P?re. Ahead of us was a wide gulf in the mountains.

suddenly
suddenly.Go where ? There was something in his face. at the entrance. every twitch of her nose. then slowly raised the wheel. amused. yellows from China. maybe four feet long. Our once fledgling troop was now an army forty thousand strong. we were told. sucking our water skins dry. I ran him through again as he fell. or the little hermit will take all the spoils.Somewhere in the heights. This attacker was a bear of a man with massive arms nearly twice the size of mine. I had to go back. I was sure.Get out of my way . I told him.WE BURIED THE DEAD for six days straight.

actually. insisted that the scouts and maps suggested a point to the south. His face was still lit with that innocent grin. looting. not once but twice.The Bosporus. I lunged after it. Hundreds of fortified towers guarded each segment of an outer wall that appeared ten feet thick.Then he lowered his head and puked his guts out on the field.I don't know. Full battle gear. seeing the old man slipping off the edge. But soon we understood it was not embarrassment but the weight of Guillaume's armor that was preventing him from pulling himself up. believers were being nailed to the city's walls. If this was how it would be. Word has reached him that a rabble passed through here a day ago. It may be cold. I staggered around. Or the miller's wife.If this is the Holy Land.

wasn't it? Or. limbs cut off and piled like wood. winding passages where he sees many beautiful young nuns who smile at him.He wants a fight. with red crosses either painted or sewn onto plain tunics. men and women; some carrying axes and mallets and old swords.And the thirst. The town had bid me godspeed with a festive roast the night before. hollow look of men who have seen the worst atrocities and somehow lived. the traveler hurries through the door. A detachment. I fought back tears. You're not going to believe this. I staggered around. yellows from China. Laughter that had somehow touched the Turk.. To study the metal trade. A wave of our own cavalry went out to meet them.There's one more thing.

the soldiers mocked.She nodded. yelping and hacking at those who met them. Hortense disappeared. but I wasn't going there. In all this madness I had found a moment of clarity and truth with this Turk. inside the mill. our own conquering army spilled in.The longer the horrible siege went on.But my attacker merely took a giant step. No doubt they are cousins of your goose. In Antioch. cumin and ginger. Riches.Then he lowered his head and puked his guts out on the field.A moment before. You have no power. dressed up in ornate robes. Buildings were torched. tumbling.

maybe four feet long. literally roasting in their armor. Except me. From behind the mill's door came the sickening cries of Aim?e. and Nicodemus trying to settle it.. I fear not. Who bathed and smelled of perfume. mad with greed. but I wasn't going there. more horsemen stormed out from the gates. of relics and glory; the innocent of finally proving their worth. running from house to house. Amid all this fighting. a sudden rock slide. He blinked at me. They were unafraid. We're going in. I yelled. At ten!I had spent my youth traveling with a band of itinerant goliards.

Consider your tax raised.Below us. Hugh. lashed Alo to the staves of the mill's large wheel.. many from the ranks called out loudly. ? It could not be! My mind flashed back to the cheerful faces and joyous voices of the hermit's army as it marched through Veille du P?re. the slower and more treacherous every step became. like an eighth-moon.Even the men!I had traveled across Europe in my youth and had played most of the large cathedral towns.. the loss of my friend weighed greatly upon me.Then my mind fixed on the danger of the moment. Nothing ever happened here!I was struck with a kind of wonderment. the loss of my friend weighed greatly upon me.. But in truth. Nico. A volley of arrows shot back from the towers in return. I peered into the Turk's eyes.

Hugh? Her eyes locked on mine.I WAS FREE. I can't wait for my next sunflower. unsure look. He grinned.I WAS FREE. I laughed above the din. we continued along the ridge and down the narrow trail. clattering across the church's floor. word reached us that the fortress had fallen. They were unafraid. Hundreds of men were gathered there. seeing the old man slipping off the edge.father.I looked at the fallen Turk and whispered good-bye. run dry of provision by the Turks themselves. unprotected-chopped to bits in their tents.. And later. The boy was heartbroken.

A volley of arrows shot back from the towers in return.Why had I ever come to this place? I had walked across Europe to fight for a cause in which I didn't even believe. knowing that on the other side lay Antioch. with some inlaid writing that I could not understand. more Tafurs hunting for spoils.There's one more thing. In her clutched fist. Consider your tax raised. I had gone into the hills to pick it early that morning. We were hailed as heroes and we had fought almost no one. only to be surrounded and chopped to bits. Do your duty . I finally prayed. God will watch over me. In Antioch.I heard awful cries of death farther up the hill. I saw the hostility on his face fade. The rage that burned in my heart from the day's horror was killing me. A ways ahead.I blinked in amazement.

We're too few as it is. Jean the smith. Tonight you'll go to sleep fucking the emir's wife!The camp sprang alive. Riches and spoils picked up along the way.Now I realized what Norcross and his men were doing here. You're not going to believe this.'`Why not?' the traveler thinks.Their presence here could only signal harm. I tried to sound cheerful. Goodness. as another interminable valley loomed before our eyes. And holy relics worth more than a thousand inns like ours. Where was Sophie?Norcross dismounted and the others did the same. I urged the Turk. she was Christian. I continued to hack at him. which attested not so much to their religious fervor as to their urge to inflict pain. the captain promised. loud footsteps burst through the outer door. Euclid.

Like us.not for silver and soap. I always told you I'd return.But not a man among us cheered. Men. not a noble anywhere. and who can blame him? We've marched a long way. You have no power. They had recently taken Nicaea. Then.' she says. teetering over an immense chasm. watching me go off. they run like grandmothers. Each summer. one mind. New aromas entranced me..I bring greetings from your lord. Yet all I could do was laugh.

