Chapter 9: Whistle While You Work
It began with a sneeze. Tully was in the motor pool overseeing the mechanics replacing the transmission in Olive, his beloved jeep. The two men worked diligently and nervously under the watchful eye of the Kentuckian who supervised, not only to make sure the work was done correctly, but he enjoyed making the mechanics sweat. It was a small guilty pleasure, but it also insured that the patrol's jeeps took top priority.
They finished the job, lowered the hood, and tied down the windshield. Anxiously they glanced at the quiet private chewing on a matchstick to see if he approved of their work. Tully held out his hand to shake theirs and said,
"Good job, thanks." The two mechanics breathed an audible sigh of relief they had passed muster by a soldier who could have easily taken the jeep apart and put it back together. They shook hands and Tully sauntered away to find Hitch who had gone to Supply. He found his friend and fellow teammate signing the paperwork.
"How's it going, Tully?" the supply clerk asked. "Looks like you guys are going to be on patrol for a while. AAAAACCCHHHHOOOOO!"
The corporal sneezed loudly in Tully's face. Tully was taken by surprise and took out a handkerchief to wipe off his face where it was sprayed.
"I'm sorry, Tully," the clerk apologized, wiping his nose with his own handkerchief. "It just snuck up on me."
"Yeah," Tully was not pleased. "Thanks," he returned the handkerchief to his pocket and helped a grinning Hitch with the supplies.
"That was a little gross," Hitch said as they walked to the motor pool.
"Yeah," Tully replied, "hope he doesn't have anything catching."
"Did they finish with Olive?" Hitch asked.
"They did a good job," Tully admitted.
"Only because they're too scared of what you will do if they don't," Hitch smiled. "You sure like messing with them."
"Only cause it's so easy," Tully grinned in return. They stowed the supplies in the jeeps and gave them a thorough going over before heading for a beer at Remy's bar. Troy and Moffitt were already there.
"Make sure you're ready to go in the morning. "We've an early start," Moffitt said watching Hitch making eye contact with one of the nurses enjoying a night off with a friend.
"Sure thing, Doc," Hitch said winking at the nurse. "Come on, Tully, the night is looking up." The two privates stood to leave.
"No hangovers," Troy warned, "and I expect both of you back at quarters at a decent hour."
"Sure thing, Dad," Tully joked, and the two younger mean joined the other table.
The next morning the four enjoyed breakfast in the mess hall before heading out to the desert. Hitch looked a little bedraggled, but Tully looked worse. He kept clearing his throat and added some honey to his tea.
"Are you alright?" Moffitt asked, concerned for his driver.
"Throat's a little scratchy, I'm okay." Tully answered with a sneeze.
"Are you coming down with something?" Troy asked suspiciously.
"Naw," Tully said, "Think it's just the dust kicking up. "I'm fine."
"What about you," Troy turned his attention to the youngest member of the team who was looking much better after a cup of coffee.
"I'm fine, Sarge," Hitch grinned. "Ready to go when you are."
"Then let's go," they returned their trays and were soon driving through the base gates.
By mid-day, they had mapped several new German supply caches and discovered a previously unknown fuel supply hidden in a cave. They planned to return that evening and transform it into some spectacular fireworks. They passed out K-rations for a quick lunch and Moffitt's throat was now tickly. He drank several cups of tea and kept clearing his throat. Tully occasionally sneezed loudly. Troy was not happy that half his patrol seemed to be getting sick. He worried enough about them completing missions when they were healthy. That worry increased when they weren't at their best.
Several hours later they encountered a German convoy and swung into action with the .50's. Tully's reflexes were a little slower and several times he almost lost control of the jeep as he sneezed. After decimating the supply trucks, they darted away in the opposite direction of the fuel depot and doubled back unseen by the Germans. Troy realized his head was pounding and he wasn't feeling his best. Moffitt's sinuses were causing him to sound very nasal and Tully continued to sneeze. Hitch alone seemed unfazed.
They waited until dark before attempting to destroy the fuel depot. As the sun set and the sky grew darker, the temperature rapidly dropped. Even with their jackets, Tully, Moffitt, and Troy were feeling the cold. Moffitt croaked when he spoke, Tully's sneezes shattered the silence and Troy was complaining about anything and everything as he kept watch for any guards that might be on duty. As the only one not suffering the ravages of whatever it was the others had contracted, Hitch was busy putting together charges and timers in preparation for the alarm and despondency they would shortly spread.
"Doesn't seem to be any guards on duty," Troy reported, coughing roughly. "They must think we haven't discovered their hiding place. Are you comfortable with planting the charges by yourself? Troy asked Hitch.
"Sure, Sarge," Hitch replied. "If there is anyone in there, we don't want to warn them by sneezing, coughing or croaking," he grinned and hoisted the pack containing the explosives onto his back. Slowly he made his way to the cave entrance while the other three watched carefully. He quickly ascertained that no one was guarding the fuel, and he planted the charges where they would do the most damage before making his way back to the jeeps.
They moved further away where they could watch the fireworks. Thirty minutes later, the first explosion occurred, followed rapidly by several others in succession. The sky lit up like the Fourth of July.
"You do good work, Hitch, croaked Moffitt, and Tully sneezed in appreciation.
"Don't let it go to your head," growled Troy, rubbing his temples to try and relieve his headache. His throat was becoming scratchy as well.
They found a place to camp for the night and Hitch made them some hot broth and peppermint tea to help ease their sore throats. He found some Vick's VapoRub in the med kit and soon the three sick Rats were breathing easier. He gave them aspirin and made them drink plenty of water. Hitch took a double watch so his teammates could get some badly needed sleep. He was pretty sure they just had bad colds, but he worried that one or more might spike a fever.
Upon returning to the base the next day, the three were confined to their quarters with Hitch continuing to nurse their colds. He made them as comfortable as possible then went to pick up cough syrup, antihistamine and more VapoRub from the hospital before grabbing some hot tea, toast, broth, and orange juice from the mess hall. He entered their room, carrying the supplies and whistling a light-hearted tune.
"You don't have to be so cheerful," grumbled Troy.
"What's that you're whistling? Moffitt rasped, "it sounds familiar." Tully sneezed three times in a row.
"Whistle While You Work," Hitch replied with a grin. "It's from Snow White and it seemed appropriate since I'm dealing with some of the Seven Dwarfs."
"What are you talking about?" Troy groused and Hitch's grin grew wider.
"Grumpy, Sneezy and Doc," Hitch pointed to his sick teammates in turn, "and since I'm not sick, I guess that makes me Happy."