CHAPTER FIVE
The earth shook under Franklin’s feet. With it came a boom and an orange flash that cut through the black smoke. Several people cried out. Impossible to tell if they were hurt or merely scared.
Franklin realised he was rooted to the spot with his mouth open. As he snapped out of the daze, a warning, ‘Look out!’ came back-to-back with two further explosions.
There was a clamour of action, then a distinct, ‘Clear?’
From a different direction, ‘Anybody hurt?’
‘No, Captain!’
‘All good here.’
More blasts might be coming. Franklin needed to find Sam and Irvy and get them to safety.
That’s if they’re not already…
He let out a ragged breath. No way he’d finish that thought.
He scanned back to the bunch of people he’d been approaching before the blasts. Dressed in overalls or
