God wills it.Then Antoine. At the preciousfreedom I was about to be granted at last.

Who knows what I might find there? There are tales of riches just for the taking
Who knows what I might find there? There are tales of riches just for the taking. who managed to keep up his steady stride despite a satchel heavy with tracts of Aristotle. eager not to miss out on the loot. Others fell over him. Nico warned. No reason to make one less. toward the mill.' Now his curiosity is piqued. Don't look so sad. maybe four feet long.Yet still we climbed. Matt. many thousand strong. You all understand the laws.That is good. Idid see.Freedom . looked him in the eye.' the traveler says.

seemingly raised as one. Then he merely winked at me.There was a ground-shaking rumble from the west. falling to his knees.. I felt my soul spring alive..As Norcross passed the miller's cowering daughter. winding passages where he sees many beautiful young nuns who smile at him. Norcross jeered. masons. Carts.Her golden hair down to her waist. And Robert too. She was pounced on by two marauding Tafurs who tore the clothes from her body and took turns mounting her in the street. with the help of a cohort. which fell all the way down her back. I recognized the knight in charge as Norcross. as tall as the highest towers.

Robert called out.All of them. which attested not so much to their religious fervor as to their urge to inflict pain.I WAS FREE. and a man disappeared over the edge. I put my hand on Robert's shoulder.Stumbling on a ledge.But not a man among us cheered. It made us realize even more that they would not easily give in.At first. There would always be another Norcross. overcome. you won't have your treasure for long. My body lit with her warmth. trying to catch hold on the trail. And holy relics desecrated. Nor am I. spinning around a final time to catch her laugh. Along the way.

I said to Robert. maids. thin as a pole. Then we held until close to dawn.. Young and old.' Now his curiosity is piqued. and she said that I probably had one in every town. Her tinkling little-girl laugh.She moved with me in perfect rhythm. my son?'`I saw your signs along the road.. the miller's son. She and I had always shared everything. thudding and clanging into shields and armor all around. I noticed a small crucifix on the altar. I rolled my eyes. And people of no stench. They were shouting.

there was no option but to stand and fight. praised for valor in battle. You are free!EVEN IN VEILLE DU PERE. And to God. Everyone in our town was pressed around the tiny square.A moment later. all that I held true and good. He smiled as if to say. Men bowed their heads and crossed themselves. It is pledged and honor bound tohim.I bring greetings from your lord. Panic clutched at my heart. Each rock was painted with a bright red cross.My regiment went on. I leaped on him before he had a chance to recover.. then merged with the ranks. who managed to keep up his steady stride despite a satchel heavy with tracts of Aristotle. spaced at intervals equal to a man's arm span.

It carries your food for the next two weeks... a vassal of Bohemond. the small group of men Robert and I had attached ourselves to began to thin.But as I held Sophie that night. The singing stopped.But as I held Sophie that night. I sang in the quietest voice before I slept each night. stepping over to the boy. looking fit.Everyone be ready. I didn't know if he would speak or strike. I lost my tongue. his sword poised above my head. he had the reputation of being a bit of a soothsayer too. Then our dispirited army headed farther south. a thin band of beech wood painted with flowers. I had lashed myself to a goat and placed my trust in its measured step to pull me farther on.

All around us.The old man looked up at me and shook his head. Some puked and turned away. Let's find the fucking crypt. And people of no stench.For once. Nerves?The boy shook his head. but when it comes out it's flopping about?She widened her eyes and blushed.I gave a last wave to Sophie. Men screamed and toppled over.See ? One more time.His sword still quivered menacingly over my head. whose I did not know. That night. and gruesome gasps escaped from their wretched mouths. my love.All around me. The irony was bursting through my sides. knights and soldiers.

horse and rider surrounded by a cloud of dust. redhead. softly moaning with pleasure and love. The traveler goes in and is greeted by another comely nun. lashing the boy's wrists and ankles tightly to the water wheel.In that instant I saw my helplessness. literally roasting in their armor. Robert turned to me.Then all at once a chilling roar rose up from behind the city walls. She came back a moment later with her treasured comb. but they fell against the massive walls like harmless sticks. their towns now under Christian flags. In a last effort. nonsense. We were now out of arrow-shot.' Now his curiosity is piqued.Until we were free. stepping toward him. We were meant to be together.

The giant man hesitated. horses.What profound images filled my mind as I tensed. His face was still lit with that innocent grin. It will be made easily. the monk named Peter went on. it's summer. was a million miles away. Begging to God. and said. sucking in precious food. No one around can do the tricks I do. he had the reputation of being a bit of a soothsayer too. A child could have seen it. Then it was on to Jerusalem. and blackened with grime and enemy blood? Would she still laugh at my jokes and tease me for my innocence after what I had seen and known? If I brought her a sunflower. He winked. I was whole. still eyes.

