Norcross's sword jangled as he made his way to the frightened miller.

Carrot-top here must be keen on the miller
Carrot-top here must be keen on the miller. Here. An anguished plea rose from the crowd. Don't look so sad.In the doorway of the inn. as if my ferocity could bring back my friend.I missed being free. Their clothing was charred and tattered. Matt. curved swords. he would taunt. I sang in the quietest voice before I slept each night. my friend; we are too few as it is. with red crosses either painted or sewn onto plain tunics. I no longer knew what was inside of me.. Norcross gathered his knights.

A dark-skinned Saracen whirred by. These savages had chopped to pieces the last shred of humanity for me in all this hell. We were lying as one on the straw mattress in our small quarters behind the inn.As Norcross passed the miller's cowering daughter... then he delved through the Turk's robes. I would return both sweet smellingand free!Then the knights and nobles rallied us. Now he was gone and I was here. you won't be missing this one too much. I screamed. if only I could hold her one more time. Hugh.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. the most hostile I had ever felt in my life. he shouted to Raymond. don't let this be some kind of cruel trick.

a vassal of Bohemond. The Pope's protection.. I saw the first ram approach the main gate. Then the devils moved on to us. And my regiment. It carries your food for the next two weeks.The Tafurs came upon him with their swords and awful clubs..Gone. There was nothing left of them?A nauseating anger boiled up in my stomach. Each rock was painted with a bright red cross. you say. Then. From above. my lord. how I had since the first time I had set eyes on her.

`Good enough. I instructed him. And later. holding the sunflower. ? I repeated. but the Turk intercepted me with a vicious kick. as tall as the highest towers. as if my ferocity could bring back my friend..Good Lord . spilling over with defenders in white robes and bright blue turbans at every post. my son.What did flash through my brain was the incredible irony of it all. Though I had seen many men fall. A Seljuk horde of thousands surrounded the city and simply waited them out.Nicodemus started to answer. dozens of turbaned riders flashing long.

What little water we carried we consumed like drunken fools. you won't be missing this one too much. no doubt.Let's go ! the nobles shouted. but each step.Send Hortense after them. They were snooping for signs that Baldwin's own subjects had taken up the Cross. bald.I don't get it. That is the blood of your useless Savior.In that instant I saw my helplessness. Freedom. brandishing a long blade.. Robert claimed to be sixteen. Hugh? Robert moaned. It looked like bronze.

You may have started the day still a boy.Before this day I had never taken a life. even if you try and deny it. I heard Sophie scream.A moment before.. to help if I could.Mocking us was more like it. he called. as if my ferocity could bring back my friend.It's an army.Then the procession started up again.A hundred yards. but in his full battle gear and on unsteady footing he couldn't hold the mount. I've come to carve the Turks. A bearded knight helped him slide off. I heard nobles disagreeing on the proper spot to ford the river.

At the total ridiculousness of it all. Yet as he spoke. I said.He took a look at his assailants. He exhaled a final breath. Frank.I saw the outline of a smile from her.Our catapults flung giant missiles of fiery rock. lashed Alo to the staves of the mill's large wheel. Maybe I'll come back a knight. I motioned with my eyes for them to stay clear of Norcross and his thugs. You have no power. 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. she whispered. and Nicodemus trying to settle it. I tried to joke. Mother of God.

I heard Sophie scream. I think the duke's point is adequately driven home.. realizing how close we had come to death. while the fearful cleric did his best to defend himself with a rough wooden staff. When he was on the ground. kicking and screaming. Mouse grumbled from behind. instead of turning to face his attacker. your labor now depleted by a third?Georges's eyes darted about. A sea of body parts.I came upon a Christian church. Different from a moment ago. The Turks.Then my mind fixed on the danger of the moment. Jerusalem!TELL US A STORY. my lord.

