When War Calls(12)

It all changed, however, halfway through the match.

Suddenly the Pioneers had grasped a bit of order, as if their leader’s shouts had finally sunk in, and the Dynasty were now the ones missing tackles and falling short of scoring. Bo tried to group his team, to calm them and maintain a bit of focus. With a few well-played rounds, they came up with some extra points, but their lead had diminished, and the teams became neck and neck.

By the end of the match, it was tied at thirty-seven apiece.

Bo called for the team to group. By stopping the Pioneers in the previous round, they had won the right to elect whether they would attack or defend in the deciding bout, and chose to go with their strength and attack. If their runner made it across the line, they would win the match, but if they failed, they would lose a point, handing the victory and the land rights over to the Pioneers.

‘They’re tough,’ Bo started. ‘We need to play this one safe.’

‘I say we need something fresh, surprise them,’ said Konnor.

‘Like the fifteenth and sixteenth rounds?’ asked Bo. ‘We didn’t even get close to scoring. It’s not going to happen. We have to play solid.’

‘That was new to us as well,’ reminded Dion.

‘We didn’t know how to make it work,’ agreed Corey.

Bo shook his head. ‘We can’t take the risk.’

‘Not so,’ said Corey. ‘That is precisely what we need to do; something new, but well-practised. I suggest the play we rehearsed last week.’

‘What? That was just a joke. This isn’t the time for mucking around,’ said Bo in disbelief.

‘But it worked,’ said Jaden. ‘They won’t expect it.’

Bo looked around at the others and saw everyone nodding. ‘Have you all gone mad? They’ll expect Jaden to be the runner.’

‘But they won’t expect the way he makes the run,’ said Corey.

Realising he could say nothing to dissuade them, Bo reluctantly gave in. ‘Fine, whatever you say, but it’s on your heads if we lose this.’

‘Sounds fair,’ said Dion. ‘Let’s do it.’

‘You all remember the positions?’ asked Bo, receiving more nods. ‘I guess that’s it. Jaden, you have the band still, we’re ready when you are. Go.’

The team broke away and found their positions for the final time in the match, all except Jaden who had remained where he was. He was still near the sidelines, looking ahead toward centre, as if he had forgotten the match.

Bo walked back to him. ‘What’s wrong?’

Jaden gave no reply at first, but then pointed with a nod. There, where he had been looking, was Alyssa, standing next to her father.

Bo had to use all of his strength not to roll his eyes. He couldn’t believe Jaden would stop at this point of the match just to look at her. ‘What’s she doing here?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘That girl is trouble, Jay, I don’t know why you bother.’

‘No other girl will have me.’

Bo laughed, ‘Whatever you say, heartbreaker, but you’re wasting your time.’

‘No … something’s wrong. I don’t understand yet, but this isn’t about finding my chosen. I need to talk to her ... our lives rely on it.’

Bo looked at Jaden with an awkward expression, as he often did when Jaden said something out of the ordinary. ‘Jay, I respect you, you know that, so I won’t say exactly what I have in mind … but you’re dreaming, guy, the world isn’t as complex as you’d like it to be. Wake up. Understand?’

‘Maybe … or maybe it is more than we both think.’

Bo shook his head. ‘Well, I’ll leave that to you, but not right now. Keep it steady down the line this run until they least expect it. If we make this, this sport will be rewritten from this day on.’

Almost absently, Jaden replied, ‘I’m on it.’

Bo showed concern. ‘I know. Just don’t disappoint me, sprinter, this one is for my father.’

‘And mine,’ whispered Jaden, taking his eyes off Alyssa and scanning the rest of the crowd.

A whistle was blown. Sixty seconds before the final round was to begin.

Jaden stalked the baseline at the eastern end of the field, gauging his opponent’s strategy as he plotted his own course. Dusk had arrived, making their bronzed skins only just visible as the game made it into overtime. Earth’s rings had come alive with the sun disappearing beyond the mountains, the cerulean blue lines lighting up the sky from east to west, horizon to horizon. Jaden looked up to see them, appreciating their phenomenal presence as he often did to calm himself. No matter how much chaos there was on the ground, he could always take solace in them. No matter how ugly the times were there was always some beauty left around him.