Home, At Last

           Thegameshadended.

           TheColosseumwasemptyandsilentasJubawalkedacrossthesand.Juba,nowdressedinhisAfricanclothes,wasafreemanagain.Andsoonhewasgoinghome.

           Hestillheardonevoiceinthearena,though.HeheardMaximus,thegreatfighter,askingabouthishomeinAfricaandtalkingtohimabouthisownhomeinSpain.

           Jubamovedtothecenterofthearenaandfoundtheexactplacehewaslookingfor:asmallareaofbloodonthesand.Hedroppedtohiskneesandmadealittleholeintheground.Hetooksomethingfromhispocket-thesmallwoodenfiguresofMaximus’swifeandson.

           Hecarefullyputthemintheholeandcoveredthemwiththeearththatcarriedtheirlovedone’sblood.Nowitwouldbeeasierforthemtofindeachotherinthenextworld.

           "Nowwearefree,"hesaidloudly,lookingaroundattheempty,silentarena."Thisplacewillbecomedust,butIwillnotforgetyou."

           HestoodabovetheplacewhereMaximushaddied."Iwillseeyouagain,"hesaidtohisfriend.HesmiledthewidesmilethathehadsmiledforMaximusinlifeandwouldsoonsmileforhisownwifeanddaughters."Butnotyet."

           Hewalkedslowlyoutofthearena,lookingbackjustonceattheplace,asthewindblewredflowersacrossthekillingground.