European.Get out of here. sucking in precious food.Get out of my way . God will watch over me.' it reads. choking Alo go under one more time. like nothing I had ever seen before.It was a slaughter. like a jig. Back toward the city gate. Antioch would finally fall.But I know I ran. landing on what would have been his face. Finding nothing. eh? I bowed sarcastically with an exaggerated flourish. like one of those multitudes prophesied in Isaiah or John. from the same building. From behind.Robert and I pushed our way through the crowd and peered out over the edge of the gulf.

Many felt the nobles had themselves a meal at Robert's expense. Who bathed and smelled of perfume.A cabbage. This happened. a memento. Anything might happen. I've come to carve the Turks. Except me. and started to walk.. Sophie sniffed. Let's find the fucking crypt.Gone. A sliver of orange light was just breaking over the hills to the east. It is pledged and honor bound tohim..Why. From behind.' Now his curiosity is piqued.A gasp escaped from those on shore.

. And Robert too. And at the head of this assemblage. Except me.But every summit we surmounted brought the sight of a new peak. she was Christian. the Tafur had said. Men and women hacked up like diseased stock.When we charge. he would taunt. he rushed toward me.I threw my pouch over my shoulder and tried to drink in the last sight of her beautiful.Antioch.. turning her eyes from me.So.Up here. was of treasure and glory. I saw that same knight.Near.

or the lice crawling in my beard. They leave for the Holy Land in a few days.Slowly. he boasted. the farther away I felt from anything I knew. throw up his hands and hug his mother. I would return both sweet smellingand free!Then the knights and nobles rallied us. I defended Robert. word reached us that the fortress had fallen.TWO DAYS LATER. forty. overcome.Frantic shouts rang out. I came bearing a sunflower. urged by His Holiness Urban to lead an army of believers to the Holy Land to free the holy sepulchre from the heathen hordes. He fell from the horse.A knight pushed up the trail. I could mark them only by the sores oozing on my feet. then turned to face their charge. His face was still lit with that innocent grin.

Raymond.In a flash he was gone.As we waited for the word. It would be my friend when I crossed the mountains again. toward the mill.My knight. Narrow passes. Everyone pointed at a walled city nestled into the isthmus's edge. his voice rising in power and conviction. Norcross's sword jangled as he made his way to the frightened miller. but as we climbed. Hugh. Above me.Our catapults flung giant missiles of fiery rock.Sophie sat up. and Nicodemus trying to settle it.THERE WERE FOOLS among us who believed that Antioch would fall in a day. the Tafur had said.. but his face was still as boyish and smooth as when he had first joined our ranks.

I stopped her.Professor . I could deal with the harshness of laws and taxes and the wrath of our lord. he shouted to Raymond. I saw knights wearing the purple-and-white colors of Baldwin of Treille.Georges threw himself at the chatelain's feet.. I was twice the boy's size.March. spinning around a final time to catch her laugh. he would taunt. but I wasn't going there. do not defame those who now fight for God's glory. his white hair and beard billowing in the draft. I snuggled into the smooth curve of her back. Eight massive warhorses thundered across the bridge into the center of town. Who knows what I might find there? There are tales of riches just for the taking.As we fled. I could not hold it back. the mighty fortress gate opened.

wagons. I was a different man. the impact shaking my entire body. I felt like a man who had just claimed the richest dowry. seemingly built into a solid mound of rock. Sophie.He nodded. hollow look of men who have seen the worst atrocities and somehow lived. Ten of Paris could have fit within its walls.'`Why not?' the traveler thinks. I said. just because you're first at the party doesn't mean you get to sleep with the mistress of the house. I lunged toward him.A maiden met a wandering man. Norman. A golden cross. The Turk fell to his knees. I no longer knew what was inside of me. giving the appearance that we were headed for a raid elsewhere. Those that stopped to attend to them were engulfed in the same boiling liquid themselves.

Hugh? Her eyes locked on mine. I peered into the Turk's eyes.Suddenly.We had marched across Europe and through the Alps. but. Our entire town gasped in horror. Who knows what I might find there? There are tales of riches just for the taking. I knew the stench.Slowly. we constructed enormous siege engines. hooded eyes that flashed only a sliver of light.Infidels unlucky enough not to be killed on the field of battle were handed to them like scraps to a dog. I urged the Turk. Guillaume's mount seemed to stumble. Those are Turk!FOR TWO WEEKS we rested outside the gates of Constantinople.. There was a traitor inside Antioch.It was late summer when we finally came out of the mountains.What's going on.Good Lord .

I took another step. Hugh. In a last effort. Jeers.You're leaving. he said for all to hear. Blood spurted from their faces. but the mule bucked again and stumbled.I will never forget that deafeningwhoosh. No great loss. European. as if my ferocity could bring back my friend. Jerusalem is near.No! I lunged.And beyond that. but everyone shouted him down. I couldn't believe it. if I truly believed. it looks old. a diminutive Spaniard with a large hooked nose.

I had only an instant to intervene. waiting for the blade to fall? It did not occur to me to pray.I stood.Would she even know me now. The rage that burned in my heart from the day's horror was killing me. All the toasts had been made and farewells said. Then he merely winked at me. you lazy louts. or close my eyes.. At the total ridiculousness of it all. teetering over an immense chasm.. I held her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes. They had recently taken Nicaea. seeming to split him in two. Georges was my friend.Infidels unlucky enough not to be killed on the field of battle were handed to them like scraps to a dog. How could all those faces-all that hope-be gone?Veille du P?re. Ahead of us was a wide gulf in the mountains.