Гладиатор
Broken Plans
WhenhesawMaximus,Jubastoodinasilentsalutetoabravemanandafriend.
UndertheflooroftheColosseumarenawasalargeelevator,operatedbyservantswithropes.ItwasthewaythetigershadenteredthearenawhenMaximusfoughtTigris.
MaximuswasledtherenowbyQuintusandtheroyalguards.TheyfastenedhischainstotheelevatorandQuintushimselfcheckedthem.Ashebenttodothishewhisperedsoftly,"I’masoldier.Iobey."
Someonewaswalkingtowardthem.Quintusstoodupagainandmovedback.EmperorCommodussuddenlyappearedwithagroupofservantscarryingarmor.TheEmperorhimselfwaswearinghisowngoldarmor.Heworethisarmorwhenhewantedtofeellikeagod.
CommodusandsixofhisguardsjoinedMaximusontheelevator.Maximusexpectedtodieimmediately,butCommodussmiledathim.
"Listentothecrowd,"hesaid."Theyarecallingforyou.Thegeneralwhobecameaslave.Theslavewhobecameagladiator.Thegladiatorwhoinsultedanemperor."Hecalledhisservantsforwardwiththearmor."It’sagoodstory"hesaid."Andnowthepeoplewanttoknowhowthestoryends.Onlyagreatdeathwillbegoodenough,"Commoduscontinued."AndwhatcouldbebetterthantofighttheEmperorhimselfinthegreatestarena?"
Maximusdidnotbelievehim."Youwillfightme?"
"Whynot?"Commodussaid."DoyouthinkI’mafraid?"
TheservantsbegantofixarmortoMaximus’sbody,firsthisarms,legs,andshoulders.Theyleftthebodyarmoruntillast.
"Ithinkyou’vebeenafraidallyourlife,"Maximusanswered.
