Chapter 123

THAT NIGHT, ODO FOUND ME huddled¹ by myself in the chapel².

I was actually praying. Praying about what to do. If there was indeed a God, I did not believe He would let a bunch of scheming, well-fed pawns³ like Father Julian, who didn't give a thought to whether my men lived or died, crush their resolve.

I know we're deep in shit, Odo said with a snort, if we've got you praying.

How many of our men are still left? I asked.

Half, maybe less. By tomorrow, who knows? Perhaps not even enough to hold the city. We still have some good ones. Georges, Alphonse, the Morrisaey boys... even Father Leo. Most of those who've been with us from the start.

I gave him a weak smile. Still trusting me?

No, I wouldn't say that. Let's just say, if they're making their bet with God, they trust the holy lance more than they trust that slimy church mouse.

I pulled the lance from the bench next to me and cradled it in my palms.

So... ? Odo said. That thing providing any answers? What is next?

What is next, I replied, is that it's me Stephen wants, or at least this... not your souls. This edict is a challenge: `Come face me if you have the will.' I've no choice but to go.

Go? Odo laughed. You're going to march on Bord with what we've got left?

No, my friend. I shook my head. I'm going to march on Bordalone.

It seemed to take Odo a second to decide whether to object or roll his eyes. You're going to Bord? Just you and that spear?

You see what he's telling me, Odo? He has burned villages to get this lance. He killed my wife and child. He has Emilie now. What else can I do?

We can wait. Keep Baldwin under guard until word comes. The King will surely stop this lunacy.

This is the King's word. I shook my head. The King is noble. He will side with Baldwin and Stephen without even hearing our claims. These men are pledged to him. They raise armies to fight his wars. We... what do we raise, hens?

Even a king can be swayed by a good omelet. The big smith chuckled⁴. Then he looked at me plainly. I am with you, Hugh, until the end.

I grabbed his wrist. No more, Odo. You've been a loyal friend, all of you. You've trusted me more than any fool could ever ask for. I shot him a smile. But now I have to face this. Thisthing... it has brought me mostly pain. But some things-seeing the town stand up, feeling the pride as we marched on Treille, Baldwin's face-they've been a joy.

You've become quite a bad philosopher since you put on that skirt, Odo commented.

Maybe... but I go alone.

Odo didn't answer, just took a deep breath and smiled. Then he looked around. So this is what it's like on the inside of a church. The seats are hard and there's nothing to eat. I don't see the attraction.

That makes two of us. I grinned in reply. We sat a moment, draped in silence.

So where would we be, I asked, if I hadn't wandered off that day on the Crusade? If I had never left, and Sophie and Phillipe were still alive. And Father Leo was preaching dull sermons. And you still put in an honest day's work.

Odo checked the window for the angle of the sun. I figure, hoisting⁵ an ale. Listening to your stupid jokes.

I stood up, patted him on the back. Then let's do that, friend. I'm sure there's a cellar here. And I still know a few you haven't heard.

1 huddled   

挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• We huddled together for warmth. 我们挤在一块取暖。
• We huddled together to keep warm. 我们挤在一起来保暖。

2 chapel   

n.小教堂，殡仪馆

参考例句：

• The nimble hero,skipped into a chapel that stood near.敏捷的英雄跳进近旁的一座小教堂里。
• She was on the peak that Sunday afternoon when she played in chapel.那个星期天的下午，她在小教堂的演出，可以说是登峰造极。

3 pawns   

n.（国际象棋中的）兵( pawn的名词复数 )；卒；被人利用的人；小卒v.典当，抵押( pawn的第三人称单数 )；以（某事物）担保

参考例句：

• The hostages are being used as political pawns. 人质正被用作政治卒子。
• The allies would fear that they were pawns in a superpower condominium. 这个联盟担心他们会成为超级大国共管的牺牲品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 chuckled   

轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
• She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情，她就轻轻地暗自发笑。

5 hoisting   

起重，提升

参考例句：

• The hoisting capacity of that gin pole (girder pole, guy derrick) is sixty tons. 那个起重抱杆（格状抱杆、转盘抱杆）的起重能力为60吨。 来自口语例句
• We must use mechanical hoisting to load the goods. 我们必须用起重机来装载货物。