My hatred for one of my attackers outweighed my fear of the System.
“Trade accepted,” I said to the pretty gray parrot.
Proctor puffed his cheeks, and exhaled hard.
“I hope this works out for you,” Proctor said. “Or, perhaps, I should refer to us all.”
The parrot abruptly flapped away from Proctor as soon as I’d uttered the words. Gone. The bird took to the sky with speed. It traversed in a long arc until it became a silhouette, and passed westward over the watch tower, and beyond the wall.
“It’s done,” I said. “What’s the worst that could happen?”
Yes, I was asking facetiously. Proctor knew it too, and all he could do was chuckle.
“Shall we stroll out toward center field, and await a lightning strike?” Proctor said.
“Fun idea,” I said. “I’m impervious to lightning now anyway. Didn’t you know?”
“Informing Jorn Quallon he’s been traded to another village ought to be enjoyable,” Proctor said.
“He can find out from Blue Lake themselves,” I said.
“You’re not going to tell him yourself?” Proctor said.
I shrugged. “He’ll find out either way,” I said. “Let’s wait and see what happens.”
“You’re an interesting person sometimes.”
“I try.”
[HUMAN! PREPARE FOR A MESSAGE!]
“Oh, here we go,” I said to Proctor. "And, why they tell me to prepare for a message while they're already in the process of sending me a message, I'll never understand. You're already typing in front of my face. Clearly, you're sending me a message. Do you know what I mean?"
"The System works in mysterious ways," Proctor said.
"I feel like you say that a lot," I said.
"Perhaps."
[SYSTEM update…
One moment please…
Loading…
Buffering…
Please wait…]
“What do you think? Public hanging coming my way?” I said. “How about being drawn and quartered in front of the fair citizens of Moonlight?”
“Hmm, right.”
[Your 40 man roster is set.
Congratulations.
Every player has been evaluated. Every player has been assigned a starting level.
Levels may move up. Levels are expected to move up.
Meeting performance benchmarks will cause you, and other players to level up.
Here are your starting levels:
Starting Pitchers:
Proctor Smythe - Left handed = Level 1
Torag Gill - L = 1
Landyn Barnette - Right handed = 1
Auden Hale - R = 1
Alfie Alvin - R = 1
Wyer Denman - R = 1
Relief Pitchers:
Adam Bridger - R = Level 2
Ulrich Farrowhill - R = 1
Bern Kinley - R = 1
Leonard Weaves - L = 1
Aston Bale - L = 2
Grinth Done - R = 1
Smith Reeve - R = 2
Wynn Willowby - L = 1
Emerson Iler - R = 1
Dyer Thickenburg - R = 1
Stuart Manetten - R = 1
Monty Holt - L = 1
Outfielders:
Centerfield:
Stanley Axel - Right handed = Level 1
Harold Grey - L = 2
Left field:
Denton Carkner - R = 1
Woodrow Irvine - R = 2
Right field:
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Gak Bar - R = 1
Jux Quallon - Left/Right handed (ambidextrous), Switch hitter = Level 1
Outfield (utility position):
Cedric Harlane - L = 1
Infielders:
Catchers:
Jeremiah Quallon - Right handed = Level 1
Wulf Stanston - L = 1
Ead Yellow - R = 1
Oswald Chester - R = 1
First base:
Dillard Coal - R = 1
Second base:
Kimball East - R = 1
TBD - ? handed = Level ?
Third base:
Edward Kin - R = 1
Barnard Wastewell - R = 1
Shortstop:
Reilly Blackburn - R = 1
Beckett Akin - R = 1
Infield (utility positions):
Eldric Hinn - R = 2
Clifford Summers - R = 1
NOTE:
As players perform exceptionally per the requirements of their position(s), their ability to increase in level will rise.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
In reward for accomplishing the following:
40-man roster: Completed…
Your region’s base temperature will be raised, effective immediately.
Previous mean temperature: 0 deg Celsius (32F)
Updated mean temperature: 7C (45F)
One moment please…]
“Interesting development,” Proctor said.
“Warmth!” I shouted. “Finally!”
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
We waited in stillness behind our shipping container homes. The men who’d made the ball team milled about the baseball equipment bunker. They familiarized themselves with the gear. I’d imagined each player would choose a bat and glove they’d opt to use exclusively. From my limited understanding of pro ball players, they’d customize their equipment. Pretty sure they’d get downright superstitious with it.
The sun didn’t brighten to any notable degree. We were still under an overcast sky. But, within the span of thirty seconds, the cold wind subsided as if sucked into a void. The vapor clouds from our breath disappeared. My skin suddenly felt tighter, wetter.
“So weird,” I said. “Are you feeling this?”
At first, I wasn’t sure if my brain was inventing something that wasn’t actually there. Did I feel warmer? Yes. I did… right?
“A bit more pleasant,” Proctor said. “The ground will soon soften, I surmise.”
The men running around near one of the bunkers didn’t seem to react.
“I’m so tired of being cold,” I said. "It seeps into your bones."
“An incentive to improve,” Proctor said.
“No punishment for the trade, I'm noticing,” I said.
“Early days yet.”
“Ever the optimist, Proctor Smythe,” I said.
[IMPORTANT:
Initial roster completion reward:
400 gold added to your account.
NOTE:
You have unauthorized franchise staff.
These have been expunged.
