...After a Few Words... Read online

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  ... After a Few Words ...

  by Seaton McKettrig

  Illustrated by Summer

  [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from "Analog" October 1962.Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyrighton this publication was renewed.]

  This is a science-fiction story. History is a science; the other part is, as all Americans know, the most fictional field we have today.

  He settled himself comfortably in his seat, and carefully put the helmeton, pulling it down firmly until it was properly seated. For a moment,he could see nothing.

  Then his hand moved up and, with a flick of the wrist, lifted the visor.Ahead of him, in serried array, with lances erect and pennons flying,was the forward part of the column. Far ahead, he knew, were the KnightsTemplars, who had taken the advance. Behind the Templars rode the mailedknights of Brittany and Anjou. These were followed by King Guy ofJerusalem and the host of Poitou.

  He himself, Sir Robert de Bouain, was riding with the Norman and Englishtroops, just behind the men of Poitou. Sir Robert turned slightly in hissaddle. To his right, he could see the brilliant red-and-gold banner ofthe lion-hearted Richard of England--_gules, in pale three lions passantguardant or_. Behind the standard-bearer, his great war horse movingwith a steady, measured pace, his coronet of gold on his steel helmgleaming in the glaring desert sun, the lions of England on hisfirm-held shield, was the King himself.

  Further behind, the Knights Hospitallers protected the rear, guardingthe column of the hosts of Christendom from harassment by the Bedouins.

  "By our Lady!" came a voice from his left. "Three days out from Acre,and the accursed Saracens still elude us."

  Sir Robert de Bouain twisted again in his saddle to look at the knightriding alongside him. Sir Gaeton de l'Arc-Tombe sat tall and straight inhis saddle, his visor up, his blue eyes narrowed against the glare ofthe sun.

  Sir Robert's lips formed a smile. "They are not far off, Sir Gaeton.They have been following us. As we march parallel to the seacoast, sothey have been marching with us in those hills to the east."

  "Like the jackals they are," said Sir Gaeton. "They assail us from therear, and they set up traps in our path ahead. Our spies tell us thatthe Turks lie ahead of us in countless numbers. And yet, they fear toface us in open battle."

  "Is it fear, or are they merely gathering their forces?"

  "Both," said Sir Gaeton flatly. "They fear us, else they would not dallyto amass so fearsome a force. If, as our informers tell us, there areuncounted Turks to the fore, and if, as we are aware, our rear is beingdogged by the Bedouin and the black horsemen of Egypt, it would seemthat Saladin has at hand more than enough to overcome us, were they alltruly Christian knights."

  "Give them time. We must wait for their attack, sir knight. It werefoolhardy to attempt to seek them in their own hills, and yet they muststop us. They will attack before we reach Jerusalem, fear not."

  "We of Gascony fear no heathen Musselman," Sir Gaeton growled. "It'sthis Hellish heat that is driving me mad." He pointed toward the easternhills. "The sun is yet low, and already the heat is unbearable."

  Sir Robert heard his own laugh echo hollowly within his helmet. "Perhaps'twere better to be mad when the assault comes. Madmen fight better thanmen of cooler blood." He knew that the others were baking inside theirheavy armor, although he himself was not too uncomfortable.

  Sir Gaeton looked at him with a smile that held both irony and respect."In truth, sir knight, it is apparent that you fear neither men norheat. Nor is your own blood too cool. True, I ride with your Normans andyour English and your King Richard of the Lion's Heart, but I am aGascon, and have sworn no fealty to him. But to side with the Duke ofBurgundy against King Richard--" He gave a short, barking laugh. "Ifear no man," he went on, "but if I had to fear one, it would be Richardof England."

  Sir Robert's voice came like a sword: steely, flat, cold, and sharp. "Mylord the King spoke in haste. He has reason to be bitter against Philipof France, as do we all. Philip has deserted the field. He has returnedto France in haste, leaving the rest of us to fight the Saracen for theHoly Land leaving only the contingent of his vassal the Duke of Burgundyto remain with us."

