Emma & Malcom Peabody

Chapter 9: Ancient Rome

-Mmm...-Peabody started to think on an excuse for having called Malcom "Sherman".-Well, I confused... years don't come along, right?-

The red-haired boy took off his helmet and smiled at him.-Touché-

-Now are you going to listen to me?-

-Well... I think I have no option-

-Do you know the "chariot racing"?-

-I only know car races-answered the red-haired boy confused

-Well... chariot racing was one of the most popular games at Ancient Rome and Greece, in which a person used to be on a cart carried for two or four horses. The carts were on a kind of track and the drivers had to make 7 or 5 turns without falling or... dying.-

-Dying?-he asked realizing the danger of that races.-It sounds fun-he said sarcastic

-Indeed, those races weren't really "entertainment" but apparently in these times people really loved seeing persons being killed...-Mr. Peabody explained.-Anyway, in the present there are many dangerous things that people do for winning money so... unfortunately, we haven't changed so much-

-How long do you think we have until we'll start watching TV programs about someone fighting against a lion?-

The beagle laughed a bit.-The drivers usually were dressed up just like you now, that's why I'm begging you to stay close-

-Alright...-the boy looked at the sides.-By the way, where is Emma?-

Emma was laughing and running away from her brother. She finally had something against him! And even though she'll probably never use it against him... It would be nice to have something to make fun of him. After all, he always makes fun of her, so it was completely fair.

Suddenly, she stumbled with a rock, perhaps because she wasn't watching the road in which she was running. Nothing has happened to her, only her glasses were a bit out of their place. She accommodated them, stood up and took her cellphone looking at the sides, so no one will see her phone. But when she tried to go away, she found her own feet plugged with the same rock which she had stumbled on before.

In that moment, a kind of cart carried for two horses was going directly to her.

The blonde girl suddenly realized her situation: she was going to be crushed by a cart. The young girl tried to take her feet off of there, but she couldn't, it was incredibly plugged in the ground closer to the rock.

-Oh, my!-she screamed desperate. What was she going to do now?

If she had a kind of rope, she could tie it from a tree and forced herself out of that place, but she didn't. She started to find on a kind of situation and in one of her tries of going out, her glasses fell.

Emma picked them up and suddenly she had an idea.

She put her hand, which had the glasses, up and put it in a way in which the sun will be reflected on the glasses, and then she closed her eyes waiting her plan to be successful.

The driver from the cart seemed to don't care about the girl, or seemed to not be able to look at her, but the glasses' reflex did just what Emma wanted. Their reflex made the driver turn aside from the way, so the cart passed by the girl without even touching her... anyway, the driver lost the control from the horses and they crushed against a tree.

She opened her eyes carefully.-I'm fine...-she muttered to herself while she was expecting every single bone of her body.-YES! I DID IT! I'M FINE! Who says that being a nerd is wrong now?-she asked to herself pretty proud of her job

-Yes, YOU did it-said a man behind her

She turned around and saw the crushed cart.-Oh, dear! I'm sorry-

-You must be it, gnome!-the driver screamed to her

-Gnome?-

-Yes, you're pretty short for you age, lady-

-I'm eight-

-Really? You look older-

She stood at him confused. Older? She really didn't seem older.

-What is going on out there?-screamed someone inside the cart before opening its door

The stranger seemed to be really angry and anxious. Once he was out, he went directly to shout to the driver.-You are in so much trouble, slave!-

-Hold on!-protested Emma defending the poor driver who didn't have anything to do with what has happened. Yeah, he hasn't seen her, but she was starting to think on a theory to explain that.-It wasn't his fault-

-I don't need your help...-whispered the driver looking down

-Who was driving the cart?-asked the man angrier

-Well... he, but I was the one who made him go out of his way-

-So, it was the little protesting girl's fault, right?-

-Who do you think you are to call me like that?-she growled

The man laughed.-You don't really know who I am?-

-Should I know you?-

-It would be really strange if you actually don't know me...-

The blonde girl stared at him trying to recognize his face. She was almost sure that she has seen him before... but she didn't know who he was. She didn't even know the exact year in which they were.

-Are you a kind of prince or something like that?-she asked finally

-Something like that...-he took a deep breathe to present himself.-My name is Julius Caesar-

Emma gulped and tried to run away, but she was still stopped up by the rock.-Oh, my... I'm REALLY sorry, majesty...-she made a reverence.-I haven't recognized you...-she looked down and started to pray... she never believed in God, but now that she didn't have any other way out, she prayed.

-Why have you made my driver gone out from its way?-

-It's just that... I'm stopped up by this rock and I saw the cart coming to me and I didn't see another way out-

-And how come haven't you seen her?-asked Julius to the driver

-I... I just... I haven't... you're lying!-

-I have a theory that can explain why he hasn't seen me. Could you please come closer?-she took off her glasses and she put them on to the driver.-So?-

-Wow! This is like a new world!-the slave said.-I have never seen this world so clearly...-he turned to face Emma.-Yes, you don't look older than eight-

The girl smiled.-Like I've suspected: he's short-sighted, which means he can't see things which are away from him, just like me-

Caesar raised an eyebrow and started to inspect the strange appliance that was on his driver's face. Then, he touched his chin, as if he was thinking and smiled.

