Chapter 126

I HAD TRAVELED in the forest for two days, riding during light until my back ached, then, once it was dark, curling up in the brush, my mind racing¹ as I drifted off to a troubled sleep. I dwelled on many things. The friends I had left behind. Emilie's safety. What I would do when I got to Bord, still two days' ride away.

I had just finished a few bites of bread and cheese that morning and was preparing to go on my way when I became aware of the slow advance of a rider approaching from behind.

I ducked behind a tree and took out my knife.

Gradually a single rider clip-clopped into view. A churchman, a friar, perhaps, covered in his burlap hood², riding by himself through dangerous woods.

I relaxed and stepped out from my cover. You must be either foolishly brave to chance these woods alone, Father, I called to the advancing shape, or just as foolishly drunk.

The churchman stopped. That's an unusual warning, he replied from under his hood, coming from a man in a patchwork³ skirt.

To my shock, the voice was familiar!

He lifted his hood, and I saw it was Father Leo, with a smile the width of his face. What are you doing here? I exclaimed.

I thought a man on a mission like yours might need his soul tended to. He sighed, struggling to get off his mount. I hope you don't mind.

Mind? I'm delighted to have the company, old friend.

I knew it was a risk, the priest said, brushing dust off his robe. Truth is, it's taken me so long to find a true sign from God, I couldn't bear being separated from the lance.

I laughed and helped him brush off the road dirt. You look tired, Father. Drink.

I handed Father Leo my calfskin and he tilted⁴ it back. We will make quite an army when we get to Bord. I smiled. The fool and the priest.

Yes, the priest said and wiped his mouth, very imposing⁵. I knew we would frighten no one, so I hope you don't mind that I asked along a friend.

A friend... ?

From down the road, the hoofbeats of another rider could be heard, and as he came close, I blinked twice and realized it was Alphonse. The lad trotted⁶ up to me dressed for battle. He flashed me his shy, awkward smile.

You two are crazy, I said.

Dressed as you are, marching to attack the castle at Bord alone, and you call us crazy? muttered Father Leo.

Well, now we are three fools. I grinned, my heart warmed.

No. Alphonse sniffed⁷ and shook his head. No, we are not.

Got anything good to eat? another voice called from the forest. Anything sounds good after these squirrels and lizards⁸ I've been chasing.

Odo!

I looked at the smith, dressed in his leather armor, carrying his mallet⁹, one of Baldwin's purple and white cloaks slung¹⁰ around him. I knew you must be behind this, I said, attempting to look stern.

Nah. Odo grinned. He indicated with his head. It washim.

Behind him, the miller¹¹ thrashed his way out of the woods.

I told you this wasmy fight, I protested, feigning¹² anger.

You also told us we werefree , Odo shot back. So I figure this ismy choice.

I faltered¹³. I put you in charge, Georges. I left you with Baldwin. And four hundred men.

So you did, didn't you? The miller winked¹⁴.

From down the road, the heavy rumble¹⁵ of footsteps now rose in my ears. Many people, marching. From around a bend, the first of them came into view. It was Alois, from Morrisaey, and three of his townsmen, carrying their axes and shields.

The column grew. Alois's four turned into forty. Then forty more. Faces I recognized. From Morrisaey, Moulin Vieux, Sur le Gavre. Some on horses, others on foot. Their faces rugged¹⁶, silent, proud. A lump caught in my throat. I didn't speak. They kept coming, line after line, men who still believed in me. Who had nothing left but their souls.

Then, on a pale stallion, bound like a sack of wheat, I sawBaldwin. And his chatelain close behind.

I could not believe what I was seeing!

They all came? All four hundred? I asked Alois.

He shook his head. Four hundred andfour. He grinned. If the Freemasons came along.

Odo said to me, We figured, if our souls are fucked anyway, what do we have to lose?

My heart almost exploded with pride. I stood there watching the column grow and grow. Feeling the common heart of these men. Some called out to say hello, Hey, General, good to see you again. Others simply nodded, many I did not know by name. When the end of the column came in sight, it was trailed by four scruffy¹⁷ men hurrying to keep up, hoisting¹⁸ a white banner with an eye painted on it-the sign of the Freemason society.

