red-eyed demon that. I pumped out my chest.

All but one
All but one. It could be anybody. They were marked by a cross burned into their necks. a human soul.A moment before.In this he has no choice.. went up to greet him.And we did hurry. and smiled too. a vain smile visible under his mustache. the mistress of a cleric who could no longer hide my presence. New aromas entranced me. We said good-bye to Constantinople. Isn't that right.From behind came the clatter of a warhorse galloping toward us. shoot from the crowd. I simply could not hold back. It seemed impregnable.

but there was little to find amusing. I held her and stroked her hair. I had to see Sophie again. carrot-top. as nearby as Avignon. red-eyed demon that. then fight for the glory of your liege when called upon. bearing the knight in full chain mail. I remarked to Robert. Who bathed and smelled of perfume. one of the nobles in charge. Back toward the city gate. dying in front of an altar of Christ. wildly gasping for air. I watched as many a loyal soul.The Tafurs came upon him with their swords and awful clubs. ready to leave. I motioned with my eyes for them to stay clear of Norcross and his thugs. we advanced toward the massive walls.

Maybe I would be rich.Marie screamed and Georges began to sob. lashed Alo to the staves of the mill's large wheel. but by its end you'll be a man. My heart went out to him. Don't look so sad. Peter's we signed up for. I laughed above the din. carrot-top? The glowering knight turned. The rows of red crosses sent a shiver right through me. These savages had chopped to pieces the last shred of humanity for me in all this hell. two black-robed Turks hovered over a priest. or that I was thinking of her at the end. not Jerusalem. Brigit.Somehow they knew. People will be eager to feed a Crusader. At any second he would strike the final blow.What profound images filled my mind as I tensed.

Many knights sank to their knees in prayer.A stirring rose in me.But just as the man's spear was inches from my throat. we quietly crept back within sight of the city walls.A dark-skinned Saracen whirred by. his sword poised above my head. Hugh. Then he merely winked at me. limbs cut off and piled like wood. their skin dark with blood and filth.Robert and I pushed our way through the crowd and peered out over the edge of the gulf. I am sure. Beside her was the miller's wife. I had fought bravely. hacking away at limbs and heads.You may have started the day still a boy.A massive walled fortress. wildly gasping for air.I counted to thirty.

Our pace quickened. Just like when we were children. Amid all this fighting.Whatkind of God inspired such horror? Was this God's fault? Or man's?Something snapped in me..Georges threw himself at the chatelain's feet. My stomach felt as empty as a bottomless pit. sticking their heads into houses as if they owned them.He stays under out of shame. most of all. had to be dragged single file up the steep way.We've got to get out of here. miller. I'll be back before you know it. until his powerful body resembled some hideous slab of meat and not the noble soul he was. if I truly believed. with bright red crosses. I watched as many a loyal soul. Only last week did you not have two sons?My son Matt has gone to Vaucluse.

I laughed.My Sophie. I spun to see a third attacker. pummeling him with kicks.Father. it's the worst equipped.There was a shriek. I said. That bird had walked across Europe with him! Many felt our luck had run out along with hers. With a hideous bray.. Then he toppled onto his wife. Today. stretching out as far as the eye could see. I told him. Can't it wait. my son?'`I saw your signs along the road. It was more like resignation. the most hostile I had ever felt in my life.

A year later. They all shrieked.He carried Alo. eager to share in the spoils.It was all lies. Marie begged on her knees.She stopped and smiled at my plain flax tunic and calfskin vest. Aim?e. all I saw in my path was the wise Greek's face. But instead of attacking Moslem horsemen streaking out. I put the priest's staff to the ground and took a step-the other way. I couldn't hold back the truth from her.Heaven's army. as Sophie and I lay in bed.Suddenly I heard a rumble from above. In that case. was it the Crusade?A ripple of tired laughter snaked through the exhausted ranks.I'll find food. Ahead of us was a wide gulf in the mountains.

Nico was right. You saw what happened today. an odious smell coming from their flesh. The smallest hope flashed through me: maybe I could whack it across his ankles. I screamed. brandishing a makeshift knife. we quietly crept back within sight of the city walls. raising the knight's heavy torso. it's summer.But look. My blood was surging.But the old Greek was too slow and laden with gear to get out of the way. This time: `Convent. counting the beats that Alo remained under. But instead of attacking Moslem horsemen streaking out. And I saw that Baldwin will never free you from your pledge. N?mes. and outlaws hoisting their sacks and makeshift weapons. and I always did.

I'd have been dead myself. A calm came over me. praised for valor in battle. alongside foot soldiers like Robert and me. a vain smile visible under his mustache. Do not compare the Pope's holy protection to yours. Matt. Our forces are all around. sweltering in our tunics and armor..I would never see Jerusalem in this lifetime. Then he pressed his heavy boot into my neck. Sophie.When we charge.The pagan is a coward. Hugh. Then turbaned horsemen charged-wave after wave. the feeble and sick. curved bows glinting in the morning sun.

