Гладиатор
A Prisoner Again
Therewasalmostnothingleftofthem.Hereachedupwithbothhandstotouchhiswife’sfeet.Aterriblescreamcamefromhim,andhesanktotheearth.Hisworldwasnowdead.
***
Maximusdugonedeepholeintheblackearthonthehillsideforhiswifeandson.Hepushedtheearthbackovertheirbroken,burntbodiesandcried.Helookeddowntowardtheruinofthehousehehadbuilt,tothedeadappletrees.
Hespoketohislovedonesthroughhistears."Lieintheshadowofthetrees,myloves,andwaitformethere..."
Hefellontotheearthbesidethem.
***
Theycamebecausetheyhadsmelledthesmokeintheair.Firemeanttherewassomethingtobefoundandtaken.
ThesewereSpanishthieves,andtheirchiefwasabigmountainmanwithablackbeard.Theyfoundthemanlyingdeadontheblackearth.Handstouchedhisshoes-expensive,leathershoes.Otherhandsmovedoverhissoldiersclothes-fine,darkredcloth.
Suddenly,thedeadmanmoved.Thehandsonhisbodystopped.Somethingwassaidinastrangelanguage.Everyonewaited.
Thebigmanonthegrounddidnotmoveagain.Thechiefmadeasigntohismen,andthehandsroughlytookholdofMaximusandpulledhimaway.
Daysandnightspassed,andforMaximusitwaslikeanever-endingfeverishdream.Terriblepicturescrossedhismindashelayclosetodeathintheopencarriagetheyhadthrownhiminto.Hedreamedofwildanimals,closetohisface...thenhewasonaship,travelingacrosswater.AlargeAfricanmansmileddownathim...hesawviewsofthedesert...far-awaymountains...
