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Book 1, Chapter Five: Spear-won Land, Pages 99 and 100

So they make a gap between themselves,
a space wide enough for Alexander to squeeze through –
of course our hero charges head first
at the opening, an opportunity.
But here, our Hephaestion sees first
the trap laid out ahead:
Nicolaos to his right, the conspirator to his left,
inching ever closer,
too close!
“Alexander!” Hephaestion yells. “Wait! Aah!!”

In a panic-fueled flash of quick-thinking,
Hephaestion chucks and lets go his whip at Nicolaos’ conspirator
where it is caught by chariot wheels.
This sudden meeting of wheel and whip
skids the competing chariot off the track backwards straight
at another athlete.

BOOM!
The impact sends wood, iron and flesh flying helter-skelter,
raining on the remaining two chariots.

“Oh shit oh shit oh shit,” shrieks Hephaestion,
as they flee the debris.