Chapter 5
Kommandant Klink hung up the phone with a grim expression on his face. He was still shaken over what he had witnessed when he had entered barracks two. Hogan, lying on the floor bleeding profusely, with Kinch frantically trying to stem the blood flow and Newkirk cradling his head. Klink closed his eyes hoping to block the sight from his mind and couldn't. He had seen Hogan injured before, but never had he seen so much blood. And although he would never admit it to anyone, he was frightened for Hogan especially after Sergeant Heidleman's telephone call. He got to his feet and walked to his liquor cabinet. Pouring himself a glass of Schnapps, he quickly gulped it down, then poured another. He also downed it in one gulp and poured a third.
Klink understood that in war there were casualties on both sides. But to possibly lose someone this way? At the hand of one of his own guards. And Schultz of all people. To Klink it was incomprehensible that this could of happened. He prayed that Hogan would survive. But Klink knew even if he did somehow recover, once General Burkhalter heard the news, Schultz was destined for the Russian front regardless. He downed the Schnapps and slammed the now empty glass on top of the liquor cabinet.
Hours later, Newkirk was going stir crazy. He looked at his watch sighing wearily. It had been ten hours since Hogan had been taken into surgery. He ran his hands down his face, then rubbed them together between his knees, arms resting on thighs. He looked over at Wilson.
"It's been ten hours, Joe. What is takin' 'em so bloody long?"
Wilson, with legs crossed, arms folded, and the back of his head against the wall, turned to face the Englander. "The bullet could have done more damage than originally believed. Also, they are being very thorough, Newkirk. And being thorough takes time. Unfortunately, some things take more time than others."
"I know that," Newkirk replied tiredly. "It's just the waiting that I can't stand. I've never been very patient about anything in me entire life."
Out of the corner of his eye, Newkirk spotted Prust, his surgical garb bloodstained. He looked exhausted and much older than before the surgery. Wilson noticed Newkirk's change of expression and looked around. The two men hurriedly got to their feet as the doctor approached and sat down near them. He motioned for them to sit back down. He rubbed his hands together as he thought about what he was going to say.
His silence made Newkirk and Wilson fear the worse. Swallowing the large lump in his throat and with shiny eyes, the Englander looked Prust in the face. "The Colonel, is he….?" he couldn't finish.
Prust realized immediately what they were thinking by his silence. He allowed a small smile to appear. "Colonel Hogan, surprisingly, is still alive." He rubbed the back of his neck. "We had to give him twelve units of blood. But we did get the bullet out."
"Did it hit any vital organs?" Wilson asked nervously.
"The bullet nicked the heart muscle," he said. "In fact, despite the seriousness, the Colonel was extremely fortunate. One centimeter over and he would have died instantly."
Newkirk leaned back in his chair, letting out a deep breath. "Blimey," was all he could utter.
"What's his condition now?" asked Wilson.
"Extremely serious, Sergeant Wilson. And for about one or two weeks he must remain completely still because of where the bullet hit. So, we are going to keep him heavily sedated during that time."
For the first time in hours, Newkirk allowed a small smile to creep onto his face. "Then he'll be all right?" he asked looking at Prust hopefully.
The doctor ran a hand over his graying hair. "He should be. That's the reason we'll be keeping him heavily sedated. We don't want any unnecessary movement by Colonel Hogan. However, the first seventy-two hours will tell as with any serious surgery."
"Can we see him?" asked Wilson.
"Right now he's in recovery. Once we move him to a room you'll only be able to see him for a few minutes. Just keep in mind he's unconscious and may or may not hear you or even know you're there. I'll send somebody to get you once he's settled in his room. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go." He slowly got up as did Wilson and Newkirk. They both shook Prust's hand. Their eyes spoke volumes that words could never express.
"Thank you, doctor," Wilson said.
"Yes, sir," Newkirk said. "Thanks, mate…I mean doctor."
"You're entirely welcome gentlemen." That said, Prust briefly glanced at the guards before he left.
Sergeant Heidleman wearily got to his feet. "I will update Kommandant Klink as to Colonel Hogan's condition." He looked at the camp medic. "Sergeant Wilson, perhaps you should accompany me. You can explain what the doctor said much better than I being a layman." He waited as a weary Wilson got up and accompanied the Sergeant to the nurses' station to use the phone.
