Гладиатор

           ThearmyheldthepoliticalpowerinRome,andtherealrulerwaswhoeverthearmywasloyalto.

           Commodus’sthoughtsweremovingahead."Alltheyearsofmyfather’swarsgavethepeoplenothing-butstilltheylovedhim.Why?Theydidn’tseethebattles.Theyknewnothingofthepeoplewefoughtandkilled,ortheircountries,"hesaid.

           "TheycareaboutthegreatnessofRome,"saidLucilla.

           "Andwhatisthat?CanItouchit,seeit?"

           "It’sanidea.It’ssomethingtheywanttobelievein,"saidLucilla.

           Commoduswassuddenlyexcited."I’llgivethemsomethingtobelievein-I’llgivethemgreatideas.Andthey’lllovemeforit,"hesaid,raisinghisarmstothesky."Iwillgivethemthegreatestideas,themostwonderfulRomeever!"

           ***

           Therewereartistsatworkinthestreets,paintingenormouspicturesonwalls.Theirpicturesshowedscenesofgladiatorsandwildanimalsfighting,andthesandonthefloorsofthearenaswasredwithblood.Crowdsstoodandstared,watchingasthepictureswerecompleted.ThiswasthestartoftheadvertisingforCommodus’snewidea.

           "Games!"GaiuscomplainedtoGracchusandagroupofothersenatorsashejoinedtheminacafe."Onehundredandfiftydaysofgames!"

           Thesenatorswatchedthewallpaintersworkingoutsidethecafe.

           "He’ssmarterthanIthought,"saidGracchus,quietly.

           "Smart?"saidGaius."AllofRomewouldlaughathimiftheyweren’tsoafraidofhisguards.Youcan’treallythinkthatthepeoplewillforgetRome’sproblemsandsitbacktoenjoythesegames?"heasked."It’scompletelymad"