The Rhythm of the Stone – Collateral Damage

by James Halister Bird III

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  On the west side of the bridge, a man shifted, his boot brushing the edge of a cone-shaped beam of lamp-light glimmering to a circle on the wet ground. Dean Spalding, the American diplomatic escort, removed the blindfold from the man’s eyes.

  Anatoly Utkin, Soviet double agent, blinked, rubbing his sight back into focus, and spotted silhouettes on the other side. Gloom descended down his face and he began to rock on his feet.

  Dean grasped the spy by the elbow, motioning with his gun toward the east end of the bridge.

  Anatoly sighed heavily and stared down at his feet, swallowing hard. A sharp yank on his elbow sent him stumbling forward and he gave in, trudging across the bridge, hands clutching his stomach.