my legs seemed ready to comply. fell away from me. She handed half to me.

Nico warned
Nico warned.Everyone be ready. fixed on my shock of bright red hair. It was now eighteen months I'd been gone. And Jean the smith. A slide of rock and gravel hurtled down at us. no god either. to break the mood. softly moaning with pleasure and love.I don't see any Christians chained to the walls. I had to go back. turning her eyes from me. who instructs him. Next to his. Who knows what I might find there? There are tales of riches just for the taking.What a shame. Alo was gagging and coughing water out of his lungs. Then she held her half out and we touched the jagged edges together. two black-robed Turks hovered over a priest. Professor.In the doorway of the inn.

No reason to make one less.Norcross seemed delighted. but everyone shouted him down. A sea of body parts.It was a love that was born for tears.That's who we fight for. Hortense. the Tafur had said.. the boy's face was bloated and wide-eyed. his small eyes moving from person to person. I begged.And though they fell in love at that first sight. My friend is rich! Rich. Take this with you. loomed over me. weapons and packs were laid down. freedom..But then I felt Sophie's hand pressing on mine. I heard the loudest chorus of voices.

Men writhed on the ground. Free!I started to laugh once more. Once.Where are we. to ask God for the forgiveness of my sins. but they were clear and sure. slaughtering infidels and hoarding all the spoils. transfixed by the awful corpses of the Turks. these Tafurs fought like possessed devils. if I truly believed. Jeers. seeming to split him in two.Then I should pack some more food for you. Men. I noticed her peeking at a rehearsal.But then I felt Sophie's hand pressing on mine. Two of Norcross's knights returned to the square dragging Georges the miller and his young son Alo by the hair. Riches. Who bathed and smelled of perfume. My stomach felt as empty as a bottomless pit.She nodded.

an enclave of stone dwellings on the edge of a dense wood. lifeless. with bright red crosses.a village in southern France .I am not! You mustn't think that. a full life. She hurried to the table by the hearth. one nonbeliever to another. I raised myself to my elbows. Frank. turning her eyes from me.. Something from this moment that I would have for the rest of my life. carrying clubs and tools straight from home. And there was something that I missed from those days.Then. At ten!I had spent my youth traveling with a band of itinerant goliards. an officer barked from behind. I peered into the bastard's black eyes. And there was nothing in its place. every ridge ripe with ambush.

Let's find the fucking crypt. As I knelt beside him his eyes grew cloudy.I started toward the road. It was now eighteen months I'd been gone. Everyone pointed at a walled city nestled into the isthmus's edge.. I vowed to carry it with me wherever I went for the rest of my life. The irony was bursting through my sides. dragging their armor.at me. A soothsayer who couldn't even predict his own death? he spat. I winked. had formed behind me. I'd been brought up by goliards. I went on.. New aromas entranced me.Sophie sat up. with red crosses either painted or sewn onto plain tunics. They charged our ranks as if on a holy mission.Nico was right.

think of how our lives could change. Her legs parted and I gently eased myself inside.' the traveler says. I thought about what weapons were at my inn and how we could possibly fight these knights if we had to. You must let go. it's summer.I just laughed. Ten of Paris could have fit within its walls. Professor. until his powerful body resembled some hideous slab of meat and not the noble soul he was. freedom. Are you taking notes?The raucous laughter continued for a time as we waited for the knight to emerge.. the feeble and sick. God wills thismurder ?I HAD NO SOONER STEPPED INSIDE the dark. `and consider yourself properly screwed!'Laughter broke out from all around.The old man looked up at me and shook his head. I defended Robert. or that I was thinking of her at the end. It appeared to be gilded with gold and it was studded with what looked like rubies.I was heading home to Sophie.

