Octagla 3: Semifinals

By Donald S. Hall and Judi Suni Hall

Did his coach feel the same way the year the second string line Isley was on became first string, created a little magic, and ended up in the Hall of Fame? That thought cheered him as he tried to rearrange his lineup to cover for the injuries and suspensions that were the cost of getting to the semifinals. Of the three players shipped to Gingezel for treatment, Chan, the hero that got them into the series would recover. Superstar center, Daron, with head injuries would not. And winger Ranga with his shattered hand was somehow seriously mixed up in drugs along with his drug lord father. What a PR mess.

Isley forced himself to put that aside. He had hard decisions to make. Tedia had to go. He had almost cost them getting into the series. That left him with no replacement for Ranga again. At least with Gengo arriving Red could move to first string and replace Daron. Isley made a face. Gengo. Son of the great Li. Why wouldn’t he play at his potential. Even without trying he was better than Red but he had refused first string. He was worse than Larr, who tried too hard to make up for being superstar Rall’s son.

But maybe, just maybe Larr could help the team out now. He’d shown he could roof run like his father. If he could do it consistently, that might give them the edge they needed. Roof runners had been out of style for over a decade so Menzaille would not know how to play against one. Menzaille was the worst problem they were up against - the only Galactic level Octagla goalkeeper to have a shutout to his credit, and he had several.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gingezel Inc
• Release date: Jul 18, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463106266

Donald S. Hall

Donald S Hall, PhD. and co-author Judi Suni Hall, PhD. have shared their lives and careers since marrying as undergrads.They both did PhDs in theoretical physics, then moved into industry and worked at AECL, Canada’s nuclear research lab.Don’s PhD. is in theoretical physics modeling liquids. He started out at AECL doing research in the design of self-powered neutron detectors, then moved to tomography, and finally Artificial Intelligence. In that role he had the opportunity to work with some of Canada’s leading experts in Artificial Intelligence.Judi’s PhD. is in theoretical nuclear physics, the kind of modeling used to do stellar interiors. Judi started her career designing safety systems for Candu reactors. She shifted to industrial risk analysis, ending up Technical Manager of AECL’s RARE (Risk and Reliability Evaluation) Consultancy. In that capacity she worked with a number of industries, including the Canadian Space Agency at the time when the Canadian involvement in International Space Station was first being defined. That lead to the permanent love of the idea of humanity spreading into space.En-route to represent Canada at a NASA conference Judi caught a severe virus that changed both of their lives. She shared the infection and the next 10 years were a write off as they struggled to rebuild their lives.Don now runs Apps & More Software Design. It has recently expanded into psychiatric testing on the iPad and iPhone in collaboration with a Johns Hopkins trained psychiatrist.In his youth Don played Junior A hockey, winning MVP for his team in their 1969 playoff run to the national semi-finals, and was invited to the Los Angeles Kings training camp. At graduate school he played goal for one year for the varsity team. He was also an avid box lacrosse player, playing goal at both the Junior and Senior levels. His love of both games and physics background naturally lead to the idea of inventing a similar game played on space stations in a weightless environment and in three dimensions.In addition to writing science fiction, Don and Judi are internationally published haiga poets.

Book preview

Chapter 1

All right! Blue eyes flashing Cailla tipped her head up and looked a frowning Maras square in the face. I think Tedia is a roof runner. That’s why he shouldn’t get sent down!

How would he take that? Cailla waited, her pale face flushed and framed by blonde curls. She honestly didn’t know the huge man well enough to judge the deepening scowl but it was making her nervous. Maybe she shouldn’t have confronted Maras like that. They were supposed to be having a nice post-game supper. Maras was in a fancy purple and green suit. She had changed out of her weightless unitard into a low cut purple blouse and velvet pants that were accidentally a matching shade to Maras’s suit. True, they were in his suite, not the promised restaurant, but it was supposed to be a nice post-game supper.

