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When I told Harkat about the match, he reacted with automatic suspicion "It’s a trap," he said "Your friend is an ally of? Steve Leonard"
"Not To he ht in some way be able to direct us to him, or set us on his trail"
"Do you want me to come with? you to the et in Besides," I laughed, "there’ll be tens of thousands of people there In a crowd like that, I think I’ll be safe!"
The ticket was delivered by courier and I set off in good tie crowdand cheering, decked out in their club colours, buying drinks, hot dogs and burgers from the street vendors Troops of police kept a close watch on the situation, led for a while, strolling around the stadiura the slogan, "He’s not unusual!" There were lots of hats and badges dedicated to Toer Tom Jones, with photos of Tommy taped across the covers!
I took reatview of the floodlit pitch My seat was in the outs The teaot a real buzz out of seeing To practice shots To think one ofin a cup se way since childhood and put most of my hu back as I sat, gazing down at Tommy, and I felt a ball of pure childish excitement build in the pit of et ready for kickoff, then re-eed a few minutes later All the seats in the stadiue cheer as the playersThe ref tossed a coin to decide which way the teams would play, then the captains shook hands, the players lined up, the ref blew his whistle, and the ame Both teams went all-out for the win Tackles flew in fast and hard Play shifted fro in turn There were lots of chances to score Toreat saves, as did the other keeper A couple of players blasted wide or over the bar froroans After forty-threein level at half-time But then there was a quick break, a defender slipped, a forward had a clear shot at goal, and he sent the ball flying into the left corner of the net, past the outstretched fingers of a flailing Tom Jones
Toed off at half-time, but their fans - and the locals who’d co, "One-nil doo-one up, that’s the way to win the cup!"
I went to get a drink but the size of the queue was frightening - the more experienced fans had slipped out just before the half-tis, then returned to oal down, Tommy’s team looked the more confident when they came out after the break They attacked fro their opponents off the ball, pushing therew heated and three players were booked within the first quarter of an hour But their new found hunger was rewarded in the sixty-fourth oal from a corner to pull level
The stadium erupted when Tommy’s team scored I was one of the thousands who leapt from their seats and punched the air with joy I even joined in with the song to the silenced fans of the other tea, you’re not singing anyeven louder when, froo two-one up I found er! - and julee I could hardly believe I was behaving this way What would the Va so ridiculously!
The rest of the gaoal down, the other team had to attack in search of an equalizer Tommy’s team-mates were forced further back inside their own half There were dozens of desperate defensive tackles, lots of free kicks,out Tommy had to oal wasn’t troubled With six o, the win looked safe
Then, in virtually an action replay of the first goal, a player slipped free of his defender and found hiain the ball was struck firmly and accurately It streaked towards the lower left corner of the net The striker turned away to celebrate
But he’d reacted too soon Because this tiet a few fingers to the ball He only barely connected, but it was enough to tip the ball out around the post
The croild! They were chanting To, "It’s not unusual, he’s the greatest nus and stayed focused on the corner, directing his defenders But the save had sapped the other tea forward for the final few ain
When the whistle blew, Tommy’s team wearily embraced each other, then shook their opponents’ hands and swapped jerseys After that they saluted their fans, acknowledging their support We were all on our feet, applauding, singing victory songs, a lot of them about the incredible Tom Jones
Tommy was one of the last players to leave the pitch He’d swapped his jersey with his opposite nuaouts, but of course he couldn’t hear me over the noise of the crowd
Just as To-roory yells, then several sharp bangs Most of the people aroundBut I’d heard these sounds before - gunfire!
I couldn’t see down the tunnel frooalkeeper stop, confused, then back away froer "Tommy!" I screamed, then knocked aside the people nearest ot there, a steward reeled out of the tunnel, blood pouring from his face When the people in front of , they pushed away fro ures darted out of the tunnel One was a shaven-headed, shotgun-toting vaured, half-bloay face The other was a bearded, purple-skinned, crazy vaan James and R V!
I screamed with fresh fear when I saw theupon the full extent of h, RV honored the players, coaching staff and stewards on the pitch, and bore down on a startled Toh To towards hiht it was a practical joke, or a weird fan co him Either way, he didn’t react, raise his hands to defend hi duht hand - the one with the gold hooks - then jabbed the blades sharply into To Tommy’s pain from where I was trapped in the crowd Then RV jerked his hooked hand back, shook his head with insane delight, and retreated down the tunnel, following Morgan Jaun to clear a path
On the pitch, Toed hole in the left side of his chest Then, with alround, twitched a few times, and lay still - the terrible, unmistakable stillness of the dead