Chapter 5
Recap: Kinch, followed by Newkirk, soon climbed back up into the barracks; neither man seemed very cheerful.
"What happened?" asked Hogan sensing problems.
"I spoke with Bluebird, Colonel," said Kinch. "Seems this Captain van Kueren is new to the Gestapo and not much is known about him. He was recruited by Hochstetter years ago when van Kueren was undecided about a career, and recently was assigned to work with the Major. He's not married, has no children, and no problems they could find. He is also very ambitious and eager to rise within the ranks. And considering his expertise at interrogation, he's been sent here to question the prisoner."
"What did Bluebird say when you told him about my namesake?" Hogan asked.
Kinch smirked. "He said don't worry. As far as he's concerned, there's only one Papa Bear, and that's you. But he'll help us if you ask."
Hogan smiled. "What about Otto?"
"He'll be waiting at the usual place at the requested time, sir," said Newkirk.
Hogan nodded and exhaled deeply. "Until then, gentlemen, we wait." He check his watch. "During dinner, I'll visit our friend again and try and get something out of him, but I'll be back in time to meet with Otto."
The rest of the day went by slowly as Hogan nervously waited for when he could pay another visit to his namesake in solitary. He thought he was about to go crazy from waiting as he was never very good at it. It was why he was now pacing back and forth in his quarters, thinking about the prisoner and hoping he could get something out of him so they would at least have a rough idea of what danger they were facing. Finally, the time had come. Leaving his quarters, Hogan stood beside the door of the barracks and looked at Carter and LeBeau; his face serious.
"Remember, don't wait for me. When the time comes, head out, meet Otto, and then bring him back here directly. I want no side-trips." His eyes were on LeBeau with that last sentence. He saw the Frenchman flinch just a bit knowing to what his commander was referring. "I'll try and get back before he arrives." After seeing the two men nod, Hogan opened the door and with a glance around the compound, slipped outside.
It wasn't difficult for Hogan to casually walk from the barracks to the cell area and to get inside. In fact, at this time of the early evening, he found he was able to do it with very little difficulty as the guards were practically ignoring him. Nonetheless, he remained observant the entire time. Looking around warily, he kept his eyes and ears open, even though he knew there were no other prisoners in the cooler except their newcomer. Reaching the area where the solitary cells were located, he grinned when he heard a loud snoring coming from close by. Pressing his back up against the wall, Hogan peered around the corner and saw Schultz seated in a chair across from the cell, hands clasped over his large stomach, rifle resting against the wall beside him, snoring with his head leaning against the wall and tilted to the side. Hogan then quietly approached until he stood in front of the guard. Reaching inside his jacket, he removed two chocolate bars and gently tucked them into the tiny space between the guard's hands and his belly.
"Sweet dreams," he whispered in Schultz's ear.
"You too, liebchen," Schultz murmured dreamily, not waking up. Hogan smiled. Then, with great care that would make Newkirk proud, he lifted the keys to the cell from the guard's belt; and looking into the cell, put his finger to his lips indicating quiet. Knowing nothing would wake Schultz short of an explosion, Hogan proceeded to unlock the cell door and slip inside, closing it behind him. Turning, he noticed the prisoner, now sitting up with feet on the floor, watching this action with amused interest.
"Aren't you afraid Schultz will wake up?" the prisoner asked.
Hogan sat down on the stool facing the prisoner with arms on his thighs and hands clasped between his knees. "He'd sleep through the liberation," Hogan stated. "Now, you and I need to talk some more."
"Oh?" the prisoner asked leaning back against the wall with legs crossed and arms wrapped around the top leg. "About what? I already gave you my name, rank, and serial number but you choose to not believe it."
"It's not that I choose to not believe you. It's that what you've told me is totally ridiculous and we both know it. Now, let's start at the beginning shall we? You say you are Colonel Robert Hogan. How did you get here? We heard no planes in this area nor did the Krauts mention they had shot down any planes and captured any Allied soldiers. So again I ask you, how did you get here?"
The prisoner chuckled. "Is that so important to you?"
"Yes, especially since it doesn't appear to be any of the normal channels such as being shot down, bailing out or escaping. So how about answering my question?"
"Very well. I escaped from Stalag 9. My plane had been shot down outside of Hammelburg, and I was forced to bail out. The rest of my crew didn't make it unfortunately. Knowing what my orders were, I began trying to make my way on foot to Stalag 13, but accidentally strayed too far off the trail and wound up in the area of Stalag 9, and was caught by one of their patrols outside their camp."(1)
"You were trying to make your way to Stalag 13 on your own?" Hogan knew that Stalag 9 was nearby, but he still doubted the man's story. He would make sure to have Otto check it out.
"By the way," Hogan began. "How's Sergeant Downs? Is he still a prisoner there in Stalag 9?"
The prisoner chuckled. "Very good. Colonel, you know darn well there is no Sergeant Downs in Stalag 9. Now, let me ask you a question."
"I'm not here to answer your questions." Hogan was momentarily caught off guard when the man figured out his 'Sergeant Downs' was false and he was testing him. He began to wonder if this man was toying with his mind.
