The Colosseum

           Thegladiatorswaitedfortheircontestinanareathatwasatthesamelevelasthesandofthearena.Intheretheyweregivenhelmets,bodyarmor,andswords.

           Proximo’sguardsledhisgladiatorsintotheareaandMaximuswalkedovertoawindowHelookedoutatthesandthatseemedtocontinueforever.

           Maximusspokeinalowvoicetooneoftheguards."IstheEmperorhere?"heasked.

           "He’llbehere,"theguardreplied."Hecomeseveryday."

           OneoftheguardsheldoutahelmettoMaximus.Heshookhisheadandlookedinsteadattheotherhelmets.Hechoseonewithabetterfaceguardandtriediton.Heturnedhisheadbacktowardthearena,knowingthatnowhisfacecouldnotberecognized.

           Proximo’sgladiatorswerearmoredandready.TheyweredressedtolooklikesoldiersfromCarthage.Theycarriedspearsandlong,curved,heavyshields.

           Astheywaitedtogooutintothearena,anofficialspoketothem."YouhavethehonoroffightinginfrontoftheEmperorhimself,"hesaid."WhentheEmperorenters,raiseyourspearsinsalute.Whenyousalutehim,speaktogether,"hesaid."FacetheEmperor.Don’tturnyourbacks."

           "Go,"Proximosaid."Diewithhonor."Hisfivebestgladiatorswalkedpasthimandontothesandofthearena.

           MaximuswasthelasttostepontothefloorofthegreatColosseum.Hehadneverimaginedsuchasight.Therewerethousandsandthousandsofscreaming,shoutingpeople.Allaroundhimwasanoceanofcheeringfaces.Ittookhisbreathaway.

           Thegladiatorsmovedintothecenterofthesand.