Гладиатор
A Man for the People
AlleyesintheColosseumturnedtotheEmperor.
Commoduswasveryangrybuttriednottoshowit.HeslowlystoodandlookeddownatMaximus.Heraisedhisarmandheldouthishand-thumbdown.
MaximusraisedhisswordtokillTigris...butsuddenlythrewitdownonthesand,nexttohishead."Youfoughtwithhonor,"hesaid.
Thecrowdwassilent,thensuddenlytherewasanenormouscheer.Theshoutsof"Maximus...Maximus..."grewlouderandlouder.
Commodusturnedanddisappearedfromsight.
SenatorGracchussuddenlysatforwardandstartedtotakearealinterestinthebehaviorofthecrowd.
Maximuswasalmostatthegladiators’exitfromthearenawhenagroupofroyalguardsappearedinfrontofhim.TheysteppedbackasCommoduswalkedthroughthemandtowardthegreatfighter.
MaximusandCommodusstaredateachother,justanarm’slengthaway.Thecrowdwasquietnowbuttheycouldnothearwhatwassaid.
"WhatamIgoingtodowithyou?"saidCommodus.
Maximusdidnotreply.
"OncemoreIofferyoumyhand,"Commodussaid.Heheldouthisarm,butMaximusdidnotmove.
"Arewesodifferent,youandI?"saidCommodus."Youtakelifewhenyouhaveto,justasIdo."
"Ihaveonemorelifetotake,"saidMaximus."Thenitisfinished."
"Thentakeitnow,"saidCommodus.
MaximusknewheonlyhadtotakeonesteptowardCommodusandtheguardswouldkillhim.HeturnedhisbackontheEmperorandwalkedaway.
Thecrowdwentmad!TheycheeredMaximus,theirhero.AndthensomestartedlaughingattheEmperorandthrowingbreadathim.
