Broken Plans

           ThesoundofmarchingfeetbrokethesilenceofnightintheareaaroundtheColosseum.

           InhisroomProximowaspackinghisbags,planningtoleaveRomefast.Heheardthemarchingfeetcomingtowardtheschoolandheknewthenhowhewasgoingtodie.Hepickeduphisbunchofkeysandhurriedacrosstotheprisonrooms.Hewasalmosttherewhentheroyalguardsarrivedandstoppedinfrontofhisgates.

           "OpenupinthenameoftheEmperor!"thecaptaincalledoutloudly.ForafewsecondsProximopaused,withoutturningtolookatthem.Thenhecontinuedtowardtheprisons.

           Maximushadalsoheardthemarchingfeetandknewtheirmeaningexactly.HewatchedasProximoappearedthroughtheprisonentrance,keysinhand.

           "Everythingisready,"saidProximo.HehandedthekeystoMaximus."Itseemsyou’vewonyourfreedom."

           "Proximo,"saidMaximus,ashetookthekeys,"areyouindangerofbecomingagoodman?"

           Proximowalkedbacktohisrooms.Theguardscouldseehimthroughthegates,buthedidnotlookacrossatthemonce.

           "TheEmperorcommandsyoutoopenthesegates,Proximo!"shoutedthecaptain."Doyouwanttodie,oldman?TonightallenemiesoftheEmperormustdie!"Proximowalkedon,andupthestairstohisroom."Breakthelocks!"shoutedthecaptain.

           ***

           Maximusquicklyunlockedhisdoor.ThenheandJubaletHakenandtheothersout.

           Thesoundofmetalhittingmetalcamefromthegates.Maximusknewhehadtogo,now.HehandedthebunchofkeystoJuba.

           Jubatookthem,understanding."Go!"hesaid.