Hi! Sorry this took so long!
Possum Magic: Ta! But you know, he shouldn't be in the side anyway. But he's in here, so I hope you'll be happy!
anon: Yes we lost to Bangladesh, but we did so with dignity!
hidden and forgotten: Thankyou! Yes, that seems to be a problem I'm having with this story.
laurentitmus: Better than who? Marto? And they are not!
Just before I go, I send best of luck to the boys who will be playing for the Ashes on Thursday (11/9/05). I love you all!
Chapter Eight – The Zimbabwean Five
Despite their win over Sri Lanka, the Australians had no time to rest. Zimbabwe were touring and though they were sure they would win, worry still persisted.
For the Final Test of the Sri Lankan series, Glenn and Jason, who were injured, were replaced with Brett Lee and good old Watto. But to their dismay, Shane had torn a side muscle during the match. The blow hit harder when they realised that they couldn't let Damien heal him, because the entire world had seen Watto writhing and screaming in pain. A torn side muscle would not heal within a week. So the injury would have to heal naturally, which would take two months. That meant that Watto could not play Zimbabwe, would stay home rather than be in New Zealand, and was looking highly doubtful for the West Indies. But the worst thought was that for each of these tours the Sons would be one warrior down.
Playing against Zimbabwe had special memories for Matt. In Perth on the 2003 tour, Matt had scored 380 brutal runs, holding the world record for highest Test score for two glorious weeks. Matt was worried that the Five of Zimbabwe might exploit that, and shared his worries with his leader, who agreed.
Adam's worst fears were confirmed when Ricky took sick just two hours before the First Test began. It was a Charter-illness, Damien agreed, but with just enough Free Magic in it for Damien's spells to have a slow effect. It meant that Adam would have to be captain, and he feared that the four roles he must now bear – batsman, wicketkeeper, captain and Clayr – would weaken his will, and ability to sense inherent danger. This meant that while the Zimbabweans might not defeat them on the cricket field, they might –with one warrior injured and one with a weaker mind – defeat them in battle. Adam knew they'd been outwitted. They had to be careful.
The first day's play met their concerns. Adam was mentally drained after spending half of a very hot day bobbing up and down on his knees and worrying about field placements. Then he spent the other half fretting over Rick and trying to ascertain who were Zimbabwe's warriors. No-one had any success.
The next day, Justin and Adam were batting solidly together – Adam had elevated himself to first drop – when they overheard skipper Tatenda Taibu whispering to Douglas Hondo about the Charter-illness that they'd placed on Rick and whether it was worth attempting to place a more serious one on Justin, to make the team crumble. Without thinking, Justin began to sketch Charter Marks of protection in midair – and let them die when he saw the expression on Adam's face, but more worryingly, Taibu's.
All at once Taibu attacked. Gloves outstretched, Marks swirling about him. Justin grunted and threw himself aside, shocked. Taibu seemed very experienced with Charter Magic. Then he began mentally berating himself. Of course! One-third of Zimbabweans were Charter Mages. If Taibu were already a strong mage, then a Dead spirit would make him dangerous. Very dangerous.
A tiny cry of pain escaped Justin as Taibu's bladed gloves flashed out. He had raised his arm, with its protective guard, but the gloves had pierced both guard and arm. 'Oh, by the Charter,' he whispered to himself, 'I hope they weren't poisoned.' He knew that Damien hadn't quite got the hang of antidote spells yet.
Justin drew his sword, eyes flashing determination. Ready this time, he parried Taibu's next blow. At the same time, he hurled his thighpad down the pitch and Adam quickly activated it. With a battle cry rising in his throat, he hurled the small throwing knives down the pitch, pinning Hondo to the ground while Justin continued to fight Taibu. Drawing his panpipes, Adam sent the Dead spirit walking through the First Gate.
Taibu was not tiring. But Justin was. Sword in his left hand, shield in his right, he was beginning to feel dizzy, but he couldn't reach his pipes. Then Adam blew hard on Ranna, switching then to Saraneth. Taibu dropped sword and gloves as he stuffed his hands in his ears. Justin finally drew his pipes and the joyful notes of Kibeth sounded. Justin sank to the ground, panting hard. Maybe the gloves were poisoned, he thought. Luckily Adam had looked at Damien's healing book, and happened to remember the general antidote spell. The rest of the Test passed without incident.
The second Test began. Rick and Simon Katich were batting merrily together into day three. Adam was sitting back, half-relaxed, half-tense, when Ricky's voice began speaking in his mind.
Adam… Rick? Adam, can you take a closer look at Vermuelen? I've just got this feeling…
Adam grabbed a pair of binoculars and gave a pair to Matt and Justin to keep looking at other players. Sure enough, Vermuelen carried a Mark. Matt informed Adam that Sibanda was also a Five.
When the drinks break came Adam sent a warning out. But when Simon returned to the pavilion Adam was able to join Rick himself.
Sibanda was bowling to Rick when, all at once, the tune of Saraneth flowed into the air. A voice called, deep and commanding, 'Look at me! Look at me, and prepare to walk this earth no more!' Sibanda looked around and saw that the necromancer was really one of the Sons, resplendent in green-and-gold striped tunic, pure white cloak and boots. Sibanda's eyes widened as he saw the crown of moonstones – the Son had Seen him coming!
Then the merry tune of Kibeth floated toward them from the boundary, where blue-clad Justin and Matt were standing. Sibanda gave a cry, and the Dead spirit he was harbouring floated up and dissipated on the wind.
Matt refilled his lungs and, switching his focus to Vermuelen, blew Saraneth. Vermuelen screamed; some instinct of the Dead spirit made him hit the note most discordant with the pipe. Said pipe then blasted backwards and Matt tumbled onto his back, head pounding as he stuffed his fingers into Saraneth to stop it from doing anything untoward to them. Vermuelen laughed wickedly and thrust his sword at Matt. Matt screwed his face up in concentration and cried out a spell, which stopped the sword. A single prayer escaped him. 'Oh, please, Charter help me…'
The Binder rang out again, Justin's clear, distinctive note this time. Quickly the just as distinctive notes of Adam's Walker joined the tune, and Vermuelen writhed in pain. But finally the Dead spirit vanished.
Now there was just one spirit left. They studied each player, anxieties running high.
Damien sneaked out to the boundary ropes where Justin was sitting with Matt, whose head was spinning so hard that he let out a moan of pain when Damien lightly touched it. Marks flared at his fingertips, easing Matt's colossal headache. But Taylor, fielding nearby, spotted the glow of Marks. He seized a spare ball and made it into a flying ball of knives.
Quick as a flash Damien's sword whipped out, and fended off the ball. Damien charged at Taylor, his battle cry echoing round the ground: 'By the Charter! The wrath of the Clayr upon you!' But then his muscles froze and locked. He could not go any further. Screaming his frustration, he remembered that Lirael had placed a spell on him, so that he could only fight when someone attacked him.
Taylor charged again but Damien was already blowing Kibeth. Taylor's feet jiggled, and then a dark shadow rose and dissolved.
Weary and worn out, the Sons and the team had to work hard to salvage their victory, but then the Third Test was washed out, as they prepared for the VB tri-series.
Well, how'd it go? I tried to personify it a bit, maybe to bring a bit more of them into the story.
Next chapter: the VB series begins! How will it end, and what problems will they encounter?
Remember, I love you all! Keep reviewing!
Oh yeah, and see if you can start finding the little romantic hints I keep dropping, coz it'll get full-on at the end!
Siruae XXX