章 106: Two Months

Monday, April 29, 2013.

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In one of the gyms at the Lerkendal Idresspark, the home ground of Rosenborg BK, Zachary was entirely focused on his training. Salty droplets rolled down his face dripping onto the gym floor as he pushed his body up, completing his 50th press-up. Down his back ran a dark stripe amid the light-grey color of his sleeveless Nike top—a spreading map of perspiration showing the hard work he'd been putting into his workout that morning. Coach Bjørn Peters stood at the side, watching him like a hawk and shouting instructions at the pace of a machine gun.

There was no other soul in the gym. The other players had been—given the morning off since they had played a Tippeligaen match against Sandnes Ulf the previous day.

"Keep moving, don't slow down," Coach Bjørn Peters yelled, clapping his hands as he moved around Zachary's position on the floor. "You can do it. Up and down, up and down..."