Chapter 45
As he passed by the radio room, Hogan was met by Kinch who was holding a small notepad in his hand. He walked beside his commanding officer.
"Okay, Bluebird said he'll await your call before disclosing the locations of the bodies of Gower and van Kueren. Said it'll appear they killed each other over a disagreement about killing you." He saw Hogan nod in agreement before continuing. "Then I spoke with Karl. He said no problem with having four men ready when you need them."
"Very good," Hogan said with a weary sigh. "I have something in mind in order to deal with the men who attacked me in the rec hall. But I can't work on Klink until Burkhalter leaves." Kinch looked at his commanding officer.
"Care to talk about it, sir?" he asked.
Hogan looked at him, keeping his face neutral. "Talk about what?"
"About how you feel having to finally allow yourself to deal with what happened in the rec hall. I mean, you were betrayed in the worse way possible by several of your men. You must have some deep-seeded feelings about it that you couldn't allow yourself to feel until now because of all the other things going on."
Hogan paused at the ladder leading up to the barracks and rested a hand on one of the upper rungs; Kinch stood in front of him waiting. The Colonel let out a deep breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
"Kinch, to be perfectly honest, I couldn't let myself think about their betrayal because I couldn't accept that any of my men would turn against me. In fact, I still don't want to think about it but I know I now have to. And to be honest with myself, it hurts, and I don't mean just physically. No commander wants to believe any of the men under his command are capable of turning on him. But I can't allow what happened to change how I command my men or this unit."
A smile slowly appeared on the radioman's face. "Colonel, don't let the actions of a few make you doubt yourself or your capabilities. You are the best commanding officer any of us here could ever ask for or want." He saw the corners of Hogan's mouth curl upward.
"You always know what I need to hear and when I need to hear it," he said. "And don't worry, I won't. But it does give one something to think about nonetheless." He sighed. "I need you to monitor the switchboard. Klink will be making a phone call and I need you to intercept it."
"Right away," Kinch replied before hurrying away to carry out his assigned task while Hogan climbed up the ladder and stepped into the barracks.
After the lower bunk closed over the tunnel opening, Hogan poured himself a half-cup of warm coffee and sat down at the table with Carter and LeBeau. He took a drink.
"Anything new with Klink?" Hogan asked eying the Frenchman.
"Oui. Burkhalter said he was returning to Berlin and for Klink to keep his mouth shut about the Gestapo's actions, and dictating to Klink that his report had better back him up or else. Then, I saw him get in his staff car and leave."
Hogan gulped down the rest of his coffee before getting to his feet. He headed towards the barracks door.
"Where are you going, mon Colonel?"
"To see Klink," Hogan replied grabbing the doorknob and opening the door. He paused in the doorway and looked back. "The time has come gentlemen to close out this unpleasant chapter in our lives." He closed the door behind him.
Klink was behind his desk leaning back in his chair with his feet up on the desk ogling a photo in the latest issue of Sexy Frauleins magazine when a knock on the door startled him. He hastily shoved the magazine in his middle desk drawer as he put his feet on the floor, straightened up in his chair, and grabbing his pen began going over the paperwork on his desk. "Come in," he ordered trying to put the photo he had been gawking at out of his mind.
He looked up when the door opened and frowned when he saw who it was. "Oh, it's only you," he said to Hogan who came inside and closed the door.
Hogan made sure he wore his best hurt feelings expression. "Well," he said in a huffy voice. "I mean, I know I don't look as good in a bathing suit as those girls in Sexy Frauleins magazine, but you could at least be a bit nicer to me, Kommandant. Especially after everything that's happened recently." He saw the Kommandant's face change and immediately felt sorry for the man who obviously still felt guilty over Hogan being nearly killed in the rec hall. "Sorry, sir," he added. Oddly enough, Hogan actually meant it this time.
Klink gave Hogan an annoyed look. "What do you want, Hogan?" he asked. "I am very busy as you can see."
"Yes, sir," Hogan replied hooking his thumbs in his jacket pockets as he stood in front of the Kommandant's desk. He smirked, figuring the Kommandant's snippy attitude was due to his perusal of the latest girly magazine being interrupted. "Where's old roly…I mean General Burkhalter? I haven't seen him since this morning."
"The General left for Berlin shortly after roll call this morning," Klink explained wondering what the American was up to.
"Just as well. Colonel, I want to talk with you about the men who attacked me in the rec hall."
"What about them? You can't possibly be asking me to release those five men from the cooler?" Klink looked at the American as if he had lost his mind. "I can't believe you'd want that."