Supper was in his suite because the Space Station Security had said any restaurant was out of the question. Pendrae United fans, furious at the overtime win by their arch-rivals Tamara, were still roaming the space station. They had wanted Tamara humiliated, to be kept out of even the semifinals after their two Galactic Octagla championships at Pendrae United’s expense. Cailla risked a glance at the the holoscreen. It was frozen at a harmless scene from the drama they were watching, and Maras had set it to cut to any news emergency. So at least the crowd wasn’t trashing the place - yet. They were just roaming around yelling a lot. When the game ended with a Tamara win in overtime it had looked like they were going to riot.

Fury was the Pendrae viewpoint. For Maras, first string defenseman for Tamara and a candidate for league MVP, this was a night to celebrate. But right now Maras did not look in a remotely celebratory mood to Cailla. He looked as mean, ugly, and intimidating as he did in the court. Maybe more so. After all, an Octagla court was large. He could dominate one of them, and this dingy greige portel sitting room was cramped. Maras had bragged he’d got the biggest one on the space station but it was small and he did more than dominate it. He overpowered it. With them both squashed onto the two seater couch and him scowling down at her, Cailla was uncomfortably aware that Maras was the biggest man in the league. Toughest too. She searched for any softening in the expression on his black face but she wasn’t sure there was any.

Roof runners were a rarity, and a lot of players didn’t like them at all. Cailla did - she had played with one for two years before the woman got injured out of the game. You could set up plays with a roof runner that you couldn’t in any other way! It had been a dream and the best year ever for the planetary pro level team she was winger on, the Pendrae Nebulae.

In a weightless Octagla court the convention was that the ‘floor’ was the surface between the two goals and the two sloped surfaces the goalies stood on. The surfaces touching the floor were the walls. The two sloped surfaces above the goal and the plane connecting them above that were the roof. Everyone used the roof, both to bounce the ball off, or to occasionally position themselves for a play, but very few were totally comfortable ‘upside down’. Playing like that for too long was disorienting. But every now and again a player came along who was totally indifferent to their orientation. These were called roof runners, and a good roof runner could change a whole game.

Maras’s stared, eyes narrowed, as Cailla’s words slowly sunk in. He didn’t want to talk about that Tedia! Were no good, and this stupid talk were stopping them finishing watching the holodrama before team curfew. But she were so cute when she was mad, and she were mad enough he’d better listen. What was it she said? Roof runner? Tedia were a roof runner? Maras felt a surge of excitement. He’d played with a roof runner in his second year of Terra planetary pro. The setups you could do with that guy. You drove the opposing defense and goalie nuts. He were just waiting for Larr to decide for real he could run roof. Not just sometimes like winning the game tonight, and in the Celebrity game, but for real steady. If Tedia were a roof runner too –.

The excitement faded as quickly as it had come. Tedia weren’t no roof runner or he’d have played right to Larr, not screwed up and almost cost them getting into the semi-finals. Maras had no idea where Cailla got the idea from. It explained her being hot on the kid though.

Maras shook his head firmly. Cailla, Tedia don’t roof run. After him screwing up steady that first game I watched the games he’s played Junior. He works the floor.

How many years did you go back?

There’s only two years. He’s just a kid like Ranga.

Then that isn’t conclusive. All that means is no one on his Junior team can play to a roof runner. Not everyone can. I was surprised you could in the Celebrity game. Did you like it? she asked with honest curiosity.

Yep, Maras said with pride. My second year planetary pro at Terra we had a real good roof runner. Coach didn’t use him that way a lot – wanted to keep everyone off balance. But when we did ... Maras chuckled, his irritation forgotten. You should’a heard the language, especially from the goalies. It was his turn to be curious. How come you decided Tedia runs roof?

I’ve played with one too. There was one goal he scored in this game. There’s no way I could have made a shot like that. I wouldn’t have even tried the angles, to say nothing of the fact I probably would have dislocated my shoulder.

He shouldn’t have tried that stunt neither! Maras swung back to not liking that stupid kid.

Unless he’s a roof runner! I think ... She bit her lip, lost in reverie. I’d have to see the game again – I think the angles look right that way. Can you call up the game? Cailla asked.

