Chapter 14---Saved Again

Hogan wondered what Guthrie wanted with him now as he and Sergeant Weber walked across the compound towards the cooler. The Colonel recalled it had been right after morning roll call when Weber, after dismissing the men, approached him telling him the Gestapo Major wanted to see him right away in the cell in which Corporal Grossman was incarcerated. What are you up to, Guthrie? What game are you playing now?

"You seemed worried, Colonel," Weber said glancing at the American. "Is something wrong?"

"When the Gestapo's involved there's always something wrong," Hogan replied. "Do you have any idea what he wants to see me about?"

"Major Guthrie didn't say. All he told me was after roll call to bring you to Corporal Grossman's cell. That man scares me, Colonel Hogan. He makes Major Hochstetter look mild by comparison."

"He's not doing much for me either, Weber," the Colonel answered. "Believe me, this guy doesn't hold a candle to old Hochstetter."

"Do you have any idea how to help Sergeant Schultz and Corporal Langenscheidt yet?"

Hogan couldn't admit to Weber that he really hadn't given much thought to the plight of the two German guards because he was more concerned with the Jewish prisoners, so, he smiled grimly at the German. "Not yet," was all he could say. He followed Weber inside the building housing the jail cells. It didn't take long to come to the cell holding the young Corporal; Major Guthrie was standing nearby with hands clasped behind his back and a smirk on his face. Hogan stared at him as Weber unlocked the cell and held the door open allowing Hogan to enter. Closing the door behind Hogan, Weber looked mistrustfully at the Major before he walked away.

"How nice to see you again, Colonel Hogan," Guthrie sneered. Tilting his head, he looked at the healing cut on the American's face. "I'm pleased to see your face is healing. I was so concerned about that cut."

"Uh huh." Hogan then turned his attention to Grossman who sat on the bed with both legs drawn up and his arms wrapped tightly around his legs. His eyes revealed the fear he was feeling as well as the silent pleading with the Colonel to save him from whatever unspeakable horror he was about to face. Hogan's eyes shifted to Guthrie.

"You wanted me to come here, Major, and now I'm here. What do you want and what are you planning for Corporal Grossman?"

"Corporal Grossman and I are simply going to have a nice, pleasant chat. And I know how fond you are of quoting the Geneva Convention, so I thought you'd appreciate my having you come here and be present."

With narrowed eyes, Hogan studied the Major. Every time he thought he had him finally figured out, the Major did something that threw everything out of kilter again.

"There's just one thing I need to do before I can begin my questioning."

"And what's that?" asked a suspicious Hogan noticing Guthrie had closed the space between the two of them while they had talked.

"Just this." Guthrie whipped out his sidearm aiming it at Hogan's head. The action surprised the American as his eyes looked first at the weapon pointed at his head and then at Guthrie.

"If you're going to shoot me I suggest you go ahead and shoot me. But your boss, Major Hochstetter, might not appreciate you killing me."

"Oh I have no intention of killing you, Colonel. Far from it," Guthrie said reaching for and removing a set of handcuffs from his belt. He tossed them at Hogan. "I want you to clamp one end of those cuffs on your right wrist."

"And if I refuse?" Hogan asked innocently.

Guthrie removed the safety from his weapon and smirked. "Then I will put a bullet in your head and tell your Kommandant you attacked me during my interrogation of Corporal Grossman and I was forced to shoot you."

"Just thought I'd ask," the Colonel muttered clamping one end of the handcuffs on his right wrist. "Now what?" he asked Guthrie sarcastically.

Tucking his weapon back in its holster, the Major grabbed Hogan's left wrist and linking the small chain between the cuffs around a bar of the cell, clamped the other cuff tightly on the American's left wrist. He then tugged on them to make sure they were tight-fitting.

"Just wanted to make sure you can't get loose, Colonel," he said smugly. "I do so hate my interrogations being interrupted." He found himself chuckling watching Hogan tug on the handcuffs unable to get loose. Guthrie turned and walked toward the young Corporal who raised his eyes as the Major got closer until he stood directly in front of the terrified young man. He noticed Grossman swallow hard and smirked.

Kinch, Carter, LeBeau and Newkirk were seated around the table eating breakfast and talking.

"I don't like it one bit, Kinch," Newkirk said just before stuffing a forkful of eggs into his mouth. "Whenever that bastard wants the Gov'nor I worry, especially after what happened the last time."

"I know, Peter," was the radioman's reply. "It worries me too. But we can't exactly go barging into the cooler. We're liable to get shot for our trouble."

