The Cleopatra Crisis

4

“I hadn’t expected it to look so beautiful,” said Andre asthey approached the city. Andell drove the coach, while Castelli rode ahead ofthem, with Corwin and Drummond mounted on their horses, bringing up the rear.Travers had clocked back to his villa in the city, to await their arrival

“It looks better from a distance. First time in Rome. eh?” Andellsaid.

“I’ve served a hitch in Rome before,” said Lucas, ‘but forFinn and Andre. I think it’s the first time. Still. Rome was very differentthen.”

“Oh. yeah? When did you pull a tour here?”

“Second Punic War.” said Lucas. “I was with Scipio in thewar against Hannibal.”

“No shit. really? The old arbitration wars. I was there.too.”

“You’re kidding,” Lucas said. “Which cohort?”

“Wrong army,” Andell said with a grin. “I was with Hannibal.”

Lucas frowned. You were with Hannibal? How can thatbe? The U.S. Temporal Corps contingent was infiltrated into Roman forces duringthat Time War.”

“I wasn’t with the U.S. Temporal Corps,” Andell said. “I wasfighting for the Nippon Conglomerate Empire back then. Freelance mercenary.”

“That explains it.” said Delaney. “I was wondering why someoneyour age was still a sergeant. “

“Yeah. Big black mark on my record.” Andell said. “Ex-mercenariesare scum of the earth, far as TAC-HQ is concerned.”

“But you’re American. aren’t you?” said Lucas. “So you hadto start out regular Corps before you went merc. What happened?”

“I caught a real bad tour that made me want out in a bigway,” said Andell. “I served a hitch in the War Between the States. I was withthe Union troops at Shiloh.”

Delaney whistled. “That must’ve been a rough one.”

“Tell me about it. It made the Punic Wars seem like a cakewalk.I got shot up pretty had and wound up just lying there on the damn battlefield,wondering if I was going to die or if the damn hogs were going to get to mefirst. There was a bunch of ’em rutting around the corpses. And some of themweren’t even corpses yet. Not too far off from me, this huge pig was chewing ona guy’s exposed intestines and he was still alive. I can still hear the poor bastardscreaming.

“My God.” said Andre.

“It gets worse,” Andell said. “Somehow, I. got the strengthup to crawl away and get into the woods. Packed my wounds with mud and thenstarted trying to limp back to our lines. Only a rebel patrol found me first. Iwound up in Andersonville.”

“Jesus.” said Delaney.

“Yeah Maybe the worst prison in American history. But therewas a Union doctor there and he managed to get me patched back up, sort of, andI eventually managed to escape with a small group of men. We made our way toSherman’s troops and then, boy. we sure got even. Eventually, S amp; R foundme and clocked me back. I spent some time in the hospital and then took mydischarge. I figured I’d had enough. Only a funny thing happened.”

You couldn’t hack civilian life,” said Lucas.

Andell nodded. “You know about it. huh?”

“Yeah. I quit once, too. But there was just no going back.It was either reenlist or go crazy.”

“Then you understand,” Andell said. “War does funny thingsto some people. I don’t know, maybe it’s that after you’ve danced on the edgeof the sword blade, you can just never go back to ordinary life. Lot of peopledo. but me. he shook his head. “I never would’ve figured it. I thought I’dnever want to go back in the military again, but civilian life just drove mearound the bend. I started drinking. Got into drugs. Got busted a few times.”

“That’s why you couldn’t reenlist,” said Delaney.

“Yeah, they don’t take convicted felons in the service. So Iwound up going merc. Ran into a corporate recruiter in Miami. Next thing Iknew, I was on a shuttle to Tokyo. They processed me, put me through detox,then clocked me out to Spain with a merc: unit they were using and we joined upwith Hannibal there.”

“So you were in on the crossing of the Alps?” said Lucas.

“That’s right. Not exactly your average day hike. But I’lltell you something … you’ll probably think I’m crazy, but I loved everyminute of it.”

“How’d you wind up with the Observers?” Andre asked.

“I re-upped after I completed my hitch for Nippon and got assignedto the T.O. Corps.”

“But what about your record?” Andre said, puzzled.

“They didn’t know I had a record.”

“I don’t understand,” said Andre, frowning.

