Chapter 18-Heroes Seeking Revenge
Wilson sat beside the bed reading a magazine while keeping an eye on his patient. Right now the Colonel appeared to be resting comfortably. Even though Hogan's vital signs had improved, Wilson was still very concerned about his commanding officer. He suspected Hogan had been injected with bee venom by someone with the desire to kill him, and he had no doubt who it was. But he also knew with the Gestapo, the injection could have been anything. He looked around when the door to the infirmary opened, and saw Kinch, followed by Kommandant Klink and Schultz.
"I just heard, Sergeant Wilson," said Klink with a worried look. "How is Colonel Hogan?"
Wilson sighed wearily. "He's alive," he said. "It was touch and go in the beginning, but I believe he will pull through."
"I see. Sergeant, I'm aware Colonel Hogan is allergic to bees," Klink said. "As there are no bees this time of the year, do you have any idea what happened?"
"Yes, sir. I believe somebody purposely gave him an injection of something in an attempt to kill him. A needle mark was found on his forearm." Getting up, Wilson lifted a corner of the blanket exposing Hogan's right arm and pointed to the three needle marks. "These two and the one in his upper arm were made by me. This one here was already present at the time I gave him the first injection of epinephrine." He dropped the blanket over the exposed arm.
Klink, with hands crossed in front of him, stared at the unconscious American. "And on what do you base your opinion on?"
"Well sir, I believe Sergeant Kinchloe can answer that question better than I can."
Klink looked at Kinch. "Sergeant Kinchloe?"
Kinch folded his arms. "It was as I explained, Kommandant. Colonel Hogan was found alone and unconscious, lying in the compound. He had been struck from behind by whoever gave that injection to him and left him lying there. If he hadn't been found when he was, I believe he'd be dead now. He was having a lot of trouble breathing when we found him."
"And you and Sergeant Schultz believe the person responsible was Major Guthrie?"
"Yes, sir, we do," Kinch said evenly. "He has been after the Colonel since he arrived here. I'm telling you Kommandant that something has to be done about him before there's more trouble."
Klink arched his eyebrows. "Trouble? What kind of trouble do you mean?"
"Colonel, by now I'm guessing Newkirk has told everybody in barracks two what happened. How long do you think it'll be before the entire camp finds out? And I'm telling you right here and now that once that happens, you could end up with trouble in paradise."
Klink nodded as if in agreement. "I know what I must do. First thing in the morning I will contact General Burkhalter and have him order Major Guthrie out of camp and to stay away from Stalag 13."
"Thank you, Kommandant," Kinch replied.
"I'm only sorry I didn't contact the General sooner about Major Guthrie." Klink looked sadly at Wilson. "Sergeant Wilson, take care of Colonel Hogan. If there's anything you need to get him well just tell one of the two guards that'll be posted outside the infirmary and they'll let me know."
Wilson and Kinch exchanged looks. "Guards, Kommandant?" asked the medic.
"Yes. For the time he's still here, it's the only way to keep Major Guthrie away from Colonel Hogan." Klink looked back at his Sergeant-of-the-Guard. "Schultz, I want you to immediately select two of your best men, and order them not to let Major Guthrie in the infirmary under any circumstances. Any problems, they are under my direct orders and he can take it up with me. Is that clear?"
" Jawohl, Herr Kommandant," Schultz said saluting.
"And take Sergeant Kinchloe with you, He's to return to the barracks," Klink ordered before looking again at Kinch. "Sergeant Kinchloe, until Colonel Hogan has recovered and can resume his duties as Senior officer, you will be the Acting Senior POW."
"Yes, sir," Kinch replied. He noticed Schultz was standing still.
"Go, go!" Klink ordered shaking a fist at him.
"Jawohl." Schultz gently took Kinch's arm and both men left the infirmary leaving Klink and Wilson alone. Once the others were gone, the Kommandant faced the medic.
"Sergeant Wilson, would it be all right if I sat with Colonel Hogan for a few minutes?"
"Of course, Kommandant." Wilson picked up his magazine and motioned to the now empty chair. He could see genuine concern on the Kommandant's face and hear it in his voice. "Have a seat. I'll give you some privacy and be at the opposite end of the room."
The Kommandant slowly sat down in the chair. "Thank you, Sergeant." He waited until Wilson was out of hearing range before he gave his complete attention to his American counterpart. "Hogan, I don't know if you can hear me. But if you can, I just want you to know that I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't know what Guthrie was going to do and for what he did to you. And I'm sorry I didn't do something about him before this."
The minute Kinch walked into the barracks he sensed something was very wrong. The prisoners were all sitting around grimly. "What's going on?" he asked.
