Гладиатор
One More Duty
"Whatdoyoubelieve,Maximus?"
"Thattheyfoughtforyou-andforRome,"hereplied.
"AndwhatisRome,Maximus?Tellme."
"I’veseentoomuchoftherestoftheworldandIknowit’scruelanddark.IhavetobelievethatRomeisthelight."
"Butyouhaveneverbeenthere,"saidMarcus."YouhavenotseenRomeasitisnow."
MaximushadheardstoriesaboutRome.Peopleinthecitieswerehungryandfoodpricesweremuchtoohigh.SomeRomanshadbecomeveryrich,butmostwerepoor.Bridges,roads,andportsallneededrepairs,whiletaxmoneywentintothepocketsoftherich.Thereweremanythingswrongattheheartoftheenormousempire.
"Iamdying,Maximus.AndIwanttoseethattherehasbeensomepurposetomylife."Marcussatdownagain."It’sstrange.Ithinkmoreaboutthefuturethanthepresent.Howwilltheworldspeakmynameinfutureyears?"HeheldouthishandtoMaximus,whotookitandcametositnexttoMarcus.
"Youhaveason,"saidtheEmperor."Youmustlovehimverymuch.Tellmeaboutyourhome"
"ThehouseisinthehillsaboveTrujillo,"Maximusbegan."It’sasimpleplace,pinkstonesthatwarminthesun.There’sawall,agate,andasmallfieldofvegetables."Maximuslookedupandsawthattheoldmanhadclosedhiseyesashelistened.Hewassmiling."Throughthegateareappletrees.Theearthisblack,Marcus.Asblackasmywife’shair.Andwegrowfruitandvegetables.Therearewildhorsesnearthehouse-mysonlovesthem."
