Гладиатор
A Prisoner Again
Somethingwasnotright,andshesuddenlyfeltanxious.
Theboycontinuedtorunalongtheroad.Soonsoldiersappearedoverthehill.ButtheywerenottheRomansoldiersheexpectedtosee.Hesloweddown,thenstopped,confused.Twentyroyalguardswereridingdowntheroad,andhisfatherwasnotamongthem.Hesearchedtheirfacesagain,lookingforhisfather,hoping.
Behindhimhismotherstartedshoutingouthisname.Thehorsessuddenlycamefaster,ridingoverthesmallboyandcrashinghimintothedirtoftheroad.Thentheyrodestraighttowardhisscreamingmother.
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Atthehillsturnedpinkandgoldwiththesunset,ariderracedforhislifekillingthehorseunderhim.Hisshoulderwasbleedingbadly.Hecametothetopofalong,lowhillandstopped.Therewasalineofthick,blacksmokeinthedistanceandhetriedtoseewhereitwascomingfrom.Withacryofpainheforcedthehorseforward,racingdownthefarsideofthehill.Wouldhearriveintime?
Maximus’sworstdreamdidnotequalthesightinfrontofhim.Hisfamilyhomeandfarmwereburning,completelydestroyed.Thewheatandtheappletreeswereburntblack,andsmokestillcurvedupwardfromthelaststonesofhishouse.Twopinkstonechimneyswereleftstanding-nothingelse.
Hestoppedthehorseviolently.ItfelloverontoitssideandMaximuswasthrownoff.Hisstomachwassickwithfear.Heknewnowwhathewouldfind.
Hestoppedbeforethefieldofvegetables,lookedup,andforcedhimselftobreathe.There,hangingonropes,weretheburntbodiesofhiswifeandson.
