Гладиатор

           "Itworriesmethatalthoughyou’regood,youcouldbebetter.Youcouldbethegreatest."

           "Youwantmetokill.Ikill,"Maximussaid."That’senough."Heturnedtowalkout.

           "EnoughforasmallMoroccantownlikethis,"Proximocalledafterhim."ButnotforRome."

           Maximusstopped."Rome?"hesaid,suddenlyinterested.

           "Mymenhavejustbroughtthenews,"Proximosaid."TheyoungEmperorhasarrangedsomegamesinhonorofhisdeadfather,MarcusAurelius.It’sstrangetothinkthatIhadtoleavemyschoolinRomeyearsagobecausehisfatherstoppedallgladiatorcontests.Buthisdayhasendednow."

           "Yes,"saidMaximus,quietly,angrily.

           Proximolaughed."We’regoingback!Afterfiveyearsinthisterribleplacewe’regoingbacktotheColosseum,"hesaid."Ah,Spaniard,waituntilyoufightintheColosseum.FiftythousandRomansfollowingeverymoveofyoursword.Thesilencebeforeyoustrike.Thecrythatcomesafter-likeastorm!"Hestoppedandlookedtotheheavens,hiseyesshining.

           MaximussawthememorieslightingupProximo’sfaceandsuddenlyheunderstood."Youwereonceagladiator,"hesaid.

           Proximolookedbackathim."Thebest,"hesaid.

           "Youwonyourfreedom?"Maximusasked.

           "Alongtimeago."Proximowentintothenextroomandcamebackcarryingasmallwoodensword."TheEmperorgavemethis.Asignoffreedom.HetouchedmeontheshoulderandIwasfree."

           OnthehandleoftheswordwasProximo’snameandthewords,"Freeman-ByOrderoftheEmperorMarcusAurelius."

           "I,too,wanttostandinfrontoftheEmperor,asyoudid."