“I... I have been thinking of the
Bowl Game,” he said. “I do not know what to expect.”
She smiled, a hint of relief showing in
her face. “I can understand your feelings,” she said. “You have
probably heard that it is the most dangerous of all the games the
Pros play.”
“Yes,” Zach said. “But I don’t
know why, nor do I understand exactly what makes this one game so
different from the others.”
“This is the Game that determines the
championship for the year,” said Madame Lania. “If we win it, I
will be ruler of all the Valleys for that year. I will become
wealthy, and those who support me can become wealthy too.” She
looked at him directly, as if to let him know that he would be able
to share in the winnings with her. “It is the Game we have all been
working toward throughout the year. All of the Players, all of the
Owners, all of the townspeople.”
“If you do not win it, you will try
again the following year?” asked Zach.
Her face darkened. “Owners who do not
have a winning season have three chances. If they do not succeed on
the third, they lose control of their team. I would need to start
over, as a part-owner or perhaps even as a Cheerleader.”
Zach considered Lania’s choices. He
was certain that she would enjoy her cheerleading duties, as they
seemed primarily aimed at satisfying the physical needs of Players.
“Is the Bowl Game held at the same
time every year?” he asked.
She seemed to draw herself back from
her worries and nodded. “Yes. It is an ancient tradition. The Pro
Games were played long before the Change. They were important rituals
followed by the ancients of all religions. The final game of the year
was held at the end of the cold season, as a way to welcome the
spring. It is believed that the Bowl, which is used instead of a cup
for this game only, is a representation of the Holy Grail, which was
considered the ultimate relic of several of the old religions.”
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