“Do not what?”
“Give him the résumé before the round.”
Ryan frowned.
“Why not?”
Samuel looked directly at him.
“Because if knowing my history changes how carefully you train with me, you’ve already missed the lesson.”
Silence.
Marcus almost smiled.
“That still sounds like you.”
Samuel shrugged.
“I’m old.”
“Repetition is free.”
Ryan was less amused now.
“Coach.”
Marcus turned.
“What?”
“Who is he?”
Marcus shook his head.
“You agreed to a technical round.”
“So have one.”
“But—”
“Watch his feet.”
Ryan looked irritated.
He and Samuel moved into position.
Marcus stepped between them.
“Thirty seconds.”
“Technical.”
“No hard finishing pressure.”
“No proving anything.”
He looked longer at Ryan.
“Especially you.”
Ryan nodded.
Marcus looked at Samuel.
“You sure?”
Samuel glanced at his right knee.
“No.”
That surprised everyone.
Samuel smiled.
“But start the clock.”
Marcus raised his hand.
“Go.”
Ryan moved first.
Fast.
Samuel did not.
Ryan touched his lead hand.
Samuel cleared.
Two seconds.
Ryan changed angle.
Samuel shifted half a step.
Three.
Ryan smiled.
Nothing dramatic.
He reached again.
Samuel retreated slightly.
Five seconds.
Ryan’s athletic advantage was obvious.
Faster hands.
Faster feet.
More explosive entries.
Samuel was not magically young again.
His right leg was slower.
His reactions required economy.
Ryan got better contact.
Samuel gave ground.
Seven seconds.
A spectator whispered:
“This is gonna be quick.”
Ryan heard it.
Marcus saw him hear it.
Samuel saw it too.
Ryan increased pressure.
Not dangerously.
Just more than before.
Samuel’s left foot moved six inches.
Right foot followed.
Balanced.
Ryan reached for the setup he had demonstrated earlier.
Samuel did not resist the expected direction.
Ryan corrected.
Nine seconds.
Marcus whispered:
“Ryan.”
Ryan ignored him.
Samuel said quietly:
“You’re leaving.”
Ryan frowned.
“What?”
“The mat.”
Ryan tightened his position.
“I’m standing on it.”
Samuel looked toward the crowd.
“No.”
“You’re over there.”
Ryan’s jaw tightened.
He committed harder.
Samuel’s feet changed.
That was all Marcus saw.
A small adjustment.
Almost nothing.
Ryan expected Samuel’s weight to continue backward.
It didn’t.
Samuel redirected.
Ryan’s balance moved ahead of his base.
He corrected quickly.
Very quickly.
Good wrestler.
But the correction created a second line.
Samuel was already on it.
Ryan touched one knee to the mat.
The crowd gasped.
He came up immediately.
Too immediately.
Samuel stayed connected.
Marcus’s face tightened.
“Ryan, stay technical.”
Ryan heard laughter near the back.
Not much.