THE ROME HERALD CHARIOT RACE MARTIUS 4th YEAR Once more, the Circus Maximus dressed its best suit to host the yearly chariot race, the most famous and wild race seen in any other stadium. This year the enjoy was complete. Rome is in peace everywhere, the populace is happier than ever and the most dangerous duty for our legions is sailing to Asia to fetch the tribute and accept the submission from another province. Not even the last oracle read by out Pontifex Maximus which delivered some Evil Omens may obscure the bliss of Rome. What Evil Omens!? What can go wrong in the most powerful city of the world? Are you sure Laenas of what you read? Sure the bird stomach was dirty, or it was you under the effects of wine? All right, this is the sports page and not the political editorial, neither the religious one. Our readers want to know about the race, so let us go for it. As you all know, from the riders of the last year, we miss poor Travix who died in the race. We also know that all the slaves of Rome broadcasted that Demetrius of Massalia, the rider who "unwillingly" brougth him the death, would be crucified with a single nail fixing both hands and feet if he would ever dare to return Rome from his exile in Sicily. So, the Italica faction has decided to support a new man and save Demetrius from the hate of the slaves. It is not time to produce a muttiny now that Rome is in full peace. So, our heroes are now: Strathus Horen - winning champion of last and previous year's race - wearing white and supported by the Xerin faction Hippomenes of Acragas & his team of black Spanish mares - Yeah, Demetrius has lended him his set of horses. ( wearing black and supported by the Italica faction Iolus of Macedonia & his team of Asian horses, - wearing blue and supported by the Spoon faction Vergon Aslonix of Britain using a war chariot, wearing red and supported by the Medullina faction. Fully recovered from his accident last year, he is ready to show the force of his chariot. Proxenos of Syracuse - wearing yellow, and supported by the greek group of philosphers. Also fully recoverd, except for a nasty scar in his face and a hole in his left eye, he has promised to tear appart the philosophy and use other "diplomatical" weapons more practical like whip, a morning star, and a greek chariot (yeah, the one of Massala in Ben-Hur). Finally, Watiza of Lower Germany - wearing pumpkin orange. Wild, dirty, strong and fierceful. He is just a barbarian who, unable to defeat roman legions has promised to humiliate Rome in the Circus. No need to say that his head is under prize from all roman citizens, regardless of his victory or not, but again, the slaves seem to suit with him. The race was scheduled to 9 laps. What a start!!! Watiza, unaware of all rules, starts before the arrow of the judge flew, put his chariot in front of the heroes supported by the roman nobels and fired three arrows to them. Strathus and Hippomenes avoided them, but Iolus was not so lucky, and the arrow crossed his neck side to side. Another arrow was delivered to the judge who tried to sack Watiza for his attitude. We will need another judge to rule the end of the race as this one will not see the end. Vergon and Proxenus, free from Watiza's fury, managed to race a little although no more than the barbarian. Positions (higher better) Strathus: 3 Hippomenes: 3 Iolus: 1 arrowed before starting Vergon: 7 Proxenos: 7 Watiza: 8 In the second lap the battle was not in the sand, but among the public. Some slaves arguing in favour of his hero's attitude, started a fight with some citizens, specially from the Spoon faction blaming it. In the arena, Watiza delayed his speed as he needed to move away from all stones, knives and arrows thrown to him by part of the public. Even the projectiles were only directed to him, all other riders also needed to hold their speed. This was a slow lap and Watiza took the worst of it with some wounds. The judges were looking otherside while Watiza suffered such punishment. Strathus: 3 + 5 = 8 Hippomenes: 3 + 4 = 7 Vergon: 7 + 4 = 11 Proxenos: 7 + 3 = 10 Watiza: 8 + 2 = 10 In the third lap, the public dediced that they were there to enjoy the race and not to perform a gladiator gala. So the rain stopped and the riders could run a little. It seemed that Vergon and Proxenos had the best pace, or maybe it was that Strathus and Hippomenes prefered to be on Watiza's back than having their own back guarded by such dangerous man. Strathus: 8 + 3 = 11 Hippomenes: 7 + 6 = 13 Vergon: 11 + 10 = 21 Proxenos: 10 + 10 = 20 Watiza: 10 + 6 = 16 Yes, it really seems so. Strathus and Hippomenes get closer to