71 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 71 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 book is Accusations by Lois Tilton. This is a book based on the J. Michael Straczynski series Babylon 5.

Sheridan was alone. Alone with Wallace’s report on his desk.

A lot of hard things he’d had to do in the course of his career. Writing those letters to the families of the men killed under his command – that was the worst, hands down. But this wasn’t much far behind.

He’d read the report. Read it, as Wallace intended him to, the way Earth Central would certainly read it when it showed up on their desks. It twisted the facts. Twisted them until they bent backwards in both directions, sometimes. But – the facts were there. Indisputable. Ivanova was – compromised.

His link chimed softly. “Captain? This is Ivanova. You wanted to see me?”

Sheridan forced himself to meet her eyes when she came into the command office. The anxious look on her face – she knew what this was about.

“Sit down, Commander. I won’t keep you hanging. I’m not happy about it, but Commander Wallace’s report really leaves me no choice. Until further notice, you’re suspended from all duties as a member of the command staff of Babylon 5.”

It hurt her. He could see it. Her face went white and she remained on her feet, eyes front, almost at attention. No matter how much she thought she was prepared, it hit her hard.

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.