Dabir

Chris Bono also nailed down a place for the USA with a third-place finish at 145.5 pounds, defeating current Olympic champion Ali Reza Dabir of Iran in the quarterfinals.

USATODAY.com - Thompson's quadruple gold nets USATODAY.com honor 2004

Their mouths worked, but Dabir could not make out what they were saying.

Nemesis Thompson, Paul B. 2000

He staggered, and for the first time Dabir recognized the hooded figure bore a weighty bundle over his left shoulder.

Nemesis Thompson, Paul B. 2000

Dabir stood for hours before a shimmering portal to another plane, impatiently awaiting the arrival of

Nemesis Thompson, Paul B. 2000

Dabir picked himself up, fingering his throbbing nose.

Nemesis Thompson, Paul B. 2000

Dabir watched six tall beings surround the fallen figure.

Nemesis Thompson, Paul B. 2000

Fearful of damaging the ethereal portal, Dabir kept his distance.

Nemesis Thompson, Paul B. 2000

Strange, then, was the mission of the gremlin Dabir.

Nemesis Thompson, Paul B. 2000

And so Dabir waited by the open portal-a glowing pane twelve inches square-for the sample.

Nemesis Thompson, Paul B. 2000

With a tremendous heave of his long legs, Dabir pulled himself and the bundle back through the portal.

Nemesis Thompson, Paul B. 2000