Part Two


The next day, at high noon, Max gathered his fellow gladiators beneath the arena. This time, the helmets chosen were more appropriate.

The waterboy brought them all some Tiber water before the fight. Max lifted his glass in salute to his team.

He smelled the dirt under one fingernail (all the rest had been, alas,
washed).

Though "clean" was not really their state after having been in the basin, one fears.

Max had spent the morning exercising, so he felt ready to face

the much larger Tigris in the arena.

Carefully, Max checked out what surprises Herodamus had planned for him beyond the closed arena gates.

Then he shaved...

gave his dog a long, last, lingering look...

gathered his weapons

and, at last, felt prepared to walk out into the blazing sun.

He clashed violently with one gladiator after another...

...then...fearing some damage to his two front teeth...

...checked quickly in a nearby mirror.

He was pleased to note his beautiful self was entirely intact...and so

he returned to the ongoing battle in the arena once more.

The enemy gladiators just kept coming.

He sustained many flesh wounds to the liver and sideburns.

But, finally, he was able to get the drop on Herodamus himself!

He grabbed Herodamus forcefully by the neck...

then stopped a moment to thoughtfully consider his next move.

He looked far to the left at those gathered in the arena.

Then he looked far to the right.

He looked up...

He looked down to the left...

he looked down to the right...

he looked up to the left...

then he said..."Wait a minute...hold everything..."

stuck his sword in the sand...

and offered to arm wrestle Herodamus to the death.

Herodamus escaped by cutting Max's belt...

which made Max really angry.

He thought he saw Herodamus escaping through the palace garden.

But when he went to check, it was just Quintas planting petunias.

He roared in his fury at Herodamus' escape...

then sought comfort in Lucilla's arms.

He was glad to note Lucilla had become more politically correct these days and had replaced her fox fur trim with white satin.

Just then, Herodamus leapt out from the shadows, grabbing Max by his beautiful head of hair.

Max, however, did NOT like to be interrupted when he was with his Lucilla.

He threw Herodamus into a large mud puddle

Which left Max happy...but quite muddy.

Max had to wait a long time to get into the bathroom

But when it was his turn, he made the most of it.

Then he and Lucilla spent the rest of the evening at the beach, dancing in the fading light.