Now alone with Corporals Langenscheidt and Reinhold, Newkirk glanced in their direction with a small grin to see both guards smiling back at him. The Englander could tell that both guards were just as relieved as him that Hogan was still alive. Newkirk knew that in camp, a majority of the guards liked Hogan more than Klink; he even wondered if Klink suspected that his Senior POW officer was more popular and respected by his own guards than himself. Hearing footsteps Newkirk glanced over and noticed Wilson and Sgt. Heidleman returning.. They both were chatting amicably. Wilson sat down beside Newkirk.
"What did ole Klink have to say, Joe?" asked the Englander quietly.
"I sensed he was very relieved that Colonel Hogan survived the surgery. And he demanded we be brought back to camp immediately." He suddenly grinned. "But Sergeant Heidleman and myself convinced him to let us stay until after we see the Colonel."
"How the bloody hell did you manage that?" Newkirk asked glancing back and forth at both Sergeants.
"It was simple really," Wilson replied. "After I explained the Colonel's injuries and what Dr. Prust had said, I then told Klink that before he contacted General Burkhalter he might want to wait until as the camp medical officer, I have a chance to actually see the Colonel myself and what was being done for him so he would then have a more accurate report to give the General."
"I can understand you being the camp medical officer, but what about me? Didn't he demand I be brought back to camp?" asked Newkirk, puzzled.
"Sergeant Heidleman and I both convinced Colonel Klink that you refused to return to camp until you had seen for yourself that the Colonel was doing all right, and this way you could update the men in barracks two while I spoke with him. Frankly, I think he's looking for any excuse to delay calling the General about Schultz shooting the Colonel. So he agreed."
Newkirk shook his head, amused. "Blimey, Joe. You've been hangin' 'round the Gov'nor too long. Pickin' up some bad habits."
Just then a nurse appeared. "Excuse me." Everybody turned towards her. "But are you the gentlemen who came with a Colonel Hogan?"
Newkirk smiled at the pretty brunette with the large brown eyes. He looked her up and down approvingly. What a gorgeous bird, he thought. And at any other time he would've made a play for her, but perhaps another time. "That's us, Miss," he said. He noticed her name tag: it read 'Nurse R. Schmidt.' Newkirk committed the name to memory.
"Dr. Prust wanted me to inform you that Colonel Hogan has been moved to his room. You may come and see him, but only for ten minutes. If you will just follow me, bitte."
Wilson and Newkirk, getting up, looked at the guards. Corporal Langenscheidt got up. "I will accompany you to Colonel Hogan's room and wait outside while you visit."
Newkirk, Wilson, and Langenscheidt followed the nurse down the hall and around the corner to room 209. The nurse entered followed by Newkirk and Wilson. Langenscheidt, leaning against the wall, remained outside across from the room. After the two men entered, the nurse left reminding them they could only stay for ten minutes. Then, she left them alone with the patient.
Newkirk and Wilson slowly approached the bed gazing down at the American officer. Hogan looked deathly pale. The arm nearest to them had an intravenous needle in it with a tube connected to a bottle hanging from a pole. Two needle punctures were noticed on the same arm. Newkirk looked at Wilson, puzzled. The medic explained Hogan had probably been given pain meds and an antibiotic. Nodding, the Englander sat down in the chair beside the bed. Reaching out, he grasped the Colonel's hand.
Never having been very good at expressing his feelings, he struggled to say what was on his mind.
"Gov'nor, it's ole Newkirk. Wilson and me was allowed to come see you. You had us scared, Colonel. Really scared back in the barracks. We thought you were a goner for sure. We can only stay ten minutes. And well, I just wanna say don't you worry about nothing. We'll look after things for you. You just concentrate on gettin' better and come back to us." He looked over his shoulder at the camp medic. "Joe? You wanna say anything to the Gov'nor 'fore we have to leave?" He got up and allowed Wilson to sit down.
Wilson studied Hogan's pale face and swallowed the lump in his throat. It pained him seeing his commanding officer like this. But at least, Wilson thought, he was alive. "Colonel, it's Joe. You have Michael Prust caring for you and I don't have to remind you how good he is. He also operated on you to remove the bullet. You were fortunate it didn't kill you." He looked at his watch noticing time was growing short. "We have to go now, Colonel. But, we wanted to see for ourselves how you were. Even Kommandant Klink is worried about you" He patted Hogan's shoulder. "We'll try and get Klink to let us come back, sir. Rest easy and fight, Colonel. Fight with everything you have."
Both men turned when the door opened and the nurse looked in. "I'm sorry," she said. "But I'm afraid you will have to leave now."
Wilson joined the nurse at the door. He looked over his shoulder and saw Newkirk lingering beside Hogan's bed, studying the stricken officer. Newkirk patted Hogan's hand.