Hogan exhaled deeply. "No, sir. But I can't trust these men anymore, nor do I want them released back into the general population. They've proven themselves to be a danger, and not just to me, but possibly to the other prisoners as well. Kommandant, I'm requesting you to transfer them to another Stalag."
Klink's eyes narrowed as he stared at Hogan. "You what?" He thought maybe he had heard Hogan wrong.
"You heard me. I want them transferred to another Stalag, and the sooner the better." To emphasize his point, Hogan reached for Klink's humidor with his still bandaged hand making sure the Kommandant saw it. Klink didn't stop the American from pilfering a cigar; in fact, the German went so far as to light it when Hogan leaned forward with the cigar between his lips. Hogan then straightened up. "Danke," he added.
"Are you sure about this, Hogan?" Klink asked. "I mean, it isn't like you to turn your back on your own men."
Removing the cigar from between his lips, Hogan held it in his injured hand, and studied the lit end. "Kommandant, normally I wouldn't. But what they did I cannot forgive nor forget. And if they attacked me, once they were released from the cooler, who's to say they might not go after you, sir." He noticed Klink's body stiffen. "I mean, they're troublemakers, sir. And we have no place for troublemakers in this camp." One look at the Kommandant, and Hogan knew he had him.
"I totally agree with you. And I know just the Stalag I can send them to. Kommandant Hoffmeyer of Stalag 16 owes me a favor," Klink replied grabbing the receiver of his phone. "Fraulein Hilda, connect me with Kommandant Hoffmeyer of Stalag 16." As he waited for the call to be connected, he covered the mouthpiece and looked at the American. "Hogan, I assure you, these men will be on their way to out of here within forty-eight hours." He quickly uncovered the mouthpiece. "Hoffmeyer? This is Colonel Klink, Stalag 13."
Kinch had plugged into the switchboard when he heard the buzzing.
"This is Kommandant Hoffmeyer, Klink. Heil Hitler. What can I do for you?" Kinch said in his best German voice. According to their files, the radioman knew Klink was not a friend of Colonel Hoffmeyer. In fact, the two men barely tolerated each other. But they also knew Klink had done a favor for Hoffmeyer not too long ago.
Klink hung up the receiver several minutes later, and smiled at Hogan who was standing patiently waiting to hear what was going to happen. "Problem solved," Klink announced with a wide smile. Kommandant Hoffmeyer will be sending a truck within forty-eight hours to collect the prisoners. Until then, they will remain in the cooler. Does that put your mind at ease?"
Hogan exhaled deeply. "Thank you, Kommandant. I feel much better now that I know they'll be gone soon. Perhaps then we can get back to normal around here." He gave Klink a smart salute which the Kommandant returned, still smiling. Hogan then turned and headed towards the door. Opening it, he started out the room but partially still in the doorway looked back. "Kommandant?"
Klink looked up again, exasperated. "Yes, Hogan? What is it now?"
"Just thought I'd tell you to check out page twenty-five. The redhead is a real knockout in her bathing suit." For emphasis, Hogan shook his uninjured hand and whistled before closing the door leaving a speechless Klink staring.
But once the door was closed, Klink hastily removed the magazine from the middle desk drawer and flipped through it until he came to page twenty-five. His mouth fell open at the photo of the redhead completely unaware of a smirking Hogan peeking through the cracked open office door before closing it silently and leaving after a wink at Hilda.
Once he had returned to the hut, Hogan immediately went below coming to the radio room first where he found a smiling Kinch now seated at the radio, apparently waiting for him. Hogan greeted his radioman with a smirk.
"Good job, Kinch," Hogan commented. "For a while there I really thought Klink was speaking with the real Colonel Hoffmeyer."
"Thanks, Colonel. Ready for me to contact Karl now, and then Bluebird?"
Hogan inhaled and then let out a deep breath through his mouth and rested a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Go ahead. But hold off on Bluebird for now. I want Wylie on his way to England first." He saw Kinch nod as he adjusted the headset on his head.
Hogan, followed by Kinch, stepped back into the barracks nearly an hour later after completing their call to the underground. They found LeBeau, Carter, and Olsen seated at the table drinking coffee. LeBeau and Carter quickly got to their feet and LeBeau grabbed the coffeepot and Carter two coffee cups; LeBeau poured the last of the coffee then put the empty pot back on the stove. Carter handed one cup to Hogan and Kinch each before grabbing the coffeepot, hurrying to the sink, and filling it with water. After sitting it back on the stove, he rejoined the others.
