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The Last Hero by russell-ville-man (Culburn) - A Short Story.

posted 7 years ago by Culburn (3638)
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The Last Hero by russell-ville-man

Word had come for most via scuttlebutt, in small whispers, passed American to American. An impossibly ashen faced Washington had entered Colonel Hogan's afforded quarters and woken him. "Colonel, Colonel, Hogan, sir." Hogan woke from sleep & dream to discover his communications chief at attention. "Washington, what is it?" Something had happened. "And why are you at attention?"

"It's over, sir. It's finally over."

Chapter One.

"Hogan,,,Colonel Hogan, you will of course accept my quarters as yours henceforth?"

Commandant Klink was holding court. "I will have Sergeant Shultz move my belongings to the guest quarters."

"Wouldn't hear of it, sir." Hogan drew heavy on the cigar that Klink had offered him. "The guest quarters will suit me, sir. With your permission, of course."

The sharp crack of Klink's jack boots engaging each other resonated. The picture of Hitler masquerading the listening device that had enabled the Heroes to direct war efforts for years caught Hogan's eye. Everything had been cleaned in the minutes after Washington's report.

"It's been confirmed,. No doubt exists, sir." Washington once again at attention in the prisoners general quarters.

"At ease, Sergeant." He laid his hand upon him, Washington's tremble eased. Hogan's grip tightened.

Their eyes met. "What is the code, Sergeant?"

Without hesitation: "xxxxxx, sir."

"Repeat it, Sergeant: "xxxxxx, sir."

"Again." The same.

"Go, now!" Hogan directed bleary eyed Newkirk & LeBeau to "clean" Klink's office. "I expect you back in 5 minutes. That's an order."

"Yes, sir." They were back in 5.

"Everything?"

"Yes, sir."

He cited his French brother. "Louie?" The Frenchman's eyes were glistening with tears, though none had crested & fallen. "I am returning to France, Colonel, qui?"

"Qui, Louie, we're all going home. It is time."

"Uh, Mr. Hogan, uh, sir?" Sgt. Andrew Carter, demolition man for the group, his comedic moxie rising to the specter of freedom.

"Carter?"

"Should I destroy the tunnel and apply the seal, sir?" They'd made arrangements that enabled the team to destroy all components and seal the HQ structure below in such an event as this.

"We're going to wait. Be ready. What is the code?

The Heroes in unison: "xxxxxx."

"Repeat it."

[–] Culburn (3638) 7 years ago

Chapter Two.

"Hogan, dahling!"

Shultz had retrieved him from the guest quarters where he was coordinating the departure of his men.

"Shultz, you are going home, soon?"

"I must stay, Colonel Hogan, as his Sergeant I must remain and be cleared by the Geneva Convention team.

"I will vouch for you."

"Thank you, Colonel Hogan, I was going to ask, but, you have saved me the embarrassment."

Hogan was surprised to find the white Russian, Marya, replete in full length white mink coat in Klink's office. Klink, all smiles, his hands clasped in unabashed joy.

"We are victorious, Hogan! I came at once, dahling."

"Nyet!" She hurriedly crossed the space between them and fell into Hogan's embrace.

"I will come to you, dahling, tonight, while you sleep. It will not be a dream, my precious one, it will be your Marya in the mink and nothing else. You will love and punish Marya at last." Her whispered hiss wet & precise.

She separated from their clasp. "You will take Marya, Hogan, dahling? You will take me with you when you go to the States, to the America, to the Palm Springs, it is always warm there, yes, Klink?" She spoke to Klink, but, her eyes remained locked on Hogan's.

"Oh, of course it is. We must all go there, at once." Klink unclasped & rubbed his hands together briskly. "Some wine for the victors, yes?"

Over Klink's best the trio toasted victory & peace. "Colonel Hogan has arranged a dinner tonight. He's requested LeBeau to prepare a most magnificent creation. Is this not true, Colonel Hogan?"

"Yes, Commandant."

"Ah, Hogan, you must drop the signature of Commandant. I am no longer your Commandant. I am your friend. I have always been your friend, your dearest friend, yes?"

Hogan lifted his glass in agreement. "To my truest friend."

"And to the black of night, my dahling Hogan."