The Ambush
by M. C. 
The Roman Empire sends an army to conquer the Amazons

The general proudly watched his army as it marched along the road. It 
was a fine, well trained fighting force;  the envy of the world. With 
armies like this, Rome was able to conquer most of the civilized world. 
Now, Ceasar had ordered him to add the Amazon territories to their 
Empire. They had been marching for several hours now and had yet to see 
a single Amazon. "Maybe they are indeed myths ", the general thought to 
himself. As his army rounded a bend there was a wooded hill off to their 
right. From out of the trees they heard a female voice,  "lost your way 
boys?". The general looked up and saw his first  Amazon warrior. She was 
large, well over six feet tall, and powerfully built. She had long, 
beautiful hair that nearly reached her waist. Wearing next to nothing, 
she appeared like a vision . She had no armour - just a large sword. "I 
think you boys better turn around and go home", she said "or I might 
have to teach you a lesson ". 

The general turned to his second in command, Marcus, a very large man 
who was considered to be one of the best fighters in the empire and 
asked him, "don't you think she'll draw the crowds in when she fights in 
the Coliseum in Rome". " Sure she will", Marcus said, "I'd pay good 
money to see her. With your permission,  I'd like to capture her myself 
".  "Permission granted ". Marcus drew his sword and began to approach 
the woman. "My you're handsome", she said as she retreated into the 
forest. Marcus pursued her. As he disappeared from view, the general 
thought about his triumphant reception when he returns to Rome. The 
parades, showing to captured amazons. The rewards and praises from 
Ceasar ;  it will be great. He heard the sound of swords clashing in the 
woods. After a few seconds the sound stopped. The general frowned. He 
had expected her to last longer that this, maybe she won't be so 
valuable after all. He heard some russeling in the bushes - and then the 
Amazon walked out. She didn't have a mark on her. In her right hand she 
held her sword; in her left Marcus's helmet.  "Well, that was a nice 
warmup", she said as she threw the helmet towards the surprised general;  
"Whose next ?" 

She was standing before them, smiling. Angered, the general ordered a 
squad of five men at take her "dead or alive". They were from an elite 
unit - tough, strong and vicious. The amazon faked fear,  " Oh dear me, 
five big, strong men against one girl. . . . . . . whatever will I do?"  
She backed into the forest again as the men followed. Again there were 
sounds of swords clashing. The general, confident that his men would 
succeed this time, went back to his daydreaming - but not for long. A 
minute later the fighting was over. A minute after that the bushes moved 
and again the Amazon walked out. Like before she didn't have a mark on 
her and, like before, she was carrying helmets - five this time. She 
smiled as she threw them at the stunned general and said,  "I'm really 
glad you boys came along today - sentry duty can be very boring.  Whose 
next ?" 

Now the general had a problem. His whole army had seen this one woman 
defeat, first his finest warrior, then five of his toughest men. . . . . 
. . . by herself. If one single Amazon could do this, than what could an 
army of them do?The general knew that this could destroy the morale of 
his army. Something had to be done, and quickly. He ordered an entire 
platoon - twenty of his best men - to attack her. The mighty woman 
smiled as they drew their swords and ran towards her. She retreated back 
into the forest again. Soon the forest was filled with sounds of war 
cries, clashing swords, yells. . . . . . . . . and then screams. . . . . 
. . . . . . . and then silence. The general and his entire army stood 
quietly. . . . . . . . . waiting. Nobody spoke a word ;  nobody made a 
sound. After a few minutes there was the sound of the bushes moving;  
then the Amazon walked out. Like the previous two times she did not have 
a single mark on her magnificant body. She was pulling a rope behind 
her. Tied to the rope were twenty helmets. She whorled the rope around 
and around before sending the helmets flying deep into the ranks of the 
Roman army. She smiled, put her hands on her hips and said, "I want to 
thank you boys for this lovely workout. Whose next ?" 

The general knew he was beaten. Even if he could overcome this 
'superwoman',  how could he ever hope to conquer an army of Amazons; his 
forces would be massacred -and they all knew it. Still,  he wanted to 
avenge his humiliation at the hands of  this woman. As he was preparing 
to order one hundred men to attack her;  a lone Roman soldier staggered 
out of the woods. He was battered and beaten - but alive. He made his 
way to the general and pleaded, "don't send any more men up there. It's 
a trap - an ambush. . . . . . . . . . . . . . there are two of them ". 
Without any further delay, the general ordered a retreat. As the Roman 
army began it's withdrawal, the soldiers swore they heard the sounds of 
two women in the forest. . . . . . . . . . . giggling. 

SEVERAL HOURS LATER 

When the demoralized Roman army reached the border of the Amazon 
territories and the Roman Empire they were surprised to see a 
magnificant woman sitting on a horse waiting for them. It was, of 
course, the Amazon that humiliated then. Although, she was alone and 
facing an entire army, she knew there was nothing to fear. She boldly 
rode up to the general and said in a calm, but stern voice, "let this be 
a lesson to all of you - LEAVE THE AMAZONS ALONE. Because, if you don't, 
then we'll just have to conquer Rome - and you now know that we can, 
whenever we want to". After she finished her lecture, she clapped her 
hands together twice. From out of a glen nearby another Amazon on 
horseback appeared. Like the first, she was very large ; like the first, 
she was magnificant. As she emerged she was pulling something from 
behind her. All the men gasped when they saw what it was - their comrads 
in arms ;  twenty - four in all. They were battered and beaten. . . . . 
. . . . but alive . . . . . . . . . . and naked. The mighty Amazon 
turned to the general one more time. "As a gesture of good faith I am 
returning your men, but I warn you -this is the first and last time that 
you will recieve mercy from the Amazons. I hope, for your sakes, that 
you understand this. I'm keeping Marcus as my war trophy. I have 'plans' 
for him . And now, if you don't mind, GET OFF OF OUR TERRITORY ". 

After making sure that the Romans were indeed leaving, the two powerful 
women turned around and headed for home. "All things considered,  it was 
a fairly  nice day -wouldn't you say? "one of the Amazons  said to her 
friend. " I'd certainly have to agree with you there ", the other 
replied. The two woman laughed as they rode on. 

The Roman Empire never bothered the Amazons again.