The Gladiator

Or die in the attempt. Come now, we have plenty of work to do before night comes.'

'Good news, Centurion!' Ajax smiled as he squatted down at the end of the cage nearest Macro. It was late in the afternoon and the heat had finally gone from the sun. It had been some hours since Macro and Julia had been given their midday ration of food and water and their lips were parched. The gladiator had brought a water bottle with him and took a long swig before lowering it and smacking his hps with exaggerated satisfaction. 'Ah, I needed that! It's been a long, hot day, but I think we're ready for your friends if they try to spring an attack on our camp.'

'You mentioned news,' said Macro. 'Just tell us and go.'

'All right then. You'll never guess who I ran into when I went to discuss my demands up at the Roman camp?'

Macro turned his head to see Ajax. He knew it must be Cato, yet he would not give the gladiator the satisfaction of responding to his question. 'What do I care?'

'Oh!' Ajax feigned disappointment.' No need to be such a grump, Macro. After all, I bring you news of your friend, Centurion Cato.

Or Tribune Cato as he is now. Quite the coming man, it would seem.'

'Cato?'Julia raised her head.

'That's right,' said Ajax. 'I've set him something of a difficult problem to resolve before tomorrow morning.'

Julia frowned. 'What do you mean?'

'It's simple.' Ajax looked at them both before he continued. 'I've decided to have one of you killed at dawn, and I've tasked your friend Cato with choosing which of you it will be.'

Macro lashed out with one of his feet, kicking the bar in front of the gladiator's face. The cage rattled under the impact but Ajax did not flinch for an instant.

'You bastard!' Macro shouted in a cracked voice.

'Come now, Centurion, you knew that I would have you killed in the end. This way there is a chance you might live a little longer. If Cato chooses you. If not, then you'll know where his affections truly lie before you finally beg me to put an end to your life. Either way, I get to increase his suffering. I imagine that neither the good tribune, nor you or the lady here is going to have much sleep tonight, eh?'

Macro shut his eyes, fighting back the black rage that burned in every muscle of his body. He clenched his fists tightly. The urge to bellow at Ajax was almost irresistible, and yet he knew that it would only provoke laughter and fresh torment, so he kept his lips clamped together and tried to clear his mind of all thought.

'It will be a shame to lose one of you. Particularly you, Julia Sempronia. You were quite a beauty before I had you put in here.' He leered at her, and Julia clutched her covering more tightly about her body. 'Such beauty should not be wasted. I think I shall give you one last chance to enjoy the comfort of being clean, to have fresh clothes and to share the company of a man, before we find out what Cato has in store for you tomorrow morning.'

Julia stared at him, terrified as she spoke tremulously. 'What do you want with me?'

'Only to use you, as slave women are used by their Roman masters.' Ajax winked. 'It might be something of an education for you. We shall see.' He paused to sniff the air and made a disgusted face. 'However, it will take some hours to make you presentable.

I'll have to give orders for you to be cleaned up at once, if there is going to be time to enjoy you tonight without having to pinch my nose.'

Ajax rose to his feet, clicked his tongue and pointed at Macro.

'You might want to try to get to sleep as soon as you can, Macro.

Wouldn't want me and the lady here keeping you awake with the noise of our merry making tonight.'

This time Macro could not contain his anger. He let out an animal groan, then opened his eyes and stared at Ajax as he growled through clenched teeth,'I swear to all the gods, if I get out of here, I will tear out your tongue and your eyes and rip you apart with my bare hands.'

'How charming!' Ajax laughed. He came round the cage and crouched opposite Macro before he rattled the bars. 'Don't count on it, eh?'

Then he rose and padded off towards his tent. Macro turned his attention to Julia. Her eyes were wide with terror.

'Macro! Don't let him take me. Please don't let him take me.'

Macro shook his head. 'I-I can't help you.'

'Macro, please!' Her lips trembled and she began to cry. 'Please don't let him! Please!'

He tried to shut the sound out, driven half mad by the knowledge that there was nothing, nothing at all that he could do to protect her.

Julia's pleas suddenly stopped as their guard strode towards them. The guard unlocked and opened the end of the cage. He drew his sword and pointed it at Macro.

'Stay back there, you!'

With his spare hand he grasped Julia's arm and dragged her from the cage, before kicking the door shut and sheathing his sword. As he locked the door, Macro scrambled over to the bars nearest Julia and shouted,'Julia! Look at me! Look at me!'