Chapter 43---The Day of Reckoning Arrives
As the sun was setting, Hogan walked in the direction of the infirmary. He wanted to check on Sergeant Baker before all prisoners were confined to their barracks for the night. He had been receiving updates from Wilson periodically, and of late, the updates had been a bit on the positive side. He also wanted to see how Wilson's scratches were healing. Hogan had been holding his side since he left the barracks; but now, outside the infirmary, he let his hands drop to his sides. He didn't want Wilson to know his side was throbbing.
Entering the infirmary, Hogan noticed Wilson seated beside Baker's bed checking the Sergeant's vitals. The camp medic looked up as Hogan neared.
"How is he, Joe?" Hogan asked, concerned.
Wilson draped his stethoscope around his throat. "He seems to be doing better than yesterday, Colonel," Wilson told him. "He also seems to be trying to regain consciousness."
"How so?" asked Hogan as he sat down in the chair on the opposite side of the bed, his eyes never straying from Baker's face. He noticed the eye that had been swollen shut looked better as did the eye that had been blackened.
"Several times he's been heard mumbling aloud. It sounds as if he's trying to say something to someone. But I'd say he has a good chance of recovering, Colonel."
Hogan let out a deep breath. "That's good news, Joe. I've been so worried about him since Metzger beat him." The Colonel slowly got to his feet. "I just wanted to see how he was doing before being confined to the barracks for the night. By the way, Joe, how are you doing?"
"Me, Colonel?" Wilson asked, confused.
"You know what I mean," Hogan explained pointing to his own arms.
"They're healing very nicely. Thanks for asking. I'd say in another week they'll probably be healed completely." Wilson saw Hogan nod and take a deep breath. However, the Colonel, try as he did, couldn't hide the wince as the throbbing in his side intensified. "All right, Colonel. You've asked about Baker and me. Now it's my turn to ask about you. How are you doing?"
"I'm fine," the Colonel replied. Beads of perspiration broke out on his forehead.
"Uh huh," Wilson replied, skeptical. "You say you're fine but you don't look fine. You're sweating and I just saw you wince from pain."
Hogan chuckled. "I swear to you I feel fine. I've just been very busy."
"Colonel, don't try lying to your friendly neighborhood camp medic. I know you're in pain. And it's going to get worse the more you keep moving around."
Hogan sighed wearily. He hurt so badly at this moment. Getting to his feet, he stood behind the chair, gripping the back of it for support. "You want the truth? Fine. Here it is. Yes, I hurt so much I can't stand it. Every time I take a deep breath I hurt. It hurts just to breathe. The men and I have a mission tomorrow evening after roll call and another about eleven p.m. tomorrow night. I can't afford any pain medicine because I need a clear mind. I'm going to be dealing with the man who not only killed General Metzger, but is threatening my men as well.
Wilson let out a deep breath as he got to his feet, and walked around the bed until he stood face-to-face with Hogan. He folded his arms. "Colonel, from what you've just told me I could have you confined to the infirmary and sedate you to keep you from moving around so much. But, with your men in danger, I know you wouldn't follow my orders anyway. So, I'll make you a deal."
Hogan tilted his head slightly to the side and looked at Wilson with narrowed eyes. "What kind of deal, Joe?" he asked.
"Just this. You said you have a mission tomorrow evening and again later tomorrow night. But nothing planned for tonight. Correct?"
"Yeah. So?"
"Let me give you a sedative and morphine tonight. That way, when you wake up tomorrow morning, you won't have any pain for at least a few hours. But as soon as the morphine wears off, you'll have to use the aspirin."
Hogan pinched the bridge of his nose. As he then massaged his forehead he looked up at Wilson. "You got a deal, Joe. But first, let me bring you up to speed with Plan B which you're gonna play a part in tomorrow evening. You better follow me back to the barracks."
"Just let me get my bag and have one of my assistants keep an eye on Baker and I'll be right with you, Colonel."
