Гладиатор
Caesar’s Arrival in Rome
"IthinkheknowswhatRomeis,"Gracchusreplied."Hewillgivethemmagic,andthenthey’llhavesomethingelsetothinkabout.Hewilltaketheirlives,andhewilltaketheirfreedom.Andstilltheywillshoutandcheer."Heshookhishead,sadly."ThebeatingheartofRomeisn’tinthewallsoftheSenate.It’sonthesandoftheColosseum.Hewillgivethemdeath.Andtheywilllovehimforit."
Theothersenatorsknewhewasright.Itwasalessonfromhistory.ButtheydidnotknowthatCommoduswasplanningbetterandlongergamesthananyemperorbeforehim.Anditwasallforonereason.Commodusknewhehadnochoice.HeandtheSenatedidnotagreeaboutanythingandhecouldnotbecertainoftheirsupport.SohehadtolookbeyondtheSenateandgostraighttothepeopleforhispower.Thegameswerethekey.AsLucillahadsaid,thepeoplemusthavetheirtraditions.Andhewouldnotdenyhiscitizenstheirtraditionalgames.
Sittingbehindthesenatorsinthecafe,withhisbacktothem,wasasmallman.Noneofthesenatorsnoticedhim,buthewascloseenoughtoheareverythingtheysaid.Thefaceofthelistenerwasquiteordinary,exceptthathisrighteyewasmissing.Hedidnotseewellwithonlyoneeye,buthecouldhearperfectlyandhehadagoodmemory.Hewasabletocollectalotofinformationandhewaspaidwelltorepeatittootherears.
