The round hit the parapet of Hyde Bridge a metre from Ryan's head and took a lump out of the stone the size of a fist.
Ryan went flat. Bits of granite rattled across the road and off the railings on Rockwood Parade.
"I'm grand," he shouted. "I'm grand. Jesus."
"Then stay down and be grand," said Feeney.
James was in against the river wall at the south end, where Rockwood Parade ran along the water under the backs of the shops, with Finn beside him. Feeney's section was spread along the wall and the first metres of the bridge. The rest of Kavanagh's infantry were in the doorways behind.
The bridge was short. Not much more than forty metres of old grey stone arches, with the Garavogue running brown and fast underneath. At the far end the road split into Stephen Street and Lower Knox Street, and the British were in both.