"Really? I would think the man who believes he's the former commander of the 504th would have plenty of questions. And one of them would be were you really the commander of the 504th when you were shot down, or were you brainwashed into thinking you were the commander? Y'see, Colonel, you were never the commander of the 504th bomber unit, I was. And you're not really a Colonel; at least I don't believe you are."
Hogan chuckled, bowed his head and shook it. This guy was unbelievable. It was as if his namesake was making a go at taking over his life. Suddenly, Hogan lifted his head and stared back at the prisoner as a revelation came to him. Perhaps that was what this man was trying to do. He was trying to take over Hogan's life and operation by making everybody believe he was Robert Hogan. But how did he know so much about him was another thing that troubled Hogan. He exhaled.
"Okay, if you were commander of the 504th, where were you shot down?"
The twin Hogan shrugged. "Over Hamburg. General Biedenbender figured out my next move, was able to shoot me down, and here I am." He chuckled. "He was promoted to General for that accomplishment."(2)
Hogan smirked. His being commander of the 504th and his being shot down by Biedenbender was no secret, and that information could have been obtained anywhere. He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. This was getting him nowhere. He glanced over his shoulder making sure Schultz was still asleep. Seeing he was, he again faced the prisoner.
"Tell me something else, then. You said you were sent here to start an operation and sabotage the German war effort. Just how do you plan on doing that if I may ask?"
The prisoner shrugged. "Probably start with having a series of tunnels dug throughout this entire camp, including one under the Kommandant's office and outside of camp. I'd also need a radio to be able to contact London with. And I'd probably need German uniforms and establish contact with the local Underground providing there is one here which I suspect there is. And of course, I'd have to pick a team; not very big though. Maybe about four or five people maximum."
Hogan laughed. "There's an Underground here?" He asked with wide eyes. "What Underground? There's no such thing here in Germany."
"If you say so, Colonel. But believe me when I say there is such an organization operating here in Germany."
Hogan could only stare. This guy could be reciting what he had already set up here in Stalag 13 himself. "Huh," he said feigning surprise. "I still find that hard to believe."
"Of course, as soon as I set up the operation, I'd have to let London know that Papa Bear is in business with his Travelers Aid Society. Also, I'd have to keep Klink and Schultz around. Nobody's as inept as the two of them anyway. Having Klink in charge of the most escape-proof prison camp in all Germany would make a great cover, don't you think?" He watch Hogan's face and thought for a split second he saw a hint of something before it disappeared.
Hogan chuckled and shook his head. "But it already is escape-proof," he said with a laugh. "Nobody ever escapes from Stalag 13. Klink might look stupid and inept, but beneath that facade is a monster. And don't let Schultz fool you either. He's a monster-in-training and is the worst of the guards here." He saw his namesake glance at the sleeping guard outside the cell before looking at him, grinning.
"You expect me to believe that, Colonel?"
"It's true! Klink and Schultz are beasts! That's why nobody escapes and never will. Klink runs this camp with an iron hand and he and Schultz are both people to be feared."
"If you say so, Colonel."
Hogan couldn't take anymore. He shook his head and got to his feet. As he reached for the cell door to open it, he stopped when he heard someone call him.
"Colonel? There's something else you should know about me."
"And what might that be?"
"I am the real Colonel Hogan, and was sent here to establish an operation and that's what I intend to do as per my orders from London. Now I don't know why you're here, but I will not have you interfering in any way with my orders. So, I will do my best to make sure you don't jeopardize my assignment and once I take over, have you brought up on charges of impersonating a commissioned officer for starters. And I will see to it that you are prosecuted and court-martialed."
Hogan's jaw dropped open at the man's words. Whatever the reason, he was now positive this man was out to destroy him and his operation unless he and his men could stop him. He quietly opened the cell door and closed it after leaving. He locked the door and just as carefully, hung the keys back on Schultz's belt without the guard having awakened even once.
"Colonel?"
Hogan looked back. "What do you want now?" he asked.
"Just so you know. I have no idea what kind of hold you have on the prisoners here, but it ends now. From this moment on, I will undermine you every inch of the way until I have taken complete control. I don't know who you are, but when I find out, your reign will be finished here. I will expose you to the prisoners as a fake who's been misleading them the entire time. So enjoy what little time you have left misleading these men."
"You're crazy if you think you're going to get away with whatever you're planning," Hogan told him seriously. "The men here are not that easy to fool and I will find a way to stop you. You have my word on that."
"One last thing you should know. You get in the way of my orders, or try interfering with me, I will be forced to eliminate you as unpleasant a thought as that may be. Nothing is more important than my orders. You've been warned."
"Are you threatening me?" Hogan asked with dark eyes flashing.
"No. I'm simply warning you and giving you the option of standing down now voluntarily and getting out of my way. How you interpret it is up to you."
