They decided to walk even if that was an adventure. Up to Via Nova they must walk through that "itinera" and "acte" filled with merchants showing the goods in the open street making the traffic almost impossible. Not saying a word about the risk of falling something right in the head, from one of the "insulae" superior floor.
That was exactly what it happened. They didn't walk a mile on the street, when the noise made his appearance. They had just the time to strafe sideway and the dirty water splashed in the ground.
-You assholes barbarians! Roared Spurius looking up the top of the buildings where the light struggled his way out.
At the end the street was blocked. Some slaves are straining themselves to unload from a chariot a piece of marble from Liguria.
At last the "Capitolium" was straight into their faces. Spurius took a peek in left to the Jupiter Temple and hurry up, like he was defending by the lightings that could came from there to punish him for the two nights ago penalty, when he cheated his wife with the new Postumus' female slave. Even now he could feel her young and hot body in his arms. He felt a worm tickling feeling down into his guts and he said with a nervous voice:
-Came on now! We'll find bad looking places like the last time.
The leander aroma from the Palatine rolls down on the street. Spurius looked in his right to the Marcellus' Theatre and the gardens surrounding it. They walked on their left side near the wooden palisade of the arena, and went straight ahead to the entrance, where flock after flock, the crowd disappeared in the
Circus Maximus.
This year the aediles wasn't cheep.
In the right side chariots filled with amphoras awaited to be unloaded. Near them top naked slaves were looking insolently the passers by.

-Right, Left, Right...... a Praetorian shouted in a hoarse way, accompanied by two young soldiers with a sturdy breath to look more dangerous that they were in fact. The crowds almost step on one another, and Spurius was pushed over one of the soldiers. This one pushed him back.
-On the Cerberus Scrotum.... Spurius wanted to curse, but he stoped instantly when he saw the praetorian scowling look.
In the stands they turned in the right side.
-I told you to hurry up, said Spurius to Laetitia. It's late and the stands are already full, he said in a low profile voice only for himself.
He made room and at one moment he stopped checked out the arena, and said:
-We'll stay here. It's a good view. Reserve a seat for Postumus, too. He said he'll come.
He looked around and wonder himself of such numerous people were present in the arena.
Great is the garden of the Gods and loved is Rome by Those, if they permitted to gather all the people here from all the corners of the world. Young men and girls accompanied by the slaves, pedlars with delicious goods, patricians and plebeians, were moving around in this huge forward-backward.
The arena was filling, the crowd becoming impatient and starting to hit the wooden floor with their feet. As usually the magistrates were late. At last the trumpets sounded the appearance of the senators and magistrates, in the flowered stand.
The crowds acclaimed them same time with cursing.
Up a small "roestra" a dumpy guy was trying to settle the silence waving his hands desperately.
-People of Rome! People of Rome! In the eleventh day of the Ludi the honorable aediles offer you athletic games. Fearless boxers from Africa and Greece will perform into the arena to prove their skills and defend their life.
In that moment Postumus arrived accompanied by his new and beautiful Niobe, the female slave. Postumus set down near Laetitia, and Niobe a little bit lower with the slaves.
Spurius couldn't help not looking to the Niobe's gorgeous naked shoulders. A strange emotion covered him. His feelings for Niobe took control over him and he almost couldn't hear the arena introduction:
-From the far Africa…undefeated in the ring ...Negrus ... Jugurta the powerful ... victorious ... both ...
-From Greece, the Mother of the athletics games ... the fearless Ambrocio ... Iphides ... sarmatian mines ... trained at ...
And the crowd was cheering and shouting and Spurius in the same time was also shouting, but his eyes were looking only at Niobe. He took a fast look at the boxers and frightened himself watching their scars. Their faces and bodies carried on the iron "cesti" marks.
Their faces were chopped, their noses smashed, and their ears were torn away.
-First match! Negrus vs. Ambrocio! Spurius heard like in a dream the voice of the announcer.
The fight begins.
The hits are flowing all around in the ring. The boxers were shacked but still standing while their blood was pouring on their bodies.
The sound of the crowd is present with every hit, and the stands are vibrating in the same rhythm with the quick foot steps of the fighters. With a hit very well aimed the African send Ambrocio down.
This one's blood starts to spring from his mouth and ears.
The crowd is delirious, and Negrus raises his arms above his head as a sign of victory.
Spurius looks with his eyebrows crossed. His wish was the winning of the Greek.
The young "curatores aranei" cleans up the sand in the ring. The crowd became heavily silent.
Postumus was whispering something in the Laetitia's ear and this one was laughing........... Hmm! Too intimate! … Spurius says for himself and only in his mind.
In the ring was introduced a tall brawny African. His hands hanged heavily near the body because of the gloves full of iron.
Behind him appeared a small Greek. This one was welcomed with curses.
The fight begins.
The two fighters are rolling around each other like two predators. The hits start and stop in the blocks. Iphides the Greek is moving very fast. In a short time Jugurtha start to hit the air. The crowd laughs, but this is the sign that the people change the preferences in accordance with the situation.
Slowly the Greek turned the fight in a circus. He only rolls around the African without hitting. In short time Jugurtha feels dizzy. A throng of hits falls over him. The lead from the Iphides' gloves bites the flesh. Jugurtha falls on his knees. Iphides read the approval in the audience's eyes and with a short but strong hit sends Jugurtha down on the ground. For a moment it was silence, but instantly the crowd is begining to shout. Iphides is the hero of the day.
Postumus bought from a merchant some cakes with honey and offered a few to Spurius and Laetitia. Spurius bought another one and offered it to Niobe. Laetitia looked at him disapproving his move.
The ring is now clean for the final fight.
Spurius was already thinking about his "prandium" and the hours that he'll be spending at the thermae.
-Postumus should we play a game today at the thermae?
-Of course. How much is the bet?
-Ten sesterces, tries Spurius to be generous ... And ten on Iphides ... say again without thinking, and in the next moment he shows his regrets about his words.
-I'm in! ... A voice from behind said.
The fight starts with nothing spectacular.
The fighters are moving heavily. They look tired, or this can be a part of their tactics.
-You'll have a lot of customers at the Tavern after the games, Postumus said to Spurius, from behind Laetitia.
Suddenly the fighters became aggressive. Iphides receive a powerful hit. Spurius shakes like he's the one who get it. Iphides shakes dizzy too. Both fighters throw themselves to
one another with their fists ahead. Iphide strafes quickly and push Negrus who falls in the ring. Negrus tries to get up and turn himself not knowing that Iphides' fist is already in his way for a hit.
The hit was heavy and very bad right in the Negrus' head. It's effect was disastrous. Negrus spits his teeth and falls down terminated. Iphides is the winner.
Suddenly Spurius wanted to embrace Niobe. He almost did but he stopped right in time.
Frightened he grabs a piece of linen and wipes his forehead. Excited he drops the piece of linen down. He bows to take it and he remains hard as a rock. He sees how the Postumus ` hand hold the Laetitia's one. Like he received a hit in the head from Iphides the winner, Spurius falls down and faints.
From his temple from Capitolium, Jupiter is smiling enigmatically.