Chapter 10

Three men sat alone in the interrogation room.

"Your thoughts gentlemen," the man in the civilian suit asked.

"An interesting story," the General replied, "but it doesn't provide us with any new information."

"Have you confirmed yet how Stahlecker came by his information?"

"I'm afraid not."

"Not the most shining example of military efficiency one would expect gentlemen," the civilian commented. "Can you at least tell me how much Hogan and his men know about the events in Philadelphia?"

"Not enough to worry about," the Admiral answered. "As long as they meet no one else who knows the story, what little they know will mean nothing to them. Dealing with them at this point would draw more attention than the situation warrants."

"I take it there's been no change then?" the man in the suit asked.

The Admiral wasn't fooled; he knew that the man already knew the answer. "No. They have not been able to replicate the experiment as of yet."

Still leaning nonchalantly in his chair, the civilian lit another cigarette, but neglected to offer one to either of the two military men. "You're aware of Danziger's theory?" he asked.

"Yes," the General answered. "But I question how much credence we should give to the Doctor's ideas. Danziger may be less rigid and less cloistered in his own academic view of the world than Burns, but he's so enamoured of the whole idea of time travel that he's eating this up with a fork and spoon. I'm also not sure as to how far we can trust him. His views on the differing roles that he and the military will be playing in this project are arrogant to the point of being naïve."

"Perhaps. However, his zeal for the project will keep him in line to a certain extent. Enough for what we need him for. But his theory may require a change in our thinking."

"Keeping the man may be problematic," the General warned.

"How so?"

"Hogan will fight it for a start."

"Hogan is resourceful, but he's a big fish in a small pond," the Admiral argued. "He's had his way with some Nazi fool for three years, but that's all. Playing at this level is a different game entirely."

"Right now, he has enough clout to give it a try," the General stated. "As secret as it is, too many people know about Hogan's operation. The Brits know even more than we do - "

"And as much as they want Hogan to continue, they're not going to let one American Colonel blackmail them over one insignificant Sergeant," the Admiral interrupted. "Hogan is still in the Army for God's sake. He's still required to obey orders, is he not?"

"Of course he is. But if Hogan really wanted to get the story out, he could. Maybe not overtly, or in any way that we could pin him with, but it would get out just the same."

"What's he going to tell people?" the Admiral scoffed, "That the potential to change the course of all of human history is locked up in the head of a glorified soda jerk from the backwoods of North Dakota?"

"What about after the war?" the civilian asked, suddenly changing tack.

"Undoubtedly Hogan will be promoted," the General said.

"Why? Intelligence work is classified. This is not the war to end all wars, and the military may need to use this particular type of operation again. Especially with the growing situation between us and Russia. In that event, it's unlikely that Hogan's activities will come out. And why promote a man who has done nothing but been a prisoner of war?"

"What about all of the flyers his operation has rescued? They'll eventually talk. They'll want Hogan recognized, and once that happens Hogan will have fame as well as rank on his side."

"Perhaps, perhaps not." the Admiral disagreed. "After the war ends, people will be concentrating on getting on with their lives. They'll be grateful, but they'll be busy getting married, finding jobs, having children. Most of them will be downright eager to look ahead and put the past behind them. Including Hogan for that matter. Promoted or not, he'll be reassigned. He'll get comfortable sitting behind a desk for a couple of years; he may even leave the military entirely. He and his men will start to lose touch with one another. After a few years, a wife, some children, and he may not have the same determination to keep track of them. And if one year he fails to get a Christmas card from one of his men, then what of it? He simply tells himself that his men are building their own lives."

"And if he does investigate?" the General asked. "The man's made a considerable number of contacts over the years."

"Then we'll provide him with our own answers," the man in the civilian suit answered.

"Such as?"

"Something reasonable, believable. A simple accident perhaps. Tragic events happen all the time after all, especially with people as uncoordinated as the Sergeant is reputed to be. And, in that case, Hogan would have no need to question the man's whereabouts any further."

"What about the two non-Americans on Hogan's team? What if they go to their own governments?"

"This war has been a long one and the people of Europe are exhausted. I hardly think Britain and France are going to want to deal with the fantastic stories of two former Corporals. But we'll deal with that should it come up."

"As easily as that?" the General asked.

The man in the civilian suit rose to his feet. "You would be surprised General, just how easy it is."

"So what do we do with Hogan and his men until then?" the General asked as the civilian made his way to the door. The civilian didn't bother turning around.

"Watch them," he said.