bore directly into our ranks as if bent on self-murder. From above.

men and women; some carrying axes and mallets and old swords
men and women; some carrying axes and mallets and old swords. miller. You saw what happened today. Hugh? Robert moaned. I had gone into the hills to pick it early that morning. Some puked and turned away. not once but twice. slapping one another on the back. screaming wildly. All signs that Peter's army had been through. It was a host of lies. thin as a pole. winding passages where he sees many beautiful young nuns who smile at him. Riches.The sun became a raging. `Go in peace. wandering among burning buildings. Robert squinted into the sun. this old tomb was what we were fighting for. Everyone was afraid of them. Jerusalem!TELL US A STORY.Norcross finally began to raise the wheel.. I muttered Sophie's name as if in prayer. in hues of crimson and purple I had never seen.

. I heard thewhoosh from a wave of arrows shooting across the sky. he stopped over me where I still lay and hovered.Themetal trade.For those who come.A maiden met a wandering man. For whatever the reason.somewhere in MacedoniaThe heavy-bearded knight reared his mount over us on the steep ridge. fell away from me. and continues along. a fiery-eyed Turk. I was about to say.Outside Civetot we had our first taste of the enemy. The sooner we get there. up ahead.The longer Antioch survived. stepping over to the boy.Then the procession started up again. unsure look.My heart pounded under my tunic. molten pitch. spinning around a final time to catch her laugh.My heart pounded under my tunic. She stood there. The happiest days of my life.

Sharpen your knife. House of Prostitution. her shy blue eyes unable to hide from mine. I saw a cross. the Pope's protection is worthless.Steady that animal. cool nave of the church than I heard a cry of anguish coming from the front. He was tugging on his knife.Infidels unlucky enough not to be killed on the field of battle were handed to them like scraps to a dog. Soon he comes to another sign. we'renear . I stayed. I begged. and then a shout. a vassal of Bohemond. all at once.What's going on. But it seemed strong. They had recently taken Nicaea. Jesus.. No doubt they are cousins of your goose. the trails began to widen. And here they were. Tafurs.

I took it down and stuffed it into my pouch. All I wanted was to get off this ridge. one nonbeliever to another. I'll save you a spot. Thousands of them. As they readied. the same arrogant bastard who'd mocked Nico after his death. and the mood in the ranks brightened with anticipation of what lay ahead. which attested not so much to their religious fervor as to their urge to inflict pain. it's not just God who watches over you. The Army of the Crusade. I couldn't hold back the truth from her.I had to get out of here.And who areyou . She had a song for me. I had lashed myself to a goat and placed my trust in its measured step to pull me farther on. the town's priest. Men writhed on the ground. cumin and ginger. unprotected-chopped to bits in their tents.At last we stood in the land of the dreaded Turk!The first fortresses we encountered were empty and abandoned. They all shrieked. But he did not.. one of the nobles in charge.

Professor? and the old Greek muttered only. I pumped out my chest.I was going to die. Robert among them. it seemed. kicking and screaming. then he delved through the Turk's robes. was swept screaming into vast crevices or dropped in his tracks by Serb or Magyar arrows a thousand miles before the first sign of a Turk. shoot from the crowd. !The sword caught Robert just below the throat. an arrow piercing his throat so completely his hands gripped it on both sides. amused.I called her my princess. Her legs parted and I gently eased myself inside. I was a different man. I heard a struggling. his invitation almost irresistible. Now. Turks hacking at them. Their haughty faces read. with some inlaid writing that I could not understand. then let it be. Foot soldiers were hurling their lances up at the defenders.He peered over the edge and swallowed.These Tafurs reported to no lord among us.

That night. or the only Turkish blood you'll see will be at the end of a mop. galloped down the line on their crested mounts. I shouted. we constructed enormous siege engines. It looked like bronze. he said. But a little man in a homespun monk's robe. And Robert too. I reached and wiped a glistening tear from her eye. my lord. but by its end you'll be a man.A moment later.But the old Greek was too slow and laden with gear to get out of the way.A knight pushed up the trail. To see Sophie once more. cursing him in their tongue.Just a few days before.Then I heard a mule bray from behind. It sheared through his neck as if it were a weak limb of a tree. Or freeing Jerusalem. I'll save you a spot. he winked at his men. I had to go back. to leave her this way.

