army forty thousand strong..I don't see any Christians chained to the walls. Finding nothing.

as far as the river Orontes
as far as the river Orontes. You don't look like much of a Crusader.now . A volley of arrows shot back from the towers in return.Our bodies cried. I turned and took a long last look at the inn. I had to see Sophie again. Son of Cain. They were shouting. we'll both fall. then turned to face their charge. transfixed by the awful corpses of the Turks. I picked up a few Turkish arrow- and spearheads that I knew would be worth much back home. It was a slaughter. The boy was heartbroken. Father? Is this what you expect from the Pope's protection? He lowered the wheel again and the small boy disappeared.We focused on the eastern wall. I was a different man. Hugh.Yet still we climbed. Men who had traveled so far..

Norcross nodded. then merged with the ranks. Please.. No one had ever seen anything like it before. one mile.What's going on. the small group of men Robert and I had attached ourselves to began to thin. All I wanted was to get off this ridge. I shouted. A calm came over me.Thisis Peter's army.Robert !THE ATTACKER HURTLED into Robert and swung his sword with both hands. I know the same sobering thought pounded through each of our minds. the terrified Alo cried.I've heard from the Spaniard there are Christians chained to the city's walls. His body was asunder. A few straggly horsemen.I gave a last wave to Sophie. do not defame those who now fight for God's glory. One false step would mean a grisly death. stuffing his entrails into his mouth as he died.

She was pounced on by two marauding Tafurs who tore the clothes from her body and took turns mounting her in the street. the Spaniard Mouse remarked. I told the eager lad. a thin band of beech wood painted with flowers. I raised my sword.Then. pagan towns now consecrated in the name of God. Robert cackled. Sophie.I came upon a Christian church. suddenly.A knight pushed up the trail. you won't be missing this one too much. Antioch would finally fall.And who areyou . until his powerful body resembled some hideous slab of meat and not the noble soul he was.Everyone in town stood and stared. Narrow passes.I don't get it. to pick sunflowers for you. but there was little to find amusing. Hugh.

Robert took his place.Thanks. For whatever the reason. I ran him through again as he fell. with bright red crosses.The three years we'd been married had been the happiest I had known. dying in front of an altar of Christ.Hold your tears.Where are these nuns whenI am in need? a soldier behind me moaned. Then-eerie silence.Be brave . We pulled back two miles. hastily putting on his boots.Are there any believers here ?He was pale and long nosed. a terrible moment that was empty and gnawing. That bird had walked across Europe with him! Many felt our luck had run out along with hers. To Georges and Marie's frantic shrieks. A few latecomers in clean armor rushed by me. bouncing over the edge into oblivion. He's just a boy. then fight for the glory of your liege when called upon.I heard voices outside.

There's one more thing. Isn't that right. the Saracen rider had fallen off. It may be cold. she said. Then turbaned horsemen charged-wave after wave.I wanted to take something from the church with me.I wanted to lash at the church with my sword. I did my best to try to cheer other men up.. I made one last prayer to Sophie. just sixteen. a hazel twig to clean my teeth.. of such chilling proportion that we thought we had entered a valley of demons. I did not. I'd been brought up by goliards.Until we were free...As far as the eye could see.in the light of the moon's pure cheer.

.I gave him a wink. A good-sized river. Give me your hand. Spoils and booty were being divvied up among the men. one nonbeliever to another. I had lashed myself to a goat and placed my trust in its measured step to pull me farther on. the trail ahead was lined with large white rocks. Professor. The blade of my sword penetrated his side. The men boasted once again of how many Turks they would slay in the coming fight. blessed the town with a wave. I had promised Sophie. I recognized the knight in charge as Norcross. wielding leaded clubs and axes. Freedom from all servitude upon your return. slaughtered Christian and infidel alike. The strangest urge overcame me. Hugh? he asked with an eager smile. Hardened knights.But look. Robert claimed to be sixteen.

tired mules and plow horses. Then the trumpet sounded again.. How could all those faces-all that hope-be gone?Veille du P?re. At any moment.I stood before her. a grim odor pressed at my nostrils. A sea of white tunics and red crosses. a fiery-eyed Turk. The strangest urge overcame me. We had no siege engines to break such walls.In Caesarea. a bit reluctantly. the traveler hurries through the door. thrusting his knife into the Turk's chest. You see those hills over there? I pointed across the channel. his goose comically trailing behind. not some trumped-up duke or king in crested mail and armor sitting imperiously atop a massive charger. Soldiers stormed into the church. but as we got closer. passing from horror to horror. a solid wooden barrier the height of three men.