-You... can see things better wearing those stuff?-the king finally asked

-Exactly, their lens are magnifying glass with different kind of enlargement depending on the person who wears it and its necessities-explained the blonde taking her glasses and putting them on again

-Have you invented them?-

-No, no, no...-

-But do you know how to make them?-

-Mmm... Yeah, but I don't think I could make them with the exactly...-

-Perfect! They are brilliant; I'll pay you to make many of these... "Things"-

-I would love to be the king's inventor, really, but I need to find my family and...-She forced her feet out again.-And go out from here-

-Perhaps I can help you with that-decided Julius Caesar.-Please slave-he said to the driver.-Bring some soldiers to help this girl out-

-Of course, your majesty-he said walking out

-Now... mmm... your name was?-asked the king trying to help her out

-I'm Emma-

-Emma? What a peculiar name-he thought out loud making her laugh a bit. On her times, the name "Emma" wasn't a really "peculiar name".-What's so funny?-

-Well, in the place where I come from my name is really used-

-Where are you from?-

-Mmm... A place far away from here-she said trying not to give more clues

-Let's go to the closest village to ask if someone has seen Emma-proposed Peabody

-Can't you just smell her or something like that?-asked Malcom trying to give him another alternative which can work better

-Do you see me as a "tracker dog"?-questioned the beagle a bit offended

-No, but you are still a dog, right? And I bet you can do that... if you propose to-he muttered to himself

-Another thing moreover our sense of smell is that dogs can hear really quietly sounds... like your last comment, my dear Malcom-

He made an innocent smile.-I was just trying to give an idea, that's all-

Mr. Peabody sighed.-Never mind, its ok-

-Why does it bother you so much to be a dog?-the boy suddenly asked making his grandfather stop his walk and get completely frozen.-Wow... don't answer me if it makes you act this way-

-I'm not like this because of your question-the genius pointed to something that was in front of him

Malcom looked up and saw his sister traveling inside a cart beside a stranger.

-Who's that, Mr. Peabody?-asked the red-haired boy confused

-That, Malcom, is Julius Caesar, the...-

-Uh! I know who he is, he's a king, right?-he suddenly stared even more confused than before.-IS EMMA BESIDE A KING?-

-I think so...-

-How... how has she done it?-

-Well, Emma is pretty smart and knows a lot of stuff... moreover, she is almost the same age than Julius' son-

-Are you serious? Do you think a prince can fall for her?-

-Why not? She is pretty, and I'm not saying it only because she's my granddaughter-

-She is a freak!-

-Malcom, being different isn't something bad. Almost every time, being different is the best thing that could have ever happened to you-

The red-haired boy stared at that phrase a bit oppressed.-Let's just save her-

-Good idea... we have only to follow them and in the moment in which they get alone, we'll get her and get out of here-

-And how are we going to follow a moving cart?-

Peabody smiled.-There is something you need to know...-he took Malcom's helmet and threw it to one of the cart's horses making it stop.-I always have a plan-

In the moment in which they stop, Malcom and Peabody got closer to the cart.

-Excuse me, sir-said the beagle to the driver.-Would you please tell me if I am able to talk to the king?-

The driver said no with his head.-Of course no, but if you want to see him, you can go to The Circus Maximus to watch the chariot racing there beside his son-

-Yeah, alright... I was scared of that answer. Look, I really need to talk to him-repeated the beagle

Making a good use of the talking, Malcom picked up his helmet and put it on again.

-And look, I really can't let you talk to him, so, move on!-he said making the horses ride again

-What's your plan now, genius?-questioned the boy almost making fun of him

-You'll come back to the WABAC while I'll go for your sister-

-WHAT? WHY I HAVE TO STAY THERE?-

-Because they are going to The Circus Maximus, where the chariot races are effectuated, and if they see you dressed up this way-he said pointing his soldier's clothes.-They will make you be part of the races-

-I'm eight years old!-

-They don't care about that! They only want a good entertainment! And the public loves kids-

-Yeah, but they don't love seeing them die! Do you really think they are as crazy?-

-No, "crazy" isn't the word, the word is "unconscious"-

-Whatever!-

-Malcom Peabody, you're going to the WABAC right now or I'll tell your parents about this trip!-Peabody threatened

-Mean!-

-Go!-he screamed pointing the way

-Ok! I'll stay closed inside a time machine while Emma is passing time with the royalty! That's unfair!-he said walking away

-You know how to go to the WABAC?-asked Mr. Peabody touching his temple because of a headache

-No, thank you, I'm not as silly as you think yet-answered the boy making a tantrum

Peabody sighed. But he knew Malcom couldn't go with him, if he goes, they will make him be on the race... and if he was on the race, he will die. He preferred him to make a tantrum and not to die.

-"I'll tell your parents about this trip"-was saying Malcom imitating his grandfather's voice.-Emma is pretty, smart and PERFECT!-he screamed angrily.-Why everyone prefers her?-He said kicking some leaves that were on the ground.-"Different isn't bad"-he grumbled.-"Has something happened to Emma?"-he said imitating his father's voice.-AHH!-he shouted angrily

-Hey, what are you doing here?-asked a man behind him

-Oh, great, another stranger... let me guess, with the luck I have, you must be a hangman!-

-Wow, I like your attitude, little one-

-I'm not a "little one"! I'm eight and a half!-

-Hold up there, beast! Do you know chariot races?-

-Yeah, my grandfather told me that they were dangerous-

-Dangerous... but... amazing too!-

-Isn't it only to kill people as an entertainment?-

-Perhaps...-the man looked down.-But if you win or at least stay alive, you can become really famous and... Rich-

-Rich?-

-Yeah, don't you know? They pay the drivers... and we need a new driver actually, and you're dressed up as one of them. So, I bet that race wouldn't be the first one, right?-

-Actually, I'm not a driver-he said turning around and walking away

-Stop there, slave! Come back to The Circus right now!-

-See me leaving!-screamed Malcom walking away

Someone took Malcom by the Arm.-No, you are not-said the man finally making the red-haired gulp

To be continued

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