Chapter 47---Back at Stalag 13

Major Hochstetter continued to march back and forth. He was too furious to sleep. First, Hogan had failed to show at the Hofbrau; then, his plan on getting Klink out of camp and himself in to arrest Hogan and get out before Klink returned blew up in his face. Had there been a leak somewhere? Or was Hogan that wily and cunning that he could find out these things from inside the prison camp. Regardless, the Major told himself, the American Colonel was a devil. But what made things worst, Hochstetter couldn't get over Klink had actually arrested him and locked him in solitary with an armed guard pacing back and forth keeping an eye on him. Hochstetter grumbled non-stop.

"Klink, you empty-headed nobody, you will pay for this! I promise you will pay for this insult and humiliation!" He muttered angrily to the air around him. "The Gestapo never forgets!" He slammed his fist into the wall so hard the Corporal thought something would break; either the Major's hand, or the area of the wall that was punched.

Corporal Langenscheidt hid the smirk on his face as he listened to Hochstetter's nonstop rambling. He intensely disliked the Gestapo Major and knew of his unhealthy obsession with Colonel Hogan. Langenscheidt liked Colonel Hogan very much, and knew or at least suspected he and his men were up to 'monkey business.' But he didn't care. Colonel Hogan had always treated the guards better than the Kommandant; and the guards liked the Colonel better than the Kommandant. That was why Langenscheidt decided to lie to the Gestapo Major about how long Colonel Hogan had been in the infirmary, even though the Colonel didn't order or even ask him to. In fact, the only true part of his story was that the Colonel did ask him to help him to the infirmary. He felt it was the least he could do for the American. He secretly enjoyed making Hochstetter look foolish. But that wasn't the only reason Langenscheidt did it. He didn't approve of Hitler ruling his Germany, and was hoping somebody would get rid of him so that he would have his Germany back again, even if it meant the Allies would win the war. He believed Colonel Hogan could help end the war sooner and help the Allies win which would get Hitler out of office, and then Langenscheidt could help rebuild his country and restore it to the glorious place it had once been. And he would overlook anything Hogan and his men did if it would bring about an early end of the war.

At one point, the Corporal stopped pacing and looked at Hochstetter, amused.

"Herr Major, why don't you try and get some sleep. You're going to wear yourself out with your marching back and forth."

"How do you expect me to sleep in here! Klink and Hogan should be locked in here, not me!" The Major yelled. "You are allowing a murderer to roam free in this camp! Hogan has killed a Luftwaffe General and he will get away with it! You and that empty-headed fool Klink are letting Hogan get away with murder!"

Langenscheidt shook his head sadly. "Colonel Hogan would not kill anyone, Major. He just wouldn't. And besides, you have no proof that he has."

Hochstetter pressed his body against the bars while gripping them tightly. "You are in league with Hogan! All of you! You will all pay! I will see to it!" he screamed.

Langenscheidt wearily shook his head and resumed pacing back and forth on guard duty.

Wilson was in the infirmary seated in the chair beside Baker's bed, nodding off. He was tired. It had been a long day and night, with no rest for the weary. Even now, Wilson couldn't sleep because he had to keep watch on Baker who was still unconscious although recovering from his beating. The medic had caught a cat nap while his assistant kept watch over Baker. And before he knew it, it was his shift again. Wilson felt as if he had just laid down and closed his eyes. Wilson suddenly lifted his head and rubbed his eyes trying to stay awake. He knew he should try and get some more sleep. The Colonel, Kinch, Carter and LeBeau would be back, hopefully safe and uninjured. But with the Colonel's broken ribs just starting the heal, whatever took place tonight would not be good. That was another reason he wrapped Hogan's ribs again over the original wrapping. He wanted to give the Colonel's ribs as much protection as possible, but something kept nagging at him; a fear that the extra protection wouldn't be enough.

"Doc?" a weak, tired voice said.

Wilson's eyes opened and his head lifted. He thought he had heard someone speak to him, but as tired as he was, he wasn't sure. He closed his eyes again.

"Doc?" the voice said again and a hand fell on top of the medic's knee. This time Wilson's eyes opened and he looked at his patient. He was surprised to see Baker looking at him with one eye open; the other still a bit too swollen to open.

"Richard, you're awake!" The medic nearly jumped out of his chair, a smile appearing. "How do you feel? Do you remember what happened to you?"

Baker winced as a twinge of pain shot through his body. His mind was so foggy he couldn't think straight. There was only one thing he wanted to know.

"Where is…Colonel…Hogan?" he asked, tiring. "Is he…all right?"

"Colonel Hogan is fine, Richard. Believe me. But I need to know about you."

"Metzger. Hurt…all over. Can't see…one eye."

Wilson grinned. "One eye is still swollen shut. That's why you can't see out of it. But the swelling is going down. Your other injuries are healing nicely. I'll give you a shot of morphine which will ease your pain."

"Thanks," Baker replied softly. Wilson could see Baker was falling asleep. He quickly got to his feet, prepared a syringe, and injected the morphine.

"The morphine will work quickly and you'll feel better soon."

"Ummm," was the only reply he received. Wilson checked his patient and found him sleeping peacefully. A smile appeared. Even though he didn't stay conscious long, the fact that Baker had finally awakened was a good sign that he would recover.

