Chapter 1.<br > "No!" I shouted. "I won t go. I won t hide in a base-<br >ment. The world is in flames， and you worry about the<br >linens， the silver， the books. No， I ll fight this war my<br >own way!"<br > As Mama screamed at me， I dashed through the street<br >and into another courtyard. An instant later， an enor-<br >mous blast rocked the area. Debris rained down on my<br >head. A large wooden trash bin caught my eye. I ran to<br >it， climbed inside， and slammed the lid shut.<br > Another blast.<br > Even the sealed bin filled with smoke and dust. Chok-<br >ing， I raised the lid aqd peered out. Flames were shooting<br >from a nearby buildii~g. People lay dead and wounded.<br >Across the yard， a group of soldiers fired their rifles at<br >low-flying planes.<br > Another explosion.<br > I could see the dead soldiers lying on the street，<br > I leaped from the bin， grabbed a rifle， and climbed back<br > in.<br > Ammunition.<br > Out again， I stripped the bullets from the dead soldiers.<br > Back in the bin.<br > Breathlessly， I studied the weapon. Then I loaded， aimed<br > at the sky， and pulled the trigger. The kick of the butt<br > almost tore my shoulder apart， l gasped. I reloaded，<br > supported the rifle against the lip of the bin， and waited.<br > The planes came again， low and fast， one after another.<br > lfired. I loaded and fired. Loaded and fired， as fast as I<br > ;could.<br > Suddenly， there it was. Smoke trailed from one of the<br > phnes.<br > "l shot him!" I yelled foolishly. "I shot him!"<br > Dropping the rifle， I climbed out of the bin and raced to<br > 5<br ><br >