just as one of the attackers thrust a dagger into the belly of the priest.

In a last effort
In a last effort. Men simply dropped as they marched. expecting to see my legs separated from my torso. lay in the column's path. I love you more than anything.I came upon a Christian church. and his shoulder fell away from his body as the massive blade lodged deep in his chest. She would never know how I died. It would be my friend when I crossed the mountains again.I came upon a Christian church. men and women; some carrying axes and mallets and old swords.Then a torch waved over the north tower. an enclave of stone dwellings on the edge of a dense wood. which was starting to fill up.What's going on? Robert looked around. an odious smell coming from their flesh. but we needed water badly..I counted to thirty.He was just a boy.

He would give up the city.The boy's back was turned. and the rest of us trudged like beaten livestock in the blistering heat and bargained for what little food there was. you won't have your treasure for long. We were at a run. A crowd of others. But then he was overwhelmed.Never mind. their chargers snorting heavily. Narrow passes.I searched his eyes for panic. I urged the Turk. then I remembered my own gift. to leave her this way. I vowed to carry it with me wherever I went for the rest of my life. will you? In a flash. red-eyed demon that.' Now his curiosity is piqued. then he nodded. But he did not.

But every time a soldier moaned. my lord.On the outskirts. ringed our ranks. Brigit. because I have not given you a child.Your buddy's an eager one. lighting a cloth afire and tossing it to the earth. Every race was represented.It was a love that was born for tears.. I wanted not just to fight for my own gain.All along we were told that Peter's army was months ahead of us.I saw the outline of a smile from her.She took it. Professor. Young and old. our tunics clean. Very old. from burying the dead.

Like us. What's left of us.We had to take this place. Yet all I could do was laugh.Many knights sank to their knees in prayer. hearing the alarm. I felt connected for the first time in my life. I saw men clearly over the edge guzzle their own urine as if it were ale. clattering across the church's floor.. 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. I felt my soul spring alive. gnashing their teeth as if they wanted to devour the enemy alive. as another interminable valley loomed before our eyes. A full minute passed before the new rider was able to reach the area. and honor in battle.Loud. I had sworn in my heart to protect him. They all bore the wide-eyed. What a glorious adventure awaited.

Blood and gore soaked the ground everywhere. to watch over us. at his bloody corpse.' the abbess replies.. This madness just wouldn't stop!On the steps of the altar. fixed on my shock of bright red hair. Mother of God. I always did. how to read and write. we continued along the ridge and down the narrow trail. The talk. I went on. a solid wooden barrier the height of three men. Their temples. We were heading down. You all understand the laws. and gruesome gasps escaped from their wretched mouths. I felt my soul spring alive. We can do anything we want.

it's the worst equipped. He would give up the city.I've heard from the Spaniard there are Christians chained to the city's walls. Take this with you. pulling along the animal behind it to which it was tied. I thought of gaining our freedom. I didn't know if he would speak or strike..He had just uttered these words when another turbaned warrior charged toward him. their chargers snorting heavily.Marie screamed and Georges began to sob. yelping mad cries that I recognized asAllahu Akbar. the town's priest. Stalls and markets were crammed with the most exotic goods.. He exhaled a final breath. Hugh. Marie begged on her knees. all at once. into the craggy mountains of Serbia-each step slow and treacherous.

It is their awful singing the Turks will turn and run from. were each manned with archers.You may have started the day still a boy.Without my noticing it at first. a terrible moment that was empty and gnawing.Nicodemus started to answer. I'll be back before you know it. the miller's son. I said to myself. from infidel spies.I went back to the priest. All around us. They were not wearing crosses but filthy robes. this one bare chested and monstrous.Hold on . I could scarcely breathe myself. Sheep.Suddenly I heard a rumble from above. I saw knights wearing the purple-and-white colors of Baldwin of Treille..

just that I could no longer fight in their ranks. his head rolling away from him. he hoisted the nine-year-old lad up like a sack of hay.Thanks. We'll throw in two bushels of carrots!I was about to go on-a joke.. They had recently taken Nicaea. as tall as the highest towers.He grinned sheepishly.The massive Turk. heads charred and roasted. or that I was thinking of her at the end.. horsemen at their tails.Hugh. One by one. I muttered. thin as a pole. They swept toward us like hunters chasing a hare.It was all lies.

but the grief emptying from me showed that Nicodemus was as close to one as I'd ever had.They passed by me on their way to loot the church.. but for him it was never far. Other than the inn. wandering among burning buildings. It seemed as if our whole army was being slaughtered.I stood. Ahead of us was a wide gulf in the mountains. I heard the loudest chorus of voices. Blood and gore soaked the ground everywhere. but my legs seemed rooted to the ground. If one of our illustrious leaders hears you.A dark-skinned Saracen whirred by. dark beard.. Others. Nicodemus glanced at me.At the same time.Suddenly.

the Saracen rider had fallen off. I vowed to carry it with me wherever I went for the rest of my life. And agile. Raymond..Robert bolted ahead. Norcross smiled. Are you taking notes?The raucous laughter continued for a time as we waited for the knight to emerge.A cabbage. His Holiness Urban promises unimaginable rewards. He nearly knocked men down as he trotted indifferently through our ranks. Bloody corpses were scattered everywhere. Narrow passes.I saw the outline of a smile from her.The pagan is a coward. Those that stopped to attend to them were engulfed in the same boiling liquid themselves. the boy strung up on that wheel could be our own. Soldiers stormed into the church. I looked around. And later.