"I agree with Pierre, mon ami," said LeBeau. "I do not trust the Bosche. I believe he would not hesitate to hurt the Colonel again. I say we should do something about it before he gets a chance."

"But what can we do?" asked Carter. "I mean, suppose the Colonel has everything under control and doesn't need us to come barging into the cooler and start trouble where there may be no trouble right now?"

"Well, now I know I'm worried," said Newkirk with a shake of his head.

"How so?" Kinch looked at his friend curiously.

"Carter's startin' to make sense to me."

Kinch chuckled for a moment and then became serious. "What bothers me the most is that he wanted the Colonel to come to the cooler to Corporal Grossman's cell. I've a bad feeling about the entire thing. My guess, he plans on using Grossman to get to Colonel Hogan." Kinch suddenly pushed his half-empty plate away and got to his feet. "Let's go," he said.

Glancing at each other, the others got to their feet as well. "Where are we going?" asked Carter.

"We're going to see Klink and find out what's going on, and if the Colonel or Corporal Grossman are in trouble hopefully get him to put a stop to it before either of them gets hurt."

Guthrie continued to stare at Grossman with his dark, hollowed out eyes. He noticed the Corporal seemed to wilt under his stare. "Are you afraid of me, Corporal?"

"Ye…ye…yes, sir," Grossman stammered nervously.

"Good. You should be. Now, Corporal Grossman, I want you to tell me all you know about Colonel Hogan's activities."

Grossman's eyes briefly looked at his commanding officer, then turned back to the Major. "Colonel Hogan is my commanding officer, Major. He's also the Senior POW officer here."

Guthrie smirked before he violently slapped Grossman across the face. "Wrong answer, Corporal. I already know that information. What I want…."

"Hey, keep your filthy hands off my men!" Hogan shouted jerking at the handcuffs trying to get loose. "According to the Geneva Convention…."

Guthrie turned. "I don't care about the Geneva Convention, Colonel. I suggest you not interrupt again or I might just forget that I need your assistance." He turned back to Grossman who was wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. "Now, Corporal, let's start again, shall we? Tell me about Colonel Hogan's activities."

Grossman swallowed the lump in his throat. He knew something of the Colonel's operation and figured that was what the Major was after. But despite not knowing everything about the operation and having only been at Stalag 13 for three weeks, he knew enough to realize he would not only be signing Hogan's death warrant and those of everyone in barracks two if he told, but probably his own as well. His eyes met those of Hogan again.

"I'm afraid your Colonel can't help you, Corporal," Guthrie chuckled.

"Look at me, Corporal. Just name, rank and serial number only," Hogan reminded him. He could sense the terror in the young man and wished he could loan some of his own strength to the young man. He tugged again at the handcuffs; they were starting to cut into his flesh from being so tight.

Guthrie sighed. Turning, he walked over to where Hogan was and dealt him a vicious blow to his abdomen. If the Colonel had been able to double over he would have; but because of the handcuffs, all he could do was lean over and gasp as he tried to get his breath. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Grossman trembling. Hogan shook his head. "Name…rank…serial…number…only," he gasped.

"Colonel, I can't let him hurt you. I…I can't…"

Hogan shook his head as he started to straighten up. "No," was all he said.

Guthrie turned and walked back to the young Corporal. "You do what your Colonel told you and what you just saw is only a sample of what I will do to your commanding officer. But then again," he said, glancing over his shoulder and locking eyes with Hogan. "Perhaps you value your own life more than your Colonel's. I'll give you a minute to think about it." To further emphasize his point, Guthrie pulled his weapon from its holster and checked it making sure it was loaded and fully functional. It was.

Klink was sitting behind his desk, nervously chewing on the fingernail of his thumb when he heard knocking on his door. He immediately snatched up his pen and pretended to be signing the papers on his desk. "Come in," he announced.

The door opened and Kinch, followed by the others, walked in with Carter pulling the door closed behind them. The men saluted the Kommandant who returned it.

"What is this?" Klink asked looking puzzled.

Leaning forward with hands face-down on the desk, Kinch looked directly at the Kommandant. "Colonel, we suspect something is very wrong."

Klink still appeared puzzled. "What are you talking about Sergeant?"

"Major Guthrie, sir. He had Sergeant Weber bring Colonel Hogan to the cooler while he interrogates Corporal Grossman. After what happened the last time…." he didn't get to finish as he saw Klink's expression change. Kinch's eyes narrowed. "Kommandant, you knew about this, didn't you?"

Klink's eyes looked upward and nodded slowly. "Yes, I knew what Guthrie was going to do. He told me about it before he left. He said he wanted to interrogate Corporal Grossman and wanted Colonel Hogan there since he is the Senior officer of the prisoners." He clasped his hands together with elbows on the edge of his desk. He turned away from Kinch.

