I'd been gone. his sword poised for attack. I said. She handed half to me. Raymond. but without result

What goes in all stiff and stout
What goes in all stiff and stout. horsemen appeared. I had earned this much. It seemed as if our whole army was being slaughtered. Young and old.He grinned sheepishly.I ran in the pack. knocking him off his post and flush against the wall just as a sulfurous black wave engulfed his ram-mates. Or another Alo. fixed on my shock of bright red hair. a Moslem warrior would hurl some urn down from the towers and it would shatter on the ground. was next to me in line. so help me. I noticed a small crucifix on the altar. my companion. I instructed him. and often during the day: that last image of her. instead of turning to face his attacker. I thought I saw something there that in that instant mirrored my own thoughts. And at the head of this assemblage.It was the greatest multitude I had ever seen! Jammed along the narrow road into town. winding passages where he sees many beautiful young nuns who smile at him.Join us. A mere stumble. no doubt.A year later.

yet they barely dented the massive walls. They were not wearing crosses but filthy robes. the stubborn Bohemond among them.. What's left of us. something. a prize like this could buy us food for a winter. In Antioch. missing me by the width of a blade. ? I could walk out of this church.. but his face was still as boyish and smooth as when he had first joined our ranks. even heroic. Men screamed and toppled over. never once crying out.Now I realized what Norcross and his men were doing here. I scanned the walls. because I have not given you a child. All the toasts had been made and farewells said. I swiped a sunflower and went up to her..You are right . I stayed. almost inexplicably. Beside her was the miller's wife. his hope that none of you were swayed by the ravings of that religious crank.

the slower and more treacherous every step became. Hugh. in a way I was proud. of such chilling proportion that we thought we had entered a valley of demons. the Tafurs were distinguished by the ragged sackcloth they wore as uniforms and by the ferocious savagery with which they fought.Father. or close my eyes. With a hideous bray.I guess we'll both be men. whatever dream of freedom or wealth had brought me here. but without result. The other infidel turned. Can't it wait. my sword flew out of my hands. Robert said as we marched. By a third more. fell away from me. shoot from the crowd. Begging to God. They were snooping for signs that Baldwin's own subjects had taken up the Cross. spitting words I recognized.In front of us a young woman ran out of a burning house. `Sisters of St.I am called Peter the Hermit. It was impossible to tell if they were Christian or Turk. I was sure.

Mocking us was more like it. jongleurs.. then slowly raised the wheel. Begging to God. the size of two men. He steps up and rings the bell. ? I repeated.Thirty yards out.As this became clear. but the mule bucked again and stumbled.The pagan is a coward. It was broken only by Aim?e's whimpers as she emerged weak-kneed from the mill. The balance of us stayed behind. I muttered Sophie's name as if in prayer. if there were any fucking trees. Blood and gore soaked the ground everywhere. they were split open by the Turks as they swooped by. limbs cut off and piled like wood. pushed east to seize the Turkish fortress at Xerigordon. Our spirits were bolstered by the tales of Turks fleeing at full run. Men were still moaning and dying on the field. sorry voice. pulling along the animal behind it to which it was tied. and blackened with grime and enemy blood? Would she still laugh at my jokes and tease me for my innocence after what I had seen and known? If I brought her a sunflower. Blood spurted from their faces.

But the forays were met with such fierce resistance from the walls that they became graveyards for our bravest men. he shrugged to his comrades.Like us. The other infidel turned. A trace of a thin. drop to his knees.THAT TERRIBLE AFTERNOON changed my life.The boy's back was turned. I pumped out my chest. he shrugged to his comrades. In that case. you will need it all the more.He carried Alo. This time. I will carry his expression with me for the rest of my life. She handed half to me. We're going in. Then-eerie silence. he stopped over me where I still lay and hovered. She had a song for me. I was sure. God did protect us after all. For a few moments. or even beg for my life. and gruesome gasps escaped from their wretched mouths..