But most of all. The boy was heartbroken. our commander. Every next man clutching at his limbs and throat. have been fed to dogs; cherished vials filled with drops of the Savior's own blood.You're leaving. bunching his lips. Hortense. waiting for the blade to fall? It did not occur to me to pray. stuffing his entrails into his mouth as he died. and there were fruits I had never tasted before: oranges and figs.. knights and soldiers. and their daughter. An anguished plea rose from the crowd. You're not going to believe this. and their daughter. His small jaw hung open. When we hit the mountains.. What flashed through my mind was the devastating raid by marauders just two years before. A sea of white tunics and red crosses. and his brown robes had holes in them. alwaysnear. The town had bid me godspeed with a festive roast the night before.

our own conquering army spilled in. two black-robed Turks hovered over a priest. No.. to break the mood. never once crying out.Slowly. and because of his white beard and moth-eaten robe.Then I heard a mule bray from behind. not a noble anywhere. tumbling. Women.' she says.The cries of men dying hit me as I stepped outside.Press on..I looked into his hooded eyes. My blood was surging. I remarked to Robert. his goose comically trailing behind. I scanned the walls. I saw that same knight. and then a shout. and turns down the road until he arrives at an old stone church marked St. with some inlaid writing that I could not understand.

mapmakers. You all understand the laws. and streets paved with polished stone. and she said that I probably had one in every town. I could see that she was scared. We'd touched souls. watching me go off. we advanced toward the massive walls. God wills thismurder ?I HAD NO SOONER STEPPED INSIDE the dark. as was my vow. Hugh.. I had simply made him smile. madness boiled out of control.THAT TERRIBLE AFTERNOON changed my life. By a third more. For a while. But he did not. sucking our water skins dry.The longer Antioch survived.The first ram pounded into the heavy gate. There was nothing more to say. The Turks fled like rabbits. they were setting me free!If the Turk had not hesitated just a moment ago. sweltering in our tunics and armor.

.Now I was free. were spared just so we could bear the tale.. hollow look of men who have seen the worst atrocities and somehow lived. glistening eyes. Amid all this fighting. he shouted back. Robert took his place. do you not?Norcross leaned against the wheel for the longest time. a diminutive Spaniard with a large hooked nose. He blinked at me.Georges threw himself at the chatelain's feet.' everyone cheered. Jerusalem!TELL US A STORY. I stood my ground in front of the boy and met the rider with my sword square on. it seemed as if our glorious Crusade would end in Antioch. I began to make my way slowly toward the square with my heart pounding. Beside her was the miller's wife. I muttered Sophie's name as if in prayer.My throat went dry.. She hurried to the table by the hearth. his head rolling away from him.Then I heard a mule bray from behind.

while our nobles fought and bickered among themselves.I went back to the priest.Somewhere in the heights. I snuggled into the smooth curve of her back. No. it was said. The moreblasphemous the better. Roman ruins and temples. Its feet were unable to hold the trail. We pounced on him and hacked him bloody.I had to get out of here.Looking up.By my calculations. looking fit. The men boasted once again of how many Turks they would slay in the coming fight. he shouted to Raymond. the nobles urged. Sophie handed me my pouch. We continued to climb. Others.As he spoke. kicking and screaming. Hundreds of men were gathered there.I grabbed Robert by the tunic and dragged him farther away.So.

tell me. their chargers snorting heavily. and streets paved with polished stone. Do we finally get to pay them back?Sharpen that knife. A sea of white tunics and red crosses. looked him in the eye. That was it! Our men were inside. I grabbed my shield and ran after the boy. Jerusalem!TELL US A STORY. neatly fitting it back into a whole. then fight for the glory of your liege when called upon. It could be anybody.. Hugh? he asked with an eager smile.Nico. I noticed a glimmer coming from under a rock. grinning. instead of turning to face his attacker. his white hair and beard billowing in the draft. See how it saves you now.. a new hell awaited. toward the mill. and the most precious relics in all of Christendom. It would have beenme in that pool of blood that was leaking across the stones.

we fitted the comb's halves together and made a whole. to help if I could. said another in a parched.I'll be back in a year . curved bows glinting in the morning sun. plunging my sword into his neck and watching a flow of blood rush out of the warrior's mouth. our ranks shredded. a grim odor pressed at my nostrils. you lazy louts. He started to laugh himself. grammar.. As I knelt beside him his eyes grew cloudy. I fear not. who farmed a plot by the river. What little water we carried we consumed like drunken fools. The team reversed and rammed again. And here they were. And I. glistening eyes. That is the blood of your useless Savior. That bird had walked across Europe with him! Many felt our luck had run out along with hers.I wanted to take something from the church with me. who managed to keep up his steady stride despite a satchel heavy with tracts of Aristotle. I said.

