Rudolf chewed on a chunk of bread, relatively fresh for a change, and then took a bite of cheese. They were eating well tonight, thanks to a raid on a village market. He had gotten used to the hard biscuits and dried vegetables, and in truth, rations were not that bad, but having fresh food of any kind was a treat. Too bad Hans had been killed last month - his friend had loved good cheese. It no longer pained Rudolf to remember the young man's lifeless body, a bloody hole in his chest. Three months of fighting had hardened his heart and made him hope only for survival another day.
Fritz, a newer recruit than Rudolf, was hunkered down as he ate, eyes darting around nervously. The kid was only a year younger than Rudolf, but he was still green. Rudolf frowns. The kid was coughing. No, he was trying to cough. He grabbed at his throat and looked around in panic, eyes bulging. He was choking! An older soldier pounded on Frtiz's back, but did not dislodge whatever was blocking the soldier's airway. Rudolf felt despair, knowing the kid would be dead in minutes. And suddenly he was up and running over to the youth. He grabbed the kid around the waist just under the ribs, locking his arms just under the ribs, and then gave a sudden squeeze. A hunk of cheese flew out of Fritz's mouth and he gasped in a lungful of air.
The others around them were open-mouthed, too stunned to speak for a while. Then Klaus, a coporal, asked "What did you do? How did you know how that would work?"
"It's the Heimlich Maneuver. I learned it.... " Rudolf's eyes went wide as he suddenly remembered where he had learned it. In the far future, during a first aid class at school. As Jeff. Other memories flooded in, and Jeff was once again in charge. He shuddered at most of the memories of the past few months, the realities of war quite different from his romantic visions. This was the life that Rudolf had lived. Jeff had learned more than enough, and as he thought that he was suddenly back in his bedroom. A red banner was flashing on the computer screen. "Temporal Annamolly Created - History Changed."
What had happened to change history? Fritz! He had saved Fritz's life with a method that wouldn't be invented for another 60 years! But what could one sacred kid do to change all of history? Surely Fritz would have been killed in battle?