Гладиатор

           Buttheshieldsweregoodprotection,andthewheelspearsbrokewhentheyhitthem.Thewheelofonechariothitthecornerofashield,andthechariotturnedover.Anotherdriver,closebehind,crashedintoitandwasthrownout.Hischariotracedon,anditswheelspearskilledhimashetriedtogetaway.Athirdchariotwasveryclose,andbothvehiclescrashedintothegate.

           Maximusranforoneofthebrokenchariotsandcutthehorsefree.Hejumpedontothehorseandrodefasttowardonechariot.ThedriverwaswatchingMaximuscarefully.Hedidnotseethathewasveryclosetoanothervehicle.Theirwheelstouched.Bothdriverswerethrownontothesand.OnewaskilledbyMaximus’sspear,andtheotherdiedunderthefeetofhishorse.

           Thegladiatorspulledtwocrashedchariotsintothepathoftheothers,whowereforcedtoslowdown.Thentheyrushedatthedrivers,strikingthemwiththeirspears.

           Maximuslookedaround.Alltheirenemiesweredead.Heclimbeddownfromhishorse,andthegladiatorsstoodoneithersideofhim.Hakenwasamongthem.

           Inthearena,Maximus,forthefirsttime,raisedhisrightarmandswordhigh.Itwasthegladiators’traditionalsignofbeatingdeath.Thecrowdcheeredwildly.

           ***

           CommoduscalledforCassius.

           "Myhistoryisnotsogood,"hesaid,"butIthoughtwewontheBattleofCarthage."

           "Yes,sir,"saidCassius,hisvoiceshakingwithfear."Forgiveme."

           "Oh,I’mnotunhappy,"saidCommodus."Ienjoysurprises."HepointedtoMaximus."Whoishe?"

           "TheycallhimtheSpaniard,sir."