  "Richard of England has never been on the best of terms with PhilipAugustus," said Sir Gaeton.

  "No, and with good cause. But he allowed his anger against Philip tocolor his judgment when he spoke harshly against the Duke of Burgundy.The Duke is no coward, and Richard Plantagenet well knows it. As I said,he spoke in haste."

  "And you intervened," said Sir Gaeton.

  "It was my duty." Sir Robert's voice was stubborn. "Could we havepermitted a quarrel to develop between the two finest knights andwarleaders in Christendom at this crucial point? The desertion of Philipof France has cost us dearly. Could we permit the desertion of Burgundy,too?"

  "You did what must be done in honor," the Gascon conceded, "but you havenot gained the love of Richard by doing so."

  Sir Robert felt his jaw set firmly. "My king knows I am loyal."

  Sir Gaeton said nothing more, but there was a look in his eyes thatshowed that he felt that Richard of England might even doubt the loyaltyof Sir Robert de Bouain.

  * * * * *

  Sir Robert rode on in silence, feeling the movement of the horse beneathhim.

  There was a sudden sound to the rear. Like a wash of the tide from thesea came the sound of Saracen war cries and the clash of steel on steelmingled with the sounds of horses in agony and anger.

  Sir Robert turned his horse to look.

  The Negro troops of Saladin's Egyptian contingent were thundering downupon the rear! They clashed with the Hospitallers, slamming in like arain of heavy stones, too close in for the use of bows. There was onlythe sword against armor, like the sound of a thousand hammers against athousand anvils.

  "Stand fast! Stand fast! Hold them off!" It was the voice of KingRichard, sounding like a clarion over the din of battle.

  Sir Robert felt his horse move, as though it were urging him on towardthe battle, but his hand held to the reins, keeping the great charger incheck. The King had said "Stand fast!" and this was no time to disobeythe orders of Richard.

  The Saracen troops were coming in from the rear, and the Hospitallerswere taking the brunt of the charge. They fought like madmen, but theywere slowly being forced back.

  The Master of the Hospitallers rode to the rear, to the King's standard,which hardly moved in the still desert air, now that the column hadstopped moving.

  The voice of the Duke of Burgundy came to Sir Robert's ears.

  "Stand fast. The King bids you all to stand fast," said the duke, hisvoice fading as he rode on up the column toward the knights of Poitouand the Knights Templars.

  The Master of the Hospitallers was speaking in a low, urgent voice tothe King: "My lord, we are pressed on by the enemy and in danger ofeternal infamy. We are losing our horses, one after the other!"

  "Good Master," said Richard, "it is you who must sustain their attack.No one can be everywhere at once."

  The Master of the Hospitallers nodded curtly and charged back into thefray.

  The King turned to Sir Baldwin de Carreo, who sat ahorse nearby, andpointed toward the eastern hills. "They will come from there, hitting usin the flank; we cannot afford to amass a rearward charge. To do sowould be to fall directly into the hands of the Saracen."

  A voice very close to Sir Robert said: "Richard is right. If we go tothe aid of the Hospitallers, we will expose the column to a flankattack
." It was Sir Gaeton.

  "My lord the King," Sir Robert heard his voice say, "is right in all butone thing. If we allow the Egyptians to take us from the rear, therewill be no need for Saladin and his Turks to come down on our flank. Andthe Hospitallers cannot hold for long at this rate. A charge at fullgallop would break the Egyptian line and give the Hospitallers breathingtime. Are you with me?"

  "Against the orders of the King?"

  "The King cannot see everything! There are times when a man must use hisown judgment! You said you were afraid of no man. Are you with me?"

  After a moment's hesitation, Sir Gaeton couched his lance. "I'm withyou, sir knight! Live or die, I follow! Strike and strike hard!"

  "Forward then!" Sir Robert heard himself