19: Common Cold/Flu

It was certainly strange seeing Kielholz so quiet and lethargic, but there was a part of Langenscheidt that was glad Kielholz was actually resting for once instead of bouncing all over the place.

Then again, they were both lethargic, as they came down with the same cold ravaging the camp's ranks. Kielholz, in a strange twist of fate, had been hit harder than Langenscheidt. His usual happy nature was dimmed like a lightbulb, and he spent his time staring off into space when he wasn't being tended to by the medics.

To clear space in the infirmary, several patients were told to rest in their barracks if they were either on the mend or not suffering as bad as others. Kielholz and Langenscheidt were among them.

Without saying a word, Kielholz leaned on Langenscheidt as they headed back to the guard barracks. When they arrived, Langenscheidt crawled into his bunk, and turned to see Kielholz sitting on the floor, head and arms rested on his mattress.

"Do you not feel well enough to climb into your own bunk?" Langenscheidt asked.

Kielholz shook his head.

"Well, I can't imagine laying there is comfortable." Langenscheidt sighed. "Do you want to—"

Without hesitation, Kielholz climbed into the bunk alongside Langenscheidt. The bunks were too small to hold two people, although the two guards weighed less put together than Schultz on his own, so at least they didn't have to worry about the bunk collapsing. Langenscheidt was still close to the edge of the bunk, though, wanting to give Kielholz as much space as possible.

Kielholz had his back to Langenscheidt. As he tried to sleep, Langenscheidt listened to Kielholz's labored breathing. He gave a quiet sigh before turning to face Kielholz, and began gently rubbing his back. Without a word, Kielholz moved onto his stomach, making it easier for Langenscheidt to keep going.

"Is this actually helping?" Langenscheidt whispered.

Kielholz nodded.

Langenscheidt began wondering if Kielholz had lost his voice, or if he was just too tired to talk at all. Either way, it was nice to enjoy a bit of silence.

Something began nagging at Langenscheidt after a few minutes passed. He moved his hand up to Kielholz's neck, gently pressing just under his jaw. "Your glands are really swollen."

No response.

Langenscheidt bit his lip, concerned. "Erich, can I see your tonsils?"

Again, no response, until Kielholz moaned, "I have to stay here and take care of you."

"Erich, I seem to have gotten the least of this. You're worrying me, now let me see your tonsils. You might need them taken out."

Kielholz tried to brace himself while Langenscheidt tried to forcibly move him. Sighing, Langenscheidt gave up, and got out of his bunk, walking around to face Kielholz. For a moment, Langenscheidt was hesitant. Trying to force Kielholz's mouth open was incredibly risky. "Well, you've already bitten me once this year. What's one more time?" Langenscheidt took Kielholz's lower jaw. "It will make me feel better if I know what's going on with you."

With that, Kielholz actually opened his mouth.

"I hate to say this, Erich," Langenscheidt said, "your tonsils look almost exactly how the medics described mine earlier this year. We need to go to Colonel Klink and get you to a hospital."

"I don't want to go to a hospital," Kielholz muttered.

"You need your tonsils removed. I will be with you the whole way, I promise, just like how you were with me when I had my tonsils out, and my appendix out. Consider it returning the favor."

"Promise?"

"Promise." Langenscheidt waited until Kielholz sat up, and put one of his arms around his shoulder. "Let's go find Klink."