"And you're sitting there letting him do who knows what to Grossman and the Colonel?" hissed Newkirk, his temper starting to rise.

"I didn't let him do anything, Corporal," Klink responded slowly getting to his feet. He stared at the Englander. "And I suggest you watch your tone with me."

"Calm down, Newkirk," Kinch advised before looking back at Klink. "Kommandant, you know what Guthrie did to Colonel Hogan the last time. He could've killed him if you hadn't intervened. So this time you're just going to sit back and let him possibly kill two of your prisoners."

"Major Guthrie promised me he wouldn't lay a hand on either of them."

"And you believe that ruddy bastard?!" Newkirk's temper was now boiling over.

"I can't interfere with the Gestapo again. Major Guthrie already warned me the next time I did I would face arrest for interfering with a Gestapo interrogation."

"So to save your hide you're going to just sit there and allow Guthrie to possibly kill the Colonel and Corporal Grossman," Kinch said in an accusatory tone, his own anger building now. When Klink didn't respond, the radioman looked at his friends. "Let's go."

"Where are we going now?" asked Carter, worried.

"We're going to barge into the cooler and stop Guthrie before he does any harm," Kinch, his hand on the doorknob, glanced over his shoulder and glared at Klink. "Unless of course it's already too late." He opened the door.

"Wait!" Klink suddenly said. The men, standing in the doorway, paused and stared. They saw Klink grab his cap off his desk and walk towards them. "Let's go." The men allowed Klink to pass by and followed him out.

Once they were outside the Kommandantur and on the porch, Klink waved to the two guards posted. "Come with me," he ordered.

Grossman watched as Guthrie continued examining his weapon. Then, with a chuckle, he pointed the weapon at Hogan.

Grossman stood. "No! You can't do that! Colonel Hogan didn't do anything! Don't kill him!"

Guthrie then aimed his weapon at Grossman. "Perhaps I should aim it at you instead?" he said calmly. Grossman couldn't find his voice at the moment. "Now, tell me about Colonel Hogan's activities here at Stalag 13."

"I've already told you! He's the Senior officer here and my commanding officer. There's nothing else I can tell you about him. Please."

"Too bad," Guthrie said again pointing the gun at Hogan who was struggling to get free knowing he couldn't. "It's your fault Colonel Hogan will die." His finger tightened on the trigger. Hogan stiffened.

Suddenly two Luftwaffe guards appeared from around the corner with their rifles pointed at Guthrie. The Major glared as he saw Klink, followed by Kinch, LeBeau, Carter, Newkirk and Sergeant Weber come into view. They watched him put the safety back on his weapon and shove it angrily back into its holster.

"Major Guthrie, I cannot allow you to torture these men. You will release Colonel Hogan immediately. If you do not, I will have both Major Hochstetter and General Burkhalter here before the day is over."

Guthrie's face turned a deep shade of crimson as his lips curled back in a snarl. "Klink, you fool. I warned you after you interfered the last time. You go right ahead and contact General Burkhalter and Major Hochstetter. I think I shall contact the Fuhrer and explain how one very unimportant Kommandant is interfering with my mission."

Klink tensed and quickly felt his nerve disappearing. "You do what you have to, Major. But right now, you will release Colonel Hogan or else."

"Or else what, Klink?" Guthrie smirked. He saw Klink nod to the two guards who removed the safeties from their rifles. Letting out a deep breath, Guthrie took a key from his pocket and unlocked the handcuffs from Hogan's wrists.

Hogan, glaring at Guthrie, rubbed his tender wrists as he made his way to Grossman who was again sitting on the bunk. "Are you all right, Corporal?" he asked.

"Yes, sir," Grossman said in a barely audible voice. He looked up at Hogan with moist eyes. "Colonel, I…"

"It's all right, Corporal. It's over right now. Pull yourself together." Hogan looked around at Klink. "Kommandant, I request all my men be released from solitary immediately."

"Request granted," Klink glanced over his shoulder at Weber. "Sergeant Weber, you will release all the Jewish prisoners from solitary and have them return to their barracks."

"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant," Weber replied saluting. He started to leave.

"One moment, Sergeant," Klink called out. Weber stopped and turned.

"Yes, Herr Kommandant?"

"After you release the prisoners, I want you to release Sergeant Schultz and have him resume his post as Sergeant-of-the-Guard and also release Corporal Langenscheidt as well. Dismissed."

"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant," Weber said with a big smile on his face before he turned and hurried off.