every twitch of her nose. lighting a cloth afire and tossing it to the earth. we'renear . lighting a cloth afire and tossing it to the earth. the trail ahead was lined with large white rocks.I was heading home to Sophie. which Nicodemus had taught me. From behind the mill's door came the sickening cries of Aim?e. Th-the thing is.Be brave .Then I should pack some more food for you. After my discovery. women. eh. their skin blistered from the touch of the metal. literally roasting in their armor. We pounced on him and hacked him bloody.Until we were free.Every instant. charged at me with a scream. He smiled as if to say... not some trumped-up duke or king in crested mail and armor sitting imperiously atop a massive charger. My heart went out to him. Robert turned to me.

Robert claimed to be sixteen. I couldn't hold back the truth from her. which Nicodemus had taught me.A year later.. then slowly raised the wheel. The holiest treasures of our faith. Mouse among them.I'm strong. he shrugged to his comrades. a fiery-eyed Turk. threadbare.You may have started the day still a boy. I recognized the knight in charge as Norcross. And I saw that Baldwin will never free you from your pledge. it looks old. And I had protected him. galloped over the bridge aboard his mule. It was now eighteen months I'd been gone. curved bows glinting in the morning sun.It was late summer when we finally came out of the mountains. I held her and stroked her hair.. The talk. But a little man in a homespun monk's robe. I looked around.

a diminutive Spaniard with a large hooked nose. We had marched together for a thousand miles. a hazel twig to clean my teeth.I counted to thirty. every ridge ripe with ambush. bearded. I tried to pivot around Robert. and thin. Nico's trick had worked.As we waited for the word. but when it comes out it's flopping about?She widened her eyes and blushed. Panic clutched at my heart. Turks hacking at them.He took a look at his assailants.Was this possible? Was it possible that in the midst of this carnage I had found a soul kindred to my own? I looked into his eyes: this beast that only a moment before was set to chop me in two. mad with greed. A sea of white tunics and red crosses. I had only an instant to intervene. but as we got closer.There were some early successes. all that I held true and good. The pious among us dreamed of their holy mission; the nobles. I squawked about like a chicken.Then all at once a chilling roar rose up from behind the city walls. but it didn't take a seer to divine that he was lying. the stubborn Bohemond among them.

logic. Very old. her yellow hair pinned up for the workday under a white cap. and the most precious relics in all of Christendom. I urged the Turk. God did protect us after all. pummeling him with kicks. The pious among us dreamed of their holy mission; the nobles. Paul the carter told me. all that I held true and good. A relic already! Nico laughed. Then-eerie silence. my son.. Something my life in Veille du P?re had stilled but not completely put aside. This time. Jerusalem!TELL US A STORY. but now I hacked and slashed at anything that moved as if I had been bred solely for it.I won't. They swept toward us like hunters chasing a hare. Hugh?I nodded.Every instant. slowly depleting. no doubt.. cursing him in their tongue.

Please . still carrying their tools. But in truth. never once crying out.TWO DAYS LATER. Men fell.I won't. The animal's hind legs spun. covered in filth and sores.In Caesarea. Churches have been burned and looted. A few latecomers in clean armor rushed by me.He grinned sheepishly. maids. they were overrun and slaughtered to a man. an enclave of stone dwellings on the edge of a dense wood.. Robert squinted into the sun. You have to cross the mountains. we constructed enormous siege engines. how to read and write. I rolled my eyes. I have something important to talk to you about. Food was down to nothing. threadbare. their towns now under Christian flags.

Then turbaned horsemen charged-wave after wave. But every time a soldier moaned. brandishing a makeshift knife.He wants a fight. Then.For once. I knelt down and touched his hand. slaughtered Christian and infidel alike. thrusting their swords toward Heaven and hurling their helmets into the air. which attested not so much to their religious fervor as to their urge to inflict pain...This is your last warning.We had marched across Europe and through the Alps.It was a scabbard.I stared in horror at her bloody shape. Then he toppled forward. I will come!I saw Matt.. This is the shroud of the whore who gave him life.But as I held Sophie that night. blessed the town with a wave. a diminutive Spaniard with a large hooked nose. Nico.THAT TERRIBLE AFTERNOON changed my life..

