David Peace - Red or Dead

working, always

working.

…

On Saturday 9 August, 1969, the first Saturday of the new season, Chelsea Football Club came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-eight thousand, three hundred and eighty-three folk came, too. Forty-eight thousand, three hundred and eighty-three folk to watch the first game of the new season. In the twenty-sixth minute of the first game of the new season, Chris Lawler scored. In the forty-ninth minute of the first game of the new season, Ian St John scored. In the sixtieth minute of the first game of the new season, Geoff Strong scored. And in the eighty-third minute of the first game of the new season, St John scored again. And in the first game of the new season, Liverpool Football Club beat Chelsea Football Club four — one. At home, at Anfield. Three days afterwards, Manchester City Football Club came to Anfield, Liverpool. That evening, fifty-one thousand, nine hundred and fifty-nine folk came, too. Fifty-one thousand, nine hundred and fifty-nine folk to watch the second game of the new season. In the second minute of the second game of the new season, St John scored. But in the second game of the new season, Tommy Smith scored an own goal. And in the second game of the new season, Bowyer scored for Manchester City. And in the second game of the new season, Liverpool Football Club were losing. At home, at Anfield. But in the eighty-third minute of the second game of the new season, Roger Hunt scored. And in the second game of the new season, Liverpool Football Club were drawing. At home, at Anfield. But in the eighty-eighth minute of the second game of the new season, St John scored again. And in the second game of the new season, Liverpool Football Club beat Manchester City three — two. At home, at Anfield.

On Saturday 16 August, 1969, Liverpool Football Club travelled to White Hart Lane, London, for the third game of the new season. In the sunshine, the shirt-sleeved summer sunshine, the players of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club were tanned, but flabby. In the sunshine, the shirt-sleeved summer sunshine, the players of Liverpool Football Club were pale, but toned. And in the second minute of the third game of the new season, Emlyn Hughes sent Roger Hunt on his way. But Hughes did not stand and watch Hunt on his way. Hughes followed Hunt, giant stride after giant stride. And Hunt shot. But Hunt did not score. The ball rebounded off Jennings. But there was Hughes. And Hughes did score. In the sunshine, the shirt-sleeved summer sunshine. In the thirty-seventh minute of the third game of the new season. Chris Lawler passed to Ian Callaghan. But Lawler did not stand and watch Callaghan. Lawler followed Callaghan. And Callaghan shot. But Callaghan did not score. The ball deflected off Jennings. And there was Lawler. And Lawler scored. And in the sunshine, the shirt-sleeved summer sunshine. In the third game of the new season, Liverpool Football Club beat Tottenham Hotspur two — nil. Away from home, away from Anfield.

Four days afterwards, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Maine Road, Manchester, for the fourth game of the new season. In the forty-fourth minute of the fourth game of the new season, Bobby Graham scored. And in the eightieth minute of the fourth game of the new season, Graham scored again. And in the fourth game of the new season, Liverpool Football Club beat Manchester City two — nil. Away from home, away from Anfield. And that evening, Liverpool Football Club had played four games of the new season and Liverpool Football Club had won all four of their games of this new season. But Liverpool Football Club were only second in the First Division. Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton Football Club had also won all four of their games of the new season. And Everton Football Club were first in the First Division. On goal average. In the new season, after four games, after four victories, home and away, Liverpool Football Club were only second. Again.

On Saturday 23 August, 1969, Burnley Football Club came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, fifty-one thousand, one hundred and thirteen folk came, too. In the thirty-sixth minute, Tommy Smith scored a penalty. In the forty-ninth minute, Ian Callaghan crossed the ball. Bobby Graham met the ball. And Graham scored. And Liverpool Football Club were beating Burnley Football Club two — nil. At home, at Anfield. But then Thomas shot from twenty-five yards out. And Thomas scored. And then Yeats hit a ball into the sky in his own penalty area. And everyone stood and everyone watched. The ball going up, the ball coming down. Everybody standing, everybody watching. Casper head the ball. And Casper score. And now Liverpool Football Club were drawing two-all with Burnley Football Club. At home, at Anfield. And then Dobson glanced home a third goal for Burnley Football Club. And Liverpool Football Club were losing three — two. At home, at Anfield. But in the seventy-seventh minute, Smith scored again. And Liverpool Football Club drew three — three with Burnley Football Club. At home, at Anfield.

Four days afterwards, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Selhurst Park, London. In the thirty-sixth minute, Emlyn Hughes scored. In the seventy-third minute, Roger Hunt scored. And in the eighty-second minute, Peter Thompson scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Crystal Palace three — one. Away from home, away from Anfield. And that evening, Liverpool Football Club and Everton Football Club both had eleven points. That evening, Everton Football Club were still first in the First Division and Liverpool Football Club still second in the First Division. Again.

On Saturday 30 August, 1969, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Hillsborough, Sheffield. And in the forty-second minute, Chris Lawler scored. But Sheffield Wednesday scored, too. And Liverpool Football Club drew one-all with Sheffield Wednesday. Away from home, away from Anfield. That day, Everton Football Club did not draw. That day, Everton Football Club won. And that evening, Everton Football Club were still first in the First Division. But not on goal average. On points.

Four days afterwards, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Vicarage Road, Watford, to play Watford Football Club in the Second Round of the Football League Cup. In the sixth minute, Slater scored an own goal for Watford Football Club. In the seventy-fifth minute, Ian St John scored for Liverpool Football Club. And Liverpool Football Club beat Watford Football Club of the Second Division two — nil. Away from home, away from Anfield. Three days later, Coventry City came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-eight thousand, three hundred and thirty-seven folk came, too. Coventry City were fourth in the First Division and Liverpool Football Club were second in the First Division. In the thirty-seventh minute, Ian St John scored. And in the eighty-ninth minute, Geoff Strong scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Coventry City Football Club two — one. At home, at Anfield. That day, Derby County beat Everton Football Club two — one.

On Tuesday 9 September, 1969, Sunderland Football Club came to Anfield, Liverpool. That evening, forty-six thousand, three hundred and seventy folk came, too. In the twelfth minute, Geoff Strong scored. And in the thirty-fourth minute, Tommy Smith scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Sunderland Football Club two — nil. At home, at Anfield. That evening, Liverpool Football Club had sixteen points. That evening, Derby County had fourteen points. And Everton Football Club had thirteen points. That evening, Liverpool Football Club were first in the First Division.

In the bedroom, at their window. Bill stared out through the glass, up beyond the trees. Into the night, into the sky. And up at the moon. Men had designed rockets. Men had built rockets. Men had travelled in rockets. And everybody had stood and everybody had watched. Men land on the moon. Men walk on the moon. Men plant a flag on the moon. Everybody standing, everybody watching. The ball going up, the ball coming down. Just standing, just watching. The flag on the moon, the ball in the goal. In their bedroom, at the window. Bill heard footsteps on the stairs. The bedroom door open. And Ness cough –