TW11 The Cleopatra Crisis NEW (13 page)

The charioteers had previously drawn lots for their positions at the start of the race. The tails of the horses were bound tightly, their manes decorated with pearls and gems, their breastplates adorned with gold and silver and trimmed with jewels. Each horse wore a ribbon with the color of its team. The drivers stood in their chariots, some wearing leather helmets, others wearing metal ones, their thighs and calves beneath their brief tunics wrapped in leather leggings. Most of them were low born and some had once been slaves, but as charioteers, they could rise far above their stations.

Winning charioteers often received substantial gifts from magistrates and aristocrats, sometimes even from the Emperor himself, and they were paid generous salaries by the owners of their teams, as well. They were the star athletes of Rome, often wined and dined by their rich patrons, and some of them were able to become quite wealthy in their own right. A hush fell over the crowd as the consul waited to give the starting signal. Steiger's brown
trigae
had drawn a position third from the inside. Antony's whites were on the pole. The consul dropped the white cloth and the crowd cheered as the race began.

The blue team took an early lead as the horses thundered down the straightaway, heading counterclockwise around the track, toward the first turn. The greens ran second, the whites a close third. The drivers lashed the horses with their whips as they passed the stands where Steiger and Antony sat, 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 races for 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 give himself plenty of room so as not to be caught between the posts and the press of the other chariots closing in. Tibulus, the charioteer for the whites, hung close on the heels of the blues, slightly to the inside. The greens were right behind him, swinging wider. The driver of the red team suddenly swung for the inside, 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 the reds. Having nowhere else to go, the red driver had to swing in closer still and the wheels of his chariot caught the post as they went around.

The crowd gasped collectively as his chariot struck and bounced 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 and slashed the reins, cutting himself free, then rolled wildly to avoid being trampled by the team behind him. He didn't make it. The crowd roared as the horses of the green team trampled him and the chariot jounced over his body. As soon as the chariots had all passed, attendants ran out with a litter to pick up the fallen driver, who was writhing on the ground with pain.

Meanwhile, the whites had taken the lead on the inside of the turn. As they thundered down the opposite straightaway, they were all out of sight behind the spina, but in moments, they were coming around the far turn and Steiger saw that the whites had increased their lead, while the greens were close behind them. It remained that way for the first two laps as the chariots gradually spread out along the track. By the third lap, the greens had closed the 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 once more going round the turn. By the fifth lap, the greens had once more closed the distance, but the whites kept gaining on the turns, practically shaving the posts.

"Your greens arc putting up a game fight," said Antony. "Demos drives well, but he won't catch Tibulus! Watch as he gives them full head on the last turn!"

Indeed, Tibulus took the last turn at what seemed a very reckless speed, his chariot sliding around almost completely sideways, but the maneuver gained him even more ground and as they raced for the finish, the whites came in 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 eye for horses to judge who will be the winner. A good charioteer makes all the difference."

"It would seem so." Steiger agreed. "I congratulate you. But you must give me an opportunity to win back my money. Would you care to wager on the next race?"

Antony laughed. "Marcian, your friend seems determined to give away his money! It seems your plan was sound. Perhaps I should demand a fee for helping you conclude your business with him!"

"You have already won ten thousand sesterces," Marshall said. "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. "but you may take him at his word."

"I never questioned it." said Antony magnanimously. "Another ten 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 Antony recouped his loses to Trebonius on the fifth race, which Steiger also lost.

"I think perhaps we should cease to wager now." Antony told Steiger after the fifth race. "You already owe me fifty thousand sesterces and I 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 my losses?"

Antony shook his head. "I have already won more than enough from you, Sabinus," he said. "You would be wise to stop now."

"One hundred thousand sesterces on the final race." said Steiger.

"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 or does 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 lose to a backward provincial?"

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

"Then you accept?"

"Choose your team."

"I'll take the blues. The black stallions second from the post." There were four factions—the whites, the reds, the blues, and the greens, but for this race, the teams were paired, so that there were two charioteers driving for each faction, a total of eight teams of four horses each.

"The blues?" said Antony. He chuckled. "Alas, you have made a poor choice. Sabinus. Young Cassinus drives that team. He has the least experience of any of the charioteers! He has never before driven a
quadrigae
!"

"Nevertheless. I choose the blues," repeated Steiger. "I watched 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 confident of my choice."

"I will not quarrel with the quality of the team," said Antony. "But are you so confident of your choice that you will risk your utter ruin?"

"I am confident that you cannot continue to win all the time." Steiger countered stubbornly. "Do you accept the wager? Or is it too rich 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 hundred thousand sesterces on the bays driven by Clocillus, for the reds."

"I will take thirty thousand of that wager. if you have not overextended 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 with a smile. "Clocillus has no need of practice. He is the finest charioteer in Rome." The trumpet sounded once again.

"They are about to start!" Trebonius said.

The white cloth fluttered to the ground and the chariots were off.