“The Nippon Conglomerate gave him a new identity.” Delaneyexplained. “Some countries do that for mercs. It’s sort of a recruitinginducement. Do a good job for them. complete your tour without getting yourselfkilled, and they’ll give you a brand-new identity, fully documented. You get tostart off with a clean slate.”

“So Andell’s not your real name?” asked Andre.

It is now.”

“Aren’t you taking a chance on telling us all this?” sheasked.

“No, not really. Even if you turned me in, which I don’tthink you would, HQ wouldn’t really care. They’re kind of pressed for manpowerthese days. As long as my official record’s clean, they’re not going to careabout who or what I was before.”

“But they’re not going to promote you. either,” saidDelaney.

“No, that’s for sure. I’ll never make it past sergeant. Butthat’s okay. I never much liked officers, anyway.” He grinned. No offense.”

“None taken,” said Delaney. “I know exactly how you feel.”

“You’re talking to the man who actually holds the record forthe most reductions in grade in the entire Temporal Corps,” said Lucas,smiling.

“Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

“And you still made captain?” Andell shook his head. “Youmust be a real hotshot. Sir,”

“I just don’t understand it,” said Delaney. “I keep takingthe damn bars off and they keep slapping them back on

Andell grinned. They were entering the outskirts of thecity. “So, you want the orientation lecture or you just going to let theprogramming kick in?”

“No, go ahead” said Lucas. “We can always use the perspectiveof someone who’s been in the field for a while.”

“Well, like I said, the city looks better from a distance.Once you actually get in the city itself, as you’ll notice in a littlewhile, there are still a lot of truly beautiful buildings, especially the templesand the villas of some of the aristocrats, but the streets are choked with whatare essentially your basic slum tenements. This time of year. it’s not too bad,but in the summer, you wouldn’t believe the stink. They just throw theirgarbage out into the streets. Lot of people die from fever in the summer.

At this point, we’re actually entering the city,” hecontinued. “Passing through the gates of Rome has become sort of a misnomer.Rome has outgrown its walls and gates. The streets and houses are spread outwell beyond them

The citizens of the republic are so secure these days thatthey feel they have no need of protective walls. Except around the betterhouses in the city, to keep the riffraff out.”

“What road is this we’re on?” asked Lucas.

“The Via Flaminia,” said Andell. “You’ll notice that it’spaved, but it’s got two dirt roads running along on either side, like shoulders.The Roman method of building roads is to first excavate a ditch with slopingwalls, then fill it with layers of gravel, stone, and mortar. After the ditchis built up in this fashion, the top layer of stones is laid and the road iscrowned slightly so water runs off to the sides. The dirt roads running alongeither side are for the unimportant traffic, your farm carts, peasants, andslaves. The legions have the right of way over everybody else.

“The outlying areas of the city we just passed through areprimarily farms, olive orchards and vineyards, with several roadside inns alongthe way. Right now, we’re in the suburbs, which will get denser as we comecloser to the old city walls built in the 4th century B.C.

“Here comes your basic geography lesson. Rome itself isbuilt on seven hills: the Capitoline. the Palatine, the Caelian, the Esquiline.the Viminal, and the Quirinal. which ring a small valley that was probably oncea swamp. The seventh hill, the Aventine, is slightly to our south. The RiverTiber flows along the western borders of the city and beyond its opposite bankis a range of hills called the Janiculum.

“As for culture, the wars with Greece and the conquest ofSicily in the First Punic War brought Romans into contact with Greekarchitecture, which they’ve been copying ever since. The first statues in Romewere of Greek origin, brought to the city as spoils of war. Around the middleof the 2nd century B.C., the discovery of a new type of limestone calledtravertine allowed them to build larger and more solid buildings, as well astheir famous arches.”

He turned back toward Lucas. “You probably won’t recognizethe city from when you were here before. There’s been lots more constructionand they’re always building or repairing something. They use a type oflime-mortar that sets up so hard, it can easily be mistaken for modernconcrete. Over there is the first aqueduct to bring water to the city, theMarcian, constructed in 144 B.C’. And the first stone bridge across the Tiberwas built about two years later.”

