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

playoffs.

Al: On another note, did you see the shot Victor made on Sebastian
before Tom roughed him up?

John: I did. The referees timed it at 1.6 seconds.

Al: The three-second rule doesnтАЩt mean anything to a Velociraptor,
does it?

John: No, it doesnтАЩt. TheyтАЩre just so fast that three seconds is a
lifetime to them. ThatтАЩs plenty long enough to set up and deliver any shot
they want. ThatтАЩs one reason Coach Paderewski uses them.

Al: Maybe three seconds is too long. Should they shorten it?

John: ItтАЩs been controversial for some time. Like the quarter-mile
field. In Europe they use a much longer field. Hand shots are more
common but they donтАЩt have the same impact on the game.

****

The score stayed one/nothing for the rest of the second quarter. Tom
seemed to lose interest in the game. Instead, he coasted along with the
pack, passing the ball when he got it. At the half, Mike took him aside while
the others were resting.

тАЬTom, youтАЩve got to wake up.тАЭ

Tom didnтАЩt answer. He just stared at Mike.

тАЬLook, you just lost your head out there. VictorтАЩll be fine.тАЭ

тАЬYou think IтАЩm bent about Victor?тАЭ Tom chuckled. тАЬHell, I just mussed
him up a bit to see how he tastes. Next time he wonтАЩt be so quick to
interrupt a discussion.тАЭ

тАЬThen, what the hellтАЩs the matter with you?тАЭ

Tom looked at him first with one eye, then with the other. Mike could
have sworn if Tom could have grinned, he would have.

тАЬFiguring the odds, Mike. Just keeping my thoughts to myself.тАЭ Tom
brought his head low enough that Mike could feel the wetness of his fetid
breath. тАЬYou know about that, right, Mike?тАЭ

Tom laughed and rumbled back onto the field.

What the hell did that mean?