Chapter IX Attack and a vacation date

It was now three days before the attack and everything was going to plan, there was nobody at the base that couldn't wait, we would take all the mortars and ammunition the day before and leave them under guard ready for the attack, they were packed and loaded into the lorry, Kevin, James and Mark would take them to our front line, we did not want everyone around to know that we were planning an attack, security was now all important. We imposed a ban on anyone leaving the school except those that had to, we cleaned our weapons and filled our magazines, we would not have time on the day. We knew that there was a possibility that the enemy might retaliate after the attack but there was no way that we could inform the public that they should stay indoors on Saturday afternoon without arising suspicion. The only people that knew were those in command and at the school, I wanted to warn Paula when I went to see her that night but I didn't, instead I told her that I had to go back to the school early as I was going on patrol the next day and that Ernie had confined everyone to the base for the weekend, I had to lie to her something that I promised myself not to do but I had no choice. As we talked I couldn't help but think whether or not this was the last time that I saw her, I hoped that I and everyone else would return safely. If we still had the element of surprise then there should be no casualties but did we, I just had to wait and see and hope that security had not been compromised. After a few hours I left her flat just as another bombardment began, I decided to go around the outskirts of the center as I thought it would be safer,what a stupid choice that was, instead of the usual bombing of the center the outskirts were being targeted and I was driving the same way. The mortars and artillery shells were falling all around me as I rushed back to the base, there were only two more bends and I would be home. All I could think about was how fast should I go and then there was an ear shattering explosion, I drove around the corner at exactly the same time as a mortar landed to see what had been a supermarket in flames and debris falling all around, I hoped that there wasn't another on it's way to the same target, I accelerated and sped past the burning building. The last corner beckoned and I drove around it at full and speed and almost lost control of the car, I was out of the worst but I could still see the flashes in my mirror as I continued home, I was very glad and relieved to turn into the driveway of the school, I parked the car and got out still hearing the sounds of detonations from the direction of Osijek. The lights were out as I entered the building and the guards were behind some very large storage cupboards just incase as there was a large amount of glass on the front of the school, I made sure that everything was alright before heading for the office. When I entered I found it empty and went to find out where everyone was, the guards told me that Ernie, James and Kevin had gone out and that Mark was on the roof watching the bombardment, I decided to join him putting on my flak jacket and helmet. The roof was very exposed but from there we could see the shells falling and where they were coming from, our artillery were not paying any attention to our president's orders as they were sending back as much as the enemy were sending us. After about an hour it stopped just as suddenly as it had started and we went back downstairs to await the return of Ernie who had obviously been out for a meal. It was about twelve and I for one was not going to wait any longer so I decided to go to bed, as I was lying there I started to think about all the things that were wrong in this war and decided to write them down, perhaps some day I would get them published in a newspaper or magazine, if they were allowed to print the truth in newspapers which somehow I suspected they were not.