The Last Battle

           EmperorMarcusAureliussatonhishorse,onthetopofthecommandhill,withguardsoneachsidetoprotecthim.HewatchedasthebattleslowlyprogressedanditbecameclearthattheRomanarmyhadwon.Marcushopeditwouldbemanyyearsbeforetheyhadtogotowaragain,certainlynotbeforehedied.Hehadnowishtoseeanotherbattle.Heturnedtohisguards."Iwillleavenow,"hesaid."Ihaveseenenough."

           Maximuslookedathisswordinthetree.Hisfacewascoveredwithbloodandmud.Thebeatofhisheartwasbeginningtoslowdownasthenoiseofthebattlebecamequieter.Therewereothersoundsnow-screamsfromthedyingandcriesforhelp.

           AsmallbirdflewdownfromthetopofthetreeandsatonMaximus’ssword.Coulditpossiblybethesamebirdhehadseenbeforethefirstexplosionofbattle?Thatseemedlikeahundredyearsago.Heshookhisheadandreachedforthesword.ThefrightenedbirdflewawayasMaximuspulledhisswordoutofthetree.

           Acrossthefield,doctorsweretryingtohelpanyRomansoldierswhowerestillalive.Othersoldierswerewalkingslowlythroughthemenontheground,lookingforGermansleftaliveandkillingthemquickly.

           Maximuswalkedbacktowardthecommandpoint,sometimesstoppingtospeaktoadyingsoldier,sometimescallingforwaterormedicalhelp.HecametoalowhillwherethebodiesofRomansoldiershadbeenplaced,sidebyside.

           "Letthesunalwaysbewarmonyourback,"hesaidsoftly."You’vecomehomeatlast."

           "You’reabraveman,Maximus,andagoodcommander,"saidavoicebehindhim.