“No, I don’t think we can go back. I think we’re trapped here. If I could, I would take you from this place,” he said and kissed her. He felt her hand come up and cup the back of his head.
“That is why you and your friends are so different? I hear some of the men talk, that you do not belong, though you are good fighters,” she said.
“Yeah. My friends and I are Marines, we are fighters but our weapons kill from a long distance, not in close combat. We trained to fight hand to hand, but our job is much more,” he said as he held her hand in his. They laid in silence for a long time and his mind drifted over the last six months. Time had gone so quickly and though he missed his own time desperately, he loved Zaza more.
“I know you must miss your time, but I am glad you are here with me,” she said softly and her hand caressed his face.
“Me too, you make me feel happy. I love you, Zaza,” he said and held her tight.
Winter was harsh and brutal and it made the bones ache. For the men from another world, who were used to video games, movies, restaurants and phones, it was especially difficult. They spent their time playing games within their cell, since it was too cold to spend free time outside. Their training days were brutal since any strike with a weapon, dull or not, stung on chilled flesh. All were caught up in the love affair that was Dean and Zaza. Their lives were brutal and harsh and they needed the tenderness and gentleness of love, so they lived it vicariously through the couple. They all knew it would end tragically for happy endings in the Ludus Magnus was an oxymoron.
There was also a frozen truce between Marco and Philo, though at each turn on the training field, Philo tried desperately to win at least one competition. As spring drew near, the men began to become restless. Soon, the games would start again and as the days grew longer, the men spent longer time in the small arena, sharpening their skills. Come mid spring, they would fight in the Colosseum across the street. All knew that their very lives would be at stake. Marco and Thad had begun to work out in their down time. As the men around them played bocce ball, a game that Thad had known how to play, Marco had Thad teach him more Tae Kwon Do. Septimus had been interested in the training and had joined in as had Felix.
Going through the stretching had helped ease tight muscles from long hours of fighting in the arena.
“I see this is very effective when you use it,” Septimus said as he kicked out.
“It focuses your aim and allows you greater latitude when fighting. It’s also another weapon in your arsenal,” Thad said.
Marco and Thad sparred, though Marco was nowhere as good or proficient as Thad. Greg spent his time with the other Retiarius, picking up tips from the higher ranked gladiators. The primus palus and secundus palus rarely spent time with the tertius palus, but Greg had wheedled his way in with Julius and Octavius. The three had become tight and spent time together on and off the field. All four men were acutely aware that they were approaching their year anniversary here. It was a painful thought.
A week before the games were to begin, there was a change in the Ludus Magnus. Men began to become nervous and trained harder, tempers flared. Across the way, they heard activity outside the Ludus. The construction was nearly complete on the Ludus Magnus and some of the men found high vantage points to look out onto the streets beyond. One such afternoon found Marco, Greg, Felix and Septimus sitting up high. There was a procession of horses, wagons and cages going across the way.
“What do you think it is?” Marco asked Felix, since he knew just about anything about everything.
“They are bringing the animals to the amphitheater. These animals will be housed there for the games,” Felix said, his long legs dangling over the edge of the wall.
“Where do they come from?” Greg asked.
“Many come from the port of Neopolis. Many come from Africa Proconsularis but many are housed in a zoo just outside of Rome itself,” Felix said. Septimus smacked Felix on the back and nearly knocked him off the wall.
“Dude, you know many things,” Septimus said, grabbing Felix’s arm before he fell off the wall.
“Dude, you almost knocked me off!” Felix said, startled. Marco looked over at Greg, who was sniggering. They were teaching these ancient men bad habits, but it was so fun to hear the modern vernaculars used by men who had no business using the words. They got up and turned to head down to the first level. It was getting near dinner and no one wanted to miss that. Septimus slung a long arm around Marco’s shoulder in easy companionship.
Marco sighed and walked along in silence. Septimus never stepped over the line and he’d seen other men do the same, walking arm in arm, especially the Italian men. He had even seen it in his own time and the first time he’d seen it, it startled him. He guessed friendship was friendship in any time. Their friendships within these walls were all that kept them human. He snorted with humor when Felix put his arm across Greg’s shoulder, though Greg was nearly a foot taller.
“Something funny, Atrox?” Septimus asked.
“I just can’t get over the fact that Felix came here voluntarily. Would you?” Marco asked the big man.
“No, I would not. I would be home now, with my family and this would all be a bad dream,” Septimus said
