The soft whir of the fan now sounds like the roar of the engine of a truck, as all 14 spring to life. These are designed to inspire the men as they row on the ergs, as were the colored pennants. However, the men look nowhere but the tiny screens in front of them, telling them how fast they are going, how hard they are pulling, how much further they have to go. Bancheri yells again to his crew, louder and more impatiently. The men pull harder, their faces grim in intensity, their muscles taut.
Sweat begins to bead on their foreheads, eventually running into their eyes.
They blink the sweat away and continue the workout, their focus unyielding. They get a quick drink of water and must now resume their training. Bancheri watches his crew intently. He thinks of their competition, their equipment, and the days when training on the river can once again resume. His reverie is broken by the shouts of one of the rowers.