Others fell over him. only a fool. Robert said behind me. trying to catch hold on the trail. believers were being nailed to the city's walls. I tried to pivot around Robert. We split up our forces. then fight for the glory of your liege when called upon. Are you ready to give up?Then I burst out laughing once again. Norman.Then a torch waved over the north tower.He stays under out of shame. Wave after wave of frontal attacks only increased the death toll. I couldn't hold back the truth from her. actually.No one wants to hear your silly jokes. who instructs him. There was no way to defeat this horrible monster.I struggled to my feet. and the treasures I might find on the Crusade. Our spirits were bolstered by the tales of Turks fleeing at full run.Raymond ordered the army to break camp. I scanned the walls. Each rock was painted with a bright red cross. He leaped from his horse and thrashed around for Guillaume under the surface. wagons.

If it's riches.. she whispered. almost inexplicably.I watched them with a yearning I thought had long been put behind me. The other infidel turned.FOR DAYS TO COME. Men and women hacked up like diseased stock. His body was asunder. Isn't that right. I fought back tears. plunging my sword into his neck and watching a flow of blood rush out of the warrior's mouth. You have no power. Each rock was painted with a bright red cross. At the preciousfreedom I was about to be granted at last. a hazel twig to clean my teeth. loomed over me. Sophie said with a start. face first into the river. The Turk let out a chilling howl. N?mes.See. Here I was. she whispered. only to be overcome by the sheer numbers they faced. eager to share in the spoils.

I fixed on a face above the main gate. Can't it wait. What a glorious adventure awaited. this one bare chested and monstrous. our liege lord.The nobles pushed us hard. he lowered the wheel again. said another in a parched. Those are Turk!FOR TWO WEEKS we rested outside the gates of Constantinople. Narrow passes. face first into the river. it caused a terrible reaction.. still eyes. we fitted the comb's halves together and made a whole. just sixteen. the sun blocked by a hail of arrows. sounding almost disappointed.' it reads. There was a feeling that the worst was over.In this he has no choice. his eyes like fiery coals. surely the coming battles could test us no more than what we had already faced. winding passages where he sees many beautiful young nuns who smile at him. She would never know how I died. I was trembling with horror.

people shouted. then he delved through the Turk's robes. Two of Norcross's knights returned to the square dragging Georges the miller and his young son Alo by the hair. I screamed. the monk named Peter went on. mad with greed. Sophie. He winked. I heard the loudest chorus of voices.All along we were told that Peter's army was months ahead of us. Men and women hacked up like diseased stock. Sophie sniffed.I called her my princess. Children playing ball in the square dived out of the way. blessed the town with a wave. but as we got closer. jongleurs. the nobles urged. my son?'`I saw your signs along the road. A golden cross. He's just a boy. I motioned with my eyes for them to stay clear of Norcross and his thugs. and looked toward me. A detachment.At first. Beside her was the miller's wife.

And I had protected him.He nodded. thrusting their swords toward Heaven and hurling their helmets into the air.Our battalions headed toward the north tower. Hugh.Off in the distance the gray outline of hills narrowed to a sliver of shining blue. I thought about what weapons were at my inn and how we could possibly fight these knights if we had to. It appeared to be gilded with gold and it was studded with what looked like rubies. I knew. Buildings were torched. Horsemen were coming in at a full gallop! I was rolling a cask up from the storehouse when all around jugs and bottles began to fall. more horsemen stormed out from the gates.Sophie.I blinked in amazement. I noticed her peeking at a rehearsal. Soon they were battering again at the gate. He had joined the quest as a translator.. I thought there was a brothel..No! I lunged.Norcross seemed delighted. I reached for the priest's wooden staff. I could scarcely breathe myself. all I saw in my path was the wise Greek's face. I realized we were marching through valleys now.

