Determination

CLOUD 8

 

The clouds are roiling, scudding today, moving fast across the sunny sky. An audience of fifty thousand Romans is protected by a canopy at the Circus Maximus. Their eyes are on the huge arena. Ben Hur lashes at his team of horses, urges them to reach the finish line of this race before the sun sets. Sweat pours from his mighty muscles as he nears the end. There are but two turns left to conquer.

 

As he gets closer, a chariot wheel hits an unseen rock, shakes and leans left. The crowd roars. Hur gathers his strength and wits, tightens his muscles until the leather digs into his arms. He braces himself, leans right and the chariot balances, flies forward. The shouting from the stands is deafening.

 

The last turn is yet to be made. Silence from the crowd. All eyes are on Ben Hur and his nearest rival, his young son, Ishmael. A quick turn of Ben's head and any concern he might have had that his son would out ride him, disappears. He will leave the Maximus still undefeated.

 

Shouts, flowers fly from the stands as the crowd quickly uses the two hundred exits, stop for sips of cold water in the fountains. Many go down more stairs, to the belly of the Maximus to watch gladiators, their bodies nearly nude, fight for their lives against wild lions.  When at last there are no gladiators left, the lions are coaxed elsewhere, fed, watered and left for the next day of action.

 

Ben is content. His honor is retained. He looks at the sky and silently thanks all the gods that be for pitting such poor racers against him. He knew from the first draw of names that he would be victorious, yet the closeness of defeat hung on. 'More care, Ben Hur, or you will no longer find Cloud Nine waiting for you some day.'

 

Ishmael, sweaty, worn out, offers his congratulatory hand to his father. 'Father,  I saw you look around to see how far behind you I was. That was foolish.' Ben Hur, the finest of all charioteers, replies, 'Son, you will not out-do me, nor shall any one. I will stop racing when I know my time is coming and be ready to live forever on my reserved place in the heavens, Cloud Nine.' 'Then, Father, have no fear. I know I shall never -0ut-do you but....when you get to your cloud, then you may look behind you and you will see me, saluting you from my spot on Cloud Eight.'