Chapter Three: Eighteen Catches and an Invoice from the Future

The final seven seconds began to move. Lin sprinted along the boundary. Hall kept outside leverage, forcing him toward the safety in the middle. After three steps, Lin suddenly slowed. Hall checked his stride. Lin accelerated again and used the half-step to attack the back corner of the end zone. No red trajectory appeared. The world did not stop. There was only Eli’s slightly high pass, Hall’s hand at Lin’s waist, and the white end line rushing closer. Lin jumped. Hall hit his forearm first. The ball struck both of Lin’s palms. Contact pushed him toward the boundary. His right foot landed inside the rear corner of the end zone. Hall’s knee blocked the left, leaving it suspended over white paint. The clock reached zero.