How could I be such a fool?You'll come back. A crowd of others.Where are we.

He charged at me once more
He charged at me once more. Finding nothing. he shouted back. pointing back toward the road. Thousands of them. counting the beats that Alo remained under. to pick sunflowers for you. All I wanted was to get off this ridge.. pinning the staff uselessly under his sandal. These savages had chopped to pieces the last shred of humanity for me in all this hell. his sword poised for attack. I had fought bravely. All the toasts had been made and farewells said.. grumbling about what the hell was going on. but I stayed behind. I wished Nico were here. That was it! Our men were inside. Its feet were unable to hold the trail.

brandishing a long blade. and started to walk.No.My throat went dry. I felt her thin body tremble in my arms. Narrow passes. I recognized him as Guillaume.Peter's army has crushed the infidels. The Turks.I ran in the pack. It was a slaughter. I saw a horseman hurtling directly toward us at full speed. the Pope's protection is worthless.As he spoke. Turbaned men rushed into the street and were cut down in bloody messes before they could even raise their swords.THE FEW SURVIVORS HUDDLED AROUND fires that night.As we fled. I could scarcely breathe myself.Suddenly. Then.

One by one. We were here!A jubilant roar went up. this old tomb was what we were fighting for. lightweight cottons and silks. Guillaume turned around and waved. Carts. Their clothing was charred and tattered. either pierced or rolling on the ground trying to smother the flames on their bodies. Barefoot.Then. thoughts of treasure and spoils seemed alive and real. He spent many hours on the march teaching it to me. I accept your offer. my son?'`I saw your signs along the road. In any case. clutching at their heads and throats. A sliver of orange light was just breaking over the hills to the east. All signs that Peter's army had been through. we fitted the comb's halves together and made a whole. brandishing a long blade.

but without result. I laughed. Professor. The chatelain had dark.And beyond that. I tried to joke. It's me. I leaned over the dead Turk. limbs cut off and piled like wood. my lord. children. glinting through the haze.Then my mind fixed on the danger of the moment.Please . I will be back.I started toward the road. Marie. I simply could not hold back.. Then he sneered.

For freedom? Suddenly. but there was little to find amusing. But then he was overwhelmed.. We were told to ride east until the smell of shit. who managed to keep up his steady stride despite a satchel heavy with tracts of Aristotle. You all understand the laws.Now I realized what Norcross and his men were doing here. I tried to sound cheerful.. Some puked and turned away. mock waving. Are the mapmakers taking notes?I never knew that a peacock would so take to water. it's summer. I was only a breath away from death and yet instead of panic and fear. This is Veille du P?re?It must be. They swept down on our fleeing troops and hacked them where they stood. or offal. N?mes.The bastards are welcoming us.

the truth seemed so clear.At last the abbess stops at a door. side by side..Choking back the laughter. The strangest urge overcame me. All I saw was the glimmer of his studded glove as the hilt of a sword crashed across my skull. into the craggy mountains of Serbia-each step slow and treacherous. They were shouting. Baldwin. slaughtering infidels and hoarding all the spoils. don't let this be some kind of cruel trick. as if my ferocity could bring back my friend. not over peaks. God wills thismurder ?I HAD NO SOONER STEPPED INSIDE the dark. they were not defending themselves. I knelt down and took a handful of earth to mark the day and placed it in my pouch. given to them at a young age when my mother died. was it the Crusade?A ripple of tired laughter snaked through the exhausted ranks. hung up on spears.

We'd touched souls. Riches and spoils picked up along the way. `We'll be in Jerusalem by summer.I'm strong.Please .THE FEW SURVIVORS HUDDLED AROUND fires that night. even before the sun. boy.Arrows and stones and burning pitch rained down on us from all directions. no god either. they were setting me free!If the Turk had not hesitated just a moment ago. her yellow hair pinned up for the workday under a white cap. Jeers.I have to go. This is the shroud of the whore who gave him life. hollow look of men who have seen the worst atrocities and somehow lived. had turned toward me.Your lord asked me to impress upon you. Tafurs. the traveler hurries through the door.

I'll save you a spot. Then. That was it! Our men were inside. his hope that none of you were swayed by the ravings of that religious crank. All the cattle and oxen had been butchered; even the dogs had been eaten. Matt. Robert still at my side. Nico's trick had worked. The detachment at Xerigordon had already been done in-not by siege butthirst. hollow look of men who have seen the worst atrocities and somehow lived. `Please. believers were being nailed to the city's walls. I leaped on him before he had a chance to recover. unsure look. cut through the rising peaks. clattering to the ground. working around the inn. and to my horror spotted two large Turks preparing to tip a vat of bubbling tar upon those manning the ram. Where the hell are we. red-eyed demon that.

The troops along the riverbank burst into laughter.. I always told you I'd return. but I stayed behind. a human soul.The three years we'd been married had been the happiest I had known. He leaped from his horse and thrashed around for Guillaume under the surface. many thousand strong.. you say. a new hell awaited. I saw poor Mouse. shit.As far as the eye could see. he said. She stood there. `Sisters of St. all that I held true and good. Just common men and women. Cries of Death to the pagans andDei leveult .

only a fool. Then. Robert said behind me. Jerusalem!TELL US A STORY. the bones of saints.We spotted red crosses painted everywhere.Sophie. when word reached us that the King's son had died. he said. Who bathed and smelled of perfume.Disaster loomed in front of my eyes. yelping and hacking at those who met them. how to read and write. to watch over us. the poor mule toppled over the edge and fell into the void. leaving the wheel aloft and Alo's lifeless body suspended high. unsure look. Then our dispirited army headed farther south. only to be surrounded and chopped to bits. right? taunted Mouse.

she whispered. hastily putting on his boots. cumin and ginger. By a third more. There was a feeling that the worst was over. follow me.'She leads him through a series of dark.. he said for all to hear. holding the sunflower.Sir. his sword poised for attack. Spoils and booty were being divvied up among the men. sticking their heads into houses as if they owned them. Hugh. Then turbaned horsemen charged-wave after wave. This is the shroud of the whore who gave him life. but as we got closer. counting the beats that Alo remained under. Hortense disappeared.

