Гладиатор
Caesar’s Arrival in Rome
SenatorGracchus,awhite-hairedmaninhissixties,wasnothappyaboutthenewEmperor."HeisenteringRomelikeahero-butwhathasheeverdone?"hesaid.
"Givehimtime,Gracchus,"Falcoanswered."He’syoung.Ithinkhecoulddoverywell."
"ForRome?"askedGracchus."Orforyou?"
FalcoturnedtoLucius."It’saprouddayforallofus,isn’tit,Lucius?"hesaid."I’msureSenatorGracchusneverthoughthe’dlivetoseesuchaday."
Luciuswatchedastheroyalcarriagecamecloser,thenrandownthestepswhenitarrived.Hejumpedupintohismother’sarmsandsheheldhimtightandkissedhim.
Commodusraisedhisarminsalutetothecrowd,buthecouldseethatthecrowdwassmallandthecheeringwasonlypolite.
"RomegreetshernewEmperor,"Falcosaid."Yourloyalpeopleareheretowelcomeyou,sir."
"Thankyou,Falco,"repliedCommodus,"forbringingouttheloyalpeople.Ihopetheyweren’ttooexpensive."HeturnedtoGracchus."Ah,Gracchus,"hesaid."ThefriendofRome."
"Wearehappythatyouarehome,Caesar,"Gracchussaid.
Thenhebecamemoreserious."Therearemanyproblemsthatneedyourattention."
***
IntheroyalpalaceCommoduswasmeetingwiththesenators.Hewasfollowinghissister’sadviceandlisteningtothempatiently.
SenatorGracchushadalistofproblemsinthecity.HewasanxiousthatCommoduslookatthemwithoutdelay."...andherearesomesuggestionsfromtheSenate-ideasforsolvingtheproblems,"hesaid.
Commoduswalkedaroundtheroom,losinginterest.
