Гладиатор

           ThistimeHakenstruckMaximusacrosshiswoundedarm.Maximusalmostfelltothegroundbutmanagedtostayonhisfeet.AllthetimehestaredstraightatHaken,whowasbecomingveryangry.Maximus’sthoughtswereclear:"Imaybelow,butI’mnotaslowasyou.Iwon’tkillforsport."

           Proximofounditveryinteresting.Hakenliftedtheswordagain,readytohurtMaximusreallybadly,butProximostoppedhim."That’senoughfornow"hesaid."Histimewillcome."Helookedbehindhimtotheservantwiththepotsofpaint."Markthatone,"hesaid.

           ***

           IntheheatofthelateafternoonHaken,Juba,theGreek,andtheothernewgladiatorssatonthegroundintheshadows.

           Maximuslaybythewalltooneside.Hehadasmall,sharpstoneandwasusingittotrytoremovethelettersSPQRfromhisarm.

           Jubacalledouttohim,"Spaniard!Whydidn’tyoufight?Weallhavetofight."

           Maximusdidnotanswer.

           TheyoungGreekwasveryfrightened."Idon’tfight,"hesaid."Ishouldn’tbehere.I’masecretary-Icanwriteinsevenlanguages."

           "Good,"saidHaken."Tomorrowyoucanscreaminsevenlanguages."

           Theothergladiatorslaughed.

           JubamovedclosertoMaximusandwatchedhimdiggingthestoneintohisskin."Isthatthesignofyourgods?"heasked.

           Maximusdidnotanswer.

           BehindthemHakenwasmakingfunoftheGreek."Maybethesecretarywillbetheonewhowinshisfreedom,"helaughed.

           "Freedom!"theGreekreplied."WhatdoIhavetodo?"

           "Yougointothearenaandyoukillme,"Hakenreplied.