Grinning, Hogan helped Grossman to his feet and both men made a wide berth around Guthrie who glared at Hogan with all the intense dislike he could muster. Hogan ignored him as he escorted the Corporal towards the cell door which Kinch held open for them.

"You all right, Colonel?" asked LeBeau, worry on his face.

"I'm fine, LeBeau. But I suggest Wilson check out Corporal Grossman before he returns to barracks four."

"He can also check out your wrists while he's at it, sir," Kinch added.

"I don't need to be checked out, Kinch. I said I'm fine."

"Begging the Colonel's pardon," Newkirk interjected. "But we got a quick glimpse of your wrists a few moments ago. They looked kinda raw to us, sir."

Hogan sighed. "Fine," he snapped. "Let's just get out of here." He suddenly looked over his shoulder at Klink. "Unless you need us to stay, Kommandant?" he asked sincerely.

Klink gave Hogan a weary faint smile. "That's all right, Hogan. You go look after your men. I can handle things on this end." Secretly, Klink knew he was in for it this time. At this moment, the Russian front looked like paradise.

Giving one last hard stare at Guthrie, Hogan followed his men out of the cooler and into the compound leaving Klink alone with Guthrie and the two guards.

Guthrie was livid. "Klink, you have interfered for the last time. Colonel Hogan made contact with von Herwarth and a meeting had been set up. But my pigeon never showed, and I believe Colonel Hogan knows why. I intend to get it out of him because I suspect he knows more than he's letting on."

"Major, first, I don't believe Colonel Hogan made contact with your pigeon as you put it. How could he? Second, even if by some chance he did, and your man didn't show, how is that Colonel Hogan's fault? Nobody can control when and if somebody shows up at a meeting and you know it. So unless you can prove to me beyond any doubt that Colonel Hogan has been in contact with your man, I suggest you leave him and the other prisoners alone."

"He told me he had made contact with him, Klink."

The Kommandant chuckled. "I think, Major, that Colonel Hogan was playing a trick on you. As I said, there is no way he could possibly have made contact with anybody outside this camp. It's impossible."

Guthrie glared at Klink in such a way as to make the Kommandant's blood run cold. "We shall see in the end who is playing a trick on whom, Klink. And trust me when I say I will enjoy proving the joke's on you. And when I do, all of you will suffer." He stormed past Klink who let him pass. He knew he should lock Guthrie up or at least contact Major Hochstetter or General Burkhalter. But Guthrie's promise to contact the Fuhrer made him shake in his boots as he slowly walked out of the cooler area.

Schultz sat forlornly on the bunk in the solitary cell with nothing but the walls and the bars to look at. A lonely figure, he had been locked up with nothing to do but think; think about why he and Corporal Langenscheidt had both been locked up along with six Jewish prisoners. I am not Jewish nor do I have any Jewish family members, so what did I do? The Major never even asked me any questions. How could this have happened to me? What could I have done? Try as he might, Schultz couldn't come up with any possible reason except one. And that one reason was Colonel Hogan's monkey business. That had to be it! Somehow the Major knew about the goings on at Stalag 13 and suspected that he, Schultz, looked the other way many, many times.

Schultz figured he had two choices. One, he could reveal what he knew about Colonel Hogan and his men in which case they would all be shot by firing squad after 'rigorous' interrogation by the Gestapo; or, he could keep quiet in which case he himself could be shot by firing squad or sent to the Russian front. He liked Colonel Hogan and his men very much; he would even go so far as to call them his friends. To Schultz, the choice was obvious. Don't worry, Colonel Hogan. No matter what Major Guthrie does to me, I will not tell him about your monkey business. I know nothing. Noth-ing. And I will stick to that even if it means my death.

Suddenly Schultz heard footsteps approaching and began to worry that it might finally be Major Guthrie coming to interrogate him at last. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he prepared himself for what was to come. His frown suddenly turned to a smile when he saw a smiling Sergeant Weber approach instead and unlock the cell door. Schultz got to his feet.

"Was ist los?" Schultz asked nervously.

"You're being released, Hans, by order of Kommandant Klink, and are to resume your duties as Sergeant-of-the Guard immediately. So is Corporal Langenscheidt."

"Danke," Schultz replied as he exited the cell. He then looked at Weber. "What about the Jewish prisoners?"

"They are being released as well. Colonel Hogan requested it and the Kommandant granted his request."

Schultz smiled a relieved smile. He also suspected Colonel Hogan either lived a very charmed life, or was the luckiest man on earth. And maybe, just maybe, some of the American's luck had spread to him this time.