You got to give me the control. You sat on it. Remember? She might not. She were all excited, trying to help out.

Cailla had temporarily forgotten how terribly violent the holodrama Maras had selected for them was. Now she reluctantly fished out the control from under her thigh and handed it over. Please Maras, don’t turn that holodrama back on! Please! Involuntarily her hand closed tight on the control.

Don’t you like the holodrama? Maras asked with some concern. He’d tried to pick a real good one. He wanted Cailla to have a good time.

The expression on his face tempered her reply. It takes a bit of getting used to, she hedged.

So Cailla had trouble sometimes the first time she saw a holodrama too. It’ll make a lot more sense the next time you see it, Maras reassured her.

Cailla was quite sure she did not want to understand this drama, and she was even more sure she was not going to finish it once, much less twice if she could help it. It was the most mindless violence she had ever seen.

Well, right now let’s see if I’m right on Tedia.

Maras nodded, and they found the play. They watched in silence the first time, then as they were watching again, Cailla said, Stop it, now. She studied the image. Back up a bit. She stood, pointing. If he was used to coming down here, that’s exactly where he’d take a shot from, and the angles don’t look bad that way.

Maras backed it up further, then played it forward in slow motion. You’re maybe right, he said reluctantly.

So, what do we do now?

Call him up and ask him, Maras said practically.

One more thing first Maras ... Cailla hesitated biting her lip. It’s about the fact Tedia just isn’t integrating with the team.

That were true. What good were a roof runner what couldn’t play worth a damn. Yeah, that’s true. So the roof running don’t matter. Maras turned the holodrama back on. With Tedia disposed of, maybe they could finally watch that gang fight. And maybe sometime, before she left, Cailla would let him kiss her. Both options sounded a lot better than thinkin’ about that kid. After all, nobody made him come up to Galactic Pro. If he couldn’t handle it, it were his problem.

Maras! Cailla snatched the control and turned the drama off before the mayhem turned her stomach. Then she tucked the remote back under her thigh.

This time Maras wasn’t amused. What’d you do that for!?

Because we’re talking about Tedia!

He’s lousy. We’s done talking. He held out his hand.

No Maras. He is not lousy. He’s simply not anticipating the play. I was watching his eyes. He’s looking every which way at once trying to see what’s going on. Then he’s scrambling to catch up.

And that, Maras said bluntly, means he’s lousy. He were getting real tired of hearing about Tedia.

Cailla ignored the impending storm. Or he’s not understanding your signals Maras. Have you made a point of drilling him on them?

Signals? Maras was shocked out of his anger. Cailla, we don’t use signs up here. And, his irritation returned, neither do you Planetary. I seen all your old games, and I never saw you sign once. You talk on the team intercom like everybody.

All right ... not exactly signs. But you know what I mean. He did too. He was just being difficult. When your inner winger holds their stick a certain way, you know it’s going to be a deke, not a pass. They don’t have to say. Or they’ll make fleeting eye contact just before starting a play. That sort of thing. You know what I mean.

Reluctantly Maras nodded.

Cailla persisted. Anything, even this pushing a rock up a hill conversation was better than that holodrama. So have you drilled him?

No. Maras held out his hand again.

Cailla looked at him in real surprise. Maras, you were excited when I first mentioned roof running. And just think of him and Larr. She was excited again. Are you telling me now you’d pass on a roof runner if it means a few extra drills?

I would if his name is Tedia. Light glinted on his gold hair tubes as he tossed his head in distain.

Cailla searched his face. You really don’t like him, do you?

No. Maras said, his face turning into the scowl he usually reserved for the Octagla court.

Damn that Tedia! Maras’s mind went along the now familiar track. Were Isley goin’ to send him back down, or were it his job to do somethin’ as the newly appointed team captain? Like thump the kid out for almost costing them the game. He’d like that, thumping the kid good. Someone had told him Tedia were a bit older than Ranga, but he sure didn’t look or act it. He was scruffy too. Maras looked at his own expensive suit. That were right, not some old T-shirt. He wore his dark hair straggly around his pale face, an’ he looked too much like a girl. Also Maras did not like the way Tedia’s eyes, such a pale brown they was almost amber, was always watching him. It made him edgy.

