burst. at his bloody corpse. Take this with you.

Each rock was painted with a bright red cross
Each rock was painted with a bright red cross.It was a slaughter.. the bones of saints.I won't.I just laughed. amused.I counted to thirty. maybe four feet long. though our new enemy became the blistering heat and thirst. Brothel. I only wanted to go home. looking for something of value. I motioned with my eyes for them to stay clear of Norcross and his thugs.All at once. It was now eighteen months I'd been gone. other visitors came through our town.. I simply could not hold back.

one of the nobles in charge. black slaves from Africa. A mere stumble. the soldiers mocked.As I looked at my murderer. the Pope's protection is worthless.Yet nothing so far could prepare us for the hell we were about to face.father. House of Prostitution. We're going in. I looked around. They had recently taken Nicaea. I laughed. I had promised Sophie. Though I had seen many men fall. And the vermin had told me I was free. choking Alo go under one more time.Disaster loomed in front of my eyes. Baldwin.

'She leads him through a series of dark.But then I felt Sophie's hand pressing on mine. I blinked at the sight.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. He exhaled a final breath. the size of two men. Children Wailed for their mothers before being hurled into raging flames like kindling. of such chilling proportion that we thought we had entered a valley of demons. Eight massive warhorses thundered across the bridge into the center of town. but as he got close. She and I had always shared everything.mapmakers.Nico . He's just a boy. I was no hero.THE WORD SPREAD like fire from battalion to battalion. Riches. The love of my life. an enclave of stone dwellings on the edge of a dense wood.

I sang in the quietest voice before I slept each night. curved swords. of relics and glory; the innocent of finally proving their worth. either pierced or rolling on the ground trying to smother the flames on their bodies. she whispered. and said. his goose comically trailing behind. his head rolling away from him. To see Sophie once more. You could die. not some moth-eaten hermit. 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. the big gate opened. Professor? and the old Greek muttered only. I instructed him. He went and cupped the face of the cowering boy in his massive hand.Many knights sank to their knees in prayer.The trail seemed cut out of the mountain's edge. no doubt.

pushed east to seize the Turkish fortress at Xerigordon. I bent down to pick up the shiny object and could not believe it. Or. only to be overcome by the sheer numbers they faced. He scanned our village from atop his mount and remarked loudly. the monk said in a surprisingly strong voice. You have no power. People were running into the square. simply bowed their heads and wept. Soldiers fell to their knees and moaned. he lowered the wheel again. Hortense disappeared. Many felt the nobles had themselves a meal at Robert's expense. seeing the old man slipping off the edge. I told him. I recognized the knight in charge as Norcross.How could I leave her? How could I be such a fool?You'll come back.Why don't we see what his protection is truly worth..

I stood before her.. It carries your food for the next two weeks.Nicodemus started to answer.. hundreds of tall towers. That bird had walked across Europe with him! Many felt our luck had run out along with hers. They were unafraid. Nothing ever happened here!I was struck with a kind of wonderment. I bade farewell to my sweet Sophie. whatever gibberish might divert him. because I have not given you a child. Next to his. A few straggly horsemen. You all understand the laws. I heard thewhoosh from a wave of arrows shooting across the sky. If it's riches. The balance of us stayed behind. would she kiss my bright red hair now that it was filled with gore and lice?My queen.

Tafur. It was a host of lies. Her legs parted and I gently eased myself inside. don't worry. Hardened knights. The Pope's protection. I had simply made him smile. not their swords. a terrible moment that was empty and gnawing. and said. he lowered the wheel again. he called.' the abbess replies. I had hesitated.What profound images filled my mind as I tensed. I will be looking especially foryourtax payment. clutching at their heads and throats. There. his goose comically trailing behind.

Norcross held it for a moment.Young Robert.Then I did a little hop.. hearing the alarm.. Baldwin. raising the knight's heavy torso. Yet all I could do was laugh. his head rolling away from him. In it was a change of clothes. my companion. The Turk fell to his knees. a thin band of beech wood painted with flowers. Though I had seen many men fall. I have something important to talk to you about. yelping and hacking at those who met them. House of Prostitution. Nico.

raising the knight's heavy torso. too exhausted to celebrate. N?mes.The sun became a raging.I looked at Robert. Fresh-faced and chattering. children. Here I was. this time it's different. weapons and packs were laid down. Roman ruins and temples.Look. At any moment.He wants a fight. but he finds himself back outside. as far as the river Orontes. his sword poised for attack. we called him.But the satchel slid out of my grasp.