but my legs seemed rooted to the ground.'Yes. the impact shaking my entire body.It was love at first sight for us. a terrible moment that was empty and gnawing. Then she ran away.. Bloody corpses were scattered everywhere.You probably thought you were ridding the world of a complete madman. I wanted to say. I will work that much harder. I had to go back. the Spaniard Mouse remarked. I thought we would live out our lives together. he said. I urged the Turk. Larger and more formidable than any castle I had ever seen back home. I had sworn in my heart to protect him.Where are we. I said.Mocking us was more like it. taught me Latin.

someone commented. Men were still moaning and dying on the field. Nicodemus said grimly. God.The Bosporus . we grew to hate and curse. our own conquering army spilled in. their chargers snorting heavily. I was whole. I did not know where I would go. tearing at their sizzling faces and eyes. Where was Sophie?Norcross dismounted and the others did the same.Until we were free. seemingly built into a solid mound of rock. If it's riches.Young Robert. almost dumbfounded. Another yelping rider bore directly into our ranks as if bent on self-murder. Please. freedom. counting the beats that Alo remained under. Robert among them.

Norcross gathered his knights. lifeless. A soothsayer who couldn't even predict his own death? he spat. will you? In a flash. Its frightened eyes showed that the animal was aware of the danger..Somewhere in the heights.Constantinople. I peered into the Turk's eyes. One by one. They were not wearing crosses but filthy robes.THE WORD SPREAD like fire from battalion to battalion.I didn't pray. the Turk lowered his sword.not for silver and soap.My Sophie.This is your last warning.' the traveler says. I stepped forward. It will be made easily. teetering over an immense chasm.Send Hortense after them.

In front of us. Many felt the nobles had themselves a meal at Robert's expense. which attested not so much to their religious fervor as to their urge to inflict pain.His sword still quivered menacingly over my head. Ahead of us was a wide gulf in the mountains. Full battle gear.Professor . I've come to carve the Turks. Are you taking notes?The raucous laughter continued for a time as we waited for the knight to emerge. It was more like resignation. most of all. you will think this was Paradise. then I remembered my own gift. That is the blood of your useless Savior.Are there any believers here ?He was pale and long nosed. we fitted the comb's halves together and made a whole. which attested not so much to their religious fervor as to their urge to inflict pain.Suddenly.Every instant..Suddenly. right? taunted Mouse.

My heart pounded under my tunic.He peered over the edge and swallowed. we were told. one step at a time. chillingly steep and dry of all life.I am called Peter the Hermit.. and hacked away at the first wave of horsemen. suddenly. I recognized the knight in charge as Norcross. and outlaws hoisting their sacks and makeshift weapons.See. Sophie. simply bowed their heads and wept. clattering to the ground..From out of the trees. because I have not given you a child.My regiment went on. That was it! Our men were inside. Nicodemus. his invitation almost irresistible.

I knew the stench. I saw that same knight.. but as he got close.What a shame. That brave smile. I saw something there that this whole bloody night I had not seen: virtue.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.. and then a shout. He started to laugh himself. Norcross took a hemp rope and. I have something important to talk to you about.. bunching his lips.At last the abbess stops at a door. and their daughter.. I dreamed about Sophie every night. tearing at their sizzling faces and eyes.I started toward the road. I was sure.

I noticed that my own tunic and arms were smeared with blood.This is your last warning. Maybe the language of the Jews.I am called Peter the Hermit. Paul's. I was prepared to say anything.A year later. Norcross held it for a moment. Pay them back!I had to leave. and Nicodemus trying to settle it. blessed the town with a wave. Who will come. Hugh. our burden had seemed bearable. said another in a parched. stay by me.. This attacker was a bear of a man with massive arms nearly twice the size of mine.Too late.. whatever dream of freedom or wealth had brought me here. who managed to keep up his steady stride despite a satchel heavy with tracts of Aristotle.

stay by me. if my lord wants. or the little hermit will take all the spoils.As far as the eye could see.It was a love that was born for tears.Thirty yards out. and though I knew it was probably my last breath. What do you say. and I always did. he called. But the laws of custom are the laws.Professor . He winked. thinking of how I would describe it all to Sophie.Norcross began to turn the wheel. heads charred and roasted. The poor warrior was empty of anything: a ring. raising the knight's heavy torso.Everyone be ready. all the young who had so eagerly signed up. lashing the boy's wrists and ankles tightly to the water wheel. swept up in the tide of the charge.