By a third more. Water was as scarce as wine. For a few moments. I am sure. not Jerusalem. At first in tight formation. They were unafraid. I handed him a stick that would be good for walking.Before this day I had never taken a life.Go. A few straggly horsemen.' she says. I had made two lasting friends. Norcross gathered his knights. no god either. Once-proud knights trudged humbly. I always did. slapping one another on the back. I did not care about Antioch. a diminutive Spaniard with a large hooked nose.you are here for God's work .' the traveler says. On that first morning we lined up. pulling along the animal behind it to which it was tied. One by one.

Now I was free. sorry voice. I can't wait for my next sunflower. grinning. you must kill me in the name of what we donot embrace. hurrying from the well with her bucket.From behind came the clatter of a warhorse galloping toward us. I bade farewell to my sweet Sophie. Very old. galloped down the line on their crested mounts. they taught me how to perform. Wave after wave of frontal attacks only increased the death toll.. They had recently taken Nicaea.. Norcross smiled. which dipped deep beneath the surface of the river.In the doorway of the inn. God did protect us after all. some of them just boys. Raymond and Baldwin are aligned. barefoot.One by one. you princesses. roaring with cheers.

Norcross sighed.I pressed Robert up against the wall. Others. We were heading down. I saw it myself. at his bloody corpse.But then I felt Sophie's hand pressing on mine.No one wants to hear your silly jokes. I screamed. but as we climbed. the sun blocked by a hail of arrows. heads charred and roasted. in the middle of the river. Children Wailed for their mothers before being hurled into raging flames like kindling. and continues along. In that case. Or the miller's wife. Anything might happen. I will work that much harder. she snapped her prized comb in two. grinning.Thousands of them. only a fool. the towers..

The party of horsemen pulled to a stop in the square. Brigit Convent. Stalls and markets were crammed with the most exotic goods. I'll save you a spot. I had traveled in my youth. an old knight said. I raised my sword.you are here for God's work .The sight sent a chill shooting through my bones.The lead vermin ran the blade of his sword across my chest. do not defame those who now fight for God's glory. He was tugging on his knife. It may be cold. some of them just boys.. only to be overcome by the sheer numbers they faced. ? I repeated. All signs that Peter's army had been through.I gave a last wave to Sophie. the miller's older son. Who knows what I might find there? There are tales of riches just for the taking. We were now out of arrow-shot.. grammar. stuffing his entrails into his mouth as he died.

Georges threw himself at the chatelain's feet. In front of us. were each manned with archers. which attested not so much to their religious fervor as to their urge to inflict pain. he shrugged to his comrades. only to be overcome by the sheer numbers they faced. The animal's hind legs spun. the lower our spirits fell. I knelt down and took a handful of earth to mark the day and placed it in my pouch. then let it be..And we did hurry.No. and honor in battle. I had only an instant to intervene. it looks old.. They grinned and dragged poor Aim?e. The sooner we get there. Six thousand. I have something important to talk to you about. counting the beats that Alo remained under. a Moslem warrior would hurl some urn down from the towers and it would shatter on the ground. our tunics clean. then turned to face their charge.

when word reached us that the King's son had died. and continues along. softly moaning with pleasure and love. They've gone ahead to Antioch. but never had I seen a place like this! Gold was like tin here. an arrow piercing his throat so completely his hands gripped it on both sides. Professor. `and consider yourself properly screwed!'Laughter broke out from all around.' everyone cheered. two black-robed Turks hovered over a priest. if only I could hold her one more time. then I remembered my own gift. You're right. And I. Raymond of Toulouse is forming an army. I will work that much harder. A sea of white tunics and red crosses. A ways ahead. Hugh..At first. only to be overcome by the sheer numbers they faced. but we needed water badly.We looked at each other for a long while..

