Chapter 7
Prust and the nurse known as Emerald, stood beside Hogan's beside staring at the unconscious man lying in it. Prust's arms were folded while Emerald kept her hands in the pockets of her uniform.
"Michael, do you think Papa Bear will be all right?" she asked quietly in a soft voice.
"I hope so, Judith," Prust replied. gently. "If we keep him sedated and still for a week or two he should make a complete recovery. "But he cannot be allowed to move around. He could rip his stitches and start to bleed again. So keep an eye on him. I'm assigning you to care for him as his nurse."
"Yes, sir." Suddenly, her eyes widened with concern. "Michael, I just thought of something. You said he is to be kept here in the hospital for two weeks. How will we be able to justify that with a prisoner-of-war much less an American?"
Prust smiled with that fatherly smile everyone who knew him loved. "Don't worry, Judith. General Kinchmeyer of the Gestapo has seen to everything." He winked at the nurse. She smiled in return knowing that General Kinchmeyer was one of Papa Bear's men.
Kinch woke up to the smell of fresh made coffee. Looking around he noticed LeBeau seated at the table, already dressed. He glanced at his watch, then at the Frenchman. "Louie, what're you doing up at this hour? Roll call's not for another two hours. And don't tell me you needed to make the coffee. It doesn't take two hours to make coffee."
LeBeau shrugged. "I couldn't stay asleep. Thinking about what that filthy Bosche did to Corporal Sanger and to the Colonel. Not to mention poor Schultzie." The Frenchman looked up into his friend's face with a troubled expression. "I must apologize to Schultzie first chance I get. I was wrong." His eyes then narrowed. "What are you doing up?"
"Did you forget? I need to contact the underground and get some protection for the Colonel." Kinch hurriedly got dressed. "At least that'll keep Dietrich away from him. And I owe Schultz an apology too. "
"I think we all do, mate," said another voice softly. "I mean, some of the things I said to 'im were bloody rude," Newkirk remarked as he got dressed.
"You guys talkin' 'bout Schultz?" whispered Carter sitting up on the bunk beneath Newkirk's.
"Yeah," Kinch replied. "We were wrong about Schultz."
"See," Carter began, his face beaming. "I told you Schultz didn't do it."
After Newkirk lit a cigarette, he looked at his best friend. "Carter, do me a favor, will you?"
"Sure, pal. What is it?"
"Shut up with the bloody I told you so."
"Right," Carter agreed. The men watched Kinch walk over to the double bunk and strike the hidden mechanism. He made sure to keep the bunk from rattling and awakening the other sleeping prisoners.
"LeBeau, keep an eye out," Kinch said stepping over the bed frame and onto the ladder. The Frenchman got up and walked over to the barracks door and cracked it open. "If I'm not back before roll call is announced, somebody yell for me." He disappeared down the ladder.
About an hour later, Kinch climbed back up into the barracks and struck the hidden mechanism, again making sure to keep the bunk from rattling. As the ladder rose and the bunk dropped over the tunnel opening, he turned and sat back at the table.
LeBeau closed the door and joined them as Carter poured Kinch a cup of coffee before sitting down himself.
"What did the underground say, mon ami?" asked LeBeau.
Kinch took a drink of coffee. "I spoke with Otto and told him about the Colonel's situation. I explained we needed three Gestapo guards to be posted outside the Colonel's hospital room, and one Gestapo officer, and not to let anybody except Michael Prust, and whomever he designates to be allowed into the Colonel's room. Later, I'll speak with Michael and have him select whomever he decides to help care for the Colonel. This way, we can limit the number of people who are allowed access to the Colonel."
"Also, I don't see this bastard trying to get past our Gestapo guards. And I know it'd make me feel better knowing that while the Gov'nor's vulnerable, he'll be protected." He checked his watch. "Roll call's gonna be in an hour. Kinch, you gonna approach Klink after roll call about us bein' allowed to go see the Gov'nor?"
"That's one of the things I'll speak with him about. I also have to find out if the Colonel ever spoke with him about Corporal Sanger. Then I'll talk to the Corporal afterward. I'm hoping I can get him to tell the Kommandant what happened to him. It'll supply a motive when I tell Klink we believe Sergeant Dietrich shot Colonel Hogan."