“How do they build the arches?” Andre asked, consulting herprogrammed “submemory” and not coming up with an answer. ‘file missionprogramming was never totally complete. There were inevitable gaps.

“They’re constructed on wooden scaffolding frames that functionas forms on which the stones are laid and mortared,” Andell explained. “Thenwhen the mortar has set, the forms and scaffolding are taken down. Simple, buteffective. The roads and paths in the city itself were originally gravel, butthey’ve been relaid with stone and volcanic lava from the Alban Hills. The so-called‘Golden Age’ of Rome won’t really begin until the time of the Nerva and Trajan.around 96 A.D., when there’s going to be a tremendous boom in some reallyimpressive construction. However. Caesar’s already started a lot of new projects.some of which won’t be completed until the time of Augustus. He’s bought up allthe land on the north side of the Forum, which we’ll be passing shortly, andpulled down all the houses to start construction of a new square and market,which will be called the Forum Augusti when it’s completed. To the southwest,you’ll probably be able to smell it in a few minutes, is the forum boarium, thecattle market. Right next to it is the forum holitorium, the main market foroil, fruit, and vegetables. So you can get your produce in an atmospherescented with manure.”

“Is that the Forum?” asked Delaney, pointing.

“That’s it,” Andell said. “The Forum Romano, the most famouscity square in all of history. That black stone building over there is the tombof Romulus. And there’s the Sanctuary of Venus the Purifier. Across from theBasilica over there is the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the twin gods. And overthere, the Temple of Saturn. You can’t see it from here, but right next to itis the Golden Milestone, from which all miles on roads leading to Rome are measured.And there’s the Rostra, where they conduct trials and, on occasion, the Senatemeets there, as well, when it’s warm enough. Otherwise, until they build thepermanent Senate House, the Curia Julia, they usually meet in the Temple ofJupiter, which is just to the east of here. On a nice day. you can stand in theForum and hear someone like Cicero speak. lithe wind is right, you can alsosmell the fish market. So much for historical glamour.”

They passed the Forum and entered a residential area.

“A lot of the buildings are more run-down than I expected,”Andre said. “It’s a bit like towns and cities in medieval times.”

“Yeah. there’s a similarity.” said Andell. “Few Romansexcept wealthy aristocrats and merchants can afford to live in a townhouse or avilla. The majority of the city’s population lives in blocks of tenements likethis, no more than three or four stories high.”

“The streets are narrower than I expected, too,” said Andre.

“They won’t be widened until Nero’s time,” Andell replied. “Moststreets in the city, neighbors across the street from one another can reach outfrom their balconies and shake hands. When Augustus comes in, he’ll put aheight limit of seventy feet on houses because of the poor construction.Sometimes the tenements just collapse all of a sudden, so be careful when youwalk the streets. The average apartments are made up of small rooms overstreet-level shops, with shuttered windows looking out over the street or outinto an interior courtyard. Tenants can buy a room outright, so you’ve got youroriginal condos, but most people can’t afford it. so they rent. You can make agood income as a landlord. The rents in Rome are about four times higher thanin the country, anywhere from two thousand to thirty thousand sesterces. Forthat kind of money, you can buy a small house within sixty miles of Rome. Water’savailable from lead pipes coming from the aqueducts, but it’s a luxury only thewealthy can afford. They pay for it according to the size of their pipes. Mosttenants have no water pipes and they have to bring water from a public fountainor a bath. They also have to go to commercial bake and cook shops for theirfood, because most apartments don’t have kitchen facilities. So Romans tend toeat out a lot.”

“I don’t see many carts or wagons,” Lucas said.

“Just coaches and light carriages during the day.” Andellsaid. “That’s something new. By Caesar’s order, the heavy wheeled traffic isonly allowed in the city at night so nights in the city can get noisy, especiallyin the business districts. It’s like trying to get a good night’s sleep in NewYork, with sirens and shit going off all the time. Same thing. Carts and wagonsgoing by all night. drivers shouting, cracking whips, oxen bellowing … notthe best idea in the world. if you ask me, but it does cut down on trafficduring the day.”

The buildings look like a real fire hazard,” Andre said.