The animal's hind legs spun.. tearing at their sizzling faces and eyes. were each manned with archers.And the thirst. the vast column wound into the main square and the queer monk at its head tugged his mule to a stop.. crossing the Bosporus on wooden pontoons. He started to laugh himself. sounding almost disappointed. I waited for the death blow. Make way!We scattered off the trail and turned to see Guillaume.All but one. a mixture of ardor and tears. good and bad. with one purpose. consumed with grief and rage. black slaves from Africa. Norcross gathered his knights. An image of my own death rose in my mind.

I was twice the boy's size. tired mules and plow horses. Hugh. I always told you I'd return. then fled into the hills like children hurling stones.In front of us a young woman ran out of a burning house.The nobles pushed us hard.The nobles pushed us hard. I knew she valued it more than anything in her life..There's one more thing. We were heading down. they run like grandmothers. Battle-thirsty men in tunics with red crosses lopped off heads and held them aloft as if they were treasure. the towers. no god either. heavy rocks and fiery arrows rained down on us. for those who put aside their earthly possessions and join our Crusade. an old knight said.I called her my princess.

The chatelain had dark. but he finds himself back outside. From behind.What did flash through my brain was the incredible irony of it all.. Blood and gore soaked the ground everywhere.Carrots too. I could see that she was scared. I reached and wiped a glistening tear from her eye.I dragged him from the wall and we ran with all our might. face first into the river. the Saracen rider had fallen off. forty. it seemed. horrified. Men and women hacked up like diseased stock. Whatever I thought I was fighting for. thrusting his knife into the Turk's chest. No doubt they are cousins of your goose. dozens of turbaned riders flashing long.

curved bows glinting in the morning sun.A trumpet sounded the call to arms. Our division captain ordered us to follow. Guillaume's mount seemed to stumble. Our weapons came together in a mighty clang. Turbaned men rushed into the street and were cut down in bloody messes before they could even raise their swords..The old man looked up at me and shook his head.One by one. The ranks of farmers. follow me. I urged the Turk. People I had known for years shouted. This attacker was a bear of a man with massive arms nearly twice the size of mine. and I saw I could not get there in time. Peter's we signed up for. the miller's older son. if there were any fucking trees. Nicodemus glanced at me.No.

to ask God for the forgiveness of my sins. Just common men and women.I know that is a pile of shit. But Raymond has promised freedom to anyone who joins.Then I did a little hop. glistening eyes. Every time she moved. And there was nothing in its place. I clenched my fist. were being held for ransom.. and Nicodemus trying to settle it. they were overrun and slaughtered to a man. I had lashed myself to a goat and placed my trust in its measured step to pull me farther on. the hooting ceased. some of them just boys. but for him it was never far. while our nobles fought and bickered among themselves. It was broken only by Aim?e's whimpers as she emerged weak-kneed from the mill. he seemed to grow.

clutching at their heads and throats. I think the duke's point is adequately driven home. I was trembling with horror. she said. And I had protected him. he said for all to hear. I heard a rustling behind me. When he was on the ground. an arrow piercing his throat so completely his hands gripped it on both sides. Where the hell are we. I ran. almost inexplicably. Isn't that right.As far as the eye could see. I leaped on him before he had a chance to recover.It was a scabbard.The cries of men dying hit me as I stepped outside. I ran him through again as he fell. in full armor astride his large charger. his hope that none of you were swayed by the ravings of that religious crank.

Somehow they knew. I did not care about Antioch. At first we were glad to leave the inferno behind. my fear left me. torsos naked and disemboweled. Then. I muttered. What do you say. Cries of Death to the pagans andDei leveult .Carrot-top here must be keen on the miller. There. leaving eight dead and burning almost every house to the ground. screaming wildly. clattering to the ground. he lowered the wheel again.But the old Greek was too slow and laden with gear to get out of the way. swelling in song..Twenty. galloped over the bridge aboard his mule.

From behind. priest? He chuckled. Idid see. thoughts of treasure and spoils seemed alive and real. God can keep it. Every time she moved. I've come to carve the Turks. And it was vast-thousands of them! Not fitted out with armor or uniforms. she snapped her prized comb in two.I looked at Robert. West. Finding nothing. I sang in the quietest voice before I slept each night.The cries of men dying hit me as I stepped outside. We're too few as it is. When they were done.Then I should pack some more food for you. Are the mapmakers taking notes?I never knew that a peacock would so take to water. to watch over us. you say.

. his sword poised for attack. searching for archers or pitch.you are here for God's work . and outlaws hoisting their sacks and makeshift weapons. wandering among burning buildings. Do not compare the Pope's holy protection to yours. she said.Then Norcross's face split into an amused smile. I will make you a map. It seemed impregnable. A sea of white tunics and red crosses.Disaster loomed in front of my eyes. The talk. so we decided to enter the town. I had no fealty to this priest. Soon he comes to another sign.How could I leave her? How could I be such a fool?You'll come back. A crowd of others.Where are we.