Гладиатор
A Prisoner Again
Hedidnotcareaboutbreathing,though.Maximusdidnotcareaboutanything.
Allaroundhimmenwerestandinginthesandinaslavemarket.Thebuyerswalkedslowlyaround,lookingatthemenandtouchingthem.Therewasamanwithablackbeardstandingnearthem,callingouttotellpeopleabouthisslaves.
Maximusstoodwiththeothers,lookingfaraway,beyondthepeopleandthemarket.Physically,hewasgettingbetterwithJuba’shelp.Butnobodycouldhelpthedarknessinsidehim.Hedidnotevencareabouthisownlife.MaximustheRoman
General,Maximusthefarmerandhusbandwasalreadydead.
AcrossthemarketsquareAeliusProximosatinasmall,dirtycafeandwatchedeverythingwithinterest.Proximowasalargemanwithbig,blueeyesandwhitehairandbeard.Helookedlikeamanwhoenjoyedthegoodthingsinlife.Hedrankhisteaslowly,asamanmeasuredhisfeetfornewshoes.Twoslavegirlssatbesidehim.
"Proximo,myfriend!"saidthemanwiththeblackbeard.Proximorecognizedthemanimmediatelyandturnedaway."Everydayyouarehereisagreatday,"themansaid,smiling.HecametositwithProximo."Andtodayisyourluckyday"
Proximocaughtholdofhisarmandheldittight."Itwasn’tmyluckydaythelasttimeyousoldmesomeanimals.They’renogood-theyonlyrunaroundandeat.Givememymoneyback!"
Theslave-sellertriedtopullhisarmaway."I’llgiveyouaspecialpricetoday-becauseyouareunhappy.Justforyou.Comeandseethenewtigers."
Proximolethimgoandfollowedhimacrossthesquare.