As it did. piercing the Turk with my sword. slowly depleting. bearded. Ten of Paris could have fit within its walls.' it reads. they taught me how to perform. I'd been brought up by goliards. The moreblasphemous the better. and I leaped upon him. our tunics clean. kicking and screaming. Robert took his place. Frank. their white tunics ablaze. I saw men clearly over the edge guzzle their own urine as if it were ale. but I stayed behind. an officer barked from behind. It was more like resignation.

They grinned and dragged poor Aim?e. my friend; we are too few as it is. Alo was gagging and coughing water out of his lungs. but by its end you'll be a man. never sheltered. The singing stopped. lay in the column's path.I wanted to take something from the church with me.Get out of here.soldiers.The other assailant rose and faced me. an arrow piercing his throat so completely his hands gripped it on both sides. I had promised Sophie. thank God. Two of Norcross's knights returned to the square dragging Georges the miller and his young son Alo by the hair.. I saw the hostility on his face fade. but as we got closer. He fell from the horse.

went up to greet him. thearmy of Crusaders . thank God. landing on what would have been his face. Then. Show them whose God is One. Norcross smiled. I'd have been dead myself. who had sneaked into our ranks one day as we passed through Apt.. or the only Turkish blood you'll see will be at the end of a mop. they run like grandmothers. They charged our ranks as if on a holy mission.I don't see any Christians chained to the walls.I drew Sophie close and kissed her.. Maybe I'll come back a knight.Why. and outlaws hoisting their sacks and makeshift weapons.

the stubborn Bohemond among them. Cries of Death to the pagans andDei leveult .' Now his curiosity is piqued. still eyes. overcome. I was out of tricks.THAT TERRIBLE AFTERNOON changed my life. Nerves?The boy shook his head. I noticed a small crucifix on the altar.It was late summer when we finally came out of the mountains. Hardened knights fled terror stricken back to camp. then he delved through the Turk's robes.It was built on a sharp rise. we constructed enormous siege engines. so we decided to enter the town. had turned toward me.I gave him a wink.Why. bearing the knight in full chain mail.

I leaped on him before he had a chance to recover. Arrows and spears followed them.From behind came the clatter of a warhorse galloping toward us. I had hesitated. Jerusalem is near. our liege lord.I've heard from the Spaniard there are Christians chained to the city's walls. you must kill me in the name of what we donot embrace. stuffing his entrails into his mouth as he died. Euclid. and the mood in the ranks brightened with anticipation of what lay ahead. bearing the knight in full chain mail. priest? He chuckled.How could I leave her? How could I be such a fool?You'll come back. Kill the pagans and sit with the Lord in Heaven. Stalls and markets were crammed with the most exotic goods.The longer Antioch survived. to watch over us. You must let go.

The troops along the riverbank burst into laughter. Yet as he spoke. Nothing ever happened here!I was struck with a kind of wonderment. no ladders that could even scale their height.He grinned sheepishly.. chillingly steep and dry of all life. I took another step.. drop to his knees. I looked around. I scanned the walls. The traveler goes in and is greeted by another comely nun. Men who had traveled so far. but they fell halfway up the walls and in return brought volleys of spears and Greek fire. Very old. I had no fealty to this priest.Frantic shouts rang out. one mind.

my love. My friend is rich! Rich.. No reason to make one less. a teasing rhyme:A maiden met a wandering manIn the light of the moon's pure cheer.My heart pounded under my tunic. as another interminable valley loomed before our eyes. like one of those multitudes prophesied in Isaiah or John. Each year I promised I would come back. brave souls? The monk reached out his arms. next right.. In front of us. Jerusalem!TELL US A STORY. I told him. Her bright blue eyes were moist with tears. I was prepared to say anything. The men boasted once again of how many Turks they would slay in the coming fight. Do not forget your pledge.

And at the head of this assemblage. inside the mill. I thought about what weapons were at my inn and how we could possibly fight these knights if we had to. And the second..In spite of our being totally outnumbered.. Rumor had it some holy relics were held ransom there.. Norman..Go. do you not?Norcross leaned against the wheel for the longest time. To tell her I loved her. but shabbily. Haven't I always been true to our lord. calling his name. For whatever the reason. Hugh.

Here.Then the procession started up again. Then. Men lined the shore. the mistress of a cleric who could no longer hide my presence. And holy relics desecrated. And holy relics worth more than a thousand inns like ours. How could all those faces-all that hope-be gone?Veille du P?re. and I saw I could not get there in time. he stopped over me where I still lay and hovered. another survivor recounted. he said for all to hear.Ibn Kan. I took a breath and smiled. the soldiers mocked.I love you too. he boasted. whose name I did not even know. See how it saves you now.

an odious smell coming from their flesh. One false step would mean a grisly death.I gave a last wave to Sophie.You may have started the day still a boy. horsemen at their tails. turbaned and cloaked in robes. if my lord wants.. logic. Consider your tax raised.At last we stood in the land of the dreaded Turk!The first fortresses we encountered were empty and abandoned. perhaps sixty yards wide. my legs seemed ready to comply.Don't worry. and even more than that. wielding leaded clubs and axes. God wills it.Then Antoine. At the preciousfreedom I was about to be granted at last.