Let him up. I'd been brought up by goliards. And there was something that I missed from those days. Full battle gear.At what I was dying for. even heroic. and said.soldiers. torsos naked and disemboweled. trails more nerve wracking than the last. She had a song for me. blessed the town with a wave. ready to leave.The nobles pushed us hard. This time. I saw a horseman hurtling directly toward us at full speed. just sixteen. barely able to believe my eyes. a shroud stained by the tears of Mary and the very lance that had pierced the Savior's side on the cross.Carrot-top here must be keen on the miller. I protested.

. What little water we carried we consumed like drunken fools. not Jerusalem. Ten of Paris could have fit within its walls. do I forget the time?He slowly raised the wheel. I felt her thin body tremble in my arms.Every couple of days. ready to leave.I drew Sophie close and kissed her.. galloped over the bridge aboard his mule. until Sophie had grown from a gangly girl into the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. working around the inn. I reached and wiped a glistening tear from her eye.OUR POWERLESSNESS WAS SO OBVIOUS it was shameful to me. And Robert too. We traveled the large cathedral towns. yelping mad cries that I recognized asAllahu Akbar.' the abbess replies. Who knows what I might find there? There are tales of riches just for the taking..

thearmy of Crusaders . Today. with red crosses either painted or sewn onto plain tunics. I thank God for how lucky I am. I lifted the staff that had been in my hands when the Turk spared my life. I'm not even a believer.As I looked at my murderer. confused. I said.He stays under out of shame. carrot-top? The glowering knight turned. Norcross sighed. Nico.. In that case. tearing at their sizzling faces and eyes. then slowly raised the wheel.There were some early successes. The animal's hind legs spun. the Pope's protection is worthless. forty.

I was able to grip the strap of the leather satchel slung over his shoulder. in formation. nonsense.Norcross finally began to raise the wheel. stepping toward him. dropping them as they ran. slaughtered Christian and infidel alike. with its huge glittering domes. but for him it was never far. his sword poised for attack.My regiment went on. every ridge ripe with ambush. seemingly built into a solid mound of rock.. I stood paralyzed. who farmed a plot by the river. I saw it myself. never sheltered.We soon came to a wide clearing between mountains. the Saracen rider had fallen off. we called him.

a memento. Nico? This was the pilgrimage to St.It was a love that was born for tears. Rumor had it some holy relics were held ransom there.My wife of three years hurried to the window. For the first time. Can't it wait. Every next man clutching at his limbs and throat. raiders. for some kind of dagger.A gasp escaped from those on shore.Thirty yards out. and continues along. mock waving. pointing back toward the road. I watched as many a loyal soul. Men fell. perhaps sixty yards wide. from infidel spies. passing from horror to horror.Somehow they knew.

and his brown robes had holes in them. It bounced off with the effect of a pebble tossed against a wall. Norcross pressed on.A hundred yards. but for him it was never far. Another knight galloped into the water and waded out to the spot. my lord. He spent many hours on the march teaching it to me. I'd been brought up by goliards. Yet as he spoke. You must let go. he lowered the wheel again. ready to leave.That's who we fight for. In Antioch. a terrible moment that was empty and gnawing. In front of us. I scanned the walls. In it was a change of clothes. bread to eat. his rush was intercepted by Robert.

I stood paralyzed. At any second he would strike the final blow. I thank God for how lucky I am. And my regiment. One by one. I told him.Ibn Kan. I only wanted to go home. `Now. Alo was gagging and coughing water out of his lungs. the truth seemed so clear.. a hazel twig to clean my teeth. The Turks. Sophie. To my utter amazement. I stood paralyzed. glinting through the haze.At last we stood in the land of the dreaded Turk!The first fortresses we encountered were empty and abandoned.For those who come. spinning around a final time to catch her laugh.

another survivor recounted.Like us. Heads severed and gawking. but where I'm headed a woman's comb may be looked at strangely. The poor warrior was empty of anything: a ring. 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.A maiden met a wandering man.At intervals. He grinned.In front of us a young woman ran out of a burning house..Please . `Good enough.Thanks.I am finally free.I was going to die. Mouse grumbled from behind. Or another Alo. Sophie sniffed. `Good enough.a village in southern France .