Corporal Sanger's hands were still trembling as he finished buttoning his shirt. Nobody other than Colonel Hogan knew what had happened to him at the hands of Sergeant Dietrich, and now the Colonel was in the hospital having been shot in the chest by Sergeant Schultz. Sanger let out a deep breath as he thought about it. He suspected Sergeant Dietrich was involved because it was all too timely to have been an accident. He wouldn't have put it past him. The other men in barracks ten had no idea what Dietrich had done to the young, blond-haired, blue-eyed Corporal, and Sanger was glad they didn't know. All they did know was that the arrogant, smug and self-righteous German guard had tortured the young man somehow and frightened him badly.
So absorbed in his thoughts, Sanger nearly jumped out of his uniform when he felt somebody's hand on his shoulder. In a cold sweat, he turned around. It took a few minutes for him to relax when he saw his friend, Sergeant Barry Derrick, smiling at him. "Hey, kid. You gonna hog that mirror all morning? How about letting the rest of us take a look at ourselves?"
Sanger forced a smile to his face. "Sure, Sarge," he replied nervously and started walking away. But he was stopped by Derrick who looked concerned.
"Something wrong, kid?" he asked. "You've been awfully jumpy since your run-in with that Kraut bastard a couple of days ago. Are you sure you're all right?"
Sanger nodded. "Yeah. I guess I'm still a bit jumpy after what happened to the Colonel yesterday."
"I know what you mean, kid," Derrick answered. "And to be shot by Schultz of all people. Never saw that coming in a million years."
Just then, there was loud banging on the barracks door. Sanger immediately froze while Sergeant Derrick walked over to the door and opened it to reveal the intimidating figure of Sergeant Karl Dietrich. Derrick swallowed nervously and checked his watch. Roll call was still thirty minutes away.
"We'll be on time for roll call, Sergeant Dietrich," Derrick said nervously. Dietrich didn't respond. Instead, his eyes were on Corporal Sanger. He pointed at him.
"You will come with me," he ordered in a voice that froze the other men into silence as they watched and listened. Sanger was too paralyzed with fear to move. Dietrich reached out a large hand and roughly seized the young Sergeant by the arm. "I said you will come with me!" He jerked Sanger close to him. "When I give you an order you will obey. Understand, swine!" He then jerked the young Sergeant forward toward the open door.
Derrick suddenly reached out and grabbed the Sergeant's arm. "Wait a minute, Sergeant. You can't take him. It's almost time for roll call." Derrick was totally unprepared for what happened next.
Releasing Sanger's arm, Dietrich reached for his pistol and pressed it against Derrick's head. He smirked at the Sergeant. "Remove your hands from me, dog! You have one minute to do so or I will pull the trigger." To emphasize his point, everybody heard the safety being removed and the weapon cocked. Derrick immediately released the Sergeant's arm and took a step back. Still smirking, Dietrich put the safety back on his weapon and appeared about to re-holster it when he suddenly backhanded Derrick with it, sending the Sergeant backward onto the floor. Dietrich then re-holstered the weapon. "Next time you put a hand on me, I'll put a bullet in your head, dog." He then shoved Sanger outside, slamming the door shut behind him.
Several of the men gathered around Sergeant Derrick and helped him to his feet. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. He looked nervously at the closed door, his face full of fear.
"I wonder what that bastard wants with Sanger now?" he asked no-one in particular. He then looked at the man beside him, a Corporal Bannister, in the eye. "After roll call, we'd better speak with Kinch. He'll know what to do. He is the Acting Senior POW until the Colonel gets back."
"You mean if Colonel Hogan lives, don't you?" Bannister asked solemnly.
"Regardless. Kinch is in charge right now so he's the one we talk to."
Sanger realized he was shaking with terror at being alone with the German Sergeant who towered over him as they were alone behind barracks seven which he knew was empty right now. He watched Dietrich to see what he was going to do to him this time. He remembered what had happened the last time Dietrich got him alone and inside barracks seven. He had shoved him on the floor, pinned him down with his boot and tied his arms behind his back and shoved a gag in his mouth and then he...Sanger prayed it wouldn't happen again. If it did, Sanger promised he would kill himself rather than be the plaything of this animal. He squeezed his eyes shut trying to forget the horror of the last time.
