"Dear God!" Jack lay prone and tried to burrow into the ground as pieces of burning wood and shattered men fell all around him.
After the explosion came the silence; a hush so intense it seemed unreal. Jack dragged himself up, winced as something stabbed in his leg and looked around at his men. Most were still lying, stunned by the noise, one or two were attempting to rise.
"Come on, lads!" Jack didn"t hear his words and knew that the explosion had temporarily robbed him of his hearing. He shook Smith, the man nearest to him and gestured towards the temple. Hutton was swearing and patting at his trouser leg, which was ablaze from the falling debris. One man stood to stare at the flames and colossal tower of white smoke. That was Thorpe, of course, admiring his handiwork.
"I told you to
