Гладиатор
The Last Battle
"Letushopeitisforthelasttime."
MaximusturnedandsawtheEmperor."There’snoonelefttofight,sir,"hesaid.
"Therearealwayspeopletofight.Moreglory."
"Thegloryistheirs,Caesar,"saidMaximus,lookingatthelinesofdeadsoldiers.
"Tellme,"saidMarcus."HowcanIrewardRome’sgreatestgeneral?"
"Letmegohome,"repliedMaximus,quickly.
"Ah,home..."saidMarcus.HegavehisarmtoMaximus,andtheywalkedtogetherbackacrossthebattlefield.
Alleyesfollowedthelongpurplecoatandwhitehairoftheiremperor.Theycouldseethathemovedslowlyandwithdifficulty.Hewasclearlyinpain.Mostofthesoldiersrealizedthattheywereprobablyseeinghimforthelasttime.AndtheyknewRomewasnotlikelytohavesuchagoodemperoragain.
MarcusAureliusandhisgeneralwalkedalongtheroad,pastlinesoftiredsoldiers.Hundredsofmenrestingonahillstoodandraisedtheirswordshighintheairwhentheysawthempass.
"Theyhonoryou,Caesar,"saidMaximus.
"No,Maximus,Ibelievetheyhonoryou,"repliedtheEmperor.
Maximuslookedacrossatthecrowdofbravemenandraisedhisownsword.Themencheeredhimloudly.
Suddenly,PrinceCommodusandhisguardsrodeintoview.Whenheheardthecheeringandsawthereasonforit,Commoduswasfilledwithjealousy.RomansoldierswerehonoringaSpaniardabovetheEmperorandhisfamily-itwasnotright.ButhetriedtolookpleasedasherodeuptoMarcusandMaximus.
"HaveImissedthebattle?"hesaid,jumpingfromhishorse.
"You’vemissedthewar,"saidMarcus.