The following comprise authorized franchise staff:
Owner, President, General Manager, Player: Adam Bridger
Salary (Owner): 250 gold/wk (13000 gold/yr)
Salary (President): 50 gold/wk (2600 gold/yr)
Salary (Level 1 General Manager): 30 gold/wk (1560 gold/yr)
Salary (Level 2 Player): 20 gold/wk (1040 gold/yr)
Total Salary: 350 gold/wk (18200 gold/yr)
Assistant General Manager, Player: Proctor Smythe
Salary (Level 1 Assistant General Manager): 25 gold/wk (1300 gold/yr)
Salary (Level 1 Player): 10 gold/wk (520 gold/yr)
Total Salary: 35 gold/wk (1820 gold/yr)]
“Sorry,” I said, and my cheeks grew warm.
“John D. Rockefeller over here,” Proctor said.
[All Level 1 Player Salaries: 10 gold/wk, each (520 gold/yr)
All Level 2 Player Salaries: 20 gold/wk, each (1040 gold/yr)
Total Current Player Salaries (Adam Bridger, Proctor Smythe excepted): 420 gold/wk (approx. 21840 gold/yr)
Manager: Barkley Conagher
Salary (Level 1): 20 gold/wk (1040 gold/yr)]
“Hang on,” I stopped reading the text to Proctor. “I didn’t hire that guy to be the manager. Did you?”
“Heavens, no,” Proctor said.
“Barkley doesn’t know baseball,” I said. “I barely know baseball. What are they thinking?”
“This is a lot of money,” Proctor said. "Our pay roll's adding up in a hurry here."
[Hitting Coach: Mora Swain
Salary (Level 1): 15 gold/wk (780 gold/yr)
Pitching Coach: Hag Tupper
Salary (Level 1): 15 gold/wk (780 gold/yr)]
“Crazy,” I said. “We’re all the way through the looking glass now.”
[Bullpen Coach: To be named
Salary (Level 1): 9 gold/wk (468 gold/yr)
First Base Coach: Munk Weir
Salary (Level 1): 9 gold/wk (468 gold/yr)
Third Base Coach: Wilda Weir
Salary (Level 1): 9 gold/wk (468 gold/yr)
Team Doctor: Sutcliffe Minas
Salary: 8 gold/wk (416 gold/yr)
Security Manager: Trevor Swain
Salary: 8 gold/wk (416 gold/yr)
Concessions Manager: Bess Grafton
Salary: 6 gold/wk (312 gold/yr)
Groundskeeper: Lorne Franks
Salary: 6 gold/wk (312 gold/yr)
Equipment Manager: Pete Xavier
Salary: 6 gold/wk (312 gold/yr)
Security Officers (x2): To be named
Salaries (Level 1): 2 gold/wk, each (104 gold/yr)
Total: 4 gold/wk (208 gold/yr)
Physical Trainers (x2): To be named
Salaries (Level 1): 2 gold/wk, each (104 gold/yr)
Total: 4 gold/wk (208 gold/yr)
Entertainer: To be named
Salary: 2 gold/wk (104 gold/yr)
Food Vendors (x2), Ticket Takers (x2), Grounds Laborers (x2), Field Equipment Attendants (x3): To be named
Salaries (Level 1): 1 gold/wk, each (52 gold/yr)
Total: 9 gold/wk (468 gold/yr)
Total Current Franchise Salaries: 935 gold/wk (48620 gold/yr)]
“I think I need to lie down,” I said.
My knees wobbled. My vision blurred. Yet, out of the corner of my eye, I could see the friendly giant bounding our way.
“It’s a lot of money in the budget,” Proctor said. "I will admit to some fear."
Blood drained from my face. Was I going to faint?
“Where are we going to get a thousand gold coins a week?” I said, nearly shouting. “Fifty freaking thousand a year? The System’s gone mental.”
“A method to their madness… there must be. Obviously, they’re going to provide gold when we reach certain achievements,” Proctor said. “The aphorism comes to mind, blood from a stone?”
"Blood from me, you mean," I said. "I'm the one expected to pay all these people. Most of which don't even know they've been hired. I didn't even know they were hired! So, now I'm supposed to - what - run around, tell all these folks they're working for the team in a capacity where they're completely out of their depth, and oh yeah! I have no freaking idea how I'm going to pay you all this dang money!"
"You may want to take a breath," Proctor said. "I think I can see a vein popping out."
"The System's killing me!" I shouted. "Or, maybe that's the point."
We both turned toward the infield, and watched Trevor approach. He reached us, and he bent over at the waist to rest his hands on his knees. He heaved massive breaths in and out. Clearly, he’d been running.
“What’s wrong?” I said.
He had a paler face than usual. “I… the tea… or, pardon, the soda as you call it,” Trevor said.
“What about it? You bought some?”
“My cat,” Trevor said. “Hammy. You remember?”
How could I forget that cute orange kitty back at Trevor and Mora's cave.
“Is he alright?” I said, not certain I wanted the answer.
“Beyond,” Trevor said. “I’d visited my mum. You know she has the hut over in the north end now. Brought the soda jar along with me. Thought nothing of it. I’d opened it, might've turned for a mere moment, and when I turned back around, Hammy, he…”
“Oh no,” I said. “Don’t tell me.”
Trevor nodded gravely, yet he had a hint of a grin lurking as well.
“I may have made a mistake,” he said.