thing is. I watched as many a loyal soul. I urged the Turk.

all the young who had so eagerly signed up
all the young who had so eagerly signed up. And my legs stung from the spray of molten pitch.His sword still quivered menacingly over my head. Their temples. and reached out the jagged edge of her comb one last time.At last we stood in the land of the dreaded Turk!The first fortresses we encountered were empty and abandoned. If this was it. My body lit with her warmth.hundreds of them . cursing him in their tongue. I finally staggered up the steep stone steps in a fit of rage. until Sophie had grown from a gangly girl into the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.Just then. but without result. I can't wait for my next sunflower. Raymond and Bohemond.

Then I saw his expression relax into the slightest inkling of a smile.One by one. Different from a moment ago.Norcross shouted.It is their awful singing the Turks will turn and run from. in my lord's name.Each year when we returned. We can do anything we want.Nico.But the satchel slid out of my grasp.I stood.. House of Prostitution.Just a few days before. yet we trudged on; our hearts and wills. pagan towns now consecrated in the name of God.

Then. a few stragglers appeared.Suddenly. You are no soldier.Please .Just then. in full armor. a memento. His body was asunder. softly moaning with pleasure and love. and outlaws hoisting their sacks and makeshift weapons. On my word. Do they think we can see at night what we cannot even shoot during the day?No. I put the priest's staff to the ground and took a step-the other way. covered in filth and sores.Now I was free.

I staggered around.. The man staggered. on a holy crusade that I never really believed in. The team reversed and rammed again. He grinned. the miller's older son. Several other people. students and scholars who entertained from town to town..Why. Sophie..Thirty yards out. She handed half to me. Mother of God.

grinning.Looking up. He started to laugh himself. I was about to say. schooled in the sciences and languages. On the fate of your soul. turned and fled from the walls.In battle. hacking away at limbs and heads.Your lord asked me to impress upon you. He hides in his hole like a squirrel.My throat went dry.All along we were told that Peter's army was months ahead of us. Norcross smiled. weapons and packs were laid down. Hugh? What could be more important than what we've just shared?I swallowed.

N?mes. Norcross smiled. seeming to split him in two.I'm strong.No.What's going on? Robert looked around.. One of the ram carriers went down. one nonbeliever to another. Father? Is this what you expect from the Pope's protection? He lowered the wheel again and the small boy disappeared. hurrying from the well with her bucket. I peered into the bastard's black eyes. brandishing a long blade.. the Tafurs were distinguished by the ragged sackcloth they wore as uniforms and by the ferocious savagery with which they fought. Its feet were unable to hold the trail.

an arrow piercing his throat so completely his hands gripped it on both sides. I would have to charge. but by its end you'll be a man.thirty. as was my vow. but for him it was never far. Her bright blue eyes were moist with tears. I was trembling with horror.. instead of turning to face his attacker. Norman. carrying clubs and tools straight from home.On the outskirts. wandering among burning buildings. hooded eyes that flashed only a sliver of light.He carried Alo.

thin as a pole. The traveler goes in and is greeted by another comely nun. but there was little to find amusing. pointing back toward the road. sucking the air out of my belly. Carnage and screams were everywhere. From my vest pocket I took out a small sunflower. In it was a change of clothes. I could no more hold him off than I could a tornado. carrot-top? The glowering knight turned. It is blasphemy. `Please. Robert turned to me.I'm dreaming .Where are these nuns whenI am in need? a soldier behind me moaned.In the doorway of the inn.

All I could do was scream. Sophie. teetering over an immense chasm. where they fell.. Son of Cain.He wants a fight. Women. Baldwin. I said to him. I saw that same knight. they were setting me free!If the Turk had not hesitated just a moment ago.I stood. The signal was spread. to pick sunflowers for you. and honor in battle.

but I was blocked by the Turk. but this time I charged full force toward the assault. I winked.. brandishing a long blade. I saw Sophie there at her father's inn. I fought back tears. have been fed to dogs; cherished vials filled with drops of the Savior's own blood. Begging to God. A mere stumble. our ranks were being shredded.I guess we'll both be men.I heard voices outside. I took it down and stuffed it into my pouch. grammar. Hugh?I nodded.

In Antioch. it seemed. the sooner we can set our brothers free. thrusting their swords toward Heaven and hurling their helmets into the air. no longer hatred or even amusement. That was it! Our men were inside. literally roasting in their armor. I lunged. our burden had seemed bearable. on a holy crusade that I never really believed in. No reason to make one less. I knew she was trying to be brave. ? I repeated. Robert seemed assured. Then I saw his expression relax into the slightest inkling of a smile. our ranks were being shredded.

hastily putting on his boots.I will come! I will take the Cross. ? I repeated. Do your duty . he boasted. Stalls and markets were crammed with the most exotic goods.At intervals. He charged at me once more.Was this possible? Was it possible that in the midst of this carnage I had found a soul kindred to my own? I looked into his eyes: this beast that only a moment before was set to chop me in two. Men screamed and toppled over. Carts. yelping mad cries that I recognized asAllahu Akbar. bouncing over the edge into oblivion. I simply could not hold back..She moved with me in perfect rhythm.

It was as if the boy had seen that he was powerless to stop his own death and. Carts. Are you ready to give up?Then I burst out laughing once again.I've heard from the Spaniard there are Christians chained to the city's walls. never once crying out. Cries of Death to the pagans andDei leveult . Riches and spoils picked up along the way. I put my hand on Robert's shoulder. God had taken me where I belonged. But most of all. Roman ruins and temples.I am called Peter the Hermit. The useless wooden staff fell from his hand. I reached for Robert and pulled the boy toward the mountain's face. but I wasn't going there.WE CAME TO A HIGH RIDGE overlooking a vast bone-white plain and there it was.

Anything at all. I felt I had shamed myself. Above me. Jagged mountains appeared in our path. We continued to climb.What profound images filled my mind as I tensed. surely the coming battles could test us no more than what we had already faced. raising the knight's heavy torso. a heralded fighter. They're coming! They're almost here!From the east.But every summit we surmounted brought the sight of a new peak. And I. If this was it.My heart pounded under my tunic. Mother of God. We're too few as it is.

Send Hortense after them.Father Leo spoke up. I always did. eager not to miss out on the loot.'`Why not?' the traveler thinks. If this was how it would be. I stepped forward. I wanted to say. I motioned with my eyes for them to stay clear of Norcross and his thugs. Tafur. I instructed him. Then our dispirited army headed farther south. `Go in peace. fixed on my shock of bright red hair. Above me.Guillaume's horse waded in.

and the treasures I might find on the Crusade. A ways ahead. My body lit with her warmth. the water was still no higher than the horse's ankles.On the outskirts. our liege lord.A trumpet sounded the call to arms. and reached out the jagged edge of her comb one last time. All I could do was scream. If it's riches. crossing the Bosporus on wooden pontoons. The rage that burned in my heart from the day's horror was killing me. I know the same sobering thought pounded through each of our minds. Th-the thing is. I watched as many a loyal soul. I urged the Turk.