A collection of stories showing people pushing their lives to new level of intensity, danger or passion as they test their limits and those of the world. Cover before striking is the literary equivalent of playing with fire.

Recipes for dirty laundry --The boy next door -- Wind chimes -- Sleepwalking -- Three days left -- Blind spot -- Cover before striking -- Mycosis -- The lilies -- The man who loved cats -- The still body is the perfect body -- At your service -- Vertigo -- Acknowledgements.