Maras did not like the way Tedia acted either. He were nervy, and he smiled too much, and he sucked up to people like what didn’t ice him, like Marco and Greg. Then there were his funny, almost singsong voice that made it hard to understand what he were saying, even in Comlan. But mostly Maras did not like the fact Tedia had almost cost the team its chance for the playoffs. Would have them out in the first round for sure. What were Isley doin’ bringing him up from Junior and putting him on the first string to replace Roban since Roban got suspended. Why weren’t he using Sandlik? Sandlik were good, ready to move up from second string.

Tedia were lousy, that were all there was to it. He got the plays wrong. He took chances. There must’ve been five times where he shouldn’t have even taken a shot, given the angle he were at. The fact he had scored once, a fair average, didn’t count with Maras. You didn’t waste a shot until it were real good odds. Tedia belonged back in Junior. Now, before the trading deadline. Before Tedia cost him that MVP award.

Maras held out his hand. Come on Cailla. Tedia is nothing to us. We was having a real nice night.

Cailla hesitated, considering her options. Maras was sort of right. If you excluded the guard it took to get them safely to Maras’s room and the disastrous holodrama, they had enjoyed each other’s company. And she was perfectly aware Maras was thoroughly enjoying the holodrama and probably figured it made up for a room service supper. So she could give in. The relevant question there was if Maras would notice if she shut her eyes and plugged her ears. Most likely, and then he would be insulted.

That route also shorted Tedia. She really thought he had Galactic Pro potential. Should she could dig her heels in and flatly insist Maras call him? She expected that would lead to their first and quite likely last fight. For sure it wouldn’t be followed by a kiss and makeup scene, since they hadn’t kissed tonight, or seemed likely to unless she took the initiative. Mai had obviously given Maras quite a ‘keep your big paws off my friend’ lecture, because he avoided voluntarily touching her, although he prolonged anything she started. She thought of her happily married friend, hoping for inspiration. It didn’t come. She and Mai were too different. Mai was a tiny oriental, cute and feisty, giving as good as she got.

Or she could use traditional feminine wiles. ‘Please darling’ with a bit of petting thrown in. Cailla doubted though that this would end up getting Tedia called. She rather expected it would be exactly the behavior Maras needed to forget Mai’s lecture once and for all. This was fine with her, but curfew was looming and Cailla suspected she was already in Coach Isley’s bad graces for having Maras staying at her house planetside in that blizzard when he was on strict curfew.

Meanwhile Maras was watching Cailla with growing amusement. She looked cuter than Mai ever did, sitting there all twisted around at the waist so she could both face him and still sit on that damned remote. Mai done good introducing him to Cailla when he said he wanted to find a wife. Sitting there like that had pulled the far side of her pretty purple blouse out of her pants. That temporarily distracted Maras. Did she know purple were his next favorite color to turquoise? Or did she just like it too? Anyway, she looked real pretty, and twisting sideways had made some of her hair fall forwards over her shoulders. He just might consider making a pass at her, except she had her jaw set exactly the way she did before she really cross-checked someone. He suspected that was exactly what she was working up to with him.

He grinned. I suppose I’d better called Tedia or you’ll sit on that damned control until curfew.

Startled, Cailla nodded, then flushed. Had she been that transparent? Thank you. Please call him.

She was so cute. He could watch the way her pale skin changed color for hours. He rose, chuckling. And I’ll ask him here so’s you can eavesdrop easier.

Maras! This time she blushed scarlet at the reference to her eavesdropping on him and Coach Isley.

Adorable. Maras let himself straighten one of the silky locks of hair on his way past.

*****

Chapter 2

Tedia. Maras stepped back to let the kid in. He said Tedia right, like he always did, not all wrong like the kid did. He called himself Tuh-dye-yuh, not Ted-eye-ah like it should be. We gotta talk about your playing so lousy.

