98 Days to Opening Day 2008

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 98 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

Today’s excerpt is from Sharpe’s Eagle by Bernard Cornwell. This is book number two in Cornwell’s series about Richard Sharpe, a member of the 95^th Rifles in the British Army during the Napoleanic Wars. This book is about a promise that Sharpe makes to a fellow soldier. Just remember, the British spell color as colour and ‘mad’ means crazy.

The time for regrets would come later, the time to be saddened by the carnage, to reflect on being alive and unwounded, most of all to regret that he could not have spent more time with the dying Lennox. Sharpe drew the great sword, hefted his rifle in his left hand, turned to the one hundred and seventy men who paraded in three ranks across the road.

‘Forward!’

As they marched Sharpe let his thoughts dwell briefly on the conversation with Lennox. Had he convinced the dying man? He thought so. Lennox was a soldier, he understood that Sharpe had so little time, and the Rifleman was convinced that he had seen relief in the Scotsman’s face. Keeping the promise was another matter: first there was this day’s business to complete. Forrest marched beside him, the two of them a few paces in front of the solitary colour that once again waved over the small formation; the Major was distinctly nervous.

‘Will it work, Sharpe?’

The tall Rifleman grinned. ‘So far it has, Major. They think we’re mad.’

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.