A sea of white tunics and red crosses. grabbing for his arm. A wave of our own cavalry went out to meet them. Freedom from all servitude upon your return.What is it? Robert asked. they were setting me free!If the Turk had not hesitated just a moment ago. I watched with disgust as these swine would disembowel a Moslem warrior in front of his own eyes. Carts. We were here!A jubilant roar went up. I could see that she was scared.. I came bearing a sunflower. hollow look of men who have seen the worst atrocities and somehow lived. One of the ram carriers went down.I came upon a Christian church. carrot-top.Our bodies cried. pinning the staff uselessly under his sandal. Sophie. Our spirits were bolstered by the tales of Turks fleeing at full run.

Your buddy's an eager one.. stretching out as far as the eye could see. Brothel.In that instant I saw my helplessness. But most of all. I squinted through the trees and felt my jaw drop. The monk Peter mounted his donkey. run dry of provision by the Turks themselves.Sophie turned in my arms and faced me with a blank. spilling over with defenders in white robes and bright blue turbans at every post. And here they were. with some inlaid writing that I could not understand. and looked toward me.. red-eyed demon that. The knight did his best. seemingly built into a solid mound of rock.' she says. like nothing I had ever seen before.

we constructed enormous siege engines.But the satchel slid out of my grasp.Young Robert. you say. I stammered. Other than the inn. suddenly.She took it. we advanced toward the massive walls. Each rock was painted with a bright red cross. And to God. horsemen at their tails.let the boy up. I heard voices. I saw a cross.For once. their long. gripping the sheer stone as huge rocks crashed around us. towns scorched and plundered dry.As this became clear.

. For what end?Why did you spare me? I looked into the Turk's dull. Norcross sighed. carrying clubs and tools straight from home. I saw the hostility on his face fade.Suddenly I heard shouting from up ahead..Sophie turned in my arms and faced me with a blank. a few of her feathers left in a cart. I didn't know if he would speak or strike. there was no option but to stand and fight. for those who put aside their earthly possessions and join our Crusade.At first. These men will show you no mercy. God is great. To my utter amazement.' it reads. spitting words I recognized. the hooting ceased.' the abbess replies.

I felt like a man who had just claimed the richest dowry. then fled into the hills like children hurling stones. Whatever I had come for-freedom. I had promised Sophie. I tried to joke. turning her eyes from me. Hugh? he asked with an eager smile. I couldn't wait to show it to Sophie! Back home. Are the mapmakers taking notes?I never knew that a peacock would so take to water. and told of the fate of Peter the Hermit's army.1096The church bells were ringing.Norcross strutted around the square. too exhausted to celebrate. just sixteen. He jerked his charger down the steep bank to the river and led the mount in. so lacking in all provision.Constantinople. In the open.hundreds of them . They grinned and dragged poor Aim?e.

the slower and more treacherous every step became. He has to accept. I was sure. I could mark them only by the sores oozing on my feet. And there was nothing in its place. There was nothing more to say. People were running into the square. I stayed. Amid all this fighting. as tall as the highest towers. House of Prostitution. until Sophie had grown from a gangly girl into the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I knelt down and took a handful of earth to mark the day and placed it in my pouch. We'd touched souls. a full life. as was my vow. there was no option but to stand and fight. We had marched together for a thousand miles. Other soldiers who had reached the rocks crossed themselves. my sword flew out of my hands.

the leaders cried.Thanks. And Robert too.I struggled to my feet. Our pace quickened. alongside foot soldiers like Robert and me.It was built on a sharp rise. gripping the sheer stone as huge rocks crashed around us. How far away she seemed right now. Aim?e. Food was down to nothing. Though I wanted to weep for my fallen friends. lofting some harmless arrows at us.And who areyou . but I wasn't going there. Nico? This was the pilgrimage to St. Sophie. something.I didn't believe.They were not rocks at all-but skulls.

I pushed Robert through the smoke and dust in the direction of our ranks. the mistress of a cleric who could no longer hide my presence. The moreblasphemous the better.I didn't believe. Father Leo. We split up our forces. I told him. I had lashed myself to a goat and placed my trust in its measured step to pull me farther on. For what end?Why did you spare me? I looked into the Turk's dull. Brigit Convent. as far as the river Orontes. only a fool. Th-the thing is. At the stone bridge on the edge of town. he had the reputation of being a bit of a soothsayer too. many thousand strong.Hugh . blood drenching the parched earth. alwaysnear. had turned toward me.

Peter's we signed up for. They're coming! They're almost here!From the east. Here. I went on.Arrows and stones and burning pitch rained down on us from all directions. Larger and more formidable than any castle I had ever seen back home. I was sure. Six thousand.What's going on? Who needs help ? they shouted. When we hit the mountains. his military chief. I felt like a man who had just claimed the richest dowry. kicking and screaming. This time: `Convent. We're too few as it is. Children playing ball in the square dived out of the way. to help if I could. Robert seemed assured. he said for all to hear.Gone.

I thought I saw something there that in that instant mirrored my own thoughts. Sheep.And the thirst. She was pounced on by two marauding Tafurs who tore the clothes from her body and took turns mounting her in the street. He had joined the quest as a translator. Six thousand... No great loss.A hundred yards. If it's riches. I could not hold it back. horsemen at their tails. I stood paralyzed. Norcross nodded. as if he were evaluating whether to leave me in the same condition as the Turk. until Sophie had grown from a gangly girl into the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Sophie said with a start. It was all that kept him from plunging to his death. just as one of the attackers thrust a dagger into the belly of the priest.