I CANNOT SEE IT.
THE OPTICKS OF MY TIME ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
BUT THE MATHEMATICS ARE INESCAPABLE.
IT IS COMING.
IT WILL BE UP TO THE WISE AND NOBLE MEN OF FUTURE
GENERATIONS WITH OPTICKS OF A MORE ADVANCED NATURE
THAN MINE TO FIND IT IN THE NIGHT SKY AND INITIATE THE
RETURN CALL.
OR ELSE ALL IS LOST.

SIR ISAAC NEWTON
THE CHRONOLOGY OF ANCIENT KINGDOMS

IT’S NOT THE SIZE OF THE DOG IN THE FIGHT, IT’S THE SIZE OF
THE FIGHT IN THE DOG.

MARK TWAIN

THE ENTRY INTO HELL

And there along the shattered chasm’s edge
We found the infamy of Crete stretched out –
The beast conceived inside the wooden cow.
And seeing us, the creature bit himself
As though tormented by an inward rage . . .

That is the way the Minotaur behaved.
My wary guide called out: ‘Run down towards
The crossing: best descend while he is mad.’

DANTE’S INFERNO,
TRANSLATED BY SEAN O’BRIEN
(PICADOR, LONDON, 2006)

NAME: WEST, JONATHAN JAMES
AGE: 46
RANK TO WIN: ABOVE 10TH
REPRESENTING: LAND

PROFILE:

Captive participant.

A late inclusion to these Games, Jonathan (Jack) West Jr is a wildcard not to be dismissed lightly. He is, after all, the fifth greatest warrior of ancient prophecy. That said, that prophecy has no relevance here.

Ranked above 10th out of 16 to win the Games.

FROM HIS PATRON:
No supporting comment was issued by this champion’s patron.