“What the heck did you do? Eat too much?” Thad joked nervously.
“No man, I don’t know. I fucking hurt,” Dean said, gritting his teeth. Thad wondered if it might be poison. Did someone have it out for him? The old man came over and lifted Dean’s head and gave him something to sip. Dean did but then turned his head and vomited. He cried out in pain and curled his body. Zaza stood back, her hands over her mouth and tears coursing down her face. She rocked back and forth, her dark eyes wide with fear.
The old man placed his gnarled hand on Dean’s head, neck and chest. He mumbled a few words to himself and then moved his hand down farther, pushing and palpitating. When he reached Dean’s lower abdomen, Dean let out a scream. Thad felt the hairs rise on his body and he began to tremble. He knew what the problem was. Dean’s appendix. He shook his head in denial. He bit his lip and wanted to scream out a denial. Dean caught his eye and he saw the fear reflected there.
“I’m fucked, aren’t I?” Dean asked, his voice shaking. Thad couldn’t lie to him.
“I’m not a doctor, but I think it’s your appendix,” Thad said softly.
“Fuck. Make sure Zaza gets my money. See if Felix can help her get out of here. Send her to his parents. I know his mom is really nice. I think she’ll take care of Zaza,” Dean said, panting.
“Okay, I can do that, I...I don’t want you to die,” Thad said hoarsely.
“Me either dude,” Dean said and laughed weakly. They turned when the physician came over with another cup.
“This will ease the pain,” Aulus said, his old voice scratchy.
Thad helped Dean sit up and held his friend as he drank. Dean’s body was warm with fever and Zaza sat on the other side.
“What is wrong with him,” she asked, her voice trembling badly.
“His appendix, you understand, here,” Thad pointed to his own gut. Zaza looked at Thad and then back to Dean.
“He has to poop?” she asked hopefully. Thad shook his head and his eyes began to tear up.
“Issokay. I’m okay,” Dean said in a slurred voice. Whatever the physician gave him was fast and it was potent. He looked over to the old man and the old man shook his head slightly. Thad looked down at his friend and held him. He smoothed the bright blond hair. He looked into Zaza’s eyes; he would not lie to her.
“No, it is a tiny part of him that is broken. But it has poison inside it. He is dying. He won’t live,” Thad said softly. He saw as shock radiated through Zaza’s body and she shook her head in denial. She clutched her hands together on her chest and the nails dug into her skin. She kept repeating no over and over and Dean groaned and writhed. The old man gave him more of the drink and he settled down. Thad held his friend through the night, rocking him gently and coming to terms with his impending death. Zaza was laid out beside him and whimpered, her hand clutching Dean’s slack fingers.
Throughout the evening, men stopped by and touched Dean on the shoulder in farewell. Thad’s heart twisted. He’d not thought that the gladiators had such empathy, but many did. Felix twisted his hands and left quickly. Atticus thinned his lips and shook his head, then he too left. It was quiet and Aulus laid down in the corner of the room and went to sleep. Thad was glad the old man was near, in case they needed him.
Thad wasn’t sure what time it was but Dean slipped away softy and stopped breathing. Zaza sat up and looked down at her husband. Then she looked up at Thad, large tears reflecting the torchlight around them. A brazier was burning near them and Thad felt the heat of it at his back. He got up and laid Dean’s body down. The physician got up from the floor, he moved slowly, painfully. He walked over and placed his hand on Dean’s neck, then under his nose. It was quiet in the room except for Zaza’s soft weeping.
“Do you want me to take you to your cell?” Thad asked and Zaza shook her head.
“I want to say with my Dean,” she said, her eyes large and luminous. Thad nodded and bent and kissed Dean on the forehead.
“Goodbye brother, I’ll see you one day in heaven. Oorah, Marine,” he whispered softly and turned to leave. He walked back to his cell, his heart near to breaking. He knew it was selfish, but he was grieving for himself. He was alone now. His friends gone. How could he go on? How could he wake up each day and fight and fight and fight? A sob tore at his throat and he wiped viciously at his eyes. He got to the cell and opened the door. There were two torches burning, though the brazier was out. He saw Felix, sitting in his bed, rocking back and forth, his eyes large and sheened with unshed tears. Upon seeing Thad, he let out a long wavering wail and fell to the floor.
He pulled the blanket off his bed and hugged it to him, rocking back and forth. Atticus woke up and looked over and Thad shook his head. Atticus’ face folded in grief and he got up and went to the table. He poured a cup of wine and handed it to Thad. Thad sat on the edge of his bed and drank the wine. Right now, he wished he had a cup of whatever the physician had given Dean. His heart twisted again at the thought of his friend. He sighed heavily and it shuddered through his body.
Felix was crying quietly now and climbed back in his