LeBeau and Newkirk quickly recapped their suspicions to the radioman. He nodded with their decision to search the barracks.
"Did you find anything?" Kinch asked hopefully. The mere thought that one of their own possibly was a traitor to Kinch was an ugly one; but one that couldn't be ignored.
"Nothing," Olsen told him grimly. "We even searched the Colonel's quarters and found nothing. That leaves only one other possibility, Kinch."
"And that is someone in here tipped off that bloody Kraut about the Gov'nor coming to his quarters tonight so Guthrie could set a trap for the Colonel," said Newkirk.
Kinch sighed as he put his hands on his hips. "You're sure you searched everywhere? I mean under tables, inside all secret compartments, footlockers, bunks, etc.?"
"Everywhere," LeBeau said. "The only thing we didn't do is rip the barracks apart board-by-board."
"How's the Gov'nor?"
"Wilson says he should recover fully. Klink came to the infirmary with Schultz and I, and come morning is going to phone Burkhalter and have him toss Guthrie out. Also, he's posting two guards outside the infirmary with orders not to allow Guthrie into the infirmary under any circumstances effective immediately."
LeBeau, Newkirk and Carter all exchanged surprised looks. "Blimey," was all that was said by Newkirk. "I can't believe it."
"Say what you want about Klink," Kinch said with folded arms. "But he does care about the prisoners in his care."
"Oui," LeBeau readily agreed. "And he has always done what he can to protect the Colonel, especially from the Gestapo."
Kinch sighed. "Okay." He looked at his three teammates and Baker. "Olsen, keep watch at the door and give a holler if someone comes." He then looked at the others. "We need to talk, but not here; down below. Now. I also want to speak with von Herwarth. This is all too convenient to be coincidental."
"What are you saying, mate?" Newkirk asked in a low voice as Kinch slapped the hidden mechanism and waited for the lower bunk to rise. The radioman looked around.
"I'm saying that before we go accusing each other of being in league with Guthrie, we better find out if there's any connection between Guthrie and von Herwarth first." The lower bunk rattled upward. Kinch stepped over the bed frame and onto the ladder.
Newkirk punched his left palm with his fist. "I'd like to make a connection with von Herwarth," he said tensely. "And it wouldn't be of the friendly persuasion either."
Kinch paused midway down the ladder and looked up at the Englander. "If we find out von Herwarth is somehow connected with Guthrie, Newkirk, you may just get your chance."
Von Herwarth was nervously pacing back and forth in the room he and his wife had shared. Looking at the ceiling he couldn't help but worry. He still didn't know what was going on with Christina and whether she was safely on her way to England; he hadn't seen the American Colonel in twenty-four hours, but most of all, he was worried about one person in particular. He turned hearing the sound of voices approaching and saw Hogan's team and another man he did not recognize. The men looked troubled.
"What has happened?" asked a panicky von Herwarth looking at Kinch. "Has something happened to Christina or the baby?"
"I have Sergeant Baker checking with the underground now. But that's not why we're here," said Kinch, sitting down on a stool and motioning for the other guys to have seats. "Sit down von Herwarth. We need to speak with you and it's important."
Von Herwarth looked suspiciously at the men as he slowly sat down. "What's going on? And where is Colonel Hogan? I haven't seen him in about twenty-four hours. Has something happened to him?"
"Funny you should ask that, mate," Newkirk said sarcastically.
"What do you mean?"
"What he means…" began Kinch with arms folded. "…is that earlier tonight Colonel Hogan was attacked by someone who then injected him with what appears to be bee venom which he's allergic to. It nearly killed him. He's confined to the infirmary for a few days."
"Donnerwetter!" von Herwarth exclaimed, stunned. "Will he be alright?"
"Fortunately yes," Kinch added. "But somebody tipped off Major Guthrie that Colonel Hogan was coming to see him tonight and the Major set a trap for him. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"
Von Herwarth shot Kinch a shocked look. "You think that I…how could you think I would do anything to cause injury to your Colonel? I need him to get me out of Germany. Besides, how would I make contact with him if I did?"
"How indeed?" asked a sarcastic Englander, his eyes boring into the man.
"It just seems to us that a lot has been happening around here since just before you arrived and normally if the Gestapo shows up they usually show up after not before," Kinch continued ignoring Newkirk. "Also, Major Guthrie has spent more time going after the Colonel than he has looking for you. Now, I want you to tell us what you know about this Major Guthrie."
"I don't know anything about him. I've never even heard of him before I came here."
