Perfect New World by Jacob Lavi

Author:Jacob Lavi [Lavi, Jacob]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-01-04T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

The Purifier

Only six minutes were left in the game. The ball made its way down the field toward the Maccabi Haifa goal. The Tel Aviv players were just as determined to win the game, no matter what it took. They guarded the ball zealously, and, as soon as they saw Kobi come anywhere near it, they were quick to kick it far away from him. Kobi didn’t chase the ball. He kept his cool, contenting himself with maintaining eye contact with the ball and keeping it away from his own team’s goal. When only two minutes were left in the game, the Tel Aviv players rushed the Haifa goal. A ninetieth-minute goal seemed inevitable. The audience fell quiet, and the tense fans watched the drama unfold in hushed silence. The ball was passed to the leading striker of Maccabi Tel Aviv, who charged at the goal in order to score the tiebreaker, but Kobi was ready for him. He increased his speed, restraining himself in order to keep from running beyond human capabilities. The striker, focused on the goal, never even noticed Kobi showing up from his right flank. Kobi leaped at the grass and began to slide, his legs stretched forward. The damp grass enabled him to slide smoothly, and his foot struck the ball, just as the Maccabi Tel Aviv striker was about to kick the ball at the goal. The striker’s foot flailed in the air, and he almost lost his balance. Kobi was already back on his feet, leading the ball back to the other side of the field, feeling the roar of the crowd rising up all around him like a tsunami. It was a long way to the opposing goal, but Kobi was not in the least bit perturbed. He kept the ball safe, performing precisely timed maneuvers. With fifteen seconds left to go, he kicked the ball to the Haifa team captain who was prepared and positioned to kick the ball straight into the Tel Aviv goal.

“Goal!” the world seemed to explode with the cheers of a thousand men. Kobi dallied for a moment longer, and then did what all soccer players do when their team wins—he raised his hands and began running down the field, celebrating the victory. Much to his surprise, it was not only his own players who rushed and embraced him. The Tel Aviv players also sought to shake his hand and express their admiration at his skill. Kobi wondered when they would ask the decisive question: “How did he do it?” After all, they all understood, without exception, that his performance far surpassed anything a man his age was capable of, no matter how fit he was.

He only received the answer when he descended to the dressing room, where the Sports Union physicians were waiting for him. They collected blood and urine samples and did not even smile when Kobi tried to lighten up the atmosphere with an amusing story. They did their job and left with sealed faces.

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