Every evening, the public room (Sean preferred that name to the American equivalent ‘Bar’) was full. There were not only the regular customers; th...e villagers of Sherwin’s Falls who came for their nightly drink and usually more, there were also quite a few overnight residents of the campground and sometimes even the occasional connoisseur who braved the long drive from Montreal, or even further afield, and the inn’s dress code for a glass, or more, of Sean’s specialty beers and ales. The mood in. They were consummate professionals. They were also all single, two by choice and two by divorce. At work, we had a very amicable relationship and none of us ever dared to cross the line that separated us as professionals.With Bridget’s proclamation still hanging in the air, I replied, “You haven’t seen trouble.”Bridget rolled her eyes. She was one of the divorcees. Roxanne was the other divorcee in the group.It was quickly obvious that the four of them were intoxicated and if not fully. Coming around the back of the bumper I caught movement in my peripheral vision the moment I passed into view. I barely made it back into cover before bullets whizzed through the spot I had just occupied. I had moved back fast enough that I lost balance, falling on my back.Looking under the SUV, past the rear tires, I could see feet slowly moving towards the spot I just vacated. Instead of facing the attacker face to face I rolled to my left shoulder to get a steady position, and fired once into. At least I don't think I ever did. Buttruthfully, I didn't really know if I did or didn't. There was just amoment or two before the lights went out that I felt rather odd.For some totally unknown reason, it had simply, not to mention quiteabruptly, become darker than the darkest pitch around me. I couldn'tunderstand how it could suddenly become so dark. After all, it wasstill early in morning.At the same time, something else was bothering me even more. I wasn'taltogether sure I could explain it.