"Merci, mon ami," LeBeau said with a smile of gratitude for Carter's assistance. Carter only smiled back in response as he sat down.
Grateful for the hot beverage, Hogan took a sip before he looked at the others who were all staring at him with eager anticipation. The Colonel sighed wearily.
"Okay. First, Karl will send four men from the underground to pick up the men who attacked me in two days. All of us are going to get a gagged and restrained Captain Wylie to the rendezvous spot where the truck carrying the others will meet and pick us up. Then, the truck will continue onto the hidden landing field where a courier plane will arrive and we will hand over all the prisoners."
"Everyone will go, mon Colonel?" asked LeBeau hoping Hogan was including him as well.
"Everyone," Hogan repeated looking directly at the little Frenchman with a tired smile. "And by everyone I mean, you, Newkirk, Carter, Kinch, me, and Olsen." He saw LeBeau grin with excitement.
"Merci, Colonel. I promise you will not regret allowing me to come along."
"I'd better not," Hogan added. His eyes then looked at the others. "Carter, tomorrow afternoon, make sure you have a large truck parked in the woods but not too close to camp. We're gonna have a full load. Now, any questions?"
"Oui. You said Captain Wylie will be gagged, Colonel. Why?"
"Because I don't trust him," Hogan replied. "He's liable to try and attract a Kraut patrol should we run into problems along the way and I'd rather not have that happen. So he will be restrained and gagged during the entire trip."
"But Colonel, why can't we just kill Wylie and save ourselves the trouble?" asked Olsen.
"Nobody will be committing murder in this camp no matter how much that person may deserve it. No, Brian. Captain Wylie will be returned to London and face charges of treason."
"And for trying to kill you and Louie," added Carter. He saw Hogan shake his head.
"What he tried to do to me and Louie and even what he did to Newkirk despite that not being his intent, might be added on as additional charges. But the primary one will be treason which carries an automatic death sentence. Now, any more questions?" Looking around, Hogan saw Carter tentatively raise his hand.
"Carter, we're not in grade school. You don't have to raise your hand to ask a question," Hogan chuckled.
"Yes, sir. Uh, Colonel, did you have a chance to speak with Captain Wylie yet? What I mean is…did he say why he did what he did?"
Hogan looked down into his coffee cup at the dark liquid as he swirled it around. He had hoped Carter would accept his silence as an answer and forget his question. But that was not to be the case.
"Colonel, are you all right?" asked Olsen, worried by both the look on Hogan's face and his silence.
Carter bit his lower lip and hung his head. "I'm sorry, Colonel," he said sadly. "I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."
Hogan slowly looked up at his young Sergeant, his face impassive. He hadn't yet decided if he should tell the men of his conversation with Wylie and what drove a soldier to turn against his own country. He wasn't even certain if he had yet wrapped his own brain around it.
"No need to apologize, Carter," Hogan started out slowly. "I just…I'd rather not talk about it just yet is all. Eventually, but not now. I just can't. I'm sorry." He saw Carter simply shrug his shoulders before taking a drink of coffee. Actually, Hogan wasn't really sure when 'eventually' would be if ever. But at least for right now he didn't have to or want to think about it.
The remainder of that day and all of the following day went by uneventfully for the prisoners until it was 1730 hours. Normally, Hogan and his men would have begun to get ready at about 1745 hours, but they all knew it would take LeBeau a bit longer due to his injured shoulder. Now down in the changing room, Hogan, Carter, Kinch, and Olsen all changed into their blacks and Olsen was now helping the Frenchman change clothes. As he did so, Kinch went about smearing Olsen's face with grease to save time. Hogan was putting on his black windbreaker. After zipping it up midway, Hogan picked up the manila envelope and stuck it inside his jacket for safekeeping. The others had already smeared their faces to camouflage themselves; only LeBeau still hadn't, and Kinch didn't need to.
Because he had discarded his sling temporarily, it had been painful for LeBeau to change into his turtleneck, but he managed with Olsen's patient assistance to do it by biting his lower lip to keep from crying out in pain. He then draped the sling over his head again and adjusted his injured arm in it, and soon the pain had become a dull ache. He took the jar of grease from Kinch and began to smear his own face. Once done, each man then quickly armed themselves and checked their weapons making sure they were fully loaded before heading to where Newkirk was guarding Captain Wylie.
Hogan, pointing his weapon at the Captain, addressed the Englander without looking at him. "Newkirk, get changed and hurry back. We have to leave in a few minutes."
