The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-12-06
Before The Blitzkrieg
q by Rupert Grayson

the darkness. Tommy did likewise.
Keep down. Gun cried. Right
down"
He gripped Corals shoulder and
forced her down behind the sand
bags. There came a sudden blind
ing flash. then another. and the
roar Of two rapidly following ex-
plosions. The air was full Of flying
fragments Of metal. and there
were shouts and yells Of pain.
Again. shouted Gun, erect
once more, and two more bombs
were lobbed over. with similar re-
suits.
Then came the pattering of feet,
and cries ard curses-rapidly re-
ceding.
Ginger 'em .upw shouted Tom
my. and started to fire, rapidly and
blindly, into the darkness. Gun and
Coral followed suit When they had
emptied their magazines. Gun
made a trumpet of his hands and
shouted:
Il wouldn't try that any more"
The answer was a spate of pic
turesque invective In Italian, and a
couple Of yellow stabs in the dark
ness, as a couple of the attackers,
in their fury, loosed off their rifles.
Then more curses, and the sound
Of blows. as the men who had dis
obeyed orders were summarily
dealt with.
In the air above the defenders.
bullet sang. and then hit the
concrete wall behind them with a
dull plug.
Gun wiped the perspiration from
his brow. and Tommy commented:
What the devil! I've heard OF
sitting on a powder magazine, but
1 never thought l should ever have
to do 1t L."
"Shut upw snapped Gun And
listen-there's something doing
over there"
Apparently II was q loud dis
cussion, which terminated In some
sharp orders being given. Then ST.
lence for few minutes. After that
some one, fairly close to them,
shouted-again in Italian-and a
moment later the answer came,
more family and from some con-
siderable distance.
They've gone to fetch some-
thingw Coral announced. II Won
der WHAT"
Darkness and silence once more.
The defenders reloaded their rifles,
and saw that the bombs were
ready to hand.
Then came more sounds out of
the darkness. Voices calling and a
gathering noise which grew near
er and nearer.
what on earth Is It now?"
Coral murmured.
And after a moment Gun an
swered:
They're bringing something out
in handcarts. or barrows. Now
what the 2"
Now followed Is Indicative
of intense activity; orders sharply
given, and the clink of tools Cries
of encouragement.
II believe they're digging them
selves I'M" suggested Tommy.
More cries and shouts, receding
into the distance. Then silence,
bringing with it the definite feel
ing that something was going to
happen.
Keep down." Gun directed.
And be ready for-anything!"
They crouched behind their low
breastwork, rifles gripped tightly
and eyes and ears concentrating on
the darkness.
Then suddenly darkness and ST.
lence alike were shattered. One
after another three great red
glares leaped upward anC outward,
and vanished. With them came
three rumbling. sullen crashes,
which seemed to make the ground
rock. and a moment later earth
and small stones came rafting
: down on the hillside. and all about
the open door.
, DYNAMITE" cried Gun They're
J blasting holes for cover. Emer-
gency trenches"
, AS | said. digging 'emselves
in" responded Tommy. in other
, words, they're getting ready for a
siege-and we shan't be able 10
, stand much OF that, without food
/ or water. We gods. could do with
drink as il Isl"
I Il wish to heaven thi damned
wind would change" Gun COM
E planned. IT'S still blowing straight
r toward US"
BE quiet, please" Coral begged
Il want to listen"