Гладиатор
The Spaniard and the Crowd
Shethoughttoherself,"Romeisinfrighteninghands.ThankthegodsthatIamheretocontrolhim."
"Willyoustaywithme?"CommodusaskedLucilla.
"Stillafraidofthedark,brother?"Lucillasmiledgently,kissedhim,andthenstartedtogo.Shestoppedatthedoorandlookedback.
Commoduslayonthebed,alonelyfigure,hiseyeswideopen.
"Sleep,brother,"Lucillasaid.
"Youknowmydreamswouldbringterrortotheworld,"hesaid.
Lucillaleft.
***
WhenshewascertainthatCommoduswasasleep,Lucillaquietlyleftthepalace.ShewenttoSenatorGracchus’shouse,andthereinthedarknessGaiuswaswaitingforher.Hetookherarmandledherintothehouse,whereGracchusmettheminthehall.
HeturnedtoLucilla."Doyouknow,therewasatime,notverylongago,whenIheldtwochildrenonmyknee,"hesaidwithakindsmile."TheywerethemostbeautifulchildrenI’deverseen.Andtheirfatherwasveryproudofthem.I,too,lovedthemverymuch,likemyown."
"Andtheylovedyou,"saidLucilla.
"Isawoneofthemgrowstrongandgood,"Gracchuscontinued."Theothergrew...dark.Iwatchedashisfatherturnedawayfromhim.Weallturnedawayfromhim.Andashebecamemoreandmorelonely,therewasmorehatethanloveinhisheart."Gracchusshookhisheadsadly.
TheywentintothemainroomandGracchusgavehisguestsglassesofwine.Lucillaspokefirst."AnyonewhosaysanythingagainsttheEmperorisindangernow,"shesaid."Students,teachers,writers...wemustbecareful."
"Alltofeedthearena.
