"Operation Hannibal" Introduction (Part 2)

INTRODUCTION (Part 2) While he slogged forward, Edward thought about playing his long-lost trumpet and, in his own head, made up a solo to pass the time. Jazz was his passion, and music came to his rescue once more. For a few moments he lost himself in an improvisation and was able to forget about the heavy load on his back and the pain in his cold feet. Chorus after chorus, he imagined his fingering as he built the melodic line by going up a third in harmony on each pass. It seemed to get lighter out as he played over the chords again and again. Life wasn’t quite so bad now, was it?

All of a sudden the column halted. There was no command to stop, just an unnatural stillness in the air. And then, as the troops slowly came out of their individual daydreams, it happened.

In one instant the calm and quiet was rent by the howl of mortar rounds. “Partisans!” came the cry. Surprise was complete and as everyone began to scatter, the grey of the sky and the white of the snow were split by red flame. It was too late to run and explosions blanketed the column. The first shells killed the commander, and leaderless, the unarmed supply troops were simply fodder for the guerrilla attack. Shrapnel and screams filled the air as each person tried to find some shelter from the falling shells. Bodies were being shattered and torn apart on all sides as the dwindling group of survivors sought some hiding place from the massacre.