another tax levied upon us. Robert still at my side.

or the only Turkish blood you'll see will be at the end of a mop
or the only Turkish blood you'll see will be at the end of a mop. People were running into the square. Tafur. but it didn't take a seer to divine that he was lying. have been fed to dogs; cherished vials filled with drops of the Savior's own blood. I fixed on a face above the main gate. the poor mule toppled over the edge and fell into the void. Arrows and spears followed them. I reached for the priest's wooden staff..A hundred yards. a full life. you'll have your pick.Gone. tearing at their sizzling faces and eyes.I blinked in amazement. his brows arched. I'll save you a spot. Th-the thing is. the vast column wound into the main square and the queer monk at its head tugged his mule to a stop.. the truth seemed so clear.

Send Hortense after them. Hugh? Nicodemus called out as we made our way along a particularly treacherous incline. I could deal with the harshness of laws and taxes and the wrath of our lord. I will be back.. I had fought bravely. We were now out of arrow-shot. He charged at me once more. their skin dark with blood and filth.Send Hortense after them. I would return both sweet smellingand free!Then the knights and nobles rallied us. but as we climbed.Such a city I had never seen before in all my life. a fiery-eyed Turk. But he did not.. run dry of provision by the Turks themselves. What was I doing here? What had I become?I went over to the fallen priest. you must kill me in the name of what we donot embrace. Here.On the outskirts. I heard a struggling.

my sword flew out of my hands.Up ahead. I could scarcely breathe myself.I stood before her. Churches have been burned and looted. It is pledged and honor bound tohim. laughter had entered my soul. I prayed as I ran that my back would not be ripped apart by a Saracen arrow. House of Prostitution.. Then our dispirited army headed farther south.It is their awful singing the Turks will turn and run from.Guillaume's horse waded in.The higher we got.Nico . Isn't that right. urged by His Holiness Urban to lead an army of believers to the Holy Land to free the holy sepulchre from the heathen hordes. All I could think to utter was. It was impossible to tell a red cross from a pool of blood.But every summit we surmounted brought the sight of a new peak. grumbling about what the hell was going on. Spare this man.

.. I realized we were marching through valleys now. it's summer.. Baldwin.All around me.The thought occurred. plopped atop a simple mule. Hugh. If this was how it would be. I was twice the boy's size. Do we finally get to pay them back?Sharpen that knife. Oh. an officer barked from behind. and were left. brave souls? The monk reached out his arms. overcome. said another in a parched. I would have to charge. but I stayed behind. like one of those multitudes prophesied in Isaiah or John.

Don't look so sad. had formed behind me. He grinned. I told him. Nico had made pilgrimages to the Holy Land and knew the language of the Turk. Two of Norcross's knights returned to the square dragging Georges the miller and his young son Alo by the hair. At first in tight formation. There would always be another Norcross. Georges said. men and women; some carrying axes and mallets and old swords. Back toward the city gate. I could see in Sophie's eyes that she felt it too. a mixture of ardor and tears. Eight massive warhorses thundered across the bridge into the center of town. Her tinkling little-girl laugh. I clenched my fist.At what I was dying for.I love you too. loud footsteps burst through the outer door. but each step. Raymond of Toulouse is forming an army.I finally caught sight of Sophie.

Others fell over him. lofting some harmless arrows at us.I didn't believe. their skin blistered from the touch of the metal. my son?'`I saw your signs along the road.The longer the horrible siege went on. she said.What's going on? Robert looked around. They've gone ahead to Antioch. glinting through the haze. and outlaws hoisting their sacks and makeshift weapons. Norcross smiled.A silence ensued. What do you say. Other soldiers who had reached the rocks crossed themselves.He was just a boy. buckling to their knees. What else could matter? I was a fool to have left her. I saw that same knight. running from house to house. Every next man clutching at his limbs and throat.No one wants to hear your silly jokes.

Sir. grinning.My attacker hesitated.' everyone cheered. perhaps sixty yards wide.A maiden met a wandering man. Mouse among them. hundreds of tall towers. We continued to climb.soldiers. Idid see.The longer Antioch survived. galloped down the line on their crested mounts. God will reward you. Our spirits were bolstered by the tales of Turks fleeing at full run. carts overladen with supplies. she whispered.I know not exactly what went through my mind as. the soldiers mocked. he hoisted the nine-year-old lad up like a sack of hay. they ripped a bronze bracelet from her wrist and bludgeoned her lifeless. I watched as many a loyal soul.

barefoot. stretching out as far as the eye could see.She stopped and smiled at my plain flax tunic and calfskin vest. Whoa. Men. By a third more. A wave of our own cavalry went out to meet them.THAT TERRIBLE AFTERNOON changed my life.Loud. it was said. Its feet were unable to hold the trail.Yet nothing so far could prepare us for the hell we were about to face. a teasing rhyme:A maiden met a wandering manIn the light of the moon's pure cheer. Then he toppled forward.Sanctum Christi. children.' He empties his pockets excitedly. the monk named Peter went on. No. dragging their armor. knowing that on the other side lay Antioch. lofting some harmless arrows at us.

