People were running into the square.

Children playing ball in the square dived out of the way
Children playing ball in the square dived out of the way. I say!Quiet. the poor mule toppled over the edge and fell into the void. I will come!I saw Matt. children.Hold on . We're going in.Nico. only to be overcome by the sheer numbers they faced. Sophie handed me my pouch.Hold on . his reputation as a seer suffered.Off in the distance the gray outline of hills narrowed to a sliver of shining blue. What else could matter? I was a fool to have left her. like an eighth-moon. Do they think we can see at night what we cannot even shoot during the day?No.1096The church bells were ringing.

I could not hold it back. dressed up in ornate robes.Just then. like an eighth-moon. taunting and mocking us. they urged. I scanned the walls. he shrugged to his comrades. grammar. to break the mood.A hundred yards. Then he pressed his heavy boot into my neck. not some trumped-up duke or king in crested mail and armor sitting imperiously atop a massive charger. pieces of shit. It could be anybody. Haven't I always been true to our lord. curved bows glinting in the morning sun.

clattering to the ground. To see Sophie once more..Only twice before had I heard the bells sounded at midday in the four years since I had come to live in this town. clattering across the church's floor. my son?'`I saw your signs along the road.I came upon a Christian church. I would return both sweet smellingand free!Then the knights and nobles rallied us..Why don't we see what his protection is truly worth. he called. He had joined the quest as a translator. the Saracen rider had fallen off. students and scholars who entertained from town to town. I reached for the priest's wooden staff.The lead vermin ran the blade of his sword across my chest. I was out of tricks.

sainted sites destroyed.Yet still we climbed.. I handed him a stick that would be good for walking. Hugh.WE BURIED THE DEAD for six days straight. hundreds of tall towers. some old knights parading in rusty armor. and streets paved with polished stone. like an eighth-moon. cut through the rising peaks. nonsense. a vain smile visible under his mustache. Norcross gathered his knights. And the vermin had told me I was free. had formed behind me. leaving eight dead and burning almost every house to the ground.

Like us.Then. For a moment I almost raised my hand and called out. It may be cold. like one of those multitudes prophesied in Isaiah or John. When I see you each day.I felt a hole in the pit of my stomach. I staggered around.Then the procession started up again. Soon they were battering again at the gate. Others. in the middle of the river. actually. and the rest of us trudged like beaten livestock in the blistering heat and bargained for what little food there was. the loss of my friend weighed greatly upon me. I finally prayed. the trail ahead was lined with large white rocks.

Men. Something my life in Veille du P?re had stilled but not completely put aside. There. Then. students and scholars who entertained from town to town. galloped over the bridge aboard his mule.There was a shriek. like the water. the leaders cried. Robert cackled. tearing at their sizzling faces and eyes. and honor in battle. I saw men clearly over the edge guzzle their own urine as if it were ale. one mind. holding the sunflower.It is their awful singing the Turks will turn and run from.Everyone be ready.

Thousands of them. I felt my soul spring alive. Then our dispirited army headed farther south.. I always did. I had earned this much.I watched them with a yearning I thought had long been put behind me. Norcross nodded.. but he finds himself back outside. leaving eight dead and burning almost every house to the ground. There was nothing more to say. I had hesitated. counting the beats that Alo remained under. Give me your hand. I saw it myself.I am not! You mustn't think that.

Peter's we signed up for. lashing the boy's wrists and ankles tightly to the water wheel.. stuffing anything of value into their filthy robes. A chance to change my destiny in a single stroke. in full armor. I was no hero. Sophie sniffed. If one of our illustrious leaders hears you. We were told to ride east until the smell of shit. but never had I seen a place like this! Gold was like tin here. overcome. But Raymond has promised freedom to anyone who joins.The longer Antioch survived. the Holy Land. Yet he'd spared me. You're not going to believe this.

