Simon Hawke - The Cleopatra Crisis

The blue team took an early lead as the horses thundereddown the straightaway, heading counterclockwise around the track, toward thefirst turn. The greens ran second. the whites a close third. The drivers lashedthe horses with their whips as they passed the stands where Steiger and Antonysat, coming up to the first turn.

“The first turn is always crucial.” Antony said loudly,speaking close to Steiger to be heard above the crowd. “And Tibulus, who racesfor the whites, always rides close upon the leader as they close for the turn.Watch now!”

The blue driver took the turn a little wide, anxious to givehimself plenty of room so as not to be caught between the posts and the pressof the other chariots closing in. Tibulus, the charioteer for the whites, hungclose on the heels of the blues, slightly to the inside. The greens were rightbehind him, swinging wider. The driver of the red team suddenly swung for theinside. trying to ace the greens out of position. but as they rounded the turn,the whites also swung sharply to the inside, toward the post, cutting off thereds. Having nowhere else to go, the red driver had to swing in closer stilland the wheels of his chariot caught the post as they went around.

The crowd gasped collectively as his chariot struck andbounced up into the air, teetering precariously on one wheel for an instant,and then crashing back down again, dislodging the driver. He drew his knife andslashed the reins, cutting himself free, then rolled wildly to avoid beingtrampled by the team behind him. He didn’t make it. The crowd roared as thehorses of the green team trampled him and the chariot jounced over his body. Assoon as the chariots had all passed, attendants ran out with a litter to pickup the fallen driver, who was writhing on the ground with pain.

Meanwhile, the whites had taken the lead on the inside ofthe turn. As they thundered down the opposite straightaway, they were all outof sight behind the spew, but in moments, they were coming around the far turnand Steiger saw that the whites had increased their lead, while the greens wereclose behind them. It remained that way for the first two laps as the chariotsgradually spread out along the track. By the third lap. the greens had closedthe distance. By the fourth, they were almost neck and neck with the whites,but Tibulus was clearly the better driver and he gained an increased lead oncemore going round the turn. By the fifth lap, the greens had once more closedthe distance, but the whites kept gaining on the turns. practically shaving theposts.

“Your greens arc putting up a game fight,” said Antony. “Demosdrives well, but he won’t catch Tibulus! Watch as he gives them full head onthe last turn!”

Indeed, Tibulus took the last turn at what seemed a very recklessspeed, his chariot sliding around almost completely sideways, but the maneuvergained him even more ground and as they raced for the finish, the whites camein well ahead of the greens.

“I fear that you have lost your wager. Sabinus,” said Antony.“I told you that the whites would win. You see, it takes more than a good eyefor horses to judge who will be the winner. A good charioteer makes all thedifference.”

“It would seem so.” Steiger agreed. “I congratulate you. Butyou must give me an opportunity to win back my money. Would you care to wageron the next race?”

Antony laughed. “Marcian, your friend seems determined togive away his money! It seems your plan was sound. Perhaps I should demand afee for helping you conclude your business with him!”

“You have already won ten thousand sesterces,” Marshallsaid. “Let that be your fee. Antony.”

“Done!” laughed Antony.

“Shall we say another ten thousand on the second race?”asked Steiger.

“If you think you can afford it.” Antony replied dubiously

“Marcian will vouchsafe my credit.-

“Sabinus may be unscrupulous in business,” Marshall said. “butyou may take him at his word.”

“I never questioned it.” said Antony magnanimously. “Anotherten thousand it is.”

Steiger lost the second race. too. And the third, as well.Trebonius won the fourth. with both Steiger and Antony losing. but Antonyrecouped his loses to Trebonius on the fifth race, which Steiger also lost.

“I think perhaps we should cease to wager now.” Antony toldSteiger after the fifth race. “You already owe me fifty thousand sesterces andI have no wish to ruin you completely.”

“You cannot keep winning all the time,” said Steiger.

“I rarely lose, my friend.”

“Then you will not give me one more chance to make good mylosses?”

Antony shook his head. “I have already won more than enoughfrom you, Sabinus,” he said. “You would be wise to stop now.”

“One hundred thousand sesterces on the final race.” saidSteiger.

“By the gods” said Flaminus.

“Marcian. I fear your friend is being dangerously reckless.”said Antony.

Is it your concern for me that causes you to hesitate ordoes the prospect of losing so much make you nervous?” Steiger asked.

“Creon, perhaps you’d better reconsider,” Marshall said.

“One hundred thousand is my wager,” Steiger repeated firmly,looking straight at Antony. “Do you dare accept it? Or are you afraid to loseto a backward provincial?”

Antony stared at him. “Your friend Marcian will have to buyyour farm from me.” he said. “Because after this last race, I fear that I willown it.”

“Then you accept?”

“Choose your team.”

“I’ll take the blues. The black stallions second from thepost.” There were four factions-the whites, the reds. The blues, and thegreens, but for this race, the teams were paired, so that there were twocharioteers driving for each faction, a total of eight teams of four horseseach.

“The blues?” said Antony. He chuckled. “Alas, you have madea poor choice. Sabinus. Young Cassinus drives that team. He has the leastexperience of any of the charioteers! He has never before driven a quadrigae !”

“Nevertheless. I choose the blues,” repeated Steiger. “Iwatched him exercise the other day. He seems to have a natural ability with the quadrigae . And the blacks he’s driving are fine horses. I am confidentof my choice.”

“I will not quarrel with the quality of the team,” saidAntony. “But are you so confident of your choice that you will risk your utterruin?”

“I am confident that you cannot continue to win all thetime.” Steiger countered stubbornly. “Do you accept the wager? Or is it toorich for your blood?”

“Creon …” Marshall said, taking Steiger’s arm.

“Stay out of it. Marcian.” snapped Steiger. shaking him off.“I await your answer, Antony.”

Antony sighed and shook his head sadly. “So be it. One hundredthousand sesterces on the bays driven by Clocillus, for the reds.”

“I will take thirty thousand of that wager. if you have notoverextended yourself, Sabinus,” said Trebonius.

“And I will venture twenty,” said Flaminus.

“Done,” said Steiger.

“Creon, are you mad?” asked Marshall.

“Antony is not the only one who can judge a charioteer,”Steiger replied. “Cassinus seemed most promising when I watched him practice.”

“You did not watch him against Clocillus,” Antony said witha smile. “Clocillus has no need of practice. He is the finest charioteer inRome.” The trumpet sounded once again.

“They are about to start!” Trebonius said.

The white cloth fluttered to the ground and the chariotswere off. Clocillus took an early lead going into the first turn. Cassinus wassixth, well behind him, but the crush of the first turn took out two of theother chariots, one white, one green. They crashed into each other as they wentaround the post. and though the drivers managed to retain control by reiningin, they slowed up two other chariots behind them and caused another to swingwide around them as they skidded toward the outside of the turn. Cassinus tookthe opportunity to get inside them and move up.