Tedia looked warily through his thick lashes at the massive black man who had become team captain. The eyes behind those lashes didn’t miss much, and Tedia wasn’t stupid. He knew that despite the jokes and grumbling about Maras being stupid, most of the team members highly respected his abilities in the Octagla court and management would listen to everything he said. He had also figured out immediately that Maras did not like him at all.

Now, he was trying to gauge Maras’s mood, but he couldn’t. Maras should be doing his thundercloud routine, but he looked like he was in a decent mood. He was still dressed up too, his bulk encased in the very expensive purple and green patterned suit that had startled Tedia when Maras took it out of his locker after the game. It had made Tedia feel underdressed, that he should at least have pulled on something better than his old green T-shirt. The problem was that he didn’t have anything better. The way he dressed was the way all the guys on the Planetary Pro teams at Laurion dressed, and they ridiculed anything else. His mother had nervously shopped and filled a suitcase for him but he was not wearing a single item! Not what she chose! He’d been intending to start dressing more like his new teammates who all looked classy. But it looked like he’d saved himself trouble and money not getting to a store yesterday. That was probably why Maras was in a good mood. He’d probably overheard management saying they were letting Tedia go. It was almost trade deadline.

Tedia’s eyes dropped. I know. He shrugged his frustration. I really tried Maras. I did. But nothing works. His eyes came back up. When you called I was trying to get my nerve up to ask Coach Isley when he did the curfew calls if he was going to send me back down, and say he should.

The kid had more sense than he’d thought. Maras had figured the kid were so sure of himself he weren’t even seeing a problem. That’s what I think should happen, Maras said bluntly. But Cailla here, he jerked his head towards the sitting room, thinks I’m wrong. So I said we’d talk to keep her happy.

Cailla? The name meant nothing to Tedia. He had to step sideways to see past Maras’s bulk. He saw the gorgeous blonde sitting on the sofa who had been in the hall outside the locker room and belatedly remembered Larr teasing Maras about him having another hot date and Maras looking smug. No wonder. The blonde was as dressed up as Maras in some kind of fancy evening pajamas, which accounted for Maras’s clothes. But not his mood. If Tedia had been on a date like this, which so far he hadn’t managed, getting it interrupted to talk shop would have made him furious. Better to clear out and fast before Maras swung that way and got dangerous.

Hello, Tedia. Cailla tried to smile encouragement. Tedia had that frightened young animal look again.

Hello Cailla. Thanks for worrying about me. And he wasn’t even going to try to figure out why she would. There wasn’t time. But Maras is right. I’m not integrating, and the team has to get rid of me before they blow the finals. I expect that’s hard to understand, not playing. Time to leave, fast. He could feel Maras behind him, breathing on his head and his face paled even more.

Cailla listened with a little frown. Tedia’s voice was musical, fast, and hard to understand, but she got the drift. It’s a professional opinion, Tedia, she said firmly. I’m first string outer right wing, Pendrae Nebula. With half her mind she saw a similar frown of concentration on his face.

I don’t believe it!

Before Maras or Cailla realized what he was doing, Tedia stepped forward and grabbed a piece of citrus fruit from a bowl then threw it, not at her but at the cushion beside her, full force, with that strange twist he used to lob an Octagla ball.

Cailla caught it effortlessly and threw it straight back at him. But since she knew perfectly well he could catch it, she aimed for the center of his forehead.

Tedia did make the catch, but he also embarrassed himself by instinctively ducking and heard Maras chuckle behind him. He gave Cailla an engaging grin. Now I believe you. He reached to replace the fruit.

Cailla stood up. Before you put it back Tedia, repeat that throw. I want to see exactly what you did. She got that puzzled frown again, and this time it registered. Toss it. She held out her hand.

Tedia was confused, but he threw it again with Cailla watching every move he made. Then to his embarrassment she stood up and tried to duplicate the twist four times, but stopped short of the throw each time. She wasn’t getting it right. She did succeed in totally pulling her blouse loose, something Maras obviously didn’t mind at all by the look on his face. She was gorgeous. Tedia tried to not look at her. He’d live longer that way.

