Гладиатор

           Nowhewasquieterandbehavingquitenormally.Shewalkeduptothedesk."Whyishestillalive?"heaskedher."Idon’tknow,"shesaid.

           "Heshouldn’tbealive,"herbrothersaid."Thatmakesmeangry.Iamterriblyangry."

           Lucillawatchedhimcarefully,waitingforanexplosion."IonlydidthethingsIhadtodo,"saidCommodus."Father’splanwascrazy-theEmpire...Rome...theymustcontinue.Youdounderstandthat,don’tyou?"

           "Yes,"repliedLucilla.

           HemovedtothetallwindowandlookedoutatRome,quietnowinthelatenight."TheyliedtomeinGermany.Theytoldmehewasdead.Iftheylietome,theydon’thonorme.Iftheydon’thonorme,howcantheyeverloveme?"

           ***

           Maximuswaslyingawakeinthedarkoftheprisonwhenheheardaguardcoming.Hewasonhisfeetimmediately.

           TheguardenteredandtookMaximusalongtoanotherprisonroom.Hechainedhimtothewallandleftwithoutaword.

           Andintothelightsteppedawoman.Lucilla.

           Maximusstaredather."Iknewyourbrotherwouldsendoneofhiskillers,"hesaid."Ididn’tthinkhewouldsendhisbest."

           "Maximus,hedoesn’tknow..."Lucillabegan.

           "Myfamilywereburntalive!"Maximusinterrupted,throwingthewordsatherinanger.

           "Iknewnothingofthat,youmustbelieveme.Icriedforthem."

           "Asyoucriedforyourfather?"saidMaximus.

           "Ihavebeenlivinginaprisonoffearsincethatday,"Lucillasaid."Iliveinterrorformysonbecausehewillbethenextemperor..."

           "Mysonwasinnocent,"saidMaximus.

           "Soismine,"shereplied