57 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 57 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 Sharpe’s Gold by Bernard Cornwell.

Kearsey smiled. ‘He’s the finest swordsman on the border. Probably in Spain. I’ve seen him take on four Frenchmen and he never stopped saying a prayer for their death.’

Sharpe stared into the valley. A hundred horsemen had ridden out to rescue the two prisoners and now two dozen of the Hussars were dead or captured. The Partisans had lost none; the speed of their charge and withdrawl had ensured that, and their leader, staying till the end, had slapped French pride in the face. The black horse was cantering to the hills, its strength obvious, and the French would never catch El Católico.

Kersey slid down from the skyline. ‘That’s how it’s done.’

Sharpe nodded. ‘Impressive. Except for one thing.’

The fierce eyebrow shot up. ‘What?’

‘What are the French doing in the village?’

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.