Гладиатор
A Man for the People
Gracchuscouldnotbelievehiseyes.SuchinsultstotheEmperorusuallyresultedindeath.Butthepeoplewerenotafraidnow.Allthis,becauseofonebraveman.
***
MaximusandthegladiatorswerechainedtogetheragainforthewalkbacktoProximo’sschool.Therewereguardswalkingwiththem,tryingtokeepbackhundredsofpeople.Theyallwantedtogetacloselookattheirhero.
Suddenly,MaximusheardafamiliarvoiceandsawCiceroaheadinthecrowd.
"Whereareyoucamped?"heshoutedtoCicero.
"Aday’sridefromRome-atOstia,"repliedCicero."We’vebeenthereallwinter.Themenaregettingfat.They’rebored."
"Howsooncouldtheybereadytofight?"askedMaximus,
"Foryou,sir?Tomorrow,"Cicerosaidproudly.
TheguardspushedCicerobackintothecrowd.HeranaheadandcameoutinfrontofMaximusagain,furtheralongthestreet.ThistimehepushedasmallpackageintoMaximus’shand.TheguardswerecloseandMaximusknewheonlyhadonechance.
"Cicero!Listencarefully!"hesaid."YoumustcontactLucilla,theEmperor’ssister.TellherIwillmeetherpolitician."
Therewasnomoretime.Cicerodisappearedintothecrowd,andMaximuswasforcedtomoveon.
Later,aloneintheprisonatProximo’sschool,Maximustookthelittlepackageoutofhispocketandlookedatit.Insidewerethetwowoodenfiguresofhiswifeandson.
"Dotheyhearyou?"avoicesuddenlyasked.
MaximuslookedupintoJuba’seyes.
"Yourpeople,"saidJuba,"inthenextworld."
"Yes"saidMaximus,lookingdownatthefigures.
Jubathoughtaboutit