Kinch was watching von Herwarth's eyes carefully. Like his commanding officer, Kinch could tell a person's sincerity by watching their eyes. Hogan had often told him he could always tell if a person was lying or telling the truth just by looking in their eyes even if the words from their mouth gave no indication. And by looking in von Herwarth's eyes as he spoke, Kinch knew the man was lying. But lying about what was the big question.
"Let me talk to 'im, Kinch," Newkirk said. "I guarantee he'll be right talkative after I'm through with 'im." He punched his right fist into his left palm hard. His action caused von Herwarth to lick his suddenly dry lips.
"Calm down, Newkirk," Kinch told him giving him a stern look before turning his attention back to von Herwarth. "See, we are very protective of Colonel Hogan and don't like when someone intentionally hurts him or arranges for him to be hurt. Now, I suggest you start answering our questions and fast or I might not be able to restrain my British friend here."
Von Herwarth slowly got to his feet and began rubbing the back of his neck. "I am telling you the truth, Sergeant. I do not know this Guthrie. I didn't even know he was Gestapo until I came here and that's the truth."
Just then, Baker walked into the room where they were and handed Kinch a piece of paper. "Message from the underground, Kinch," he said.
"Thanks," Kinch replied. He saw Baker smile and then leave the room. Kinch read the message, and after a few minutes folded the paper and tucked it in his jacket pocket. He looked at their guest. "Our contact with the underground says they put your wife on the plane as promised. She is en-route to London even as we speak. They apologize for not getting back to us earlier but the plane that was to pick up your wife was late."
"But Christina is on her way to England? She is safe?"
"She's safe and so is your unborn child," Kinch explained. He saw a look of relief cross von Herwarth's face before the man closed his eyes and faced the ceiling. He let out a deep breath before opening his eyes and looking at Kinch again.
"Thank you, Sergeant," he murmured softly. "I thank you all for getting my wife and child out of Germany. At least now they have a chance."
"You're welcome," Kinch said with sincerity in his voice. "Now answer our questions about Guthrie."
"I keep telling you I don't know the man or anything about him," von Herwarth repeated hoping Hogan's men would drop the issue. "The only thing I know about him I learned from your Colonel Hogan. Why can't you understand that?"
"Then we can't help you, von Herwarth," Kinch said with a sigh as he slowly got to his feet; the others followed his example. He looked at LeBeau and Carter. "LeBeau, tonight after roll call I want you and Carter to escort our friend here out of the tunnel and get rid of him. And make sure he isn't found."
"What…what are you saying?" asked von Herwarth nervously.
"What I'm saying is that we can't help you anymore. But we can't just cut you loose because you know about our operation. So, you will be taken somewhere where you will never be seen or heard from again, ever."
Von Herwarth was horrified. "You're going to kill me?" he asked wide-eyed. "But you can't! What will Colonel Hogan say? He wouldn't allow this!"
Kinch's face was unreadable. "While Colonel Hogan is incapacitated I am the Acting Senior POW here so I have to make the decisions instead. From past experience, the Colonel always goes along with whatever decisions are made even if he may not agree with the reasons behind those decisions." He could see the fear in von Herwarth's face and eyes.
"No. Please don't do this! I beg you! I haven't done anything!" von Herwarth collapsed onto the chair looking totally defeated.
"Wish we could help you, mate," said Newkirk with a shrug of his shoulders preparing to follow the others as they started to leave the room. "But we suspect you are the one who told Guthrie the Colonel wanted to see him earlier tonight and you probably helped him set a trap for the Gov'nor."
"There probably isn't even a real journal," LeBeau hissed. "You're just another filthy Bosche out to get Colonel Hogan and we will not allow that!"
The others followed Kinch towards the exit quietly.
"Wait," von Herwarth said sadly.
Having reached the doorway the men paused. Kinch looked around. "What is it?" he asked.
Von Herwarth swallowed nervously as he and the radioman looked each other in the face. The man then hung his head with arms resting on his thighs and hands dangling between his knees. He realized Hogan's men now believed he and Guthrie were connected somehow even if they didn't know what that connection was. But what would they think if they knew the truth?
"Let's go, guys," Kinch remarked when von Herwarth didn't answer. The men again turned to leave.
"It's not me," von Herwarth said in a barely audible voice staring at a spot on the dirt floor.
"What did you say?" asked Kinch as he looked over his shoulder again.
Von Herwarth raised his head; he looked grimly at the radioman. "I said it's not me. It's Christina. I didn't tell you or your Colonel everything."
The men all walked back into the room again. Kinch folded his arms and stood directly in front of the man. "What about your wife von Herwarth?" he asked.
The man hung his head and rested his fingertips on his forehead. "I…Christina is not my wife," he began slowly. "She is Guthrie's."