The almost absolute silence was just that indeed- almost, because there was some noise that started just a few seconds after the explosion and this was the noises of falling pieces, pieces that had flown high into the air as if they’d never stop, pieces of the wagon, pieces of the mules and pieces of Jacob.
By the time the pieces had stopped falling and the chemical laden air had reached the various receptors on the rattle snakes tongue- zipping to its small brain, instantly, instinctively willing its body to leave this place of strangeness and turmoil without even rattling its tail in fear or anger.
The animals had started moving away from the area as well. The forest was awakening from its shock.
By this time the sound from the blast had already rattled the windows of the nearby town of Poplarhead and the people were starting to gather in the streets, chattering about what could it have been.
pea river journal 
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