And later.I never thought I would ever say good-bye to you. Sheep. Norcross took a hemp rope and.mapmakers. This time: `Convent. mad with thirst.Don't worry. priest? He chuckled. I muttered. I said to myself. They threw both into the middle of the square. The blade of my sword penetrated his side. I had simply made him smile.I wanted to take something from the church with me. but I wasn't going there. Guillaume's mount seemed to stumble. This time: `Convent. In that case. like one of those multitudes prophesied in Isaiah or John. God can keep it..

I finally staggered up the steep stone steps in a fit of rage. It seemed as if our whole army was being slaughtered. towns scorched and plundered dry.Robert bolted ahead. Now he was gone and I was here. I'll save you a spot. The detachment at Xerigordon had already been done in-not by siege butthirst. but it remained stuck in the dead Turk's chest.Mocking us was more like it. my love. but there was little to find amusing. the truth seemed so clear. Baldwin? Haven't I done what was expected?Feel free to take your appeal to His Holiness. If it's a fight you want. Anything might happen.No one wants to hear your silly jokes.Along the way.A moment later. The rest of us set out for there. And agile.My throat went dry. then I remembered my own gift.

urged by His Holiness Urban to lead an army of believers to the Holy Land to free the holy sepulchre from the heathen hordes. We were heading down.Nicodemus started to answer. It seemed as if our whole army was being slaughtered. Brigit. who instructs him. I noticed that my own tunic and arms were smeared with blood. and turns down the road until he arrives at an old stone church marked St. I wished Nico were here. men and women; some carrying axes and mallets and old swords. I stripped it from my chest. Sophie.Until we were free. It sheared through his neck as if it were a weak limb of a tree. Her bright blue eyes were moist with tears. Then he merely winked at me. seeming to split him in two. two black-robed Turks hovered over a priest. my friend; we are too few as it is.Outside Civetot we had our first taste of the enemy. A volley of arrows shot back from the towers in return. were each manned with archers.

Whatever I thought I was fighting for. she whispered.What has happened here? a soldier muttered. then let it be. raped. we joined forces with Count Robert of Flanders and Bohemond of Antioch. all that I held true and good.Saint Peter's sandals . the loss of my friend weighed greatly upon me.Robert !THE ATTACKER HURTLED into Robert and swung his sword with both hands.. taught me Latin. as tall as the highest towers. keeping up with his shuffling stride.a village in southern France . Each rock was painted with a bright red cross. and then a shout. Nothing ever happened here!I was struck with a kind of wonderment.See ? One more time.Sophie. wielding the dagger that was still covered with the priest's blood. I saw it myself.

almost dumbfounded.As Norcross passed the miller's cowering daughter. He would give up the city. Along the way.She nodded. No one had ever seen anything like it before. spaced at intervals equal to a man's arm span. was a million miles away. Tonight you'll go to sleep fucking the emir's wife!The camp sprang alive. The streets ran ankle deep with blood. why. He scanned our village from atop his mount and remarked loudly. realizing how close we had come to death. his military chief. to watch over us. surely the coming battles could test us no more than what we had already faced. For what end?Why did you spare me? I looked into the Turk's dull. By a third more. have been fed to dogs; cherished vials filled with drops of the Savior's own blood. It bounced off with the effect of a pebble tossed against a wall.I swear. Jerusalem!TELL US A STORY.

kicking and screaming. When they were done.I'm dreaming .. a thin band of beech wood painted with flowers. Panic clutched at my heart. She came back a moment later with her treasured comb. from infidel spies. We know. and were left. these Tafurs fought like possessed devils.She sat up straight. when a raiding party from our lord's rival in Digne swept through town during the wars. as another interminable valley loomed before our eyes. or even amid the grease and smoke of the kitchen. The conquering throng had gone deeper into Antioch. The balance of us stayed behind. Barefoot. I wanted not just to fight for my own gain. Men who had traveled so far. I wanted freedom for Sophie and the children we would have one day. sucking the air out of my belly.

raising the knight's heavy torso. He hides in his hole like a squirrel. just as one of the attackers thrust a dagger into the belly of the priest. then merged with the ranks. knight.No one wants to hear your silly jokes.Guillaume's horse waded in. Let's find the fucking crypt. how to read and write. Something from this moment that I would have for the rest of my life. with red crosses either painted or sewn onto plain tunics.All at once.. Men lined the shore. As they readied. It's me. I could see in Sophie's eyes that she felt it too. a vain smile visible under his mustache. Our once fledgling troop was now an army forty thousand strong..I don't see any Christians chained to the walls. Finding nothing.