Watiza, but without advancing him. They seem more interested in killing Watiza than in winning the race. Vergon is getting some advantatge. Strathus: 11 + 8 = 19 Hippomenes: 13 + 7 = 20 Vergon: 21 + 6 = 27 Proxenos: 20 + 4 = 24 Watiza: 16 + 6 = 22 Proved!!. Strahus and Hippomenes have caught Watiza, one on the left and another on the right and have used their whips in a simultaneous movement which has tied Watiza's neck and forced him to abandone his chariot. Both heroes have then tied the whips to their own chariots, thus carrying Watiza through the sand. Even this may delay them a little, it is sure it will not be very wealthy for the barbarian. Strathus: 19 + 3 = 22 Hippomenes: 20 + 4 = 24 Vergon: 27 + 10 = 37 Proxenos: 24 + 8 = 32 Watiza: 22 + 1 killed Strathus and Hippomenes have completed a lap with Watiza's body tied to their chariots with the understable delight of the citizens of Rome and the furious blame of the slaves. The judges are also deligthed to see how the rule-breakers suffer from direct penalties and discuss about the possibility of gifting a lap to both heroes. Three centuries of legionaries have already scattered around the slaves and warned them about the consequences of a bad behaviour from now on. Strathus: 22 + 7 = 29 Hippomenes: 24 + 6 = 30 Vergon: 37 + 8 = 45 Proxenos: 32 + 3 = 35 Second lap of Watiza "cleaning" the ground of the Colisseum of sand, but dirtying it with bllood, hairs, two fingers and one foot. Strathus and Hippomenes are declared demi-goods by roman citizens who cheer their names and ask "one more lap, one more lap ...". On his own, Vergon realises that no one cares about his leadership in the race, and Proxenos sees a chance to get closer to him. Strathus: 29 + 7 = 36 Hippomenes: 30 + 6 = 36 Vergon: 45 + 5 = 50 Proxenos: 35 + 10 = 45 Strathus has decided that he is not there just to be a rule defender but to win the race and forces the speed. As Hippomenes is not following him, the consequences are nasty for Watiza's body, which is pieced all along the sand. In the head of the race, Proxenos decides it is already time to show the possibilities of his greek chariot and joins sides with Vergon. Right wheel of Vergon suffers the effects of the blades of Proxenes and becomes spokeless. Vergon is teared appart by his own horses, and even he "tries" to follow them by his own feet, he finally ends in the sand, badly damaged although sane enough to avoid the chariots from killing him. However, this maneuver has delayed a lot to Proxenus who sees as Strathus gets very close to him. Strathus: 36 + 10 = 46 Hippomenes: 36 + 3 = 39 Vergon: 50 + 1 = crashed Proxenos: 45 + 2 = 47 We arrive to the last lap, and Strathus forces his horses to the last breath. Proxenos tries desesperately to mantain his advantatge but in the last meter, in an end who would need of post modern systems of judging (photo-finish), Strathus manages to put a horse head in advance of Proxenus!! What an end!! Once more Strathus has won, by third consecutive time!!! Strathus: 46 + 7 = 53 Hippomenes: 39 + 3 = 42 Proxenos: 47 + 5 = 52 The Colisseum cheers Strathus name. Not only he has killed the perfidous barbarian (with Hippomenes help) but he has also won the race. If Strathus is in the race, nothing is decided until the last lap! Strathus is carried on shoulders all along the sand. Also Hippomenes, still with Watiza's head tied to his chariot is also cheered. Nobody remembers Proxenos whose second place will not enter in history books. Anyway, he decides that now it is time for philosophy again and he uses it to distract himself. The slaves are not happy, but the legionares all around them make them more peaceful. The comments whispered from mouth to ear keep them calm: "One lord bastard less", "There are more slave friends than lord friends", "Next year, two will fall". In the infirmary we only meet poor Vergon. It is the second time we meet him there, and the doctors promise him a discount if he goes back again. Vergon smiles without any pleasure and swears that a new joke like that and he will train the Strathus-Hippomenes trick with them. Papirius Scriberius (not the senator, but the journalist) -- ************************************************************************** Joan C. Artes Associate Professor of Applied Mathematics Dept. of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona 08193 Cerdanyola, Barcelona, Catalunya, SPAIN Phone: 34-93.581.15.05 FAX: 34-93.581.27.90 GSM: 34-907.21.09.47 E-mail: artes@manwe.mat.uab.es (artes@mat.uab.es) WEB: http://mat.uab.es/artes/artes.htm **************************************************************************