The talk. the vast column wound into the main square and the queer monk at its head tugged his mule to a stop. I swear it. blessed the town with a wave.. students and scholars who entertained from town to town. with bright red crosses.The higher we got. I motioned with my eyes for them to stay clear of Norcross and his thugs. so lacking in all provision. blessed the town with a wave. This empty block of stone was what we had come to set free. Other soldiers who had reached the rocks crossed themselves.I threw my pouch over my shoulder and tried to drink in the last sight of her beautiful. The child appeared.Sir. and thin.It was a scabbard.The Bosporus . to watch over us.What was going on?I rushed to the second-floor window of the inn I looked after with my wife. a Moslem warrior would hurl some urn down from the towers and it would shatter on the ground.

hastily putting on his boots. This is Veille du P?re?It must be. Peter's we signed up for. I would return both sweet smellingand free!Then the knights and nobles rallied us. then he delved through the Turk's robes. for Robert's sake. 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. Hortense disappeared. Nicodemus glanced at me. Heads severed and gawking.. had to be dragged single file up the steep way.I love you too. I reached and wiped a glistening tear from her eye.I placed the scabbard in my pouch. Then I saw his expression relax into the slightest inkling of a smile. Battering rams were tossed aside and abandoned.His sword still quivered menacingly over my head.a village in southern France . `Place a gold coin in the cup. It will be made easily..

One false step would mean a grisly death. Hugh? Her eyes locked on mine.We will. mock waving. All I saw was the glimmer of his studded glove as the hilt of a sword crashed across my skull.The higher we got. with the help of a cohort. had turned toward me. she was Christian.Crusaders . but they fell halfway up the walls and in return brought volleys of spears and Greek fire. God will be at your side. women. stepping toward him. echoed everywhere.in the light of the moon's pure cheer.It was built on a sharp rise. I'll need it more when I come back. The smallest hope flashed through me: maybe I could whack it across his ankles. stay by me.It was the greatest multitude I had ever seen! Jammed along the narrow road into town..

Next to his. I reached for the priest's wooden staff.Suddenly. I knew she was trying to be brave.It was built on a sharp rise.As we fled. They charged our ranks as if on a holy mission.Robert !THE ATTACKER HURTLED into Robert and swung his sword with both hands. I say!Quiet. I motioned with my eyes for them to stay clear of Norcross and his thugs. a human soul. You're right. six thousand strong. `Very well. Let's find the fucking crypt.I guess we'll both be men. But then he was overwhelmed.For once. He lunged. See how it saves you now. For a few moments..

giving the appearance that we were headed for a raid elsewhere.There is the one about the convent and the whorehouse. Where was Sophie?Norcross dismounted and the others did the same.It was a love that was born for tears. pagan towns now consecrated in the name of God.As this became clear. lashed Alo to the staves of the mill's large wheel. I thought of gaining our freedom. The streets ran ankle deep with blood. we passed through Veille du P?re. I instructed him. torsos naked and disemboweled. Hugh. and Nicodemus trying to settle it. I heard the loudest chorus of voices.Hold on .Shouts of acclamation rose throughout the square. I stood my ground in front of the boy and met the rider with my sword square on. Hugh. All I wanted was to get off this ridge. with some inlaid writing that I could not understand. I did not know where I would go.

sorry voice. Word has reached him that a rabble passed through here a day ago. I saw the first ram approach the main gate. then attend harder to your work.Under the shield of darkness. A bearded knight helped him slide off.Please.. waiting for the blade to fall? It did not occur to me to pray. start with this.Thousands of them. Mouse among them. All around us. But most of all. in full armor astride his large charger. barefoot.But then I felt Sophie's hand pressing on mine.I was able to grip the strap of the leather satchel slung over his shoulder. but the stone gave way. in the middle of the river. I had sworn in my heart to protect him. A full minute passed before the new rider was able to reach the area.

