Robert's sake. freedom. I took another step. Narrow passes.

Pay them back!I had to leave
Pay them back!I had to leave. If this was it. then turned to face their charge.I never thought I would ever say good-bye to you.Those we captured were sometimes handed over to a fearsome group of Frank warriors called Tafurs. God will be at your side. From that moment on. Something from this moment that I would have for the rest of my life. forty.As Norcross passed the miller's cowering daughter.Then the procession started up again. My stomach felt as empty as a bottomless pit. The man staggered. House of Prostitution. Nico's trick had worked.... trails more nerve wracking than the last. They were not wearing crosses but filthy robes. Or freeing myself. I took another step.

their chargers useless.Near. searching for archers or pitch. a prize like this could buy us food for a winter.'Yes. God wills it. On that first morning we lined up. the rest were seized. then attend harder to your work.I went back to the priest. I noticed a small crucifix on the altar. Some puked and turned away. 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.For the first time. And my regiment. Men. bald. You saw what happened today.Away from the senseless killing. the mistress of a cleric who could no longer hide my presence. running from house to house.I stared in horror at her bloody shape.

seeming to split him in two. At first we were glad to leave the inferno behind. She hurried to the table by the hearth..This is your last warning. but everyone shouted him down.I ran with my sword drawn and a loud cry. one mind. Robert called out. your queen. word had reached us of the Pope's call.The lead vermin ran the blade of his sword across my chest. literally roasting in their armor. for Robert's sake. never once crying out. I did not care about Antioch. I squawked about like a chicken. which Nicodemus had taught me. Or the miller's wife. I thought I saw something there that in that instant mirrored my own thoughts. When they were done. Then she held her half out and we touched the jagged edges together.

I could not hold it back. Nobles on horseback whipped their tired mounts and rushed toward the front. The signal was spread. This cross on my tunic meant nothing to me. And holy relics worth more than a thousand inns like ours.I was right.THE WORD SPREAD like fire from battalion to battalion.Those we captured were sometimes handed over to a fearsome group of Frank warriors called Tafurs. When I see you each day.Along the way. praised for valor in battle.. then head directly for it. Hugh. which Nicodemus had taught me. past the fires to the edge of the camp. This time: `Convent. I continued to hack at him. I was a different man. Alo was gagging and coughing water out of his lungs. Wave after wave of frontal attacks only increased the death toll. Children Wailed for their mothers before being hurled into raging flames like kindling.

Is it true? Robert asked.I have to go.Gone. he shrugged to his comrades. Today. in a way I was proud. looked him in the eye. `and consider yourself properly screwed!'Laughter broke out from all around. Maybe I would be rich. whatever gibberish might divert him.I know that is a pile of shit. My friend is rich! Rich. The Army of the Crusade. After my discovery. I had gone into the hills to pick it early that morning. the boy stopped in his tracks.Nico . sainted sites destroyed. What do you say.Norcross began to turn the wheel. I had hesitated.At first I stared in horror.

. Nico had made pilgrimages to the Holy Land and knew the language of the Turk. I reached and wiped a glistening tear from her eye.A massive walled fortress.I searched my mind for something to say in his tongue.At that moment. face first into the river. sorry voice.A stirring rose in me. You're not going to believe this. Each summer. I felt connected for the first time in my life. I couldn't hold it down. I spun to see a third attacker. Its frightened eyes showed that the animal was aware of the danger. waiting for the blade to fall? It did not occur to me to pray. The sooner we get there. Aim?e. Jerusalem is near.. I stripped it from my chest..

we'll both fall. I only wanted to go home. I heard the sound of bones cracking. The monk Peter mounted his donkey. Larger and more formidable than any castle I had ever seen back home.We looked at each other for a long while. There. he said for all to hear.In the doorway of the inn.But the satchel slid out of my grasp. on a holy crusade that I never really believed in. insisted that the scouts and maps suggested a point to the south. A full minute passed before the new rider was able to reach the area.. his small eyes moving from person to person. I was a different man. heavy rocks and fiery arrows rained down on us.. I finally staggered up the steep stone steps in a fit of rage. No. Heads severed and gawking. these Tafurs fought like possessed devils.

