vignette challenge

[marycatelli]

This week's prompt is:
explain

Anyone can join, with a 50-word vignette in the comments. Your vignette does not have to include the prompt term.

My efforts:

"It's a storm," said Rose, faintly.
"We all saw 'em. Great things, blue, shouting in the wind."
"If you saw them so well," said Lieutenant Smith, "how can you not tell how many there are?"
The soldier straightened. "They moved in and out of the clouds. The colonel wants you to use the tunnel."

"She'd have explained to Grandpa, wouldn't she? She and Grandpa trusted each other."
"Perhaps," said Hope, "he trusted her when she told him that she had left all that behind and didn't want to talk of it." She drew a deep breath. "But there's no way to know except to read."

When she woke in the morning, Lilac noticed the slumbering forms. One was missing. Her heart seemed to stop, and then hammer. She stood up.
When the others woke up, she was able to explain that Princess Ottoline had taken the shuttle and left them behind.
"Rescued herself," said William, dryly. Frederick gave him a bitter glance