WE BURIED THE DEAD for six days straight. Then our dispirited army headed farther south.
In Caesarea, we joined forces with Count Robert of Flanders and Bohemond of Antioch, a heralded1 fighter. They had recently taken Nicaea. Our spirits were bolstered2 by the tales of Turks fleeing at full run, their towns now under Christian3 flags. Our once fledgling troop was now an army forty thousand strong.
Nothing lay in our path toward the Holy Land except the Moslem4 stronghold of Antioch. There, it was said, believers were being nailed to the city's walls, and the most precious relics5 in all of Christendom, a shroud6 stained by the tears of Mary and the very lance that had pierced the Savior's side on the cross, were being held for ransom7.
Yet nothing so far could prepare us for the hell we were about to face.
First it was the heat, the most hostile I had ever felt in my life.
The sun became a raging, red-eyed demon8 that, never sheltered, we grew to hate and curse. Hardened knights9, praised for valor10 in battle, howled in anguish11, literally12 roasting in their armor, their skin blistered13 from the touch of the metal. Men simply dropped as they marched, overcome, and were left, uncared for, where they fell.
And the thirst... Each town we got to was scorched14 and empty, run dry of provision by the Turks themselves. What little water we carried we consumed like drunken fools. I saw men clearly over the edge guzzle15 their own urine as if it were ale.
If this is the Holy Land, the Spaniard Mouse remarked, God can keep it.
Our bodies cried, yet we trudged16 on; our hearts and wills, like the water, slowly depleting17. Along the way, I picked up a few Turkish arrow- and spearheads that I knew would be worth much back home. I did my best to try to cheer other men up, but there was little to find amusing.
Hold your tears, Nico warned, keeping up with his shuffling18 stride. When we hit the mountains, you will think this was Paradise.
Nico was right. Jagged mountains appeared in our path, chillingly steep and dry of all life. Narrow passes, barely wide enough for a cart and a horse, cut through the rising peaks. At first we were glad to leave the inferno19 behind, but as we climbed, a new hell awaited.
The higher we got, the slower and more treacherous20 every step became. Sheep, horses, carts overladen with supplies, had to be dragged single file up the steep way. A mere21 stumble, a sudden rock slide, and a man disappeared over the edge, sometimes dragging a companion along with him.
Press on, the nobles urged. In Antioch, God will reward you.
But every summit we surmounted22 brought the sight of a new peak, trails more nerve wracking than the last. Once-proud knights trudged humbly23, their chargers useless, dragging their armor, alongside foot soldiers like Robert and me.
Somewhere in the heights, Hortense disappeared, a few of her feathers left in a cart. It was never known what became of her. Many felt the nobles had themselves a meal at Robert's expense. Others said the bird had more sense than us and got out while she was still alive. The boy was heartbroken. That bird had walked across Europe with him! Many felt our luck had run out along with hers.
Yet still we climbed, one step at a time, sweltering in our tunics24 and armor, knowing that on the other side lay Antioch.
And beyond that, the Holy Land. Jerusalem!
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1
heralded
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v.预示( herald的过去式和过去分词 );宣布(好或重要) | |
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2
bolstered
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v.支持( bolster的过去式和过去分词 );支撑;给予必要的支持;援助 | |
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3
Christian
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adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
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4
Moslem
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n.回教徒,穆罕默德信徒;adj.回教徒的,回教的 | |
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5
relics
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[pl.]n.遗物,遗迹,遗产;遗体,尸骸 | |
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6
shroud
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n.裹尸布,寿衣;罩,幕;vt.覆盖,隐藏 | |
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7
ransom
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n.赎金,赎身;v.赎回,解救 | |
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8
demon
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n.魔鬼,恶魔 | |
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9
knights
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骑士; (中古时代的)武士( knight的名词复数 ); 骑士; 爵士; (国际象棋中)马 | |
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10
valor
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n.勇气,英勇 | |
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11
anguish
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n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦,烦恼 | |
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12
literally
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adv.照字面意义,逐字地;确实 | |
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13
blistered
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adj.水疮状的,泡状的v.(使)起水泡( blister的过去式和过去分词 );(使表皮等)涨破,爆裂 | |
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14
scorched
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烧焦,烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 ); 使(植物)枯萎,把…晒枯; 高速行驶; 枯焦 | |
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15
guzzle
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v.狂饮,暴食 | |
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16
trudged
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vt.& vi.跋涉,吃力地走(trudge的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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17
depleting
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使大大的减少,使空虚( deplete的现在分词 ); 耗尽,使枯竭 | |
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18
shuffling
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adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
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19
inferno
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n.火海;地狱般的场所 | |
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20
treacherous
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adj.不可靠的,有暗藏的危险的;adj.背叛的,背信弃义的 | |
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21
mere
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adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
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22
surmounted
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战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 ); 克服(困难); 居于…之上; 在…顶上 | |
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23
humbly
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adv. 恭顺地,谦卑地 | |
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24
tunics
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n.(动植物的)膜皮( tunic的名词复数 );束腰宽松外衣;一套制服的短上衣;(天主教主教等穿的)短祭袍 | |
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