--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By the time Dimitrov realised what had…" description: "\"“By the time Dimitrov realised what had happened, it was too late. He had taken aim but Bond had already fired. Three bullets spat their ugly farewells..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fb/anthony-horowitz-1452_pistol_by-the-time-dimitrov-realised-what-had-h_48864.png" --- # By the time Dimitrov realised what had happened, it was… ![“By the time Dimitrov realised what had happened, it was too late. He had taken aim but Bond had already fired. Three bullets spat their ugly farewells, driving into the Russian’s chest and throat. Bond lay on the ground, sodden, his broken rib pounding. The rain beat down on him. A car drove past…” quote by Anthony Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fb/anthony-horowitz-1452_pistol_by-the-time-dimitrov-realised-what-had-h_48864.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fb/anthony-horowitz-1452_pistol_by-the-time-dimitrov-realised-what-had-h_48864.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fb/anthony-horowitz-1452_pistol_by-the-time-dimitrov-realised-what-had-h_48864.png) > ““By the time Dimitrov realised what had happened, it was too late. He had taken aim but Bond had already fired. Three bullets spat their ugly farewells, driving into the Russian’s chest and throat. Bond lay on the ground, sodden, his broken rib pounding. The rain beat down on him. A car drove past, spraying more water over him, but the driver noticed nothing and didn’t stop. Eventually, Bond stood up. He slipped the Walther PPK into his pocket and walked over to the dead Russian who was lying on the tarmac in a pool of rainwater and blood. He was still holding his own gun, a 9x18mm Makarov pistol, a sophisticated but ugly weapon used by the Russian army and police. He had come close to firing a second bullet. His finger was still curled around the trigger, already stiffening as his muscles began to contract. Trigger mortis.”” [Anthony Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-horowitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A tense, cinematic moment where a sniper’s delayed reaction costs him his chance, highlighting the brutal immediacy of combat and the thin line between life and death. **In simple terms:** The sniper misses his target due to a fatal delay. Key Takeaway Timing is decisive in lethal encounters. Themes tension mortality chance combat delay Mood grim urgent gritty Type narrative dramatic visual When to use this quote - military engagement - urban firefight - high‑stakes pursuit Key Concepts sniper dynamics weapon handling rainy setting Practical Applications - writing vivid action scenes - teaching split‑second decision making Questions to Reflect On - How does a momentary hesitation alter outcomes? - What does the rain symbolize in this scene? A Different Perspective null ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bond Fired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bond-fired-703232/) [Bullets Spat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullets-spat-703229/) [Dead Russian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-russian-703228/) [Fired Bullets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fired-bullets-703225/) [Makarov Pistol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makarov-pistol-703234/) [Pistol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pistol/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Too late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-late/) ## Related quotes > [Imagine if these computer geeks who are running baseball now were allowed to run a war? They'd be telling our soldiers: 'That's enough. You've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-seaver/imagine-if-these-computer-geeks-who-are-running-baseball-now-were/) [Tom Seaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-seaver/) > [“If you wake up feeling no pain, you know you're dead. 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