"manhole covers"

"As I pull forward then stop my left front tire comes to rest directly over a manhole. I feel the little needle pricks on my skin as I begin to sweat. It is almost more than I can stand.

In Iraq manhole covers are turned into verticle platter charges, their metal plates become the lethal explosively formed projectiles than can penetrate armored vehicles with catastrophic results. They are avoided like the plague and entire convoy formations swerve to miss them including crossing medians to the other side of highyways."
Chapter: War