"I'll be ready in two shakes, sir," Newkirk replied practically running out of the room to get changed.
Wylie shouted against the gag in his mouth at Hogan. The Colonel decided to remove the gag from the man's mouth so he could hear what Wylie wanted to say.
"Any final words before we ship you off to England?" asked Hogan calmly.
Wylie rotated his jaw to loosen it up before he turned his glare at the Colonel. "Back for more, Hogan?" he said coldly. "I would've thought you'd run away with your tail tucked between your legs after last time."
"Colonel Hogan's not afraid of anything!" Carter replied indignantly, feeling the anger rise in him. How dare this sad excuse for a soldier call his commanding officer a coward. To Carter, Colonel Hogan was the bravest man he had ever known.
Wylie glanced at the young Sergeant and burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" asked LeBeau. Oh, how he hated this man. And not just for being a traitor, but what he had done to his commanding officer. And now he was sitting in front of them in chains, and still badmouthing the Colonel.
"I just had a funny thought, frog," Wylie said with a smirk glaring at Hogan. "That's probably how Hogan here got those eagles, kneeling down between somebody's legs and…" He never got to finish his sentence as a blur sped past Hogan and LeBeau and viciously slapped Wylie across the face hard before anybody could stop him nearly knocking over the prisoner's chair. Afterwards, Carter was shaking with rage as he watched blood trickle from the corner of the Captain's mouth; his fists clenching and unclenching as his entire body shook.
"Nobody talks that way about the Colonel! Nobody! And especially not you!" Carter shouted between pants. He suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder causing him to look around. He saw Hogan looking at him, his face impassive. The others stood around with mouths hanging open and eyes wide in shock at what the young Sergeant had just done.
"Whoa!" was all Kinch could utter. "Way to go, Carter."
"Carter, don't let what he says get to you. He's trying to goad you," Hogan finally said ignoring the others.
Carter turned around to face his commanding officer. "But Colonel, he has no right to insult you like that. I couldn't let him say those disgusting things about you." He lowered his head and kicked at the ground. "I'm sorry, Colonel."
"Nice going, Andre," LeBeau said with a grin.
"It's okay," Hogan said softly. "Just ignore him. Soon he'll be in London and we won't have to think about him again. But I thank you for knocking him down a peg or two. Just don't let it happen again. Okay?" He saw Carter suddenly raise his head and look him in the eyes only to see Hogan grinning at him.
"Yes, sir. And you're welcome, Colonel," Carter smiled back. He then looked back over his shoulder at Wylie and mumbled under his breath.
Wylie, having recovered his senses from the blow, rubbed his lower jaw against his shoulder to wipe the blood off before turning a vicious glare onto Carter.
"I will get you for that," he hissed. "And I'll make sure your precious Colonel Hogan sees you and the French frog both die. And Hogan, you will never get me to England. I'll stop you before…" Again he never got the chance to finish as Hogan stepped forward and shoved the handkerchief back in Wylie's mouth, gagging him again. Hogan then let out a sigh and shook his head.
"I was getting tired of hearing him talk anyway," he said with a shrug looking at the smiling faces of the others.
Just then, Newkirk came hurrying back into the room, carrying something in his hand. "I heard all the shouting. What did I miss?"
"Boy, you shoulda seen Carter!" Olsen said excitedly. "Wylie said some bad things about the Colonel and Carter belted him right in the kisser. Pow!"
Newkirk smirked as he glanced at Wylie who was staring hard at him. "Too bad I missed it. Andrew, I always knew you had the makings of a fighter. But if need be, you have me permission to do it again so I can enjoy it."
"Okay, hold it!" Hogan ordered. He checked his watch. "We have to get going. Karl and the others will be here soon and we have to be at the rendezvous area waiting. Olsen, Kinch, untie our friend. Newkirk, what is the duct tape for?"
"Just to make sure he stays gagged, Gov'nor." As Kinch and Olsen went about untying their prisoner thus freeing him from the chair, Newkirk ripped off a long strip of duct tape, and wrapped it around Wylie's mouth with the handkerchief still in it. "Can't have you removing the gag now, can we, mate?" he added cheerily.
Once Wylie was ready, Hogan gestured to his men. "Carter, you and I and Olsen will go up first and give LeBeau a hand. Then Wylie, followed by Kinch and Newkirk." Seeing the men nod their agreement, Hogan looked at Wylie. "Captain, I suggest you not try anything. London wants you back alive to face charges. But I have no problem sending them a corpse if I have to." He then glanced at his men. "Let's go."