904: Chapter 894: Come, Play Baseball.
904: Chapter 894: Come, Play Baseball.
Separated by half the Earth, Gao Yang never imagined he’d actually come face to face with the very person who caused Nate’s psychological trauma—the world seemed far too small.
After letting out a heavy sigh, Gao Yang gave a bitter smile and said, “Now I kind of understand why that guy loiters around the Green Zone refusing to go out.
He doesn’t have the courage to die, doesn’t want to face the families of his fallen comrades, and is too scared to return to familiar environments.
His only option is to linger here, waiting for death.”
Polovich said with disdain, “Forget about that pathetic worm.
Let’s drink beer, Corona with lime.
I learned that from the Americans.
Don’t you guys want to try?”
Gao Yang waved his hand and asked, “What’s that guy’s name?
Maybe I can tell my friends about him when I see them.”
“Robert Neville.
But everyone here just calls him Robert.
It’s not his real name though, seems to be the name of a movie character.
I don’t know which movie it is.”
At that moment, Bruce said softly, “I Am Legend.
The protagonist played by Will Smith is named Robert Neville.
It’s part of a series.
In versions before Will Smith’s, Robert Neville was the last living human.”
Polovich looked as if he had an epiphany and laughed, “That’s why.
These guys are really mean, but it’s true, that guy is quite legendary.
Almost all who deserved to live are gone, and this one who should be dead isn’t—it’s a legend alright.”
Life is tough, and being a mercenary is even riskier.
Why dwell on unpleasant topics?
Even though the misfortune befell someone else, talking about it still feels unsettling—after all, having personally sent all your comrades to their deaths is something no one could bear.
It’s disturbing even to hear.
Gao Yang didn’t want to talk about Robert any further.
He changed the subject and continued to eat and drink beer in the lighthearted and relaxed atmosphere.
Stuffed with food and drink, it was past six o’clock.
The sun no longer blazed fiercely, and more people started to venture outdoors, with the restaurant crowd beginning to swell.
Gao Yang and company left the restaurant and headed towards their lodging.
Having had plenty of beer, Polovich was slightly tipsy.
Pointing towards the pool area, he laughed and said, “Look over there, it’s full of beauties.
If you see a single one, just go and ask her price.
I told you, it’s all on me.
Just tell her to bill the Russian guy.”
While Polovich was speaking, Frey suddenly pointed excitedly to an empty spot, “Look, it seems like some people are playing baseball there!”
“That’s right, it’s a Baseball Field.
There’s also a football field and basketball courts nearby.
Go ahead,” Polovich said with a grin.
Rafael burped and asked, “Is there a soccer field?
I’d like to play some soccer, uh, if I hadn’t eaten so much.”
“There’s no soccer field, only American football.
No English football.
Those Americans don’t understand.
They can’t handle soccer.
Basketball is what’s most popular around here,” replied Polovich, shaking his head.
Frey spoke up urgently, “Boss, can I go watch them play baseball?”
“Of course, let’s go.
I’ll accompany you for a stroll,” Gao Yang smiled.
Polovich waved his hand and said, “You guys go on, I won’t join.
I need to go back and arrange the car situation for you all.
Once it’s ready, I’ll let you know.”
Knowing that the car was a pressing concern and could be needed at any moment, they thanked and said farewell to Polovich.
Gao Yang and the others followed Frey towards the Baseball Field, taking it as a chance to digest their meal.
Watching as Andy He didn’t even glance at the swimming pool, Eileen teased with a mischievous smile, “Hey Dragon Knight, I thought you’d be heading back to swim.”
Andy He responded with disdain, “Stop joking.
I like to charm women into willingly jumping into bed.
I’ve no interest in anything that can be bought with money.”
“Let’s go, hurry up!” Frey turned and urged them on.
Frey quickened his pace into a jog, and only stopped when he reached the edge of the Baseball Field, where he stood and watched the game with great interest.
A proper baseball game would have nine players on each team, but what Frey saw could hardly be called a match—it was just a group of people playing for fun.
They didn’t even have enough players, one team with eight and the other with seven, yet they were happily shouting and enjoying themselves.
It was clear that at least half of them didn’t know how to play and were just there for the excitement.
Moreover, there were only four or five spectators, nothing compared to the bustling activity on the nearby courts.
There were quite a few people at the adjacent basketball courts.
Gao Yang glanced over to see both courts occupied, and a crowd waiting for a spot to open up so they could take their turn after a losing team stepped aside.
Gao Yang was more interested in basketball.
As for baseball, that could wait.
For him, even football offered more excitement with the occasional brawl, rather than watching baseball, whose rules he didn’t even know.
