambushed the vehicle."
"Hochstetter an' his goons came to make sure the colonel was there, that's why we was a little late in comin' an' couldn't even use the radio. Then 'e went down to Heidelberg, an' he's probably ready to breathe real fire at them for losin' his prisoner," Newkirk explained.
"While they are mad at him for taking their prisoner," LeBeau said with a smile.
Jones and Bedford shook their heads. "I don't know how you do it," Bedford said with awe.
Jones concurred. "Here I'd thought I'd have to wait till after the war to sit down and hear stories, and you boys just show up right here. Talk about audacity."
Hogan admitted, "I've always been a dreamer. I don't know if I'll live to see man walk on the moon, but I've been able to do some amazing things with the help of my men.'
"Using Hochstetter does not sound very subtle," Schultz noted.
Carter admitted that sometimes, bluster worked better with the Germans. "Of course, they wouldn't have probably listened to me, but Hochstetter does a mean, blustery German even better."
"We're glad, too," Hogan said, reminding Carter he was an American.
Despite her weakened state, Gretchen managed to chuckle. "I would hate to be a fly on the wall down there now, with Major Hochstetter confronting those men."
"Ja, both sound like real meanies. Although, I was able to get us by them." Oskar cleared his throat. "That is, God was able to use me to defeat them." Heinrich told them what he'd done.
Hogan didn't hand out praise willy nilly, but he was genuinely impressed at the incident as they were fleeing. "That's mighty good how you did that. Sounds like you all did a wonderful job. You might have gone a little overboard, but you can probably tell mine do the same sometimes."
"Oh, yeah, like when I impersonated the Fuhrer…"
The doctor on duty halted Carter and reminded them that they should let Mrs. Schultz rest.
They left Mrs. Schultz alone with her husband for a while, and asks he rested, she told the story of the rescue as she'd heard and imagined it.
------------------------------
Carter's blustery general had told Hochstetter to stay put that morning; he would be coming at any time that tday, but yet it was to be a surprise. Suddenly, Kinch called and asked for him. "There is a woman being held in Heidelberg, her name is Gretchen Schultz. Her husband has been completely ignorant, but she has information that can lead you directly to papa Bear."
Hochstetter began salivating as he took down details. "Ja…ja…ja, danke!" He rose and almost started to leave, when he realized, "Wait a minute, what a time for an inspection. Get me Heidelberg Gestapo," he requested once he was back on the phone and at his desk. "After formalities, he told them about the prisoner.
"We are sorry, but presently she is about to be sent to Dachau."
"I do not care if she is Eva Braun, you do not understand, she has information leading to papa Bear." They refused; their orders were clear. "You are daring to defy me! Do you not know that she has information leading to the most dangerous man in all of german! Bridges blowing up, important men disappearing, experiments ruined, sabotage everywhere, Himmler, Goering, and even the Fuhrer there and not there; this is the most dangerous man in all of Germany, and if you do not bring this prisoner to me so I can get her information, I could have grounds to charge you with treason!" They would have to speak with their superiors. "Bah, I will call my superiors, I will call Himmler himself, there is no prisoner more important than Papa Bear! If you do not bring her to me right away, I will have you sent to the Eastern front; I will send your whole city to the Eastern front!"
He described in more detail what Papa Ber had done, and after a few more minutes, they finally relented. They knew Hochstetter and his reputation, and had heard of Pap Bear, too. If this person had information leading directly to him, they would send her there; Hochstetter would not let anyone share the glory in capturing him.
However, a fake checkpoint that afternoon had led to Gretchen being taken by Hogan and his men and told her children were safe. They'd gotten word from Baker, back at Stalag 13.
Unfortunately, they then had to go to radio silence and seal the tunnels, because they knew Hochstetter would wonder where they were, and he did; he'd come and torn the place apart, so they had to seal all the tunnels. They'd let the drivers go so they could say with certainty that none of the bandits was as fat as Schultz. The next day, they'd picked Gretchen up and, with the Allies owning the skies, cause a small, waiting plane that would take them over to the Allied side, where they could reunite Gretchen with her husband.
------------------------------
"And what a wonderful reunion it is," Carl said as they were all back together later that evening.
"I will take a while to recover…but, I will make it," Greatchen promised. "We are all safe now," she assured her children once more.