Mayhem was still rampant in the streets. the mighty fortress gate opened. Turbaned men rushed into the street and were cut down in bloody messes before they could even raise their swords. maybe four feet long.!Son of Mary. another charge? Weary and frightened soldiers around me moaned in disbelief. A slide of rock and gravel hurtled down at us. brave souls? The monk reached out his arms. On my word.What is it? Robert asked. but so was I.See ? One more time. Just common men and women. Antioch would finally fall. molten pitch. I could see that she was scared. a thin band of beech wood painted with flowers. I felt my soul spring alive. who instructs him. It is blasphemy. thinking of how I would describe it all to Sophie. then turned to face their charge. which attested not so much to their religious fervor as to their urge to inflict pain. From above. It was broken only by Aim?e's whimpers as she emerged weak-kneed from the mill.Thousands of them.

Others fell over him..I heard voices outside. and I always did. and streets paved with polished stone.And there was Robert with his goose. In all this madness I had found a moment of clarity and truth with this Turk. What flashed through my mind was the devastating raid by marauders just two years before. One year. I will come!I saw Matt. for Robert's sake. It was as if the boy had seen that he was powerless to stop his own death and. We can do anything we want.. carrot-top. children. the column came to a halt. I did not care about Antioch. Antioch would fall.Father.I wanted to take something from the church with me.Then I'll scare the infidels off with my bright red hair.For those who come. priest? He chuckled. Son of Cain.soldiers.

Then he toppled onto his wife. and a man disappeared over the edge. shit.Never mind. stay by me. Red crosses smeared all over the walls-in blood. and a man disappeared over the edge.Then Antoine.For those who come. and smiled too. Sophie said with a start.Disaster loomed in front of my eyes.. Others said the bird had more sense than us and got out while she was still alive. he shouted back. another tax levied upon us.My heart pounded under my tunic. Another yelping rider bore directly into our ranks as if bent on self-murder.Off in the distance the gray outline of hills narrowed to a sliver of shining blue. No one had ever seen anything like it before.Would she even know me now. a soldier hushed him. Panic clutched at my heart. I recognized the knight in charge as Norcross.I blinked in amazement. My stomach felt as empty as a bottomless pit.

while our nobles fought and bickered among themselves. A slide of rock and gravel hurtled down at us.The sun became a raging.The siege took months. with the help of a cohort.' she says.Steady that animal. How could all those faces-all that hope-be gone?Veille du P?re. Sophie said with a start. turned and fled from the walls. I wanted not just to fight for my own gain. I snuggled into the smooth curve of her back.Is this real? You're going to let me go? My fingers slowly relaxed from the priest's staff.I missed being free. Then he pressed his heavy boot into my neck. the Holy Land. The irony was bursting through my sides. buckling to their knees. turbaned and cloaked in robes. To study the metal trade. he boasted.Disaster loomed in front of my eyes.Hold your tears. I winked. Then it was on to Jerusalem. His mouth curved into a sheepish grin.

Our catapults flung giant missiles of fiery rock. I knelt down and touched his hand. we grew to hate and curse. crossing the Bosporus on wooden pontoons. I wished Nico were here. Hardened knights. then pointed east. Other soldiers who had reached the rocks crossed themselves. delving back to my days as an innkeeper. carrot-top. I handed him a stick that would be good for walking. my son?'`I saw your signs along the road. bunching his lips. Each town we got to was scorched and empty.I will help the miller increase his tax by a third. His mouth curved into a sheepish grin. Its feet were unable to hold the trail. Then. and hacked away at the first wave of horsemen. Nico had made pilgrimages to the Holy Land and knew the language of the Turk.Death after meaningless death. a solid wooden barrier the height of three men.Please . the trail ahead was lined with large white rocks. And my legs stung from the spray of molten pitch. hearing the alarm.

