Chapter Five: The Goalkeeper No Giant Wanted

Two hours later, Real Madeira agreed to an unconditional free loan, paid half the wages, and turned the purchase obligation into an option controlled solely by Harborbridge. Bell authorized the players' union to reopen the old case. On the flight to England, he asked Lin, “Aren't you afraid I really can't handle big matches?” “Fear and weakness are not the same thing,” Lin said. “If you're afraid and still know where the penalty is going, you're a goalkeeper. If you're afraid of nothing and only go where an agent tells you, you're a gambler.” The Old Dockyard hosted Northcastle in the FA Cup quarterfinal. Vale watched from the directors' box. Northcastle's starting eleven was worth twenty-three times Harborbridge's.