Not responding, Hogan abruptly turned and headed back to the barracks with the prisoner's words echoing in his head. One thing that immediately occurred to him that hadn't before, was how freely the prisoner spoke to him. It was as if he felt safe that the cooler wasn't bugged; not that it was. He mentally kicked himself that he hadn't noticed it before. But how would a new prisoner know that? Another thing was that he didn't know yet who was behind this, but the three likely candidates were the Abwehr, the Gestapo, and the Wehrmacht. Any one of them would love to get a spy into Stalag 13 and uncover his operation, and he wasn't going to allow it. If he had to pick one, he would have gone with the Gestapo as Hochstetter had been after him since day one although he wasn't sure. He checked his watch and figured Carter and LeBeau should have left by now and with any luck, would meet up with Otto and get back to camp with no problem.
By the time Hogan got back to the barracks, he quickly looked around. Kinch and Newkirk were sitting at the table drinking coffee.
"LeBeau and Carter get out okay?" he asked as he grabbed a coffee cup from the table and poured himself some lukewarm coffee.
"Yes, sir," Newkirk said checking his watch. "In fact, they left not too long ago."
Hogan took a drink of his coffee and made a face at the taste. But it wasn't just the lukewarm coffee that was leaving a bad taste in his mouth.
"What happened with the prisoner, Colonel?" asked Kinch. He had seen something in his commander's face that told him something was wrong.
"Later," Hogan told him. "I'd rather not have to repeat myself. Needless to say, it was interesting to say the least. I'll be in my quarters," Hogan announced suddenly. "Come and get me the minute LeBeau and Carter get back with Otto." He turned and walked back in the direction of the smaller room, opened the door and entered closing the door behind him leaving the Englander and the radioman staring after him.
"Is it just me or did the Gov'nor look a bit rattled after his visit with the prisoner?" asked Kinch looking at the Englander.
"Then you noticed it too, mate," said Newkirk before taking a drink of coffee.
"Ummmm-hmmm. That guy said something to the Colonel that rocked him," Kinch explained. "But I suppose he'll tell us when he's ready."
Just then, the sound of the lower bunk in the corner rattling upward was heard; both Newkirk and Kinch jumped to their feet and hurried over while another prisoner automatically went to keep watch at the door. Kinch and Newkirk stood by and waited as first Carter climbed up, followed by LeBeau, and then the man they knew as Otto.
Once he stood in the barracks, Kinch and Newkirk shook hands with the Underground operative who was dressed in a dark coat and fedora, had brown eyes and thinning dark hair and was somewhere in his mid-thirties.
"Coffee, Otto?" asked Newkirk gesturing toward the coffee pot.
"Please," the man replied rubbing his hands together. "It's a bit nippy out tonight."
"One cup of coffee coming up," the Englander said. He glanced at Carter. "Andrew, the Gov'nor's in his office. Be a good lad and tell 'im Otto's here."
"Sure," Carter replied walking toward the small room and knocked on the door. He opened it hearing Hogan's voice and looked in. "Colonel, Otto's here."
Not saying a word, Hogan emerged from his room and strode quickly into the common area. He shook hands with Otto as the operative gratefully accepted the cup of coffee from Newkirk. He sat down when Hogan gestured to the bench.
"I came as soon as you called, Colonel," Otto said. "Your man didn't say much, but enough to tell me the matter is serious."
Hogan exhaled deeply and clasped his hands on top of the table. "Otto, I need you to check into something for me and I need an immediate answer."
"You will have it. Now, what can I do?"
As quickly as possible, Hogan repeated to the operative what was known so far, leaving out the threat to his life. He paused to give Otto time to respond.
"I'd say you have a real problem," Otto said. "How can we help?"
"I need you and your people to poke around Stalag nine and see if there was anybody there by the name of Robert Hogan. I know for a fact if there was, Burkhalter would have been all over this and gone there to question this guy in a flash before making a beeline for Stalag 13 to see me. I believe he's lying, but I'd rather not take a chance. See what your people can find out and get back to us."
"Consider it done," Otto said draining his cup and getting to his feet. Facing the man who he had known nearly his entire time with the Underground, Otto smiled affectionately and held out his hand. Hogan shook it firmly. "Do not worry, Colonel. The Underground knows who you are and trusts you explicitly. Don't ever doubt that."
Hogan smiled. "Thanks. I needed to hear that. LeBeau, escort Otto out, will you?"
"Oui, Colonel." The Frenchman gestured towards the tunnel entrance. Once they had left, Kinch studied the Colonel's face and thought he saw a weariness he hadn't seen before, and something else although he didn't know exactly what.
"Colonel, is there something you're not telling us?" he asked.
Hogan sighed. "You know as much as I do. We just have to wait to see what the Underground finds out. I'll be in my quarters. I need to think."
"Yes, sir," Kinch said watching Hogan walk away in the direction of his quarters and go inside. Then, he turned to Newkirk who also had been watching Hogan's back. "The Colonel's withholding something he either doesn't want us to know or is trying to deal with alone. I just wish he would let us help him."
"I agree with you there, mate," Newkirk replied, worried. "I just hope it isn't something that's gonna get all of us killed in the process."
(1) According to Reservations Are Required, Season 1, Stalag 9 was said to be not far from Stalag 13 which is why I used it.
(2) General Biedenbender shot down Hogan over Hamburg in the episode Hogan Gives a Birthday Party, Season 2.