Clocillus took an early lead going into the first turn. Cassinus was sixth, well behind him, but the crush of the first turn took out two of the other chariots, one white, one green. They crashed into each other as they went around the post. and though the drivers managed to retain control by reining in, they slowed up two other chariots behind them and caused another to swing wide around them as they skidded toward the outside of the turn. Cassinus took the opportunity to get inside them and move up.

"A good move on his part." Antony conceded. "But he was merely fortunate. Clocillus still holds a commanding lead."

Going into the second lap. Cassinus was running third, but Clocillus and one of the chariots driving for the greens were still well ahead of him. They maintained that distance for another lap, but as they swung around for the third time. Cassinus slowly began to close the gap. By the fourth lap. the second green team was hard on his heels, with the second driver for the blues running just behind them. Clocillus was still in a comfortable lead. On the fifth lap, as they went around the post. the green team that was closing in on Cassinus took the turn too wide and Cassinus' teammate cut sharply to the inside, getting ahead of the greens and cutting them off as they went down the straightaway. Cassinus continued to close the distance between himself and the two leaders, while the green team that was just behind him couldn't get around the blue team that had passed it. They maintained that position going into the sixth lap when the team that was running second tried to cut in on the inside of Clocillus and ran out of room. The chariot overturned and they could see the driver sawing frantically at the reins as the horses dragged him along behind them. He managed to cut himself free just as they reached the outside of the turn and he rolled safely out of harm's way. Cassinus was now running second.

On the last lap, Cassinus started closing the distance between himself and the red team driven by Clocillus, gaining rapidly. The crowd was on its feet, cheering the underdog. In moments, they were neck and neck.

"Come on, Clocillus!" shouted Antony. "Use your whip!"

Side by side, the two chariots careened toward the finish, but Cassinus started to edge ahead. Antony and his friends were shouting and shaking their fists. Clocillus started to close, but they crossed the finish line with Cassinus barely a nose ahead of him. The crowd went wild.

"Well, deducting my earlier losses to you," Steiger said to Antony, "that makes fifty thousand sesterces that you owe me. Plus the thirty thousand from Trebonius, and twenty from Flaminus, that brings my winnings to a total of one hundred thousand sesterces. I have both made good my losses and turned a tidy profit.” He grinned at Antony. "It seems that I am not exactly ruined."

“I cannot believe it!" said Trebonius. "Clocillus
never
loses!"

"And I was tempted to wager thirty thousand, but I did not wish to take advantage of a reckless provincial," Flaminus said, shaking his head.

“Your charity has saved you ten thousand sesterces," Steiger said.

"Now I'll be forced to meet his price," said Marshall gloomily. "Antony, what happened? You were supposed to win!"

"I would never have thought that Cassinus could beat Clocillus," Antony said. "But . . . perhaps he is indeed more suited to the
quadrigae
. Whether by luck or by skill or a combination of the two, he did it. And you, Sabinus, are a wealthier man because of your sound judgment. I congratulate you.'

"And I you, on your grace in losing," Steiger said. “You must grant me the honor of entertaining you and your friends."

"What, with our own money?" Antony said. He chuckled and clapped Steiger on the back. "Very well, then, I accept."

"Wait till Caesar hears that you have lost more in one day than you have won in the entire year!" said Trebonius.

"I expect he will be much amused," said Antony wryly. "And he will doubtless wish to meet the man who humbled me. Come, Sabinus. Would you like to meet the Emperor?"

“That last race was close," Lucas said. "Almost a photo finish." He smiled. "Or it might have been, if they had cameras in ancient Rome."

"It's the first time I've ever seen Clocillus lose." said Travers. “The young driver who beat him just made his reputation. Clocillus is the best charioteer in Rome."

“He also threw the race," said Andre.

Travers glanced at her sharply. “What?"

“I said, he threw the race," she repeated. “It was fixed."

“Are you serious? How can you possibly tell?"

"If anyone can tell, she can," said Delaney.

They were seated in the stands within less than a hundred feet of where Steiger sat with Antony, though they had no idea he was there. With his new face, they wouldn't have recognized him anyway. They spoke in low voices, holding their heads close so that no one could overhear them.

"Andre grew up in medieval England," Lucas explained. "For most of her life, she passed as a male and was a mercenary knight, what they called a 'free companion.' The first time we met. it was in the lists at the tournament of Ashby."

"You mean you were temporally displaced?" asked 'Travers, stunned.

"It's a long story." she said. "I inadvertently became part of a temporal disruption and wound up being taken into the future by a member of the Underground."

“We first encountered Andre on a mission to 12th century England." said Delaney. "so you can imagine our surprise when we saw her again in 17th-century France. It's quite a story. She was instrumental in helping us effect a temporal adjustment and since she had already been displaced from her own time, we took her back to Plus Time with us so her case could be reviewed, to make sure it didn't result in any temporal contamination. Once the Referees were satisfied, she joined the First Division and we've been a team ever since.”