Klink was thumbing through the latest issue of the French girlie magazine he received yesterday as he couldn't sleep. He was still too wound up about having arrested Major Hochstetter. It was the thrill of a lifetime for him. One thing he liked better than actually arresting Hochstetter was keeping him locked up in solitary overnight. He knew the Major was probably fuming and raging at being incarcerated, and normally Klink would be terrified. But he knew this time he had the backing of General Burkhalter. So Hochstetter could rage, fume, and threaten all he wanted; it wouldn't make any difference.

Turning the page, Klink held the magazine sideways as he smiled at the French beauty in her bathing suit in the centerfold. He sighed as he suddenly closed the magazine and laid it on the night table. Reaching over, he turned off the light and slid down in his bed, pulling the covers up over him. He clasped his hands behind his head and stared at the ceiling, a smile on his face. The moment he locked the cell door behind Hochstetter would be forever burned into his brain. However, considering he knew Hochstetter as he did, it would probably be the last enjoyable moment he would have over the Major. For he knew after he contacted Burkhalter and advised of Hochstetter's arrest, he would be coming to Stalag 13 to deal with everything personally.

Klink could not understand Hochstetter's obsession with Hogan. True, the American had a loud mouth and didn't know when to shut it, and made a point of getting on everyone's nerves. Hogan could also, at times, be irritating, obnoxious and downright rude when he wanted to be. And he often deliberately baited the Gestapo Major just to get under his skin. And while it amused Klink watching Hogan bait the Major, Hogan often went too far because Hochstetter sometimes lashed out, and Hogan would get hurt; much to Klink's concern and dismay.

He was always concerned when Hogan got himself injured. And it was a secret fear of Klink's that one day Hogan would push Hochstetter too far and it would cost the American officer dearly. But for tonight, Hogan was in his barracks having been escorted there by Corporal Langenscheidt from the infirmary.

Klink turned onto his side and punched his pillow, trying to get comfortable. He hoped tomorrow would be just as good a day as today had been. He imagined General Burkhalter would probably be amused when he told him he had kept Hochstetter locked up overnight. He could almost picture the obese General's smirk at the news.

But more than anything, Klink told himself, it kept the maniacal Gestapo officer away from Hogan for the night anyway. Klink, for the life of him, couldn't understand the Major's unhealthy obsession with the American. While it was apparent, even to Klink, that the sabotage in the area had increased since Hogan had been incarcerated in his camp, it didn't necessarily mean he was responsible. But even Klink had his suspicions about Hogan. But as long as Hogan was present at roll calls and his perfect 'no escape' record remained intact, Klink didn't give it too much thought.

I know Major Hochstetter is right about the sabotage, Hogan, Klink thought to himself, but he is wrong about you committing cold-blooded murder. But I couldn't blame you even if you had, Hogan. Especially after what I witnessed with Sergeant Baker. The man was a psycho, and somebody did us a huge favor. But no matter what, Hogan, I am positive it wasn't you. And I'll do what I can to protect you from Major Hochstetter until the real killer is caught.

With that thought in his mind, Klink finally drifted off to sleep. But it wasn't a peaceful sleep. It was a dream-laden sleep. He kept seeing Hochstetter's face laughing at him as he held Klink at gunpoint and shoved him into a cell in which Hogan was already waiting. The Major slammed the cell door behind him.

"Major, what is the meaning of this?" Klink asked as he gripped the bars.

Hochstetter sneered at the two men. "This is where you and Hogan will spend your final hours until the end, Kom-man-dant." The Major emphasized Klink's title.

"Final hours? What are you talking about?"

Hochstetter grinned a wicked grin. "You are going to pay for arresting me and locking me in solitary, Klink. Your actions caused me great humiliation and embarrassment at Gestapo headquarters. As far as Colonel Hogan is concerned, he is charged with the murder of Luftwaffe General Wolfgang Metzger."

Klink turned to Hogan who had been sitting on the bunk with legs crossed and arms wrapped around himself. "Hogan, what is happening here?"

Hogan allowed a lopsided grin as he shook his head. "What is happening, Kommandant, is what happens when a person has too much time on their hands. I've always said busy hands are happy hands." He smiled sweetly at the Major.

"BAH!" Hochstetter shouted. "Let's see how arrogant you are, Hogan, when you and Klink are facing a firing squad tomorrow!" He turned sharply and walked away.

"No!" Klink yelled out loud, as he bolted upright in his bed, the sweat rolling down his face. There was a knock on his bedroom door.

"Who is it?" he asked.

The door opened, and Schultz reached in and switched on the overhead light. "Is everything all right, Herr Kommandant?" he asked, looking at his commanding officer. "I thought I heard a noise in here."

Klink swallowed the imaginary lump in his throat. "Everything's fine, Schultz. It was just a bad dream."

Schultz looked as if he wasn't certain he should believe his Kommandant or not. "Anything I can do, Herr Kommandant?"

"No thank you, Schultz. I guess it was because of everything that happened today. That's all."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm fine, Schultz. Danke."

"If you say so, Herr Kommandant." Schultz turned off the light and closed the door leaving Klink it the dark, wondering if his nightmare would become a reality or not.