Shelling Shellacking

Modern artillery (I say modern even though this particular artillery barrage was about seventy five years ago, but sadly due to some stupidity technology hasn't really advanced that much since then at least with killing weaponry) is terrifying.  Gone were the days of unwieldy cannons and inaccurate fire and hope for the best aiming.  Now the damn things had easy to transport wheels on them with aiming devices that could drop a shell within a foot of the target.  Also the shells themselves were a modern marvel, self contained explosive devices that could be loaded and fired without the need of seperate black powder charges. So they were easy to move to a spot, accurate, and rapid fire. Which explained why the train was annihilated in mere moments and why Leland, myself, and the Prince were fleeing as fast as our feet could carry us and super heated explosives landed from the sky all around us.

"This is a great rescue." The prince was already tired from our short run, hell Leland was in better shape and his legs were half as long.

"You're welcome, you know I always wondered what running from artillery would feel like, this is exhilirating." I was trying to be optimistic.

"Shut up Trezlan." Leland of course did not find my optimism a good thing of course. I don't even know if the artillery people knew who we were or they were just firing in our general direction to be dicks (it also didn't help that we were in the flattest most open bit of terrain in the area.  No gullys, caves, or anything to dive into, the only features were the blast craters from previous shell hits, which of course gave me an idea.

"Quick this way." I started to run back to where the shells had already hit, surpringly Leland and the Prince followed me (I guess they weren't as smart as they both claimed!).  I waited for the next volley to hit near us and then threw both of them into a nearby crater with myself, the shell that hit nearby covered us in dirt.

"Way to go Trezlan you put us in a place THEY ALREADY SHOT!" That was Leland not seeing the genius of my plan.

"Of course Leland, and like lightening it won't strike twice here, no what they'll assume is they blew us to little itty bitty pieces and stop firing." He was about to say something snarky and stupid when the artillery stopped firing.

"I hate you Trezlan." Thats the sound of gratitude, that's the sound of saving someones life, thats the sound of regret getting involved with Trezlan Lorentino!