"Ja. I will have to stay here, too. If the prisoners reported back, Klink knows I deserted."
"No, Schultz, actually…" Hogan held his hat in his hand. "Well, once they had a roll call, Hochstetter was lambasting Klink about the fact a prisoner was missing that was going to be sent to him. And, I got him to admit she was a prisoner because she was hiding Jews. So…right now Klink's kind of depressed. In fact, I better get back to him."
------------------------------
Major Hochstetter had arrived at Stalag 13, and promised to search the entire camp. Hogan and his men had sealed the tunnels, with a couple people down in the tunnels with Gretchen, able to provide medical help. They'd gotten her in through the emergency tunnel, and put the truck back in the motor pool, with Klink not knowing it had been out.
"I do not care about Schultz, I want to know where his wife is," Hochstetter screamed that evening, slapping Klink's desk with his gloves. Hogan entered, and the major quickly shouted, "Hogan, get out, we were discussing something top secret."
"Hard to believe, Major, the way you're shouting we can all hear, anyway."
"A prisoner was being brought to me from Heidelberg who had information that would led directly to your arrest, what do you know about this?"
"What's there to know, I've been here all afternoon, right, Kommandant?"
"That is right, Major, he has."
"Bah, my men are searching this camp inch by inch, if Hogan has any information we will know. We also have a device in the area that can detect radio transmissions."
"Why was she a prisoner? Wait, I know, big name agent. Nimrod?"
"No, she…why am I talking to you?"
"Well, you wanted a special roll call taken right when you came in, I thought maybe you'd like to see more of my face."
"Hogan, the only place I would like to see your face is a holding cell."
"I bet I know, then; plot to kill the Fuhrer, right? I'll bet she was the mastermind."
"Hogannnn, you heard the major, get out!"
Hogan figured if he let Hochstetter get too riled, he might tell, which might let them get Klink on their side. "Let's see, so if she wasn't trying to kill Hitler," he said, gesturing with a cigar he'd swiped unnoticed, "and she wasn't a spy…" He snapped his fingers. "Black market?"
"Klink, what is this man doing here?!"
"Playing 20 questions."
"Out!" Klink said, holding the door now.
"Come on, Kommandant, the game's just started. Animal, vegetable, or mineral?"
"WHAT IS THIS MAN DOING HERE?!?!"
"Okay, I got sixteen questions left. Does it start with a 'J'?"
"Yes, for your information, she was hiding Jews on her property, now get out!"
"Helping other people is a crime; I didn't know that, did you, Kommandant?"
Klink was stunned. "Major…that does not sound like a crime to me."
As Hochstetter took Klink's mind off of that by railing about Papa Bear once more, Hogan told him, "We'll talk later."
Once the Gestapo had left later that evening, Hogan went into Klink's office. "Rough day?"
"Hogan…I know sometimes you play around, like with Major Hochstetter this afternoon. But, what he said…can you please be completely honest, no matter how much it hurts?"
"Sure . I can tell you're feeling pretty bad already." He took the bottle of schnapps off his desk; it was half empty. "NO more schnapps tonight, okay?" He agreed. "Look, I don't know what's been happening, or what all they've done. But, I do know that what the major says is true.It is a crime. And, Schultz knew, too."
"Did he really wind up in a hospital looking for your men?"
"No. he's with his children now – his own and the Jewish ones – in a secret location."
"Hogan…the way Major Hochstetter talked after you left, it sounded like this was something…I do not know how to describe it, it seems so horrible, to say that one cannot be friends with or help innocent people."
Hogan looked down. "I've got this horrible knot in my stomach that tells me when this is all over, we're all gonna feel that way. Look, Kommandant, Gretchen's safe, too. But, we have to reunite her with with her family. Once we do that, you have my word that we'll come back. We always do, don't we?"
"That is true. Tell Schultz he can stay if he wants. I will even see he gets his pay sent to him. I know this is probably a very hard time…because I know what I am thinking about my own friends from years ago." Klink would consider this a furlough, even if he did come back.
Hogan promised. As he left, he told Kinch they had Klink's help for tomorrow. "Stay here just in case we would need to leave. And…well, try to keep Klink out of the schnapps."
