The first boom was close. Everyone jumped. He froze.

Exactly the situation he didn’t want.

A group of drivers waiting to be searched stood around him getting papers checked. They were jittery. His bunker was too far away, the bunker for the locals a little past that. If he could find the impact, maybe he had some time.

The second thunderbolt fixed things in his mind. It was counter-battery fire going out. Good. He had expected a spray of gravel any second.

He turned to his interpreter. “Can you tell them to calm down? It’s us shooting.”

Another boom roared.

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