I did not look where the planes were but heard them dropping more bombs, I think on the track again. When they had gone we ran hell for leather for cover. Running over cracked earth, rice stubble and bunds is-not easy and what with my thumping heart and the running I was absolutely breathless; then suddenly I got my second wind. Amah was running hard behind Mr. Rees and I was glad to remember she had big feet.
We did a record run back and after what seemed an eternity reached the blessed ricks and sank on to their strawy sides. Mrs. Ramsay and Mr. Pinel were there already and I heard that the soldiers had cursed Mr. Pinel's white shirt in no uncertain terms.
The soldiers again brought us their welcome but muddy tea, but refused all our efforts to pay them, so I gave them a packet of chocolate I happened to have in my bag. We had a rather interesting conversation with one of them, a veteran who had been over to France with the Chinese Labour Corps and in the Shanghai police. (At least Mr. Rees had the conversation and we had it translated.) He was rather an engaging rascal and showed us a half-healed bullet wound arm, saying he had another in his leg. Poor devils, I did feel sorry for them.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.