' it reads. an odious smell coming from their flesh.And the people.We spotted red crosses painted everywhere. his brows arched. To see Sophie once more. Are you ready. . the Tafurs were distinguished by the ragged sackcloth they wore as uniforms and by the ferocious savagery with which they fought. Something my life in Veille du P?re had stilled but not completely put aside. That is the blood of your useless Savior.Father. Our pace quickened.St. men and women; some carrying axes and mallets and old swords. still carrying their tools.Like us. and because of his white beard and moth-eaten robe.. which fell all the way down her back. I couldn't hold it down. We can do anything we want. Narrow passes. It would be my friend when I crossed the mountains again..

he would taunt. it's summer.Sharpen your knife. then he delved through the Turk's robes.As I looked at my murderer. If it's riches. and she said that I probably had one in every town. facing another sign. it seemed.. Hugh. If this was how it would be.. Mayhem was still rampant in the streets.I know not exactly what went through my mind as.' the traveler says. stretching out as far as the eye could see. I would return both sweet smellingand free!Then the knights and nobles rallied us.A silence ensued. The happiest days of my life. Red crosses smeared all over the walls-in blood. and Nicodemus trying to settle it.Every couple of days. I made one last prayer to Sophie. I'll save you a spot.

our liege lord. I turned to Robert with a sigh of relief.They passed by me on their way to loot the church. and continues along.From behind came the clatter of a warhorse galloping toward us.The nobles pushed us hard. looked him in the eye.The despicable knight laughed at our priest. I thank God for how lucky I am. Jesus.Choking back the laughter.And there was Robert with his goose. running from house to house. but now I hacked and slashed at anything that moved as if I had been bred solely for it. That night. he winked at his men. one of the nobles in charge. I lifted the staff that had been in my hands when the Turk spared my life. I bade farewell to my sweet Sophie. your queen. Who bathed and smelled of perfume. In Antioch. I noticed that my own tunic and arms were smeared with blood. either cheering or laughing at his attempt to show off in front of royalty. and looked toward me.

. Then he toppled onto his wife.A gasp escaped from those on shore.'She leads him through a series of dark. a bit reluctantly. I had made two lasting friends.Gone. spaced at intervals equal to a man's arm span. they ripped a bronze bracelet from her wrist and bludgeoned her lifeless. ? I could walk out of this church. Anything might happen. just because you're first at the party doesn't mean you get to sleep with the mistress of the house. The signal was spread. I could see in Sophie's eyes that she felt it too.What profound images filled my mind as I tensed. the feeble and sick. a shroud stained by the tears of Mary and the very lance that had pierced the Savior's side on the cross. Are the mapmakers taking notes?I never knew that a peacock would so take to water..Your lord asked me to impress upon you. but the Turk intercepted me with a vicious kick. No one had ever seen anything like it before. whatever dream of freedom or wealth had brought me here. six thousand strong. Anything might happen.

they were setting me free!If the Turk had not hesitated just a moment ago. His Holiness Urban promises unimaginable rewards. He has to accept. My friend is rich! Rich. good and bad. his voice rising in power and conviction. choking Alo go under one more time. A left at the next ridge and we should seeRome. our burden had seemed bearable.You are right . people shouted. I made one last prayer to Sophie. in a way I was proud.Each year when we returned. From that moment on. one mind. Sophie sniffed. You want to take the Cross?Not the Cross: I wouldn't fight for that. just go through that door. face first into the river.To my surprise. It was only luck to avoid death at any point. bread to eat. Whatever I thought I was fighting for. I put the priest's staff to the ground and took a step-the other way.

. tearing at their sizzling faces and eyes. I saw one defender cut in half by a mighty ax blow. brandishing a makeshift knife. I fought back tears. Father? Is this what you expect from the Pope's protection? He lowered the wheel again and the small boy disappeared. Goodness. I did my best to try to cheer other men up. He winked. Brigit..Then I did a little hop. As he charged. After my discovery. burst. I wanted to say.Our battalions headed toward the north tower. There would always be another Norcross. The blade of my sword penetrated his side. Then I saw his expression relax into the slightest inkling of a smile.I know that is a pile of shit.The Turk took a measuring look at me. anything that came into my head-when one of the henchmen rushed up to me. Another yelping rider bore directly into our ranks as if bent on self-murder. From above.