Гладиатор

           "MynameisMaximusDecimusMeridas,CommanderoftheArmyoftheNorth,GeneraloftheWesternArmies,loyalservanttothetrueEmperor,MarcusAurelius"TheColosseumwascompletelysilent.ThenheturnedtoCommodusandspokemorequietly."Iamfathertoamurderedson,husbandtoamurderedwife,andIwillpunishtheirkiller,inthislifeorthenext."

           Commodusgaveasigntohisguardsandtheymovedcloser.

           Thecrowdshoutedout.Theyhadseenenoughdeathsforoneafternoonandtheydidnotwanttheirherotobethenextone.Theyreachedoutaforestofthumbs,pointinguptotheheavens.Theirmeaningwasclear-Lethimlive!

           Commoduslookedaroundathispeopleandwithgreatdifficultyheforcedhimselftosmile.Heslowlyliftedhisownthumb.

           Thecrowdcheered."Maximus!Maximus!"theyshouted.Lucillaandthesenatorscouldnotbelievethescenehappeninginfrontofthem.

           AnothershockedfacewaswatchingfromhisseatintheColosseum.ItwasCicero,Maximus’sservantinthearmy.AshewatchedtheGeneral,hismindsawmanypossibilities.

           Maximusledhismenfromthearena.Helookedbackjustonce,fromthegate,andthought,"Thebattlehasn’tendedyet."

           ***

           InthedarknessofthepalaceLucillastoppedinfrontofthedoorstoCommodus’sroom.Shetookadeepbreathbeforesheentered.

           Commodussatcalmlyathisdesk,signingpapers.Lucillawassurprisedthathewasnotstillinaviolenttemper.WhenhereturnedfromtheColosseum,hehadscreamedinangerandattackedapictureofMarcusAurelius.