breakinglight11 | 31 Plays in 31 Days, #17

I don’t know, this is nothing. I didn’t really have a good idea for today. I know in the novel version of Adonis, I want to expand the cast of the gladiators Aidan fights beside, but there isn’t much in the way of actual substance here. I was kind of stuck for today’s material.

Day #17 - Far From Home
From Adonis
By Phoebe Roberts

AIDAN, a Celtic slave
HAMBA, a Nubian slave
~~~

(AIDAN is in a pack of the enslaved men being marched to Rome. He bumps into HAMBA, who says a few words to him in Nubian.)

AIDAN: Any Latin?

HAMBA: Some. Do you know where?

AIDAN: What?

HAMBA: Where do we go? (Jerking his head) The city?

AIDAN: Yes.

(Pause.)

HAMBA: I have been the length of this country. But never saw the city.

AIDAN: I’ve never been so close.

HAMBA: Where do you come from, with yellow hair?

AIDAN: The islands in the north— they call it Eboracum, in Britannia. You know it?

HAMBA: No. Is it far? I come from across the sea in Nubia, to the south. You know that?

AIDAN: No. But we are both very far from home.

(Pause.)

HAMBA: (Tapping his chest) Hamba.

AIDAN: (Doing the same) Aidan.

HAMBA: Gladiators, they call us. Like the blades?

AIDAN: I suppose. They want us to fight.

HAMBA: Do you fight?

(AIDAN shakes his head.)

AIDAN: And you?

HAMBA: Heh. If I did… I would not be here.

(Pause.)

HAMBA: Hm. No worse than the legions, I think.

AIDAN: Unless we die.

HAMBA: Can die in the legions, too.

31 Plays in 31 Days, #17 - “Far From Home”