Гладиатор
The Last Battle
Hewassadthatsomanymenwerebadlyhurt,andheknewthatmanymorewouldnotliveuntilmorning.
Heturnedandwalkedbacktothemaincamp.Inthebiggesttentmanyoftheofficerswerecelebrating.Therewaswineandfood;theywerelaughingandshouting.Theseweretheluckymenwhohadcheateddeath.
TheEmperorsatinachairinthecenterofthetentandreceivedvisitors.Twosenators,FalcoandGaius,hadjustarrived.
"Wegreetyou,MarcusAurelius,"Falcosaid."AndwebringgreetingsfromSenatorGracchus.HewaitstohonoryouwhenyoureturntoRome."
WhenMaximusenteredthetent,officerscameforwardtomeethim.Someonegavehimwine,othersheldtheirhandsouttohim,Quintusstoppedhisconversationwhenhesawhisfriend.
"Stillalive!Thegodsmustloveyou!"theybothsaidtogether,laughing.Maximusmovedthroughthetent,withQuintusandsomeofhisotherofficersfollowingbehind.
ThroughtheforestofmenMaximuscouldseeMarcusAureliussurroundedbyagroupofpeople.Ashegotnearer,hesawCommodusattheEmperor’sside,withthetwosenators.Maximuspausedtospeaktoanotherofficer.
"BacktoRomenow,General?"themanasked.
"I’mgoinghome,"Maximussaid."Tomywife,myson,andmyfieldsofwheat."
"Maximusthefarmer!"Quintussaid,laughing."Istillcan’timaginethat."
"Dirtwashesoffmoreeasilythanblood,Quintus,"repliedMaximus.
Commodus,Gaius,andFalcocametowardMaximus.
"Hereheis,"saidCommodus."Theheroofthewar!"
MaximuswasnothappythatCommodushadsaidthisinfrontofhisbraveofficers.