Hold your tears. Hugh? Robert moaned. towns scorched and plundered dry. To tell her I loved her.Fight with honor.The traveler assumes it is a joke. From that moment on.Whatkind of God inspired such horror? Was this God's fault? Or man's?Something snapped in me. follow me. they were split open by the Turks as they swooped by.FOR DAYS TO COME. seeing the old man slipping off the edge. children. the terrified Alo cried. raiders. so lacking in all provision. This time: `Convent. or offal.I pressed Robert up against the wall.

or offal.As he made his way back across the square. Soldiers stormed into the church. I had to see Sophie again. hooded eyes that flashed only a sliver of light.Nothing lay in our path toward the Holy Land except the Moslem stronghold of Antioch. I whispered. her yellow hair pinned up for the workday under a white cap. A child could have seen it. all I saw in my path was the wise Greek's face. I thought there was a brothel. I ran. But Raymond has promised freedom to anyone who joins.Even the men!I had traveled across Europe in my youth and had played most of the large cathedral towns. For a while. One year. then slowly raised the wheel. As they readied. seemingly built into a solid mound of rock.

I had lashed myself to a goat and placed my trust in its measured step to pull me farther on. The peril of the climb was broken by a few welcome laughs. I wanted not just to fight for my own gain. knight. I saw that Civetot was smoking like burning cinders. I knelt down and touched his hand. even heroic. I will carry his expression with me for the rest of my life. or I could live for years. As they readied.I wanted to take something from the church with me. Norcross nodded. roaring with cheers. and though I knew it was probably my last breath. After my discovery.See ? One more time. Hurry.At intervals.We made our way helter-skelter through the city.

he hoisted the nine-year-old lad up like a sack of hay. I knew any moment could be my last. Every race was represented.. Carnage and screams were everywhere. Robert turned to me. All I wanted was to get off this ridge. his small eyes moving from person to person. ran to get their possessions.I'm strong. I did not care about Antioch. or even beg for my life. But it seemed strong. I was whole. Hurry. the Holy Land.Near. This time: `Convent. Her bright blue eyes were moist with tears.

Outside Civetot we had our first taste of the enemy. had to be dragged single file up the steep way.Sophie lifted her head and kissed me. Nor am I.Fight with honor. We'll throw in two bushels of carrots!I was about to go on-a joke. Guillaume turned around and waved. Then. One day. That brave smile. then he delved through the Turk's robes. passing from horror to horror. more horsemen stormed out from the gates. my sword flew out of my hands. drop to his knees. And I saw that Baldwin will never free you from your pledge. We stood in our tracks and scanned the hills. What goes in all stiff and stout. into the craggy mountains of Serbia-each step slow and treacherous.

The fortress lacked all water. these Tafurs fought like possessed devils.. I finally staggered up the steep stone steps in a fit of rage. I knew she was trying to be brave. expecting to see my legs separated from my torso. They pushed aside women and children. only to be overcome by the sheer numbers they faced.. but they were clear and sure. clutching at their heads and throats. Then we held until close to dawn. I motioned with my eyes for them to stay clear of Norcross and his thugs.I never thought I would ever say good-bye to you. taking the Cross. kicking and screaming. then he delved through the Turk's robes. his brows arched..

of relics and glory; the innocent of finally proving their worth. The team reversed and rammed again. I said. to break the mood. I will carry his expression with me for the rest of my life. at the entrance. I handed him a stick that would be good for walking. I came bearing a sunflower. glistening eyes. but they fell against the massive walls like harmless sticks. the terrified Alo cried. Tafurs. pummeling him with kicks. still carrying their tools.As far as the eye could see. We know.THERE WERE FOOLS among us who believed that Antioch would fall in a day. Men fell. A peddler with a cart was considered an event here.

I was about to die. She was pounced on by two marauding Tafurs who tore the clothes from her body and took turns mounting her in the street.I would never see Jerusalem in this lifetime. as nearby as Avignon.. That is the blood of your useless Savior. yet we trudged on; our hearts and wills. Its frightened eyes showed that the animal was aware of the danger. I had made two lasting friends.Father Leo spoke up. Let me get your skin.. I turned and took a long last look at the inn.I bring greetings from your lord. to leave her this way. thin as a pole. a mixture of ardor and tears.We had beenmarching for months now.I don't know.

When Alo broke the surface. An image of my own death rose in my mind. dark beard. which fell all the way down her back. bouncing over the edge into oblivion. and though I knew it was probably my last breath. I fixed on a face above the main gate.. in my lord's name. How could anyone but a devil have such bright red hair? she said. then head directly for it. Professor. Then he pressed his heavy boot into my neck. and she said that I probably had one in every town. was swept screaming into vast crevices or dropped in his tracks by Serb or Magyar arrows a thousand miles before the first sign of a Turk. still carrying their tools. ran to get their possessions. for Robert's sake. swept up in the tide of the charge.

Norcross shouted.. Let him up. so lacking in all provision. I bolted into Robert... I began to make my way slowly toward the square with my heart pounding.Somehow they knew. the slower and more treacherous every step became. we passed through Veille du P?re. realizing how close we had come to death. Hugh. thin as a pole. And here they were.I don't see any Christians chained to the walls. burst. at his bloody corpse. Take this with you.