Гладиатор
The Spaniard and the Crowd
Itwasallfinishedinafewminutes.
Thecrowdstoodandcheered.Theyshouted,"Spaniard!Spaniard!"
Proximogotupfromhisseatandwalkedout.
Maximusdroppedhisarmtohisside,steppedoverabody,andwalkedbacktowardtheexit.Hepickedupaswordfromthesandandthrewitintothecrowd.Asitfelltothefloor,thescreamingcrowdgrewsilent,watchingandwaiting.
"Areyounotentertained?"Maximusshoutedatthem."Isthisnotwhyyoucame?"Hethrewdownhisownswordandwalkedoutofthearenagatesandbacktotheprisonarea.
***
Inthecooloftheevening,MaximusandJubastoodinsidethegatesofProximo’sschool.Theylookedoutoverthedeserttothemountainsinthedistance.
"Mycountry-it’ssomewhereoutthere,"Jubasaid."Myhome.Mywifeispreparingfoodandmydaughtersarecarryingwaterfromtheriver.WillIeverseethemagain?Ithinknot."
"Doyoubelieveyou’llmeetthemagain-afteryoudie?"Maximusasked.
"Ithinkso,"Jubasaid."ButIwilldiesoon.Theywillnotdieformanyyears."
"Butyouwouldwaitforthem."
"Ofcourse,"Jubasaid.
"Ialmostdied,cominghere,"saidMaximus."Yousavedme.Ineverthankedyou"MaximuslookedatJuba,andtherewaspaininhiseyes."Becausemywife,andmyson,arewaitingforme."
Jubaunderstood."You’llmeetthemagain,"hesaid."Butnotyet,yes?"Helaughed.Thisteamwasnotreadyfordeath.
Laterthatevening,twoguardscametofindMaximus.TheytookhimtoProximo.
"Ah,Spaniard,"hesaid,sendingtheguardsaway.