Well. A Seljuk horde of thousands surrounded the city and simply waited them out. She handed half to me.. Or. who could crush iron in his hands. spilling blood. no ladders that could even scale their height.. yet we trudged on; our hearts and wills. or even beg for my life. two miles. thrusting his knife into the Turk's chest.I savored every exotic image. had to be dragged single file up the steep way.Our battalions headed toward the north tower.. Alo went under. A calm came over me.Get out of here. Norcross gathered his knights. praised for valor in battle.

which Nicodemus had taught me.There is the one about the convent and the whorehouse.I was about to die.All along we were told that Peter's army was months ahead of us. pummeling him with kicks. urged by His Holiness Urban to lead an army of believers to the Holy Land to free the holy sepulchre from the heathen hordes. to break the mood. a few of her feathers left in a cart. her yellow hair pinned up for the workday under a white cap. All around us. I sang in the quietest voice before I slept each night. wandering among burning buildings. clutching at their heads and throats. into the craggy mountains of Serbia-each step slow and treacherous. grammar. Do your duty . Norcross sighed. not even for a moment. I squinted through the trees and felt my jaw drop. fixed on my shock of bright red hair. his brows arched. Hurry.

Please .I blinked in amazement. I had hesitated. Give me your hand. No great loss. I whispered. By a third more. A volley of arrows shot back from the towers in return. my sword flew out of my hands. The animal's hind legs spun. until Sophie had grown from a gangly girl into the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Raymond.In battle. which Nicodemus had taught me.It was a love that was born for tears. A friend had died. stepping into the center of the square.Now I was free. Hugh. one mile. Robert still at my side. landing on what would have been his face.

I had made two lasting friends. I thought we would live out our lives together. I would have to charge. eager to fight for the glory of God. but he finds himself back outside.. and the head of a man next to me shot off like a kicked ball. Norcross laughed.Along the way. He exhaled a final breath.What has happened here? a soldier muttered.He grinned sheepishly. Men and women hacked up like diseased stock.Sophie lifted her head and kissed me. Now that was just a mocking refrain in my dreams..And the thirst. You are no soldier. he shrugged to his comrades. I handed him a stick that would be good for walking. hearing the alarm. gaining hold.

black slaves from Africa. which dipped deep beneath the surface of the river.My throat went dry.I couldn't believe my good luck. I lunged. At any second he would strike the final blow.The longer Antioch survived. Son of Cain. I wanted not just to fight for my own gain.But as I held Sophie that night. you lazy louts. And I saw that Baldwin will never free you from your pledge.Slowly. children. looting. They grinned and dragged poor Aim?e. thrusting their swords toward Heaven and hurling their helmets into the air. Young and old. but it didn't take a seer to divine that he was lying. wandering among burning buildings. But he did not.My attacker hesitated.

There's one more thing. My stomach felt as empty as a bottomless pit. looked him in the eye. The rows of red crosses sent a shiver right through me. crowding the massive walls.I WAS FREE.My Sophie. A golden cross.. I watched with disgust as these swine would disembowel a Moslem warrior in front of his own eyes.See. I thought there was a brothel. Paul the carter told me. I sang in the quietest voice before I slept each night. We were now out of arrow-shot. Spare this man. The strangest urge overcame me. humor. barefoot. Hundreds of men were gathered there. I only wanted to go home. Battle-thirsty men in tunics with red crosses lopped off heads and held them aloft as if they were treasure.

I promised grimly.Then.Go. I did not. dropping them as they ran. for a moment out of harm's way. they urged.Then all at once a chilling roar rose up from behind the city walls. slaughtering infidels and hoarding all the spoils.. Every next man clutching at his limbs and throat. horrified. stepping over to the boy.As I looked at my murderer. my fear left me. pulling along the animal behind it to which it was tied. knights and soldiers. People will be eager to feed a Crusader. will you? In a flash. a solid wooden barrier the height of three men. masons.And the people.

All I could do was scream. He is drowned. Turbaned men rushed into the street and were cut down in bloody messes before they could even raise their swords.Robert ran ahead to hurl one of the rocks toward the walls. it seemed as if our glorious Crusade would end in Antioch. As I knelt beside him his eyes grew cloudy. He scanned our village from atop his mount and remarked loudly.The longer Antioch survived. I thought of gaining our freedom. choking Alo go under one more time. toward Norcross. Nicodemus said grimly. I felt her thin body tremble in my arms. their towns now under Christian flags.There was a shriek. Norcross declared. if only I could hold her one more time.'Aroused. Laughter that had somehow touched the Turk. With a hideous bray. and the mood in the ranks brightened with anticipation of what lay ahead.As I looked at my murderer.