An hour later, Hogan and Wilson were in Hogan's quarters with Newkirk, LeBeau, Kinch and Carter. Hogan, with help from Kinch, had removed his bomber jacket and hung it up in his closet. Hogan unbuttoned his shirt sleeve and rolled it up. As Wilson filled a syringe with morphine, Hogan looked at his men.
"I want to let you guys in on Plan B," Hogan told them.
"Plan B, Colonel?" Carter asked, puzzled.
"When I don't show up at that meeting, Hochstetter's gonna flip his mustache," Hogan began. He winced when Wilson stuck him in his exposed arm with the syringe. "I have a Plan B in mind to keep Hochstetter out of our hair when we leave to meet with Skyhawk."
"What have you got in mind, Colonel?" asked Kinch.
Hogan, starting to feel sleepy from the morphine, quickly explained his back-up plan to everyone and what Wilson's part in it would be. He then shook his head as his eyelids began to droop. He stretched out on his lower bunk while Wilson was filling another syringe, this time with a sedative. The medic inserted the syringe and injected the sedative. Everyone noticed Hogan was falling asleep almost immediately. Wilson grabbed his medical bag and with his head, motioned for the others to follow him into the common room.
Before he left, Kinch grabbed the blanket from the top bunk and covered the Colonel with it. He then turned off the desk lamp and exited the room, closing the door behind him after giving one final glance over his shoulder at Hogan.
Once inside the common room, LeBeau poured everybody a half-cup of coffee.
"Is the Colonel all right, Joe?" asked Kinch.
"Other than being in pain and not following my orders, he's fine. I convinced him to allow me to give him a sedative and morphine tonight with the understanding that he'll take the aspirin once the effects of the morphine wear off."
"And he agreed?" asked Kinch with raised eyebrows.
"The other option was confining him to the infirmary and sedating him tomorrow."
Kinch took a sip of coffee. He chuckled. "Joe, you always threaten to sedate the Colonel but you never do it."
"I just might fool you and Colonel Hogan one day," Wilson answered with a chuckle of his own.
Come morning, Hogan awoke feeling very refreshed and pain-free. He suspected Wilson had been in his quarters to administer at least two additional morphine shots. Looking at his watch, Hogan noticed it was past time for roll call. He tossed back the blanket and quickly shaved and changed clothes having slept in his clothes the night before. As he left his quarters, the aroma of scrambled eggs, bacon and coffee assailed his nostrils. Seeing his commanding officer approaching, LeBeau quickly poured a cup of coffee and handed it to Hogan who accepted it gratefully.
"Thanks, LeBeau," Hogan remarked, sipping the hot brew.
The Frenchman smiled. "You're welcome, mon Colonel."
Hogan smiled warmly as he sat down at the table with Newkirk, Carter, and Kinch, all of whom had coffee cups in front of them.
"Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes," LeBeau added. "I hope you are hungry. Mon Colonel, comment allez-vous se sentant?"
"Starved," Hogan replied. He glanced over his shoulder at LeBeau, confused. What little high school French the Colonel could remember didn't help him understand what LeBeau had said. The Frenchman looked at the American officer. "I asked how you are feeling."
"Fine. No pain," Hogan replied. He glanced at the others. "I gather from the time I slept past roll call."
"You needed the sleep, Colonel," Kinch told him. "Besides, you didn't miss anything."
"Just Klink running off at the mouth as usual about absolutely nothing," Newkirk chimed in. "He had Schultz look in to make sure you were in your quarters. You never even opened an eye when old Schultzie opened the door."
"Oui," LeBeau agreed. "You were sound asleep. We made sure he didn't wake you." He placed a plate in front of Hogan and Newkirk each.
Hogan looked at his watch. "Skyhawk's gonna contact us in a few hours. From that moment on we have to be alert for anything. And I mean anything." He bit on a piece of crispy bacon.
"You still think Hochstetter will do what you expect him to do when you don't show up at the Hofbrau, Colonel?" LeBeau asked, placing plates in front of Carter and Kinch. He then went about refilling the coffee cups before fixing his own plate and pouring himself a cup of coffee. He joined the others at the table.
