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ThelongJunetwilightfadedintonight.Dublinlayenvelopedindarknessbutforthedimlightofthemoonthatshonethroughfleecyclouds,castingapalelightasofapproachingdawnoverthestreetsandthedarkwatersoftheLiffey.AroundthebeleagueredFourCourtstheheavygunsroared.Hereandtherethroughthecity,machinegunsandriflesbrokethesilenceofthenight,spasmodically,likedogsbarkingonlonefarms.RepublicansandFreeStaterswerewagingcivilwar.
OnarooftopnearO'ConnellBridge,aRepublicansniperlaywatching.Besidehimlayhisrifleandoverhisshoulderswasslungapairoffieldglasses.Hisfacewasthefaceofastudent,thinandascetic,buthiseyeshadthecoldgleamofthefanatic.Theyweredeepandthoughtful,theeyesofamanwhoisusedtolookingatdeath.
Hewaseatingasandwichhungrily.Hehadeatennothingsincemorning.Hehadbeentooexcitedtoeat.Hefinishedthesandwich,and,takingaflaskofwhiskeyfromhispocket,hetookashortdrought.Thenhereturnedtheflasktohispocket.Hepausedforamoment,consideringwhetherheshouldriskasmoke.Itwasdangerous.Theflashmightbeseeninthedarkness,andtherewereenemieswatching.Hedecidedtotaketherisk.
Placingacigarettebetweenhislips,hestruckamatch,inhaledthesmokehurriedlyandputoutthelight.Almostimmediately,abulletflatteneditselfagainsttheparapetoftheroof.Thesnipertookanotherwhiffandputoutthecigarette.Thenhesworesoftlyandcrawledawaytotheleft.
Cautiouslyheraisedhimselfandpeeredovertheparapet.Therewasaflashandabulletwhizzedoverhishead.Hedroppedimmediately.Hehadseentheflash.Itcamefromtheoppositesideofthestreet.
Herolledovertherooftoachimneystackintherear,andslowlydrewhimselfupbehindit,untilhiseyeswerelevelwiththetopoftheparapet.Therewasnothingtobeseen--justthedimoutlineoftheoppositehousetopagainstthebluesky.Hisenemywasundercover.
Justthenanarmoredcarcameacrossthebridgeandadvancedslowlyupthestreet.Itstoppedontheoppositesideofthestreet,fiftyyardsahead.Thesnipercouldhearthedullpantingofthemotor.Hisheartbeatfaster.Itwasanenemycar.Hewantedtofire,butheknewitwasuseless.Hisbulletswouldneverpiercethesteelthatcoveredthegraymonster.
Thenroundthecornerofasidestreetcameanoldwoman,herheadcoveredbyatatteredshawl.Shebegantotalktothemanintheturretofthecar.Shewaspointingtotheroofwherethesniperlay.Aninformer.
Theturretopened.Aman'sheadandshouldersappeared,lookingtowardthesniper.Thesniperraisedhisrifleandfired.Theheadfellheavilyontheturretwall.Thewomandartedtowardthesidestreet.Thesniperfiredagain.Thewomanwhirledroundandfellwithashriekintothegutter.
Suddenlyfromtheoppositeroofashotrangoutandthesniperdroppedhisriflewithacurse.Therifleclatteredtotheroof.Thesniperthoughtthenoisewouldwakethedead.Hestoopedtopicktherifleup.Hecouldn'tliftit.Hisforearmwasdead."I'mhit,"hemuttered.
Droppingflatontotheroof,hecrawledbacktotheparapet.Withhislefthandhefelttheinjuredrightforearm.Thebloodwasoozingthroughthesleeveofhiscoat.Therewasnopain--justadeadenedsensation,asifthearmhadbeencutoff.
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