“That they are. Fires are real common, especially this timeof year. when people leave open braziers burning all night to keep warm. Theydon’t have anything like an organized fire department. at least they won’tuntil Augustus’ time, when he’ll form a sort of combination police and firebrigade called the Cohortes Vigilum. recruited from freedmen who’ll get fullcitizenship after six years’ service. But right now, a lot of people die infires. They usually just let the damn things burn, then knock down what’s leftand start all over. You get maps of the city in your programming?”

“Yes,” said Lucas.

“Good. You’ll need ’em. You’ll notice that there aren’t anystreet signs and the houses aren’t numbered. It can be hard to find your wayaround.”

They swung down another street. heading back toward the Tiber.”Travershas himself a villa by the river,” Andell said, “so you won’t be staying in oneof those rattraps. Being buddies with the imperator has its perks. It’sstill early, but in a few hours, things’ll really start picking up. They’reholding chariot races in the Circus today. Maybe some gladiator combat, too.Eventually, that’ll all move to the Colisseum, but it won’t be built for yearsyet. If you want to get a good feel for what’s going on, the place to go is thebaths. You can meet everyone from senators down to the tinker, the baker, andthe candlestick maker. One quadrans gets you in for the whole day, butdon’t look for soap. And most of the baths are for men only. I’m afraid,” hesaid, glancing at Andre.

“So I’ll stink,” she said.

“I don’t think you’ll have to do that,” Andell said with agrin. “Travers has a small bath at his villa. That’s a big-time status symbolthese days. Just make sure you don’t bathe yourself. Have the slaves do it,even if you don’t like the idea. It’s expected.”

“Male slaves or female slaves?” asked Andre.

Andell shrugged. “That’s up to you. I guess.”

She grinned. “This mission might not be so bad, after all.”

“How long have you been on this tour, Andell?” asked Delaney.

“About seven years now,” Andell replied.

“All in Rome?”

“First four in Rome, last three in Alexandria. We’re notliable to run into anyone who knows me or any of the others, if that’s what you’reconcerned about. Nobody pays much attention to slaves, for one thing, and we’veall kept a pretty low profile. Except for Travers, of course, but his case isdifferent. He moves in more interesting circles and he gets to live in a nicevilla, instead of the rattraps we’ve been living in.”

“But then you didn’t have to go to the Gallic Wars, either,”Andre said.

“I wouldn’t have minded that one bit. I reenlisted to be asoldier, not a damn Observer. I’m due for a transfer in another year and I’mlooking forward to it. I’m hoping I can pull a combat assignment. And I misswearing pants.”

“Watch they transfer you to Scotland,” said Delaney.

“If you spent three years in Alexandria, you know about Cleopatra,”Lucas said.

“We didn’t exactly do dinner and dancing, you know,” Andellsaid.

“L.T.O.’s are the ones who get to rub elbows with the richand famous. But I

know about her, yeah.”

“What do you think of Travers theory?”

“I don’t know. I think it’s possible. The S.O.G. might’vepulled a switch while she was in exile. And she didn’t have a great deal ofcontact with her brother. Ptolemy, after she came back. If there was any changein her, her becoming a queen could easily explain it. People in Egypt aren’texactly in the habit of questioning their monarchs. In any case. she’s in Romenow, where nobody knew her from before. If it was me and I was going to pull asubstitution. I would’ve done it while she was in exile, just before she met upwith Caesar. There’s only one thing about it I can’t understand.”

“What’s that?” asked Lucas.

“Caesar’s Egyptian guard. I mean, like that’s a real obviousanomaly. It’s a documental fact that Caesar made a point of refusing to have abodyguard around him at this time. It stands to reason that the S.O.G. wouldfigure we’d have Observers back here and that’s like running up a flag. Again.if it was me. I wouldn’t give my play away like that. That thought’s occurredto Travers, too. It really bothers him. He just can’t figure it.”

“Unless, in their universe. Caesar did have a bodyguard.”said Delaney.

“You think so?”

“It’s possible. We know their history is different from oursin some respects. That’s why the confluence phenomenon is so dangerous. Theyinfiltrated Archives Section and managed to learn a lot about our historythrough other means. but their knowledge could be spotty.”