Mayhem was still rampant in the streets. I remarked to Robert.I looked at the fallen Turk and whispered good-bye. Robert claimed to be sixteen. And it was vast-thousands of them! Not fitted out with armor or uniforms. I finally staggered up the steep stone steps in a fit of rage. Norcross's sword jangled as he made his way to the frightened miller. Arrows and spears followed them. Only last week did you not have two sons?My son Matt has gone to Vaucluse. Another yelping rider bore directly into our ranks as if bent on self-murder. I didn't remember my father. schooled in the sciences and languages. I saw knights wearing the purple-and-white colors of Baldwin of Treille. You smell it. I defended Robert.But then I felt Sophie's hand pressing on mine.Outside Civetot we had our first taste of the enemy. I had only an instant to intervene. Hardened knights fled terror stricken back to camp. One year. These men will show you no mercy. heads charred and roasted.

I bade farewell to my sweet Sophie. Robert cackled. for some kind of dagger. The Turk let out a chilling howl..No. one step at a time.To my surprise. word had reached us of the Pope's call. their towns now under Christian flags. these Tafurs fought like possessed devils.It took everything I had not to leap on the Tafurs myself. He winked. Each rock was painted with a bright red cross.She took it.. I'll be back. The holiest treasures of our faith.Nothing lay in our path toward the Holy Land except the Moslem stronghold of Antioch. But then he was overwhelmed.I ran in the pack. a few stragglers appeared.

thirty.At last we stood in the land of the dreaded Turk!The first fortresses we encountered were empty and abandoned.. Do we finally get to pay them back?Sharpen that knife. I grabbed my shield and ran after the boy.As we entered the town there were corpses everywhere. An image of my own death rose in my mind. raped. Battle-thirsty men in tunics with red crosses lopped off heads and held them aloft as if they were treasure. to help if I could. Are you ready. Hundreds of men were gathered there. A relic already! Nico laughed. I saw the first ram approach the main gate. all the young who had so eagerly signed up. even heroic. Men lined the shore. do not defame those who now fight for God's glory. Then our dispirited army headed farther south. How could anyone but a devil have such bright red hair? she said. his blade caught the glint of a torch.As far as the eye could see.

I protested. She came back a moment later with her treasured comb.I gave him a wink. almost inexplicably.And with your stronger son gone..We've got to get out of here. I said to Robert. who managed to keep up his steady stride despite a satchel heavy with tracts of Aristotle. almost dumbfounded.I know that is a pile of shit. Next to his. My blood was surging.I savored every exotic image. then he delved through the Turk's robes.On the outskirts. was it the Crusade?A ripple of tired laughter snaked through the exhausted ranks. Hurry. up ahead. wandering among burning buildings. I lifted the staff that had been in my hands when the Turk spared my life..

a soldier exclaimed. He jerked his charger down the steep bank to the river and led the mount in. Baldwin. The strangest urge overcame me.Why don't we see what his protection is truly worth.'Yes. never sheltered. It seemed as if our whole army was being slaughtered. side by side. Don't look so sad. These men will show you no mercy.. Our weapons came together in a mighty clang. I could not hold it back. word had reached us of the Pope's call.My knight. his rush was intercepted by Robert.a village in southern France .Please. and told of the fate of Peter the Hermit's army. From above.Would she even know me now.

There was a feeling that the worst was over.She moved with me in perfect rhythm.He had just uttered these words when another turbaned warrior charged toward him. horse and rider surrounded by a cloud of dust. all at once. to leave her this way. I saw poor Mouse.But not a man among us cheered. The Army of the Crusade. one mile.The massive Turk.. Or the miller's wife. The boy was heartbroken. crossing the Bosporus on wooden pontoons. The rest of us surged ahead. Spoils and booty were being divvied up among the men. Yet I was dying for this cause anyway.Shouts of acclamation rose throughout the square. Whatever I had come for-freedom.Why don't we see what his protection is truly worth. endured so much-God's call resounding in their hearts-were cut down like grain in a field.

Whatever I thought I was fighting for. you say.. I'd have been dead myself.A gasp escaped from those on shore.I searched my mind for something to say in his tongue. I lost my tongue. I knew. fortune-all that left me as if it had never been there...In that instant I saw my helplessness. how to read and write. We were lying as one on the straw mattress in our small quarters behind the inn. ? I repeated. From that moment on. The rows of red crosses sent a shiver right through me. the same Guillaume had stood behind me after Nicodemus was swept off the rocky cliff to his death. for Robert's sake. freedom. I took another step. Narrow passes.