I mouthed Thank you to Odo and Georges, the words sticking in my throat. I wanted to tell them how proud I was of them. Of everyone.

I merely put my hand on the miller's shoulder.

Guess we're going to Bord, Odo said with a shrug¹⁹, and I nodded, watching the column as it stretched down the road.

You better have a real plan if you want to take this place, he muttered.

1 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

2 hood   

n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖

参考例句：

• She is wearing a red cloak with a hood.她穿着一件红色带兜帽的披风。
• The car hood was dented in.汽车的发动机罩已凹了进去。

3 patchwork   

n.混杂物；拼缝物

参考例句：

• That proposal is nothing else other than a patchwork.那个建议只是一个大杂烩而已。
• She patched new cloth to the old coat,so It'seemed mere patchwork. 她把新布初到那件旧上衣上，所以那件衣服看上去就象拼凑起来的东西。

4 tilted   

v. 倾斜的

参考例句：

• Suddenly the boat tilted to one side. 小船突然倾向一侧。
• She tilted her chin at him defiantly. 她向他翘起下巴表示挑衅。

5 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

6 trotted   

小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走

参考例句：

• She trotted her pony around the field. 她骑着小马绕场慢跑。
• Anne trotted obediently beside her mother. 安妮听话地跟在妈妈身边走。

7 sniffed   

v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说

参考例句：

• When Jenney had stopped crying she sniffed and dried her eyes. 珍妮停止了哭泣，吸了吸鼻子，擦干了眼泪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The dog sniffed suspiciously at the stranger. 狗疑惑地嗅着那个陌生人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 lizards   

n.蜥蜴( lizard的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Nothing lives in Pompeii except crickets and beetles and lizards. 在庞培城里除了蟋蟀、甲壳虫和蜥蜴外，没有别的生物。 来自辞典例句
• Can lizards reproduce their tails? 蜥蜴的尾巴断了以后能再生吗？ 来自辞典例句

9 mallet   

n.槌棒

参考例句：

• He hit the peg mightily on the top with a mallet.他用木槌猛敲木栓顶。
• The chairman rapped on the table twice with his mallet.主席用他的小木槌在桌上重敲了两下。

10 slung   

抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往

参考例句：

• He slung the bag over his shoulder. 他把包一甩，挎在肩上。
• He stood up and slung his gun over his shoulder. 他站起来把枪往肩上一背。

11 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。

12 feigning   

假装，伪装( feign的现在分词 )； 捏造（借口、理由等）

参考例句：

• He survived the massacre by feigning death. 他装死才在大屠杀中死里逃生。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。

13 faltered   

（嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃

参考例句：

• He faltered out a few words. 他支吾地说出了几句。
• "Er - but he has such a longhead!" the man faltered. 他不好意思似的嚅嗫着：“这孩子脑袋真长。”

14 winked   

v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮

参考例句：

• He winked at her and she knew he was thinking the same thing that she was. 他冲她眨了眨眼，她便知道他的想法和她一样。
• He winked his eyes at her and left the classroom. 他向她眨巴一下眼睛走出了教室。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

15 rumble   

n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说

参考例句：

• I hear the rumble of thunder in the distance.我听到远处雷声隆隆。
• We could tell from the rumble of the thunder that rain was coming.我们根据雷的轰隆声可断定，天要下雨了。

16 rugged   

adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的

参考例句：

• Football players must be rugged.足球运动员必须健壮。
• The Rocky Mountains have rugged mountains and roads.落基山脉有崇山峻岭和崎岖不平的道路。

17 scruffy   

adj.肮脏的，不洁的

参考例句：

• Despite her scruffy clothes,there was an air of sophistication about her.尽管她衣衫褴褛，但神态老练世故。
• His scruffy appearance does not reflect his character.他邋遢的外表并不反映他的性格。

18 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。

19 shrug   

v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等)

参考例句：

• With a shrug,he went out of the room.他耸一下肩，走出了房间。
• I admire the way she is able to shrug off unfair criticism.我很佩服她能对错误的批评意见不予理会。