“Maybe,” Andell agreed. “But Rome is a reasonablywell-documented period. They could have infiltrated agents into any futuretemporal scenario and picked up the works of Suetonius or Plutarch or Tacitusor any number of the more modern classical historians. It would be standardmission preparation and not that hard to do. Stands to reason, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, it does,” said Lucas, frowning. “It doesn’t seem tomake sense.”

“Not unless they figure there’s nothing we can do about it,”Andell said. “And there really isn’t, when it comes to that. I mean, what areyou going to do, walk up to Caesar and say. ‘Excuse me, you know you’re notsupposed to have a bodyguard? Better get rid of them or you might not getkilled?’ Now that they’re there. the only ones who can get rid of them areCaesar and Cleopatra.”

“It could also be a way of drawing attention to what they’redoing.” said Delaney.

“Why would they want to do that?”

“To smoke us out,” Delaney said.

Andell nodded. “That’s an idea. If you try to do anythingabout the Egyptians, you’re liable to give yourself away. And if you don’t doanything about them and they’re still with Caesar on the Ides of March, theconspirators may not have a chance to kill him. What happens then?”

“Then we may have to kill him.” Lucas said. “Even if itmeans getting killed ourselves.”

They drove the rest of the way to Travers’ villa in silence.

People had started arriving at the Circus Maximus beforedawn, so the tiered stands were almost completely filled by the time Steigerand Marshall arrived. However, unlike the plebeians. their places were assured.They sat in the front rows, which were reserved for senators, aristocrats, andVestal Virgins. Steiger decided that he didn’t quite fit into any of thosecategories.

The sight of the Circus itself was awe-inspiring. Shapedlike a long rectangle rounded off at one end in a semicircle, the CircusMaximus was six hundred yards long and two hundred yards wide, built to hold aquarter of a million spectators. Caesar had rebuilt it. making it even granderthan it was before. He had surrounded the arena with a moat, the better toseparate the animals from the spectators during shows that involved wildbeasts. Marshall explained that Pompey had used an iron fence, but the bars hadbuckled under the weight of elephants that had been pitted against some haplessprisoners and the spectators had been somewhat upset when the pachydermsdecided that they wanted out.

The spina. the built-up “spine” dividing the center of thearena between the turning posts (three on each end). had been adorned with giltbronze statues of the gods looking down upon the games. It also held the septemova, seven large wooden eggs that were moved to count the laps. Later,during the time of Augustus, seven bronze dolphins would be added to the eggsas lap counters. The triple-tiered stands facing each other across the arenawere monstrous. The lowest tiers were made of marble, the second tiers hadseats of wood, and the third offered standing room only. They were completelypacked and the crowd was still streaming in.

Outside, beggars, wine merchants, pastry cooks, astrologers,and prostitutes vied for the attention of the crowd. The courts had all beenclosed. Marshall explained that no business would be transacted in the citywhile the games were on. Indeed, it seemed to Steiger as if all of Rome hadpacked itself into the Circus. The spectators were a sea of white togas. Asthey approached their seats. Marshall pointed out a handsome. dark-haired manwith a high forehead, an aquiline nose, and a full beard.

“That’s Antony.” said Marshall.

“What’s with the sword?” asked Steiger.

“Antony always wears his sword whenever he appears in public,”Marshall replied. “It’s part of the image. His family claims to be descendedfrom Hercules. by his son. Anton. and Antony likes to play the part to thehilt. The big macho warrior. Come on, I’ll introduce you.”

“Ah. Martian!” Antony said boisterously as they approached. “Come!Sit with us! Who is your friend?”

“Greetings. Marc Antony.” said Marshall. “Allow me topresent Creon Sabinus, who has come to visit me from Ilerda. I’ve bought manyfine strings of horses from him over the years.”

“Indeed?” said Antony, turning to Steiger with interest. “Andwhat brings you to Rome from the provinces, Sabinus?”

“A little business and a little pleasure,” Steiger replied. “Marcianhas decided that I’ve been charging him too dearly for the horses that he buysfrom me. so he proposes to purchase my entire farm, so that he can sell themmore cheaply to himself.”

That sounds like our Marcian.” Antony laughed. “Alwayscounting his fortune and finding it wanting. Take care that you do not sell yourfarm to him too cheaply, Sabinus.”