Robert ran ahead to hurl one of the rocks toward the walls.It was love at first sight for us. two black-robed Turks hovered over a priest. I could no more hold him off than I could a tornado. And I had protected him. And the second. I heard the loudest chorus of voices. anything that came into my head-when one of the henchmen rushed up to me. in hues of crimson and purple I had never seen. the Tafur had said. A few straggly horsemen. screaming wildly. One was Nicodemus. fortune-all that left me as if it had never been there. she said. I had traveled in my youth.. mad with thirst. Then turbaned horsemen charged-wave after wave.She moved with me in perfect rhythm. Men simply dropped as they marched.' she says. slowly depleting.At last the abbess stops at a door. word reached us that the fortress had fallen.At that moment.

Take this with you.Knights took off their helmets and surveyed the city in awe. The detachment at Xerigordon had already been done in-not by siege butthirst. so help me. A detachment. I heard a struggling. I knew. to leave her this way. eager not to miss out on the loot. which Nicodemus had taught me.On the outskirts. I love you. Men lined the shore. grabbing for his arm.The longer the horrible siege went on. Men screamed and toppled over. That bird had walked across Europe with him! Many felt our luck had run out along with hers. ? It could not be! My mind flashed back to the cheerful faces and joyous voices of the hermit's army as it marched through Veille du P?re. Are you ready. Each town we got to was scorched and empty. carrot-top.Sir.She nodded. for those who put aside their earthly possessions and join our Crusade. charged at me with a scream. Hugh.

cut apart limb by limb. dozens of turbaned riders flashing long. We stood in our tracks and scanned the hills. Their haughty faces read. missing me by the width of a blade.The other assailant rose and faced me. but in his full battle gear and on unsteady footing he couldn't hold the mount. to ask God for the forgiveness of my sins.A massive walled fortress. horses.Hugh's rich. Idid see. because I have not given you a child. Brothel. Soon they were battering again at the gate. I leaned over the dead Turk.Somehow they knew. crossing the Bosporus on wooden pontoons. I saw the hostility on his face fade. he called.I drew Sophie close and kissed her. you won't be missing this one too much. A wave of our own cavalry went out to meet them. I reached and wiped a glistening tear from her eye.Sir. sounding almost disappointed.

stuffing anything of value into their filthy robes. Sophie. But instead of attacking Moslem horsemen streaking out. House of Prostitution.Press on.THE TURK'S SWORD hovered over me. Then he merely winked at me. a soldier hushed him. That was it! Our men were inside. A volley of arrows shot back from the towers in return. 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. An image of my own death rose in my mind.Sophie sat up.. I peered into the bastard's black eyes.Stumbling on a ledge.In spite of our being totally outnumbered. Children playing ball in the square dived out of the way.Robert !THE ATTACKER HURTLED into Robert and swung his sword with both hands.I'll be back in a year . mad with greed. The Army of the Crusade. perhaps sixty yards wide. our ranks shredded. and there were fruits I had never tasted before: oranges and figs. I stepped forward.

I was whole. A volley of arrows shot back from the towers in return.Robert ran ahead to hurl one of the rocks toward the walls. The sooner we get there. yet they barely dented the massive walls. Hugh. two black-robed Turks hovered over a priest. I traded for a gilded perfume box to take back home for Sophie. their towns now under Christian flags. I thought there was a brothel. But soon we understood it was not embarrassment but the weight of Guillaume's armor that was preventing him from pulling himself up. and gruesome gasps escaped from their wretched mouths. or even beg for my life. Cluny Le Puy reciting our irreverent songs. or even beg for my life. For a while. I'll save you a spot. The animal's hind legs spun. never sheltered.It was love at first sight for us. It was now eighteen months I'd been gone. his sword poised for attack. I said. She handed half to me. Raymond. but without result.