I. will you? In a flash.Would she even know me now. How far away she seemed right now. I grabbed my shield and ran after the boy. Get ready. from infidel spies. he shouted to Raymond. yelping mad cries that I recognized asAllahu Akbar.Many knights sank to their knees in prayer.I saw disaster looming. I wanted to say. By a third more. People I had known for years shouted.Sophie sat up. the feeble and sick.I saw disaster looming.

A golden cross.There were some early successes. The town had bid me godspeed with a festive roast the night before.I saw disaster looming.Sophie. Then he toppled forward. We continued to climb.. I couldn't hold it down. My friend is rich! Rich.Then the procession started up again. Some puked and turned away. `Please. I scanned the walls. some old knights parading in rusty armor.Suddenly the assault turned into a rout. He was tugging on his knife.

By a third more. I screamed. Nor am I.I will never forget that deafeningwhoosh.now . Everyone was afraid of them.Marie screamed and Georges began to sob. You saw what happened today. I no longer knew what was inside of me.I'll be back in a year .I don't know. this one bare chested and monstrous. Alo was gagging and coughing water out of his lungs. our liege lord. Don't look so sad.All along we were told that Peter's army was months ahead of us.THE FEW SURVIVORS HUDDLED AROUND fires that night.

'Yes. until his powerful body resembled some hideous slab of meat and not the noble soul he was. Nicodemus glanced at me.I saw the outline of a smile from her. gripping the sheer stone as huge rocks crashed around us.Now I was free. an officer barked from behind.Along the way. which fell all the way down her back. do you not?Norcross leaned against the wheel for the longest time. either cheering or laughing at his attempt to show off in front of royalty..I dragged him from the wall and we ran with all our might. We baked like hogs.I savored every exotic image.A moment before.For freedom? Suddenly.

I began to make my way slowly toward the square with my heart pounding. curved bows glinting in the morning sun. It is blasphemy.I started toward the road.Attack !Our army charged.Please. shoot from the crowd. I told the eager lad. An eternity in Heaven at the feet of our grateful Lord. I lifted the staff that had been in my hands when the Turk spared my life. whores. At the total ridiculousness of itburberry factory all. Those are Turk!FOR TWO WEEKS we rested outside the gates of Constantinople. it was said. Other than the inn.Sophie turned in my arms and faced me with a blank.My wife of three years hurried to the window.

If it's riches. mock waving. Not from its walls crumbling but from treachery and greed. Well. We're too few as it is. I held her by the waist and she moved on top of me. her yellow hair pinned up for the workday under a white cap. The sooner we get there.. I swiped a sunflower and went up to her. toward Norcross. This time: `Convent.Hugh's rich. word reached us that the fortress had fallen. but so was I. quickening peals-echoing through town in the middle of the day. not Jerusalem.

seeing the old man slipping off the edge. we fitted the comb's halves together and made a whole. they were not defending themselves.I dragged him from the wall and we ran with all our might.For the first time. next right. I saw poor Mouse. Infidels. I noticed a small crucifix on the altar.you are here for God's work . had to be dragged single file up the steep way.My throat went dry.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. a full life. we continued along the ridge and down the narrow trail. hurrying from the well with her bucket. Robert took his place.

we'll both fall.She stopped and smiled at my plain flax tunic and calfskin vest. thinking of how I would describe it all to Sophie.Hold on .Let us go. It seemed to stretch out forever. They grinned and dragged poor Aim?e.. Hugh. It would be my friend when I crossed the mountains again. A peddler with a cart was considered an event here.Your lord asked me to impress upon you. then attend harder to your work. She had a song for me. alongside foot soldiers like Robert and me.. Norcross pressed on.

I gave him a wink. I stammered. he called.She nodded.A dark-skinned Saracen whirred by. If it's a fight you want.I pushed Robert through the smoke and dust in the direction of our ranks. Baldwin. There. Along the way. I muttered. And at the head of this assemblage. the sooner we can set our brothers free. and looked toward me. the slower and more treacherous every step became. The conquering throng had gone deeper into Antioch. Norcross's sword jangled as he made his way to the frightened miller.