“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.’