Farmer and Soldier

           Attheheightofitspower,thegreatRomanEmpirestretchedfromthedesertsofAfricatothebordersofnorthernEngland.Overonequarteroftheworld’spopulationlivedanddiedundertheruleoftheCaesars.

           InthewinterofA.D.180,EmperorMarcusAurelius’stwelve-yearwaragainstthepeopleofGermaniawascomingtoanend.Therewasonelastbattletowin.ThentherewouldbepeaceacrosstheRomanEmpire.

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           Themanwalkedthroughthesun-warmedSpanishfield,hishandtouchingthewheat.Helookedpastappletreestoafarmhouse.Heheardachildlaughingsomewherenear.Abirdflewontothebranchofatreeclosetohimandtheylookedateachother.Themansmiled.

           Suddenly,thesoundofshoutsandhorsesfrightenedthebirdanditflewupintotheair.Thenoisebrokethroughtheman’sdaydreamandhecamebacktotherealworldwithacrash.Hewasnotdressedinfarmer’sclothes,ashehadimagined,butintheproudarmoroftheRomanarmy.Thefieldwasburntandmuddyfrombattle,withoutagreenleafonit.

           Beyondthetreelineahead,somewhereintheforest,theGermanarmieswerepreparingtoattackagain.Themanknewthatbehindhimanenormousarmywaited.TheRomanarmy,40,000men,hisarmy.MaximusthefarmerwasMaximustheCommandingGeneraloftheArmyoftheNorthforonemorebattle.Onelastbattle,andthenhecouldgohometoSpain.

           Heturnedhishorseandrodebacktohismen.Thirty-year-oldMaximuswasagreatgeneral-amantheycouldtrust.Hemovedamongthem,checkingthattheywerereadyforbattle.