After a brief look and noticing that Frey was engrossed but not intending to join in, Gao Yang said, “Hey, don’t you want to have a go?
They’re short on players anyway.”
Frey hesitated for a moment before awkwardly saying, “Never mind then, I haven’t played with this many people before.
I just practiced pitching alone, occasionally someone pitched to me so I could try batting, but playing with so many people, I’m not used to it.”
Upon hearing this, Gao Yang felt a bit guilty towards Frey.
Frey was South African, where no one played baseball; white people played rugby and black people played soccer.
It wasn’t easy for him to find a playmate.
After leaving South Africa and rushing all over the place, where would Frey have the time to play baseball?
After being dragged by Frey to play baseball a few times, Gao Yang and the others found it uninteresting and were unwilling to accompany Frey to play anymore.
Therefore, Frey had always been practicing alone.
Gao Yang gave Frey a shove and said, “Are you shy or something?
This is way easier than war, go on, it’s just for fun!”
Frey seriously said, “Boss, although war might be deadly, I must say, baseball is much more difficult than war.”
At that moment, Glolov also laughed and said, “Come on, even if it’s more difficult, it can’t be more frightening than being on a battlefield, right?”
Just then, Cui Bo shouted, “Hey, guys, is it okay to add one more?”
The pitcher, who was getting ready to pitch, stopped and waved at Cui Bo, also shouting, “Come over to our side, we’re short on people!”
And just then, Eileen suddenly said, “Hey, there’s more coming, wow, these guys look so professional.”
Gao Yang and the others turned to look and saw about a dozen people coming in uniform, all in formal baseball jerseys and holding bats, walking over with smiles and laughter.
Suddenly someone in the audience watching from the sidelines shouted, “It’s the Marines.”
The U.S.
Army had already withdrawn from Iraq, but institutions like the embassies still needed protection, and it was the soldiers from the United States Marine Corps who had taken on this responsibility.
Therefore, the newcomers were regular troops.
Those who were playing also stopped and looked at the Marines who had reached the edge of the Baseball Field.
A man who had been swinging a bat walked right onto the field and shouted, “Guys, how about a match?
A game between the Marines and PMC, want to play?”
The man who had been talking to Cui Bo shouted back, “Let’s play, just don’t cry and go home if you lose.”
The bat-swinger laughed and said, “Buddy, we always win.
We beat the PMC; it’s the tradition of this Baseball Field.
Now, guys, let’s form teams like in a formal match.
Oh, and we even brought a referee.
If you think it’s unfair, you can have your people officiate.”
People on the Baseball Field one by one started to move to the sidelines, then began deciding who would take the field.
However, most of them were really just making up the numbers; at best, they barely qualified as players.
Those who were self-aware directly took off their distinguishing baseball caps.
The man who had interacted with Cui Bo called a few people over and then turned to Cui Bo and said, “Buddy, how good are you?
Want to join?”
Cui Bo walked over to Frey and pushed him forward, “Not me, him.
His skills are amazing, extremely amazing!”
Frey became shy then, and although his face was filled with anticipation, he hesitated.
The man who was speaking raised his head to Frey and smiled, “How amazing?”
Gao Yang reached out and took the handgun from Frey’s waist, pushed Frey forward, and shouted, “More amazing than you can imagine.
Come on, Little Fly, go show those Marines how amazing you are.”
After a couple of shy steps forward, Frey’s pace normalized, and he walked up to the man who had been talking and nodded, “Hello, what position do you need me to play?”
Gao Yang was somewhat anxious, as Frey wasn’t accustomed to playing with others and got a bit intimidated now that he was actually taking the field, which was normal.
But Gao Yang was afraid that he was being too modest and would miss out on the pitcher’s spot, so he shouted, “He’s a pitcher, let him pitch, and it’ll scare people to death!”
The speaker laughed and said to Frey, “You pitch well?”
Frey wiped the sweat from his nose, a little nervous, “I’ve never played in an official match with others, never, so I don’t know if I’m good or bad, but, I think I should be decent.”
The man shrugged and said, “You don’t seem very confident but it looks like your friends have a lot of faith in you.
Alright, you start as the pitcher.
Buddy, I hope what your friends say about scaring people isn’t about scaring us.
Oh, just call me Captain, I’m called that in this game and usually too.”
After saying that, the Captain shouted, “Alright, get our little friend a cap and get ready to go!
Let’s take down the Marines.
Damn it, I came from the Army.
Hey, Viper, I know you’re from the Marines, don’t you go easy, I’m watching you!
Let’s go, brothers, teach them a lesson!”(To be continued.
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