"Hoof!"
Arrows cut through the air and stung into the targets, followed with the cheers or sigh from the audience. 70 meters was a long distance even to Roanne. Nevertheless, her arrows remained in the yellow circle, as if there had had a magnet. So did the hooked nose boy.
A curse came out from Pete's mouth. He missed a shot. The arrow was about 10 cm out of the yellow part. In the finals, everybody got ten chances. So far, only Roanne and the hooked nose had their arrows stay in the yellow circle. Eight arrows had been shot already. They were followed by Pete, who scored 38, and Wilson, 36. Roanne felt the sweat running down her cheek. Last two chances.
"Buddy, how's the competition going?" Stutely asked a man with black moustache.
"You see the hooked nose over there? And the sissy-like boy?" that guy yelled. "Both had scored 45. Now it is going to be the very last moment! Ain't going to miss it, buddy!"
Robin, Little John, and Stutely stared at them.
Nice job, Roanne! Robin said in his own mind.
"Who's that hooked nose?" Little John squinted at him.
"Don't you think he looks like someone we know?" Stutely asked.
"Strange enough," said Robin.
Roanne didn't know her father had come. In fact, she cared for nothing but the yellow circle. She wathed her opponent's arrow flied directly into the very middle of the target. She didn't hear the crowds' noise. She heard nothing but the beat of her heart. She didn't even know how she walked to the white line. The arrow stayed in her right hand, and the bow in her left. Come on, Roanne. She said to herself. You can do this. Close the eyes. Deep breath. Open the eyes.
Shoot.
Robin felt his palms were wet. He moved his eyes from his daughter's pale face to the arrow. Every second seemed to last forever. The arrow hit the target.
The crowds gasped. Everyone was looking at the arrow.
The Sheriff grasped the handrails on his chair. No, how could this be? He said in his heart.
The hooked nose boy was stunned. For the first time in his 15 years life, he couldn't utter a word. Champion.
Roanne didn't put down the bow. She held it tight in her fist. Her blue eyes stared at the arrow.
It was there, in the center of the whole target. What's more, it cut the hooked nose guy's arrow into two half.
Silence lasted for ten seconds, and the cheer broke out.
That was the time Roanne started to breathe fluently. She couldn't believe in her own eyes. That was the best shot ever. Blood flowed to her pale face and reddened her. A heavy pat on her back, Pete and Wilson came to her.
"What a shot!"shouted Pete.
"You did it, Row!" Wilson had never been that excited. He held Roanne into his arms. Though only a second, it made her face change from rosey red into scarlet.
The soldier announced the results: Champion, Robert Hood; Second Place, Simon Climence (So that's the hooked nose's name, Roanne thought); Third Place, Peterson Little.
Roanne was completely overwhelmed by the ecstasy of being a champion. She and Pete hugged each other and jumped up and down. None of the two "Merry Boys" noticed Simon.
The hooked nose , dark-haired boy stood straight and still behind them. His eyes gazed at Roanne's back. Something came up in his mind.