That was the light bulb at last going on. Because I realized, for all its size and complexity, Bridge was a cavalry-to-the-rescue story—one in which the cavalry fails to arrive, ending, sadly, one mile short. That was my spine, and everything that wouldn’t cling I couldn’t use. All five Victoria Cross stories fell out of the picture. Super material went by the boards. But it had to. The first draft was done by November and was well received. Shortly thereafter, Levine began one of the most remarkable weeks in his long, remarkable career.…