------------------------------
"Klink know your wife helped, Schultz. He knows you need some time with your family. If you don't want to come back, he understands."
"He does?" Oskar thought for a moment, glancing at his mother to make sure she was still there, still breathing, after the worry and frustration he'd felt. "If he is willing to understand…maybe it would be okay to go back after the war," he said hesitantly, starting to believe again in miracles, like his country getting better, and things returning to normal.
Now, Schultz was the one who was uncertain. "I do not know. Whether it would be easier to start my company over in Germany or the United States, I do not know."
Hogan promised to help. "Our headquarters is going to be Heidelberg after the war. So, we can help. I'll have leverage with what I've done. We could use a good toymaker's help to start making things pleasant for the kids again. Of course, if you come back, you don't know that."
"Danke. If the others are all right with it, we will start in Germany, and for now I will know noth-ing." The others left. Schultz sat next to his wife, and held her hand. "I know it was rough, liebchen. But, I will be here for you."
"Hans…it is okay…You may go back."
Schultz said he would; it would be safe, if she was okay with it. "It sounds like the Big Shot and the others will take care of me, and keep me safe, it is true. But, what about you?"
"I will be fine. The children will be able to help. I think we will need to spend time alone, just having fun…and, being free."
"Jones was telling me there was a family on a farm in northern England, who they had found to take all the children in. They will have room." He had faith, and would soon have it confirmed, that Gretchen could also recuperate there. "I cannot believe what the war has done to us. As a family, and as a people. I am just glad you are safe."
"Hiding in the tunnels, which they had sealed, and getting out on that plane they flew in…was easy compared to what it would have been….I was ready, though, Hans…I was thinking of that verse…now is laid up for me the crown of victory…I had even given a victory speech, if you will…when the guards told me where I was going...I suppose, like the children here, I, too, finally felt free to say what was on my mind…And, somehow, I had faith that they were free."
She thought back to the speech. "I know the God I serve, a holy and just God, who cannot bear evil. I forgive you for what you are about to do. I know before me lie bountiful treasures, and I shall throw off this body which is corrupted for an incorruptible one! Know that you can do the same if you acknowledge your sins and repent, and turn from your wicked ways and toward that God of love, and His gift of eternal life in a sinless glory through Jesus Christ the Lord.
"Your deeds have been most cruel, your policies most evil, your racism most treacherous. You blaspheme God with talk of a master race, and you commit treason against Him by hating an entire people, with whom you are equal!
"I gladly give for the cause of Christ, whom I serve today by forfeiting my life for innocents, that they might grow in His everlasting lovingkindness! May you come to repentance, to renounce your evil ways before Christ, and may God have mercy on your souls!"
"I hope some of them listened." She did, too. "I suppose, if you are all right with it, I will leave for a few months." The reunion would be that much sweeter, when they finally made it back to Heidelberg and began rebuilding, with Klink working for them. "But, I am staying here a couple more days; for you and the children. It sounds like Colonel Hogan has arranged it. And, while I feel for Kommandant Klink being depressed, he will probably listen better to Colonel Hogan. Meanwhile, I suppose this is a furlough."
"Ja. And, when we go back there, we will be able to help the people recover." They shared a warm hug.
A/N: I was torn how to end it, because as you may have guessed, in the original, which was only to hint at it being a Hogan's story other than with Schultz, Mrs. Schultz was a martyr, the symbol of those who gave their lives, and Hogan's operation was discovered at the same time, so Hogan couldn't help.
As I worked on this, however, I felt it would be more like a Hogan's story if she survived. Not only that, but there is one episode which may well take place after this end ("Look At All the Pretty Snowflakes") and Schultz was there, obviously. A break like this for him to be gone is quite likely, and it's after every other episode, if not that one, but if she hadn't survived, I think he would have stayed, as in the original, when they don't go back to Germany, and the story's end is 25 years later with them reminiscing at a memorial.
It may have more impact if she had died; that's true; that's why it was originally that way. Still, I believe Hogan would try to help, and the more I thought about it, using Hochstetter the way I have might have been one of their easier operations, given Hochstetter's feelings about Hogan. Therefore, only their operation shutting down at the same time would keep them from helping, and I thought that was too coincidental, as she wouldn't know enough to implicate them.