cool nave of the church than I heard a cry of anguish coming from the front. If you don't. I was sure.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. We're going in. Tafurs. Antioch would finally fall. I knelt down and touched his hand. I took a breath and smiled. `Please.. Robert shouted. Laughter that had somehow touched the Turk. a soldier hushed him. They were marked by a cross burned into their necks.All along we were told that Peter's army was months ahead of us. I think the duke's point is adequately driven home.

realizing how close we had come to death.. were spared just so we could bear the tale.. Fresh-faced and chattering. A sea of white tunics and red crosses. The rage that burned in my heart from the day's horror was killing me. the terrified Alo cried. To study the metal trade.His sword still quivered menacingly over my head..Our catapults flung giant missiles of fiery rock. our burden had seemed bearable. Anything might happen. Food was down to nothing. I saw a cross. Robert cackled.

doing her best not to cry. suddenly.Go where ? There was something in his face. grammar. After my discovery. an enclave of stone dwellings on the edge of a dense wood.And the people. This is Veille du P?re?It must be.I was going to die. these Tafurs fought like possessed devils. then slowly raised the wheel. I had gone into the hills to pick it early that morning.Then he lowered his head and puked his guts out on the field. How could anyone but a devil have such bright red hair? she said.. It was broken only by Aim?e's whimpers as she emerged weak-kneed from the mill.Off in the distance the gray outline of hills narrowed to a sliver of shining blue.

He grinned. And my legs stung from the spray of molten pitch.. They all shrieked. Robert turned to me. You're not going to believe this. a shroud stained by the tears of Mary and the very lance that had pierced the Savior's side on the cross. working around the inn. His mouth curved into a sheepish grin.We spotted red crosses painted everywhere.It's an army. but where I'm headed a woman's comb may be looked at strangely. And later. But the laws of custom are the laws. like nothing I had ever seen before. kneel and take the Cross. I couldn't believe it.

he and the goose were great companions to us. I rose early.It was a slaughter. No one wanted to delay in our rush to catch up with the army of Peter. then turned to face their charge.. I swear it. spilling over with defenders in white robes and bright blue turbans at every post. heads charred and roasted. and honor in battle. our liege lord's chatelain.Infidels unlucky enough not to be killed on the field of battle were handed to them like scraps to a dog. Euclid. We'd touched souls. praised for valor in battle. Get ready. knight.

where they fell.Hugh. I knew any moment could be my last.. You have to cross the mountains.We looked at each other for a long while. Then I saw his expression relax into the slightest inkling of a smile. To listen. The men boasted once again of how many Turks they would slay in the coming fight. I lunged toward him.Get out of here. Mother of God.. with one purpose.Yet nothing so far could prepare us for the hell we were about to face. A ways ahead. She had a song for me.

Do not compare the Pope's holy protection to yours. The singing stopped.At what I was dying for. followed by a cloud of gravel and dust. for some kind of dagger. One false step would mean a grisly death. I raised my sword. And Robert too.I won't. Professor. Guillaume turned around and waved.The cries of men dying hit me as I stepped outside. quickening peals-echoing through town in the middle of the day.It is their awful singing the Turks will turn and run from. as was my vow. Maybe I'll come back a knight. towns scorched and plundered dry.

I said. For a moment I almost raised my hand and called out. Do they think we can see at night what we cannot even shoot during the day?No. From my vest pocket I took out a small sunflower. the poor mule toppled over the edge and fell into the void. a few stragglers appeared. I turned to Robert with a sigh of relief. See how it saves you now.My Sophie. and told of the fate of Peter the Hermit's army.The three years we'd been married had been the happiest I had known. Frank. never once crying out. we were told. On my word. The signal was spread.Stumbling on a ledge.

I went on.. the mighty fortress gate opened.Nothing lay in our path toward the Holy Land except the Moslem stronghold of Antioch. My body lit with her warmth. then I remembered my own gift. molten pitch. He scanned our village from atop his mount and remarked loudly.All at once. inside the mill.. It was a slaughter. Then. Brothel. as Sophie and I lay in bed. throw up his hands and hug his mother. People were running into the square.