"Yeah I do, LeBeau," Hogan replied. "He's gonna be livid when he realizes I'm not showing up. My guess is he'll first contact Klink to make certain I'm really here and have been here."
"Of course, we all know Hochstetter won't believe anything old Klink says," Kinch commented.
"I'm counting on it," Hogan said. "And if I know my Gestapo, Hochstetter will be beside himself and won't be able to resist coming directly to little old Stalag 13 to arrest me. He'll see it as his only chance to get me." He let a smirk appear. "I can't wait to see it go down."
"But Klink has orders to arrest Hochstetter if he shows up," Carter reminded them. "Why would he come here knowing he'll be arrested?"
"Carter, Klink will not be a problem for Hochstetter until just the right time. And when I say problem, I mean a problem."
"Oh," Carter replied. He was still confused.
After breakfast, LeBeau and Carter had washed the breakfast dishes while Kinch went down to the radio room and Newkirk climbed up and stretched out on his bunk with a magazine. After awhile, Hogan went outside and sat on the bench outside the barracks. He needed time to think and just be alone for a while before the peaceful time like now was over. He thought about everything that was going to happen this evening and later tonight. He also thought about his back-up plan for Hochstetter. Wrapping his arms around himself and crossing his legs, Hogan stared out at the compound at the other prisoners involved in various activities. He took a deep breath, relieved that the morphine was still working. But he knew its effects wouldn't last too much longer.
Hogan thought back to how tranquil things were before Metzger had showed up after one year. It seemed everything had been one problem after the other since Metzger had returned; and now this SS Major Jaeger. And to top it all off, he now had Hochstetter to contend with. He knew thanks to Bluebird, Hochstetter would be out of the way during the time they had to leave camp, and go to the abandoned mine to load the empty boxes and set their trap. But it was Hochstetter's movements afterwards that had Hogan concerned the most.
He knew he could predict the Gestapo Major's actions and what he would do next. But until Hochstetter was removed as a threat prior to him and his men leaving camp to meet with Skyhawk, Hogan would worry. He reached up and pulled the bill of his cap over his eyes. No, there was never a moment's peace for him and his men, and wouldn't be until Skyhawk was dead and Hochstetter out of the way for the entire night.
Hogan didn't realize how long he'd been sitting on the bench until he heard the barracks door open and Carter looked out.
"Colonel?" Carter asked. "You okay?"
Hogan pushed back his cap and looked over his shoulder. "I'm fine. What's up, Carter?"
Kinch wanted me to tell you Skyhawk's on the radio for you."
Hogan suddenly sat upright causing a twinge to be felt in his side. He glanced at his watch. It was only eleven a.m. His eyes narrowed. He again looked at Carter.
"Is Kinch sure? It's only eleven o'clock. Skyhawk is to call at twelve."
"Yes, sir. He's sure."
Hogan sighed and slowly got to his feet, holding his side. He noticed Carter about to comment and shook his head indicating not to. He followed the young Sergeant into the barracks. Hogan then walked into his quarters and saw the white light was lit on the base of the microphone. He sat down at his desk.
"Kinch, why is Skyhawk calling an hour ahead of schedule?"
"He didn't say, Colonel. I was monitoring the radio and he suddenly came on and demanded to speak with you. Want me to patch him through?"
Hogan massaged his forehead. Something felt wrong. Very wrong. "Yeah, Kinch. Might as well see what's on his twisted little mind."
"Go ahead, Colonel."
Hogan switched on the red light. "This is Hogan. I thought you were going to call at twelve noon. What's with the call an hour ahead of time?"
When Skyhawk finally spoke, Hogan heard anger in his voice. "So, Colonel, you thought I wouldn't find out, didn't you?"
A chill went down Hogan's spine. Had there been a leak somewhere? He played dumb.
"Find out what? What are you talking about?"
"One of your men will pay for this trap you set, Colonel Hogan. I warned you not to cross me, but you didn't listen. So, one of your men will now pay the consequences before tomorrow morning. I will let you wonder which one it will be."