Chapter 52: After the Storm
Date: Monday, September 1, 2003
Demien didn’t stop walking.
"That’s the idea."
By morning, the room was packed.
Rows of plastic chairs were pressed shoulder to shoulder, with laptops open before the questions started. Half the journalists wore suits with scuffed shoes, while the other half wore trainers with notepads balanced on their knees. No one looked casual.
Demien entered with Stone at his side and Xabi behind them, the translator close by. The press officer had already adjusted the microphone levels. The mics would pick up everything—scrapes, coughs, and silence.
Demien sat without adjusting his chair or touching the bottle of water in front of him.
Stone began,
"Thank you for joining us. Questions will be taken through the floor mic. Coach Laurent and Mr. Alonso will respond directly. We ask for one question at a time."
The first voice came quickly from a journalist in the right aisle.
"Coach, five-nil. Was this the best performance of your season?"