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Silvanus is walking a tightrope. He may be a fool, but he is a ruthless fool. He
will never allow you to leave. He cares little for extenuating circumstances
his chief concern is wars; namely, winning them.
Manias resolution intensified. Then might I propose another request, this
one being shot down? Station me in the lands of Rome. I wish not to go to
Hispania, or Germania or Britannia, with no doubt I would hate to return to
Macedonia, you understand? The Senator nodded. Rome is beautiful. Grant
me this: station me in Patavium.
The Senator shook his head now. It would be a disgrace to Roman glory to
send one of its recognized heroes to a town watch in an unimportant city.
I will bear the disgrace! I implore you, Senator no, I beg you: speak with
Silvanus. Plead my case.
A scowl transfixed the Senator s lips. I am a Senator of Julii. I cannot, for all
my honor, make such a request.
It will be my honor tainted, not your own. Increase your honor: honor the
wishes of a Roman hero.
Your wishes are a blatant stain on Roman s own honor.
They walked in silence. Manias knew no ground could be made. Politics.
Then what shall happen to me?
It is to be decided tomorrow in the Senate. A flock of birds alighted and
flew over them. Manias watched their shadows sprinkle at his feet. The Senator
spoke: Let me give you one piece of advice: Silvanus will grant you one
request. It is the way we honor heroes. Most request a girl for the bed, though I
doubt that will come from your mouth. We both know Silvanus if your request
is not worthy of Rome, you could very well be sentenced to the Games.
Tomorrow, Publius, be careful what you ask for.
Ï%Ï%
A slave took him to what might have very well been his destiny with a rising
and falling of the sun. The stands were packed, crowded, dripping with sweat
and oily perspiration. Manias choked for air. They climbed higher on the
IN THE NAME OF ROME 81
2
stairwell. The slave looked at their tickets, trying to make them out. Manias
finally snatched them away, read the greased Latin, and said, We re on the
wrong side. How did this happen? The slave mournfully apologized. I don t
care. They found their seats just as an announcer, dressed in purple fashion
robes, a circlet of dove leaves and a broad smile, stepped out on a flowery box
overlooking the dust and grime of the Coliseum.
His voice echoed due to the architecture of the legendary structure: Today we
shall witness the famous battle of general Cassius and his son, the Battle of
Carrhe!3 Cheers erupted. Manias clapped as well. The announcer boomed, We
find Crassus and his son outnumbered on the field of battle, surrounded by
Parthian cavalry. Cassius son dies in a cavalry charge against the Parthians, and
dies a noble Roman death! Honorable praise. The announcer waited for it to die
down. The Parthians taunted Cassius with his own son s head. Then the
Parthian cavalry charged the Roman soldiers! Let us see it with our own eyes
today! I give you, the great battle of Carrhe! Stinging cheers burned like sulfur
in Manias ears.
The slave leaned towards him and said, The Games, they re inspired by
barbarian practices of sacrifices at funerals. To honor someone who died, the
servants or soldiers of his tribe will fight to the death against one another, and all
are buried together. Though this is more of an excuse for the Games, rather than
a reason.
Within the stadium, giant grated doors opened and men dressed in scanty
armor, carrying spiked maces and swords, wearing dented and spliced helmets
laden with horns and spikes entered, spanning out. The crowd celebrated. The
soldiers carried scuta shields, etched black and engraved with haunting mosaics.
They peered up into the stands, eyes gaping with frozen horror. The announcer
told the citizens in the stands, Behold the Roman Army!
Manias grunted. They will lose. Why choose Carrhe?
Carrhe is popular amongst the citizens now. Why not? Who cares if it is
politically correct, as long as the Mob likes it? Don t you see, sir, that the Games
are politics. Roman leaders boost their popularity by hosting games, and the city
reaps money off condemned slaves.
The gladiators congregated in the middle of the stadium. The announcer
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