“He needs no advice from you. Antony,” groused Marshall. “Theprice that he has named amounts to a king’s ransom.”

“Come now, Marcian. it is a fair price and you know it.”Steiger protested.

“Fair? You’ve been cheating me for years. you scoundrel. Asyou have doubtless cheated others.” He turned to Antony. “He knows that if Ibuy his farm. I must retain him on a salary as breeder, so it is all to hisadvantage. He has, I’m afraid, less need for my money than I have for his horses.I’ve brought him to the races in the hope that I can induce him to lose some ofit. Perhaps then he will become more reasonable.”

“What, you plan to bet against him?” Antony asked,surprised. “Marcian, I have never seen you wager so much as a denarius!”

“No, not I,” said Marshall. “I have already lost enoughmoney to this brigand through our business dealings. I will not risk losingmore. However. knowing you to be a shrewd judge of horseflesh and charioteers,I thought perhaps you would be good enough to fleece him for me. I wouldappreciate it if you would take as much of his money as possible. he’s beenmost insufferable.”

Antony threw back his head and laughed. “Did you hear myfriends? Marcian brings me a sacrifice of a provincial!”

They all laughed.

Steiger stiffened, as if with affront.

“No, no, do not look so, Sabinus,” said Flaminus, clappinghim on the shoulder. “I assure you, Antony meant it merely as a joke.”

“Yes, doubtless we provincials, being so backward and naive,provide you Romans with much amusement.” Steiger said.

“Come now, Sabinus. I meant no offense,” Antony said placatingly.“And to prove it, and as much to please my good friend. Marcian. I will offeryou a small. friendly wager, if you like. Not so much as you can’t afford tolose.”

“Indeed? And what makes you think that I will lose?” askedSteiger.

“Oho!” said Antony. “You hear Trebonius? It seems that wehave pricked his pride!”

“Have a care. Antony.” Trebonius said in mock warning. “Heis a breeder and must know his horses well.”

“Perhaps. but does he know his charioteers?” asked Antony. “Ittakes more than a good team to win a race.”

“That is true enough,” said Steiger. “But I have had an opportunityto watch them exercise and have formed a few opinions as to the skill of thevarious drivers. Perhaps they are not as educated as your own, Marc Antony. butI have observed enough to guide my wager.”

“Very well, then.” Antony said with a grin. “We shall see.Shall we make a wager on the first race?”

“If you like.”

“How much would you care to risk?”

“I do not know what is customary,” said Steiger. “Would tenthousand sesterces be appropriate?”

“Ten thousand sesterces!” Trebonius said.

“See here, Sabinus.” said Antony condescendingly, “pride canbe a costly thing. Despite what Marcian said. and I am certain he was onlyjoking. I have no wish to see you lose so much.”

“It is a sum that I could easily stand to lose,” saidSteiger. “However, if you could not. I would certainly understand.”

Antony raised his eyebrows. “I could stand to lose a greatdeal more than that. my friend,” he said with a smile. “Very well. then. Tenthousand it is.”

The sound of trumpets rang out through the arena and thecrowd cheered as the presiding consul entered in his chariot, followed by hislictors and attendants. After them in the procession came the legionaries andthe cavalry, followed by the teams of chariots. The drivers were all attired incolored tunics that denoted their teams. They had the reins wrapped aroundtheir chests, leaving one hand free to manipulate them and the other to use thewhip. Driving a chariot took great strength and dexterity, as well as skill.and by wrapping the reins around their chests, the charioteers were able to addtheir full body weight to the task. a, well as using it to balance the lightchariots. It made the driving very dangerous. because in the event of a spill.the charioteer had to draw a sharp dagger and quickly cut the reins, otherwisehe would be dragged along behind his horses. Even if he could cut himself loosein time, there was, still the danger of being trampled or crushed by the wheelsof the following chariots.

After the chariots came the singers. followed by the priestsand the incense-hearers. ‘Then came the images of the gods carried on biers.The crowd cheered and applauded as they made their circuit of the arena to thepounding of the drums and the blaring of the trumpets, then the cheering grewstill louder as the Emperor appeared in his box, just a short distance fromwhere Steiger and Marshall sat with Antony and his friends.

