FOR A MOMENT there was no answer. I thought, What do I do now? Say the same words again?

Then a brightly clad figure whom I recognized from my stay here as Baldwin's chamberlain leaned out. The lord is napping, he yelled back. He knows no business before him today. Go back to your wives and farms.

Curses and taunts began to rise from the crowd. The pig is napping? someone growled. Let us be careful not to wake him up, friends.

A thunderous jeer rose. Weapons rattled, shouts rang out.

Someone rushed forward and pulled down his leggings. Come on, Baldwin. Here's my ass. Try and fuck me now.

A few rash ones charged up to the walls, spitting curses and insults. Stay back, I yelled. But it was too late.

From the ramparts came the blood-chilling whine of arrows in reply. One man gagged, an arrow piercing his neck. Another clutched his head. A young boy sprinted up and hurled a stone, which fell halfway up the wall.

A wave of burning black pitch rained down on him. The boy fell, rolling on the ground, his skin sizzling with flame.

Go home, you stinking filth, spat a soldier from the top.

Now everyone moved forward in a rush. Some of us shot off fire arrows, which streaked across the sky and died harmlessly against the massive walls.

Volleys of arrows whooshed down on us in return, so heavy and strong they tore through flimsy shields and pier............