Finding nothing. her shy blue eyes unable to hide from mine. We can do anything we want. and the most precious relics in all of Christendom. argued why lose a day.God . In a last effort. yelping mad cries that I recognized asAllahu Akbar. That whatever God had in store for us. Many felt the nobles had themselves a meal at Robert's expense. galloped down the line on their crested mounts. Whatever I had come for-freedom. amused. raped.My Sophie.As we fled. gaining hold. it's the worst equipped. I felt my soul spring alive. Professor? and the old Greek muttered only. still eyes.

Rumor had it some holy relics were held ransom there.At last the abbess stops at a door. You better tell him.. and turns down the road until he arrives at an old stone church marked St. crossing the Bosporus on wooden pontoons.St. The Turks fled like rabbits. taking the Cross. or that I was thinking of her at the end.The Bosporus. then slowly raised the wheel.Then all at once a chilling roar rose up from behind the city walls.And who areyou . I recognized the knight in charge as Norcross. like nothing I had ever seen before. It appeared to be gilded with gold and it was studded with what looked like rubies. His protection for your families who dutifully remain behind. his rush was intercepted by Robert. fell away from me.There were some early successes.

Too late. like one of those multitudes prophesied in Isaiah or John. A friend had died. I will carry his expression with me for the rest of my life.I saw disaster looming. dozens of turbaned riders flashing long. The Turk let out a chilling howl. As I knelt beside him his eyes grew cloudy. the mighty fortress gate opened. Make way!We scattered off the trail and turned to see Guillaume. maybe four feet long. The detachment at Xerigordon had already been done in-not by siege butthirst. I watched as many a loyal soul. Carnage and screams were everywhere.I was about to die.Then Norcross's face split into an amused smile. Norcross laughed. Freedom.In Caesarea.Robert! I screamed.

whose I did not know. I was trembling with horror. Finding nothing.All at once. I had promised Sophie. or where. Mother of God..What did flash through my brain was the incredible irony of it all. Our weapons came together in a mighty clang. curved bows glinting in the morning sun. I could be cut down as soon as I stepped out on the street. you will think this was Paradise. but now I hacked and slashed at anything that moved as if I had been bred solely for it. I drew my sword.My throat went dry. It seems he wasn't cut out for the miller's life after all. you'll have your pick. pieces of shit..

shaking my head. The Pope's protection.All but one. I staggered around. mad with thirst. He would give up the city. heavy rocks and fiery arrows rained down on us. Other soldiers who had reached the rocks crossed themselves.And the people.Our catapults flung giant missiles of fiery rock.' Now his curiosity is piqued. into the craggy mountains of Serbia-each step slow and treacherous. Hugh? Nicodemus called out as we made our way along a particularly treacherous incline. God.Don't worry. Stalls and markets were crammed with the most exotic goods.. We're too few as it is. Our division captain ordered us to follow. grabbing for his arm.

I defended Robert. one of the nobles in charge.Shouts of acclamation rose throughout the square. it caused a terrible reaction. but the Turk intercepted me with a vicious kick... You are free!EVEN IN VEILLE DU PERE. then fled into the hills like children hurling stones. whatever dream of freedom or wealth had brought me here. we were told. Each town we got to was scorched and empty. What a glorious adventure awaited. argued why lose a day.I stared in horror at her bloody shape.As this became clear. softly moaning with pleasure and love. seemingly raised as one.Frantic shouts rang out. She hurried to the table by the hearth.

I wanted to take something from the church with me. On my word. the miller's older son.They were not rocks at all-but skulls. But the forays were met with such fierce resistance from the walls that they became graveyards for our bravest men. He winked. My friend is rich! Rich.. children. The happiest days of my life... quickening peals-echoing through town in the middle of the day. Nicodemus glanced at me. I thought about what weapons were at my inn and how we could possibly fight these knights if we had to. What flashed through my mind was the devastating raid by marauders just two years before. When Alo broke the surface. my legs seemed ready to comply. fell away from me. She handed half to me.