Steiger turned to look at Julius Caesar. He stood in theimperial box, wearing a laurel wreath and a purple-trimmed toga with fringes onthe sleeves, holding his arms out to the crowd.

“Is that your first sight of the Emperor?” asked Trebonius,raising his voice to he heard over the cheering of the crowd around them.

“Yes.” Steiger replied. “I must admit, he looks differentthan I had expected. More like a philosopher than a conquering general.”

“Do not be deceived by his appearance,” Antony said. “He isthe finest general that Rome has ever seen. And I am proud to have served withhim in the campaigns.

“A singular honor,” Steiger said.

Antony smiled. “Perhaps later, I will introduce you to him.To ease the pain of your loss.”

“It would indeed be a great privilege to meet the Emperor.”said Steiger. “But I have not lost yet.”

Antony grinned. “We shall see. That first rank of chariotswill compete in the first race. And the second rank will race after them, andso forth. As a breeder of fine horses, which team do you fancy?”

Steiger considered the teams as they rode by intheprocession. “Of the first rank, I think I like the greens,” he said. “The browntrigae.”

He pointed to the team of three dark brown horses drawing alight chariot driven by a man in a green tunic.

“A good choice,” said Antony, nodding. “You do knowyour horses. But I think the whites will take the first race.”

“Perhaps,” said Steiger. “However, I will stand by mychoice.”

“And be the poorer for it,” Antony replied with a grin. “Butwho knows, fortune may smile upon you.”

After the procession completed its circuit of the track, thechariots for the first race lined up at the far end of the arena. The horseswere restive. pawing at the ground. The charioteers held them back, easing theminto position. The presiding consul gave the signal for the trumpets to sound.He stood above the chariots, dressed in a scarlet tunic, an embroidered toga,and a heavy gold wreath. In one hand, he held out a white cloth. In his otherhand, he held aloft an ivory baton with a bronze eagle on it. the symbol of hisoffice.

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

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

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 thequadrigae. 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.

“A good move on his part.” Antony conceded. “But he wasmerely fortunate. Clocillus still holds a commanding lead.”

Going into the second lap. Cassinus was running third, butClocillus and one of the chariots driving for the greens were still well aheadof him. They maintained that distance for another lap, but as they swung aroundfor 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 theblues running just behind them. Clocillus was still in a comfortable lead. Onthe fifth lap, as they went around the post. the green team that was closing inon Cassinus took the turn too wide and Cassinus’ teammate cut sharply to theinside, getting ahead of the greens and cutting them off as they went down thestraightaway. Cassinus continued to close the distance between himself and thetwo leaders, while the green team that was just behind him couldn’t get aroundthe blue team that had passed it. They maintained that position going into thesixth lap when the team that was running second tried to cut in on the insideof Clocillus and ran out of room. The chariot overturned and they could see thedriver sawing frantically at the reins as the horses dragged him along behindthem. He managed to cut himself free just as they reached the outside of theturn and he rolled safely out of harm’s way. Cassinus was now running second.

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

“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 andshaking their fists. Clocillus started to close, but they crossed the finishline with Cassinus barely a nose ahead of him. The crowd went wild. “Well, deductingmy earlier losses to you,” Steiger said to Antony, “that makes fifty thousandsesterces that you owe me. Plus the thirty thousand from Trebonius, and twentyfrom Flaminus, that brings my winnings to a total of one hundred thousandsesterces. I have both made good my losses and turned a tidy profit.’ Hegrinned at Antony. “It seems that I am not exactly ruined.”

I cannot believe it!” said Trebonius. “Clocillus neverloses!”

“And I was tempted to wager thirty thousand, but I did notwish to take advantage of a reckless provincial,” Flaminus said, shaking hishead.

Your charity has saved you ten thousand sesterces,” Steigersaid.

“Now I’ll be forced to meet his price,” said Marshallgloomily. “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 congratulateyou.’

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

“What, with our own money?” Antony said. He chuckled andclapped Steiger on the back. “Very well. then. I accept.”

“Wait till Caesar hears that you have lost more in one daythan you have won in the entire year!” said Trebonius.

“I expect he will be much amused,” said Antony wryly. “Andhe will doubtless wish to meet the man who humbled me. Come, Sabinus. Would youlike to meet the Emperor?”