14C Sunny. Doughnut Day yesterday. The doughnut curse was on, bowled well and was winning the game then after the break, didn't bowl as well and ended up losing. Around home until late afternoon then to club to help prepare novices for their tournament. Home after 8 pm.

CHAPTER 2

T

he daily routine went on for two more days then on the third morning after Wang Chu had been sutured and bandaged, Dr. and Mrs. Pearce were finishing their second cups of tea as they waited for the four children to finish dressing they both heard the crump, crump of explosions in the distance.  They both ran out into the garden and instantly saw towering plumes of smoke rising from the city. As they stared John and Jean ran out behind them, “What is it Father? What’s that noise, Why is there all that smoke?” John cried.

  At the same moment they could see small spots speeding earthward from high in the sky then sweeping back up again. Moments later there was more of the crumping noise and fresh columns of smoke rose to join the others.

  Mrs. Pearce spread her arms at the two children, “Back inside, go back in.”

  Jean turned to obey, but John moved up beside his father, “They are airplanes aren’t they father? They’re bombing the city!”

  Dr. Pearce put his arm around his son’s shoulders and drew him close. “Yes, John I’m afraid they are, come do as your mother said, back inside now.”

  All four started moving towards the door but stopped abruptly as they heard a screaming sound of a diving airplane almost over their heads.

  The plane, leveled off momentarily at the same moment they all spotted it, it leveled off then abruptly raised its nose and clawed back skyward, simultaneously a grey cylindrical object continued downwards at a slight angle directly towards the hospital! All four family members froze in horror as the bomb continued its earthward plunge. It struck the ground almost on the edge of the hospital steps, a huge explosion shook the ground and the doors of the hospital blew inwards as a huge geyser of dirt, rocks and splintered boards burst upwards.

  The doctor involuntarily started to run towards the hospital but Mrs. Pearce grabbed his arm and pulled him back, “No, no the children help me with them!”

  He hesitated then turned back, “Quickly then, you get the little ones and take them out to the back. Come you two.” He said to John and Jean, “Around the back – no, no arguing.” He added as John started to protest.

  He led them around into the back then said, “Wait here for your mother, tell her I will back as quickly as I can.” He took off running back around the corner of the house.

  Jean called after him, “No Papa, come back, you must stay here!”

  As he reached the edge of the street, he heard the roaring noise of another airplane approaching from over the top of their home, simultaneously there came the loud chatter of machine guns. He threw himself onto the ground; the airplane roared past then as it pulled skyward, a second bomb was released. This one didn’t fall short but plunged through the blasted doorway and exploded! As Dr. Pearce watched it seemed that the hospital, his hospital, puffed up like a balloon then blew outwards, he watched in horror as fragments of the walls crashed out onto the ground and the broken boards, dirt and debris fell back into where the hospital had stood only a moment before. He stared then slowly lowered his face into the dirt, his body shook with sobs.