I like to think I’m good, but I can’t do that, Cailla announced, absentmindedly starting to peel the fruit. As her thumbnail dug into the thick rind the room was filled with strong citrus scent.

It simply doesn’t feel natural, and it must take forever to master. Is it something you had to learn to be a roof runner Tedia?

His amber eyes were suddenly wide and innocent. Roof runner? What gave you that idea Cailla?

The way you play, Cailla said dryly, looking for somewhere to throw the peel.

The kid were stalling. Maras stepped past him to stand beside Cailla. You roof run Tedia? Maras asked harshly.

Tedia was looking at the floor, and a nervous tongue touched his lips. He’d been warned by his Juvenile coach who had stayed his mentor when he moved to Junior that Tamara hadn’t roof run since Rall and Torin’s era, and to do what the coach said and keep his mouth shut about his gift until he was established. But he didn’t want to lie to the team captain either.

Maras, you’re scaring him, Cailla thought. But she didn’t say so. That would cost both men face. Instead she took a step sideways closer to Maras and slipped an arm around his waist. If you can, Tedia, that’s great. She kept the words simple and spoke slowly in unaccented Comlan, both for Maras’s and Tedia’s benefit. Maras can play to a roof runner.

You can? Tedia’s face was one delighted grin. I didn’t know.

Can. Maras found his own smile echoing Tedia’s. I played with one for a year, Terra planetary. This was said with real pride. The one with the gift might be the roof runner, but it took a lot of work to learn to play with them. Maras always figured that were why some guys didn’t like them. They was lazy. The idea of jealousy never entered Maras’s head.

Suddenly Tedia’s face fell. But what good is it if I just can’t play with you and Larr? The words were tumbling out now in that singsong voice. I mean Maras, it isn’t that I don’t try. I’m up half the night going over the games, and –

Tedia – please! Cailla held up a hand to stop the spate of words. I’m sorry Tedia, but I can’t understand a word you’re saying. She turned to Maras. Can you?

Nah. The kid’s like that every time he gets wound up. No one can make sense of him but Marco. Maybe Greg.

Tedia blushed scarlet. He’d thought it was only that he couldn’t understand the team, not that they couldn’t follow him either.

Well, I want to understand, Cailla said firmly. Let’s try something. She let go of Maras’s waist and touched her wristcuff. I’m turning my translator on. Maras. Turn yours on too.

You gonna talk something else? Maras had no idea how many languages Cailla were fluent in. He only knew ComLan and a couple gang argots.

No.

That left him even more confused. You gonna translate ComLan into ComLan? That made no sense at all.

Maras! Just do it! I’ll explain in a minute.

He grinned and shrugged. She were real cute when she was cranky.

Cailla waited until she saw him do it. Try it too Tedia. I suspect you haven’t always understood things.

Not much, he conceded, a look of relief on his face. He’d followed Cailla’s action as soon as she’d done it. Why hadn’t he thought of that?

Well? Maras demanded of Cailla, more interested in why his translator was on than in Tedia.

I don’t think Tedia understands you any more than you understand him, Maras. Your accents are just too different.

He talks funny, Maras agreed.

And so do you to him. That got her a ‘what did I do to deserve that’ look that Cailla decided to let pass. But most of us don’t think of ComLan is anything but ComLan. I mean, we might translate say ComSci into ComLan, but most of us assume we can speak and understand ComLan.

Most of us can. This lecture was getting boring, and it sounded funny hearing both Cailla and a translator when he understood her just fine.

All the same, the translator company has two thousand nine hundred and four different ComLan voices it distributes around the galaxy.

You mean we aren’t all getting the same voice in our heads now? Maras asked skeptically.

That’s right. They don’t tell you. They just give you the voice that matches the region you’re from.

So how come you know there’s two thousand nine hundred and four of them? Maras demanded. He was getting pretty picky that numbers be precise as he had more and more money to keep track of.

Because the first time I tried publishing a poem off-world the editor bounced it. He said that poetry had to read well aloud, and it only sounded good in a Terran-like accent, like Pendrae, so the market was limited. I’d had no idea. But he said to do what all the inter-planetary authors do, get the full voice set, and have their poetry read to them in it by the computer.

