The OK Team 2 by Nick Place Read Free Book Online Page B

in the air for a mark we can! If you want to flit in and out of visibility, go for it. They say it’s excellent practice for real battles.’
    â€˜You two ready?’ asks AutoMan, who has an extra green armband as team captain.
    â€˜I guess. How long does a game last?’
    â€˜Best of five goals. Good luck.’
    A Hero in an all-white uniform flies into the air, carrying a whistle. He’s obviously the umpire.
    â€˜Heroes ready?’ he yells. ‘Let’s play.’
    He blows his whistle and, true to my memory of him, Freeze Frame strikes a pose and freezes, never to move for the rest of the match.
    Everybody else becomes a blur of dazzling colour and movement. Hero Ball is underway.

OFFICIAL SCORECARD
    THE FLYING TIGERS V THE DIAMONDS
    Game 1:
A fast start for the Diamonds as NightEye plunges the entire field into instant night. Waterfall cascades water onto AutoMan’s windscreen and by the time he fumbles in the dark for his windscreen wipers and then headlights, the ball is already in the back of the net, courtesy of Leon.
    DIAMONDS: 1 FLYING TIGERS: 0
    Another strong team play by the Diamonds as Legs Raffety charges straight down the middle of the field, with Waterfall creating surf behind him. NightEye tries a darkness plunge again, but AutoMan already has his headlights on, allowing Cannonball to skittle the emu’s legs and NightEye in one move. Ace tosses the ball, on top of a spinning Queen of Hearts, to Leon who is camouflaged in the goal mouth. Goal.
    DIAMONDS: 2 FLYING TIGERS: 0
    Finally, the Flying Tigers creak into action. Legs Raffety attempts another run, but GlueStik clags him and Legs can barely move in the ooze. Cannonball makes a strong, no-tomorrow flying attack down the left wing, only stopping when Ace hits him square in the jaw with a hard-spinning Joker. AutoMan take the ball and drives straight through Waterfall’s attempted whirlpool. GlueStik is on hand for the pass. Goal!
    DIAMONDS: 2 FLYING TIGERS: 1
    A thrilling passage of play. AutoMan and Cannonball combine again down the right wing, but Legs Raffety flaps to catch Cannonball in the stomach in midair. He goes down hard and AutoMan throws the ball towards goal where Focus, unsighted for the entire match so far, thinks he is invisible. Unfortunately for him, Waterfall has laid enough water in his path that wet footprints show his every move. Focus is bundled out of the way in the instant he becomes solid enough to catch the pass and Ace shuffles his way back towards

OFFICIAL SCORECARD
    THE FLYING TIGERS V THE DIAMONDS
    the Diamonds’ goal. AutoMan and Cannonball try to regroup in midfield, but the ball is worked to the Diamonds’ goal. Focus becomes visible, standing on the opposition goal line and ready to repel the attack, only to find Leon is standing, camouflaged, in front of him, to accept the pass and sidestep him for the winner. Diamonds win.
FINAL SCORE:
 
DIAMONDS:
1
FLYING TIGERS:
0
DIAMONDS:
2
FLYING TIGERS:
0
DIAMONDS:
2
FLYING TIGERS:
1
DIAMONDS:
3
Goals: Leon 3
 
FLYING TIGERS:
1
Goals: GlueStik
 

The next day at school, Frederick and I grin at one another and can’t wait for recess so we can talk.
    â€˜You were right, Pop Gun,’ I say. ‘That was a blast. Even if I was hopeless.’
    â€˜You weren’t hopeless. You just hadn’t played before.
    You’ll be ten times better in our next match.’
    â€˜Do you think I can be a decent player?’
    â€˜You bet. Surprise is just as important as muscle in Hero Ball. Look at Leon. He’s the same kind of player as you and he scored all three goals for them.’
    â€˜How’s your stomach? Legs Raffety hit you pretty hard.’
    â€˜I’m fine. Everybody knows where to draw the line in terms of strength. He can play pretty well, can’t he . . . I mean, for an emu.’





CHAPTER 7
THE BATTLE OF FITZROY
GARDENS
    I t’s a new look OK Team that heads into the city