Smirking evilly, Dietrich slowly walked around the young Corporal with a small rubber club in his hand that he kept concealed in his coat pocket. He was slapping it in the palm of his opposite hand. He enjoyed watching the Corporal react every time he heard the smacking sound of the club in the guard's hand. Sanger opened his eyes when he felt the cold, hard rubber touch his cheek.
"You have been running your mouth, Corporal," Dietrich said suddenly shoving the club under Sanger's lower jaw and holding it there. "I know you spoke with the American mongrel named Hogan. Didn't you?" his voice was very calm but cold.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Sergeant," Sanger stammered. "I didn't tell anybody. I swear."
"You're lying, Corporal. I know you spoke with Hogan. And do you want to know how I know? I know because your American Colonel confronted me about it. He put his hands on me. That mongrel dared put his hands on a superior. I could have had him shot for that. In fact…" Dietrich smiled in such a way that it chilled Sanger's blood. He leaned closer and spoke in a low voice. "…I did." He chuckled evilly. "I shot the bastard not only for daring to put his hands on me, but because he was going to complain about me to the Kommandant. I couldn't allow that. So you see, Corporal, the shooting of your Colonel is your fault because you opened your mouth. I shot him because of you."
Sanger, closing his eyes tightly began to cry. He heard Dietrich chuckling. "Ja, Corporal. You are to blame for Colonel Hogan being shot. And unfortunately, you will be responsible for his death as well."
"But…but…but…Colonel Hogan is alive,sir."
"That is merely a formality, Corporal. A formality I will soon remedy. You didn't think I would let him live, now did you?"
"Please, sir," Sanger found himself pleading. "Please don't kill Colonel Hogan. I'll do anything you want! And I won't say anything to anybody else. I promise! Just don't hurt the Colonel anymore!"
Dietrich resumed walking around the young man again as he appeared to think about what Sanger had said. The Corporal swallowed the lump in his throat, nervously waiting. Finally, after a few short minutes, he stopped in front of Sanger again and looked him in the face.
"And why should I let Hogan live?" he asked. "Convince me why."
The Corporal licked his dry lips as he wiped his face with both hands. "Because, sir, without me telling my story, there will be nobody to back up the Colonel's accusations. He'll have no proof of anything. And without proof, his accusations will be unfounded. So you see, sir, you'll have nothing to worry about. So, will you let the Colonel live? Please?"
Dietrich gently tapped the rubber club in his hand. Finally, after a minute or two, he smirked in the Corporal's face. "Not good enough, Corporal. Your Colonel Hogan will die, and everybody will think he simply succumbed to his injury. And that imbecile Schultz will take the blame ending up either in front of a firing squad or sent to the Russian front. Makes no difference. But before Hogan dies, I will see if the fun I had with you inside barracks seven the other day will be just as much fun with an American officer." He smirked. "I never had fun with an American officer before. It will be an experience I'm sure I will enjoy." Dietrich then looked at his watch. "As for you, Corporal, I cannot take any chances with you." He reached for his weapon.
"No! I won't let you hurt Colonel Hogan that way! " Sanger cried. "And I won't let you kill him either!" Without warning, he suddenly shoved the Sergeant, turned, and ran as fast as he could in the opposite direction but oddly away from the barracks. He headed for the Kommandantur figuring if he could get there he could tell Klink everything and save Colonel Hogan and Sergeant Schultz.
"Halt!" Dietrich shouted. "Halt or I will shoot!" He removed the safety from his weapon and gave chase.
The shouting caused doors of the different barracks to open as the prisoners looked out to see what was happening, including barracks two.
"Hey, isn't that Corporal Sanger?" Carter asked as he and the others crammed into the open doorway, craning their necks to see what was occurring.
"Yeah, it is," Kinch answered. His eyes quickly narrowed. "And look who's chasing him!"
"It's Dietrich!" exclaimed Newkirk, worried.
"And he's got a gun!" added LeBeau.
"I've got to get out there before something bad happens," Kinch replied starting to squeeze past the others. But before anyone could move, a gunshot was heard. And as the prisoners stared in horror, Corporal Sanger fell sprawling on the ground in front of the Kommandantur and lay still.