You listened to all two thousand nine hundred and four voices? That’s a lot of work. Maras was impressed. This poetry stuff were harder than he thought.

Cailla smiled. Only once. I now know the ones I sound worst in, and I just worry about them.

Maras turned to Tedia. She’s real good poet.

Is that why you – Tedia stopped abruptly at the scowl, wondering what he’d done now.

The kid were too damned snoopy, always wandering around watching everyone. He must have read what were on his compad, Maras decided. He were still trying at that Octagla poem, but it were real hard and he wasn’t going to show Cailla until he got it right.

Cailla looked from face to face, wondering what was wrong now. She decided not to ask. Instead, she said to Tedia, Why don’t we all sit down? It’s easier to talk that way. She broke off part of the fruit and gave it to him.

Thank you. Tedia took the fruit, wondering if he dared say he didn’t like it. Probably not, and at least the lady was being nice to him. He sat down on the very edge of the chair nearest the door.

Maras did not like this move. He did not like Cailla feeding the kid. And if they all sat down and started talking, odds were they’d still be yapping at curfew. Then how would he get any time alone with Cailla?

Maras. She applied an encouraging pressure to his waist. He didn’t budge. Suit yourself. Cailla went to sit on the couch.

She was almost there when Maras realized the major flaw in his strategy. She was obviously going to sit on the remote again. He just barely got there in time to retrieve it, and treasure in hand he sat down too. He put the remote down on his side of the couch. If they got rid of Tedia pretty fast, there might be time to watch the really good fight scene between the two gangs.

Tedia. As she spoke Cailla broke off a segment of citrus, carefully removed all traces of rind, and handed it to Maras. Have you been having enough trouble with the language you haven’t understood all the instructions in the dressing room or on the bench?

That were real nice, Cailla treating him special and fixing up the piece of fruit like that. Maras put it in his mouth, biting cautiously to not get a choking squirt of juice down his throat. But it were all right, so he went ahead and chewed it. You threw one of those things around too much with an Octagla stick like Larr liked to do between periods and you really juiced it.

Cailla had her answer in Tedia’s shamefaced look.

I really tried. And Cailla, it was easy to talk to the lady, I did think I could speak ComLan. I mean, it isn’t my first language, but I always did okay in it at school, and I never had problems with interviews in it. But then Latino was the first language for most people on Laurion, including the press.

Maras held out his hand, and Cailla gave him another segment of fruit. That were nice. He stretched out his legs, half listening to Tedia, half trying not too hard to figure out what to do with a roof runner you couldn’t play to. He wasn’t trying too hard because he still didn’t like the kid. He chewed, and half listened. He held his hand out again.

Cailla took a look at the hand, and the fruit she was holding. She carefully broke off one segment for herself then plopped the rest into Maras’s hand.

That wasn’t what were supposed to happen! Maras looked at the offending piece of fruit that had disturbed a pleasant reverie that had drifted off Tedia and onto Cailla and the romantic potential of any time left once the kid left. That would be even better than the holodrama. Reverie broken, he actually heard some words.

– so I just stayed up after the first game and watched it over and over, trying to figure the instructions out from what happened. Now that Tedia had a sympathetic audience he couldn’t stop. And I tried to just talk to the guys any time they weren’t too busy. I figured if I listened enough maybe I’d get to know what they were saying.

Maras frowned. The kid wasn’t just being a pest all the time? He were trying to figure out what was going on? Like he couldn’t get the words right? Hell! Maras’s mind went back to the year that had been like that for him, the year he’d played for Pendrae United. It had been bad, real bad.

*****

Chapter 3

Until he arrived to play with Pendrae United life had been going well for Maras. He’d been trading his way up, slowly establishing himself as more than a defenseman thug. Then had come what should have been a good trade, moving to Pendrae United after a season they came in second to Tamara. It had been a close series, and the whole Pendrae United team was determined to correct who won the next championship. But