Waking in the cramped stone cell of Yuma prison, Ben Wade could hear the man on the other cot coughing.  He'd done that off and on last night, in spite of the extra water he'd had.  Ben had even given him part of his own ration.

Ben turned on the hard, lumpy cot and yawned.  You didn't get much sleep in Yuma.  And what little you did get wasn't restful.  Ben couldn't imagine spending longer than a couple of weeks in the place, which was the longest stretch he'd ever done, due to his abilities at a variety of things, including fast talking and picking locks.

He grinned to himself.  Today, he'd start putting together his plan.  He wasn't quite sure how this crazy man who called himself Maximus fit into things yet, but he was certain that, somehow, he would.

Maximus lay there, coughing, his throat still dry from going so long without water. Another day was beginning. How long would Commodus leave him here before
wanting him to fight in the arena again? He felt somewhat weakened from days with lack of food and the inactivity inherent in being confined to so small a space.
The other man yawned fairly loudly so he knew he'd awakened. Even for a barbarian he was a strange person, spoke oddly of odd things.

As they waited for water and breakfast to arrive, Ben looked the other man over.  Once he had a little food in him and some of his strength back, he could be a big asset in an escape plan.  Provided he was willing to kill to get out of here.

They'd go out to the yard later this morning, Ben knew.  The warden of Yuma wasn't much on being humane to his prisoners, but the man liked to keep to a schedule.  Eying Maximus, Ben asked cautiously, "You been out to the yard here yet?"

"The gladiator practice yard? I have not been there for a number of days now. I have no idea how many."

Ben grunted.  "If you'd been out there, friend, you'd 'member.  What I'm tryin' to figger right now's how to get hold of a pair 'a pants.  That there skirt ain't gonna go over in the yard at Yuma."

"Pants? You are suggesting I need leggings? It is not winter and this is all slaves are given to wear no matter."

"You ain't no slave here, Maximus.  An' even slaves get pants."  Ben had never had the need to get hold of a pair of pants in Yuma, and he hadn't yet come up with a way to get them.

"You go out to the yard like that an' you don' have to worry 'bout bein' no slave.  Jus' bein' made somebody's whore."

Maximus sighed. "You know I have no idea what you are talking about, ben Wade. Everyone but you has on this same tunic."

Now it was Ben's turn to sigh.  "I'm talkin' 'bout-"  He almost tried to explain it, but gave up when he heard the guard, Luke, start distributing the food.  Thin and runny oatmeal that didn't much stick to a man's ribs.  Ben's favorite breakfast was bacon and eggs and, when he was on the trail and couldn't get that, nice fresh rabbit.  He hated oatmeal.  But he was going to need his strength.

He managed to arrange a double portion for Maximus again, knowing the man was still weak from hunger.  Luke huffed about it, but not much, which made Ben smile.  Fear was the most powerful motivator he knew.

As they ate their breakfast, he asked Maximus quietly.  "You up for fightin' much, if you have to?"

"If I have to fight, I am ready, but is there some need arising?"  He had finished his food, grateful for it despite its soupy nature, and was studying ben Wade's
face, trying to piece together some reason for what the man might mean. "You are thinking we may be sent into the arena today?"

"We'll be goin' out to the yard," Ben said shortly.  "An' it's liable to turn into an arena for fightin', if we don't-"  He trailed off, still looking at the tunic Maximus wore.

When Luke came to collect the bowls, Ben looked him coldly in the eye.  "Tell Jimmy I wanna see him."

An uneasy look quickly took over the man's face.  "Jimmy!  The boss man don't like to have to come down here, Wade.  You know that.  He'll git mad at me, iffen I mention it to him."

Ben maintained his hard look.  "An' I'll get mad at you if you don't.  Which one a' us you reckon you'd rather have mad at you, Luke?"

Muttering, the guard moved off.  Ben knew he'd deliver the message.  With a glance at Maximus, he said, "We're gonna find out just how long you've been here."

"I should like to know that. It was a different cell in the beginning, however. It had a wooden door, no cots.  I have no memory of being moved to this one."

"Just what IS the last thing you 'member?"

"I was sitting alone on a dirt floor. No cots, no bars, just rough stone walls, thick wooden door. There was a rat, maybe two. I was hungry, thirsty, especially
thirsty. I either went to sleep or...I don't know. I woke up here."

"Sounds worse'n Yuma," Ben commented laconically, upon hearing there were not even cots.

"What is 'Yuma', ben Wade? The word holds no meaning for me."

The look Ben cast toward Maximus was both incredulous and suspicious.  "Yuma Prison.  It's where you're at right now, friend.  This pleasure palace you see all aroun' you."  He gave a sarcastic grin.

Maximus shook his head. "I have never heard of Yuma Prison.  Is this some new area Commodus has had constructed?  It is unlike anything I have seen before."

"Who the hell's this 'Commodus'?" Ben wanted to know, thinking to himself that his own cellmate was unlike anything he'd ever seen before.  And he'd seen plenty.

"You must know. Surely, you know, ben Wade? It is not possible to be where we are and not know who Commodus is."

Ben sighed, frustrated.  The man was not gonna believe him if he tried to tell him he was in Arizona.  Hell, he prob'ly didn't even know what Arizona was!  Finally, he heard heavy footsteps and grumbling heading toward their cell.  Jimmy.

Glancing at Maximus, he said, "Mebbe now we can find out somethin' useful."

"I should like that, ben Wade. There seems to be much I do not understand."  Foremost among that was how he'd been in one cell and suddenly found himself
in an entirely different one with no memory of the transfer or explanation for the differences in the character of the construct of the place.