"Steven Popkes - [SS] Bread and Circus" - читать интересную книгу автора (Popkes Steven)

John: It’s Coach Paderewski’s creative use of the mix, Al. The
Velociraptors are very fast—much faster than the Legs’ wings or defense.
When they need muscle in a center, they have Tom, the fastest T. Rex in
the league. Then, when they turn to defense, Tom is just as big a presence
and he’s backed up with the two Megalosaurs.

Al: But the Velociraptors are always getting hurt.

John: Absolutely. I think Paderewski considers them disposable.
With the unlimited replacement rule, they pretty much are.

Al: The players are lining up at the center of the field. Let’s go live to
Price Chopper Field.

****

Tom managed to restrain himself for the first quarter. It was just
straight passing plays—the only way the Braves’ forward line could survive
against the Gigantosaurs. When the Legs tried to come in, Tom fell back,
not even trying to get to Sebastian. He just worked with defense to return
the ball to the Legs’ zone. Mike began to breathe easier.

In the middle of the second quarter, a Legs wing lost the ball and
Victor Russogen picked it up. He ran up the center of the Legs’ zone and
slipped between the two Gigantosaurs. He leaned to one side and grabbed
the ball with the claws of his left foot. Mike had just enough time to think
remember the three-second rule! when Victor let fly a beautiful shot to the
inside right corner.

Sebastian stepped forward and snagged it and threw it back across
most of the quarter-mile field. The Legs’ forwards had dropped back but
now surged to meet the falling ball. The right wing bounced it off a bony
skull plate to the left wing who caught it on his tail and slammed it over
Carly’s head into the net.

Tom roared and ran back to Carly. He slammed Carly’s chest with his
tail, roared again.

At that point, the tile man called.

“This isn’t a good time,” Mike yelled above the rumble on the field.

“Andrew. Call me Andrew. Your wife said I could call.”

Carly staggered back into the net. Carly had always been the most
affable member of the team but this was too much. He slammed back.

“Your wife said you had to choose between Daffodil Yellow or Cream
Yellow.”