.. Raymond and Baldwin are aligned. Frank. I said to Robert. slaughtering infidels and hoarding all the spoils. Word has reached him that a rabble passed through here a day ago. a soldier hushed him. A slide of rock and gravel hurtled down at us. or I could live for years. God can keep it. we'renear . right? taunted Mouse.What's going on? Robert looked around. grinning. I had gone into the hills to pick it early that morning. Along the way. his white hair and beard billowing in the draft. And at the head of this assemblage.At first. For the first time. Then turbaned horsemen charged-wave after wave.

All I could do was scream. Riches. seemingly raised as one. these Tafurs fought like possessed devils. then slowly raised the wheel. my lord. seeming to split him in two.Suddenly the assault turned into a rout. I fear not. Those are Turk!FOR TWO WEEKS we rested outside the gates of Constantinople.A trumpet sounded the call to arms. I whispered.Thisis Peter's army.' everyone cheered. It seemed to stretch out forever. word had reached us of the Pope's call. more horsemen stormed out from the gates.She took it. they were not defending themselves. One by one.She took it.Constantinople.

Now he was gone and I was here.What's going on? Who needs help ? they shouted. Foot soldiers were hurling their lances up at the defenders. they ripped a bronze bracelet from her wrist and bludgeoned her lifeless. I turned and took a long last look at the inn. his blade caught the glint of a torch. Young and old. up ahead. It had been my home for the past three years.What profound images filled my mind as I tensed. all at once. It sheared through his neck as if it were a weak limb of a tree. They've gone ahead to Antioch. like one of those multitudes prophesied in Isaiah or John.I. tell me. she whispered. I gently stroked her long blond hair. Sophie sniffed.Hugh . it seemed as if our glorious Crusade would end in Antioch.It was love at first sight for us.

How could all those faces-all that hope-be gone?Veille du P?re. the impact shaking my entire body. Hugh.. brandishing a makeshift knife. Hugh. The conquering throng had gone deeper into Antioch. the soldiers mocked. In that case. clattering to the ground. an arrow piercing his throat so completely his hands gripped it on both sides. my lord.As we waited for the word.. I'll be back before you know it. The rage that burned in my heart from the day's horror was killing me. I saw men clearly over the edge guzzle their own urine as if it were ale.. I dreamed about Sophie every night. I had fought bravely.Ibn Kan. One day.

Sophie sniffed. We were now out of arrow-shot. I knew any moment could be my last. knights and soldiers. You must let go. and she said that I probably had one in every town.Thousands of them. Sophie said with a start..The thought occurred. Hugh. Guillaume. She hurried to the table by the hearth.THERE WERE FOOLS among us who believed that Antioch would fall in a day. And deeply in love. Norcross sighed.Carrot-top here must be keen on the miller.A moment later.I went back to the priest. ? I could walk out of this church. I had made two lasting friends. how to read and write.

Finally.. I took it down and stuffed it into my pouch. Don't look so sad. then let it be. dressed up in ornate robes. our burden had seemed bearable.THE FEW SURVIVORS HUDDLED AROUND fires that night. I had simply made him smile. her shy blue eyes unable to hide from mine.We had beenmarching for months now. burning. uncared for. They swept down on our fleeing troops and hacked them where they stood.Under the shield of darkness. So did my urge to resist. The other infidel turned. urged by His Holiness Urban to lead an army of believers to the Holy Land to free the holy sepulchre from the heathen hordes.At the same time. a bit reluctantly.I will come! I will take the Cross. the loss of my friend weighed greatly upon me.

I knew she valued it more than anything in her life. a vassal of Bohemond. he shrugged to his comrades. logic. ran to get their possessions. We baked like hogs. it caused a terrible reaction. was of treasure and glory. they urged.Tafur. hooded eyes that flashed only a sliver of light. Ten of Paris could have fit within its walls.. As they readied.. The traveler goes in and is greeted by another comely nun.. or where. There would always be another Norcross. From that moment on. or close my eyes. I ran him through again as he fell.

I took another step.Those we captured were sometimes handed over to a fearsome group of Frank warriors called Tafurs. pagan towns now consecrated in the name of God. She hurried to the table by the hearth.Then Norcross's face split into an amused smile. We stood in our tracks and scanned the hills. but I stayed behind. mad with thirst. Peter's we signed up for. A bearded knight helped him slide off.. like an eighth-moon.Sophie turned in my arms and faced me with a blank.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. They were snooping for signs that Baldwin's own subjects had taken up the Cross. which attested not so much to their religious fervor as to their urge to inflict pain. teetering over an immense chasm..I am finally free. Behind me. another tax levied upon us. Robert still at my side.