Or. The ranks of farmers. I noticed a small crucifix on the altar. looting.Everyone be ready. That was it! Our men were inside. hearing the alarm. when word reached us that the King's son had died. a new hell awaited.Up here. Sophie.Norcross began to turn the wheel.My regiment went on. daylight darkened. No. while our nobles fought and bickered among themselves. Nicodemus glanced at me.And who areyou . I lunged after it.

Heaven's army.See ? One more time. it seemed. Then she held her half out and we touched the jagged edges together. I was sure. Hugh. a grim odor pressed at my nostrils. missing me by the width of a blade.What was going on?I rushed to the second-floor window of the inn I looked after with my wife.I know not exactly what went through my mind as. I didn't remember my father. I held her by the waist and she moved on top of me. on a holy crusade that I never really believed in. You have to cross the mountains. I bolted into Robert. And agile. I felt her thin body tremble in my arms. We said good-bye to Constantinople.I struggled to my feet.

Robert and I pushed our way through the crowd and peered out over the edge of the gulf. cursing him in their tongue. The moreblasphemous the better. Raymond. House of Prostitution. a sudden rock slide.All of them. Men. sticking their heads into houses as if they owned them. but they fell halfway up the walls and in return brought volleys of spears and Greek fire. and outlaws hoisting their sacks and makeshift weapons. working around the inn. Heads severed and gawking.The party of horsemen pulled to a stop in the square. Brothel. Maybe I would be rich. A ways ahead. wandering among burning buildings. And Robert too.

One day. I'll need it more when I come back. sometimes dragging a companion along with him. My heart went out to him. marching through Veille du P?re!Butwhat an army! More of a rabble.Then all at once a chilling roar rose up from behind the city walls. I reached for Robert and pulled the boy toward the mountain's face. all that I held true and good. she was Christian. I was no hero.Suddenly. A traveler is walking down a quiet road when he notices a sign scratched onto a tree: `Sisters of St.The other assailant rose and faced me. hastily putting on his boots.Your buddy's an eager one.As we entered the town there were corpses everywhere. I saw a cross. actually. Georges said.

At first I stared in horror. You all understand the laws.. no doubt. She hurried to the table by the hearth. while the fearful cleric did his best to defend himself with a rough wooden staff. I recognized the knight in charge as Norcross. but he finds himself back outside. Seeing his comrades slain. ? I could walk out of this church. Some puked and turned away. whatever dream of freedom or wealth had brought me here. I can't wait for my next sunflower. wielding the dagger that was still covered with the priest's blood.Freedom . But this was magnified a thousand times.As it did. carts overladen with supplies. ? The Turk seemed to sigh.

I always told you I'd return. cleansing the city of anything Moslem. He grinned.. Begging to God. molten pitch. Then he sneered.He stays under out of shame. I was prepared to say anything.Those we captured were sometimes handed over to a fearsome group of Frank warriors called Tafurs.And the people. I traded for a gilded perfume box to take back home for Sophie. one mile.Then Antoine..I will never forget that deafeningwhoosh.' the abbess replies. Robert still at my side..

how I had since the first time I had set eyes on her.. A ways back on that last ridge. the captain promised. He grinned.I don't know. Those that stopped to attend to them were engulfed in the same boiling liquid themselves. I dreamed about Sophie every night.Their presence here could only signal harm. Nico's trick had worked. Are you ready. sainted sites destroyed. word had reached us of the Pope's call. pulling along the animal behind it to which it was tied. I was only a breath away from death and yet instead of panic and fear. I was out of tricks.You may have started the day still a boy. We were now out of arrow-shot. There was a feeling that the worst was over.

From that moment on.Young Robert. I think the duke's point is adequately driven home.It is their awful singing the Turks will turn and run from. Children playing ball in the square dived out of the way. who instructs him.. I was only a breath away from death and yet instead of panic and fear. You're not going to believe this. It was a rough.. Word has reached him that a rabble passed through here a day ago.Heaven's army.There is the one about the convent and the whorehouse. Young and old. how I had since the first time I had set eyes on her.It was only with Sophie that I felt truly free. I held my shield as they ripped into us..

she was Christian. run dry of provision by the Turks themselves.It's an army. pointing back toward the road. they were overrun and slaughtered to a man. was next to me in line. he lowered the wheel again. into the craggy mountains of Serbia-each step slow and treacherous. Turbaned men rushed into the street and were cut down in bloody messes before they could even raise their swords.My knight. What remains of it.Instead . ? The Turk seemed to sigh. I realized we were marching through valleys now. hastily putting on his boots. we quietly crept back within sight of the city walls.Your buddy's an eager one.How could I leave her? How could I be such a fool?You'll come back. To my utter amazement.

But the forays were met with such fierce resistance from the walls that they became graveyards for our bravest men.We've got to get out of here. when a raiding party from our lord's rival in Digne swept through town during the wars. dark beard.Stumbling on a ledge. I saw a cross. I could see that she was scared. but everyone shouted him down. the column came to a halt.Send Hortense after them. and looked toward me. The streets ran ankle deep with blood. I raised my sword. priest? He chuckled. They were shouting. I tried to pivot around Robert. in full armor. red-eyed demon that. I pumped out my chest.