Fire
We all need fire as long as it’s under control, however there is fire and fire. One incident that comes to mind is when I learned to use a Bren gun. We were on the two-hundred-yard range, which had a nice cover to protect the gunners from the weather. “Should your weapon jam,” yelled the instructor, “you will draw the bolt and pull the trigger twice, if the weapon remains jammed you leave the weapon on the ground and leap to your feet yelling ‘weapon jammed.’ Now is that clear?”
We all agreed, and the ammunition was handed out. The guy next to me was, how should I say it nicely … well, how about not very good at taking instructions. Ten of us lay there each with a light machine gun in front of us and now they were loaded and ready for action. “At your targets in front, FIRE.” Yelled the instructor. Oh boy! A few short bursts from my weapon when the guy next to me leapt to his feet with a 14-pound loaded machine gun in his arms. He screams, “Gun jammed.” Pulled the trigger and blew the roof off the range. Glass and splintered wood flew in every direction. Another time I lay in my bed and swore I heard artillery firing. Boom – kar – thump. This repeated several times. It sounded as if the artillery piece was fairly close. Puzzled for an explanation I got out of bed and walked to the window. Nothing, nothing at all. Even the sound had ceased. Back in bed, it started again. Boom – kar – thump. “What’s that?” asked the wife. “No idea. I couldn’t see anything.” She climbed from the bed and drew the curtains for a look outside. “Good heavens!” she exclaimed astonished by what she claimed to have seen. Reluctantly I arose again and looked out the window. Now I’m sure I know what the resurrection will look like. The entire horizon was lit up and flames from hell were reaching into the sky. We dressed rapidly and at three in the morning went to investigate. An entire factory almost a mile away had erupted with oxygen bottles acting like firecrackers – an amazing sight to behold. As a child I had a similar experience looking out the window in the middle of the night I saw the entire horizon lit up like a grand summer evening. This time it was a large wood storage yard that burned beyond control ...
