Red or Dead by David Peace Read Free Book Online Page A

had wanted to bring in more players. More experienced players. Better players. Bill still wanted to bring in more players. In the office, at the desk. Bill closed his book. His book of names, his book of notes. Again.
    ...
    In the car park at Anfield. In his tracksuit bottoms, in his sweater, Bill was standing in the car park at Anfield. Bill was looking for the bus to Melwood. The bus was not here. The players of Liverpool Football Club came out of the stadium. In their tracksuits, in their sweaters. Bill greeted every one of the players of Liverpool Football Club. Bill shook their hands, Bill patted their backs. Bill asked after their families, Bill asked after their holidays. Bob, Joe, Reuben, Arthur and Albert came out of the stadium. And Bill looked at his watch. Bill looked at Bob, Joe, Reuben, Arthur and Albert. And Bill said, Where’s the bloody bus? It’s the first day of pre-season training. And the bus is not here, the bus is late. What’s going on?
    We don’t use the bus in the summer, said Albert. We never have, Boss. Not in the first week. The first week we always run out to Melwood, Boss. And then we run back here ...
    Bill said, You run to Melwood?
    Yes, said Albert. We run to Melwood. It’s road-work. To build up their fitness, their strength ...
    Bill shook his head. Bill took Bob, Joe, Reuben, Arthur and Albert to one side. And Bill said, I don’t believe in road-work. I never have. The players do their playing on grass. So they should do their running on grass. Not on roads. Not on concrete. There’s no surer way for a player to pull a muscle or to injure himself than on a road. On the grass. That’s the way to build up their fitness, to build up their strength. That’s my way. On the grass. And with a ball. A bloody football!
    Bob, Joe, Reuben, Arthur and Albert looked at each other. Bob, Joe, Reuben, Arthur and Albert nodded. And then Bob said, I’ll go andring the driver then, Boss. I’ll go and give him a call ...
    Bill looked at his watch again. And Bill said, Thank you, Bob. But we’re wasting time. There’s no bloody time. So we’ll walk out to Melwood today. Slowly. But then we’ll get the bus tomorrow.
    ...
    In their new house in Liverpool, in their new bedroom in the old bed. Bill waited for the dawn, Bill waited for the light. The new dawn and the new light. And then Bill jumped out of bed. Bill shaved and Bill washed. Quickly. Bill put on his suit and Bill put on his tie. Quickly. Bill went down the stairs and Bill ate breakfast with Ness and their daughters. Quickly. Bill kissed them goodbye and Bill went out of the house. Quickly. Bill got into his car and Bill drove to Anfield.
    In the ground, in the office. Bill looked at his watch. And Bill paced and Bill paced. And Bill heard the people coming, coming to Anfield. Through the turnstiles, into the stands. And then Bill stopped pacing. Bill looked at his watch again. And now Bill smiled.
    In the dressing room, the home dressing room. Bill looked from player to player. From Slater to Byrne. From Byrne to Moran. From Moran to Wheeler. From Wheeler to White. From White to Leishman. From Leishman to Lewis. From Lewis to Hunt. From Hunt to Hickson. From Hickson to Melia. From Melia to A’Court. And Bill clapped his hands. Bill smiled. And Bill said, This is it, boys. The start. The real start, lads. The start of it all. The first game of the new season, boys. At home to Leeds United. A great chance to lay down our marker, lads. A great opportunity to show the world what we are about.
    And there will be over forty thousand people here to see us, boys. To see what we are about. And so this is our chance, lads. Our chance to show the people that we mean business. The business of promotion. Because that is the only business that matters, boys. The only thing that matters. And so you go out there today, lads. And you show these people who have come here today, who have paid their money today. You show these people that they were right