5: Vapor Rub
"Give it a try. It might work," Sergeant Carter said, handing Corporal Kielholz a small jar.
"Karl has pneumonia, Carter," Kielholz replied, "not a cold."
"Still. That stuff has helped me whenever I have a cold or flu or anything where my chest is bothering me." Carter gave him a reassuring grin. "Just try it. It's not like it'll hurt."
Kielholz nodded a little, then turned and headed to the infirmary, staring at the jar. Vapor rub, huh? Mother never used this when I was sick, but I guess it is worth a try to help Karl sleep better while he recovers.
It had started raining when Kielholz entered the infirmary. Langenscheidt was lying awake in bed, staring up at the ceiling. He turned his head when Kielholz walked in. The sudden movement triggered a coughing fit, though he sat up anyway. "Good morning, Erich," he said when the coughing stopped.
"Good morning. Did you sleep at all last night?" Kielholz asked.
"Not really." An embarrassed look came over Langenscheidt's face. "I kept waking up the other patients with my coughing. Hot tea and honey have helped a little." He glanced at the jar in Kielholz's hands. "What is that?"
"Vapor rub. Carter got it from a Red Cross package, and said I could use it on you."
"I have seen it in newspaper advertisements, but never actually used it. Have you?"
"No." Kielholz unscrewed the lid. "Open your shirt. I have to put it directly on your chest."
Without a word, Langenscheidt took out the first three buttons of his nightshirt, then held it open. Kielholz put his fingers in the jar, gathering up a sizable glob of vapor rub. "I don't think you're supposed to use that much, Erich—" Langenscheidt tensed when the cold, oily substance touched his chest.
Kielholz wrinkled his nose when the strong smell of the stuff assaulted his senses. "I hope this helps." Despite the coolness of the vapor rub, he could still feel how warm and feverish Langenscheidt was as he spread it all over his chest. He could feel his friend's lungs struggling to get air in and out under his ribs.
There was silence aside from the sound of the rain clacking against the roof. After a minute or two, Langenscheidt sighed. "That is actually helping a little."
"This?" Kielholz held up a waxy, oily hand.
"That, and the rain, surprisingly. It is quite soothing."
"Well, I am glad it's helping you, because this stuff is disgusting to touch, and smells even worse. It reminds me of lard."
Langenscheidt grinned a little. "Speaking of lard… did you ever find out where General Burkhalter got those pajamas you stole a few nights ago?"
"I checked the tag when I put them back. They came from a fancy shop in Paris, so they are probably expensive, and there is no way Klink will give me a pass to go to Paris." Kielholz slathered a bit more vapor rub on Langenscheidt's chest, just under his neck, then furiously tried to clean his hand with a tissue. "Nasty, unpleasant stuff," he grumbled.
"I take it I shouldn't use this on you the next time you are sick?" Langenscheidt asked.
"If it works, maybe you can try it, but I hate how it feels on my hands."
"That would be a risk I am willing to take, compared to stealing a general's pajamas."
Kielholz rolled his eyes. "Oh, go to sleep, Karl."
"I actually feel like I can, now. Thank you, Erich."
"No problem."
Author's Note: Another one of the alternative prompts. The original was "Great, now I have your germs all over me."