"We'll pulling for you, sir. Don't you go leavin' us. We need you." Then, looking somewhat dejected at having to leave, the Englander joined Wilson at the door and the two men walked back out into the hallway.
Kommandant Klink slowly walked towards barracks two, noticing the lights were still on even though it was past time for lights out. However, he knew the men were waiting for news on Colonel Hogan so he was willing to cut them some slack regarding this violation of the rules. He opened the door and immediately noticed a somber group of prisoners who stared at him anxiously. He also noticed Kinch, Carter, and LeBeau seated at the table looking at him.
"Kommandant, is there something we can do for you?" asked a startled Kinch while a chill went through his body. He suspected the Kommandant had some news about the Colonel.
"I just spoke with Sergeant Wilson. I have some news regarding Colonel Hogan." His expression was not missed by the men. They braced themselves for the worst.
The men looked at each other before finally turning their attention back to Klink. "Kommandant…" Kinch asked with trepidation. "Is Colonel Hogan…?" he didn't finish as the rest of the words stuck in his throat.
"No, Sergeant Kinchloe. Colonel Hogan is alive and underwent a successful ten-hour operation to remove the bullet which nicked his heart muscle." Klink paused as there were moans from the men.
"He's alive, Kommandant?" asked LeBeau, his eyes bright. "Will he be all right?"
"Dr. Prust thinks so," Klink explained. "But Colonel Hogan will need to be kept sedated for awhile because the doctor doesn't want him moving around unnecessarily with the type of injury he received. Now, until such time as Colonel Hogan has recovered and can resume his duties as Senior POW officer, Sergeant Kinchloe will be the Acting Senior POW, effective immediately. Are there any questions?"
Carter raised his hand as if he was in school trying to get the teacher's question.
Klink looked at the young Sergeant. "What is it, Sergeant Carter?"
"Kommandant, will we be able to visit Colonel Hogan while he's in the hospital?"
"I have to think about that, speak with Dr. Prust, and see what he says. I'll have to get back to you on that." Klink hadn't forgotten the men's last visit to see Hogan in the hospital when he was in a coma and he believed it was their visit which brought Hogan out of his coma. (1) "Are there any other questions?"
"Just one more, Kommandant…sir…" it was Carter again.
"Since Sergeant Schultz is restricted to his quarters, who's going to temporarily replace him? I mean, he always announces roll call."
"I'm glad you brought that up, Carter," Klink replied. "Beginning tomorrow, Sergeant Karl Dietrich will be the new Sergeant-of-the-Guard, and will announce roll call."
"Wait a minute, Kommandant," Kinch interrupted. "You said Sgt. Dietrich will be the new Sergeant-of-the-Guard. Don't you mean Acting Sergeant-of-the-Guard?"
Klink let out a deep breath. "No I don't. He is now the new Sergeant-of-the-Guard effective tomorrow. That is all. Goodnight." Klink abruptly turned and walked out of the barracks leaving a group of bewildered men.
Kinch, LeBeau and Carter all looked at each other with concern.
"Sergeant Dietrich?" LeBeau repeated. "I've heard things about him, mon ami. And the things I've heard are not nice." He looked Kinch in the face.
"I know what you mean," Kinch added solemnly. "I've heard whispers about him as well from some of the other prisoners."
"What?" asked Carter, confused. "What did he do?"
LeBeau and Kinch looked at Carter disbelievingly.
"Unlike Schultz, Dietrich can't be bribed. He also doesn't look the other way," Kinch explained.
"And he's not very friendly," LeBeau added. "I heard from one of the prisoners in another barracks that he is rough and mistreats the prisoners."
"Sounds like we've got a problem," Kinch replied. "We're gonna have to limit our going down into the tunnels. We can't afford to have this Dietrich discover the operation."
Just then Baker got down from his bunk and poured himself a cup of warm leftover coffee. Something had been bothering him since the Colonel's shooting, and hearing Dietrich's name made him realize what it was. He sat down at the table. "Did I hear the Kommandant correctly?" he asked. "We're gonna have Sergeant Dietrich in place of Schultz?"
"You heard right," said Kinch.
"That's what I thought I heard," Baker replied. He looked worried.
"What's wrong, Richard?" asked Kinch.
"I'm not sure exactly if it means anything. But I think there's something you guys should know."
The others exchanged puzzled looks.
"Know about what, mon ami?" asked LeBeau.
"Something I accidentally overheard between Sergeant Dietrich and Colonel Hogan a couple of days ago."
(1) The incident referred to with Hogan in a coma is from my story What If…?