Crusdae, p.27
Crusdae, page 27
“You had only to discuss your problem with me. I would certainly have given you permission to use my effigies for long distance communication. But I cannot condone such overweening presumptuousness! This time I shall be lenient You may continue to use them, but only in emergencies. However, I warn you, if you ever again try to stick your nose into things which do not concern you, our relations will suffer a great change. You have only a few atomic grenades at your disposal and, without them, you are completely incapable of pursuing your conquests. I may, perhaps, let you have more, but I advise you to use them with great miserliness. Do you understand me?”
“I understand,” William whispered, containing his anger with difficulty.
At his words, the eyes of the Baphomet image emitted blinding flashes of light which forced the Templar to protect his eyes with his hand; then the effigy became inactive.
The Grand Master remained motionless for a long moment. His head ached with a sharp torment stabbing at his brain. He was convinced that, if the blinding light had lasted longer, Baphomet would have killed him. This was a further characteristic of the strange device that would bear thinking of.
Decidedly, this otherworldly being had extraordinary powers at his disposal and it would be no easy matter to get rid of him.
Chapter VII
☆
Brother Joubert quickly recovered all his accustomed vigor under the iron rule of the Tholon brothers. He got on very well with Guiot and Clement, who shared his taste for good living, and they made the most of the leftovers from his table. Garin, however, remained aloof. He was not at all interested in knowing the significance of the hermetic engines on which the learned alchemist was again working and he had the greatest mistrust of the Baphomet effigies, asking himself what this being from “another world,” of which the Grand Master had told them, could actually be.
The Grand Master, himself, was now thinking of continuing his advance. He had, at first, hoped that Kaidu would move in to the attack and, for that reason, had carefully placed the ballistae in weapon-pits around the camp. But the Mongol Khan was immoderately in awe of the Templars and had no wish to face 'them with their positions prepared in advance. According to the hashshashins’ reports, he had little inclination to fight at all after his neighbor Abaka’s resounding defeat. Some of his mounted patrols kept careful watch of the outskirts of the Crusaders’ encampment and his own troops were kept constantly on the alert, ready to move if the Crusaders should resume their march. Kaidu’s intentions remained unfathomable and William wondered if he ever would do battle, since it seemed obvious that the Mongol had no wish to become acquainted with the Templars’ famous lightning....
This, in the end, determined the Grand Master to push on ahead. The tireless debauchery of his men proved that they were rested. So, in spite of the intense heat, he decided to attempt crossing the desert that stood between him and Kubla’s Khanate, wiping out Kaidu's army on the way, should he decide to attack.
The long column was set in motion once more. This time there was no enthusiasm anywhere in the ranks, since the prospect of crossing never-ending sand dunes during this fiery season struck terror into the hearts of even the bravest.
Yarkand was gained without even a skirmish: Kaidu had fled so precipitously that he had abandoned some of his supplies.
In the felt tents, the Christians found dried milk and yogurt, clogs with wooden soles and leather uppers, and various spices, pepper and ginger among them. The Commanders saw to it that everything was burned because they suspected some Mongol trick, especially the poisoning of any foodstuffs.
Pushing on toward Cathay, they next occupied Kenya, where squires and sergeants got their hands on jasper and chalcedony intended for Kubla.
The advance became more and more difficult: after Charkhlik, the dreaded desert began. The goods on the wagons were therefore transferred to the camels’ backs. There were enough provisions for more than a month, ample for crossing the torrid expanse, according to what the guides said, on the condition that the shortest route be taken.
The Mongol forces seemed to have disappeared. Even the swift horsemen who came each day to reconnoiter were no longer seen....
Before ordering the departure, the Grand Master used a Baphomet image to contact his Marshal, instructing him to draw back from Samarkand, so that he could move swiftly to their assistance in case of need.
Then William of Beaujeu had the horns and trumpets sounded and the Crusaders began struggling up the sand dimes under the overpowering sun. Once more, the knights were quick to remove their coats of mail and their helmets. The horses were also stripped of their rich trappings but, in spite of this, it soon became necessary for rapid movement to dismount and lead them by the bridle because the weight of their riders quickly exhausted them.
Among the knights, Otto of Granson set an outstanding example. With sweat pouring down his face, he was instantly ready to lend a helping hand in getting some camel, overburdened by too heavy a load, back on its feet or in surveying the surroundings to make sure the column was holding to the right course.
John of Grailly made himself well-loved by his companions, entertaining them with his poems and songs, and never refusing a sip of his water or a share of his rations at the evening bivouac.
The Grand Master had one obsession: not to stray one step from the chosen route. The guides insisted that it took an entire year to cover the longest part of the great desert on horseback. It was his intention to follow the course marked by the water holes: after one day and one night of marching, there should be enough fresh water to quench the thirst of men and animals. However, William did not count very much on that: first of all, because of the size of his army; and secondly, because he expected some treachery on the part of the Mongols.
And indeed, at the very first halt, the spring turned out to be poisoned. This greatly affected the morale of the Crusaders: the trials suffered by the army in Mesopotamia Were still fresh in their minds.
A strange phenomenon increased their fears. While they made their way under the merciless sun, the men heard mysterious sounds: sometimes the rolling of drums; sometimes the murmur of unintelligible voices. At night, this strange manifestation increased in volume. That unfortunate soldier, startled out of his sleep, who went searching for the deceptive summons, never returned to the camp.
Then, too, disturbing visions appeared at sunrise: some saw verdant oases; others, streams of limpid water. Sometimes they believed that they could see a city ahead of them. But each time, when they advanced toward the mirage, there was nothing but the rolling sea of sand dunes and, when their companions overtook them, they found only bodies pierced with countless arrows: a sad witness to the invisible presence of the Mongols all around them.
In spite of everything, the column made progress. Provisions were not lacking and the losses of men were relatively small.
Now William of Beaujeu contacted his Marshal daily to report his position. In the vicinity of Samarkand, everything was peaceful.
On the fifth day, the situation suddenly worsened: a torrid wind sprang up, raising clouds of sand and reducing visibility to a few feet. Every man veiled his face in order to breathe, but the fine dust penetrated the smallest opening, clogging noses, ears and mouths. Gallons of water would be needed to get rid of it and the army was already on short rations.
Moreover, the Crusaders’ afflictions had only begun: when the column came to the evening halt, everyone had to face the evidence—nearly a thousand men were missing. Some had lost their way, others had been killed by Mongol arrows, the sandstorm seeming to have troubled the latter not at all.
That same night, about midnight, the dying groans of a sentinel gave the alarm. Everyone rushed from the tents, even before the call to arms was sounded. Then a cloudburst of arrows fell on the camp, claiming innumerable victims. Indeed, since no one had had time to don armor or coats of mail, almost every shaft found a target There was an even more serious loss, many of the leather containers had been pierced, diminishing the stock of water by a third. Many horses and camels were also wounded.
Any random firing of the ballistae would be less than useless, so the knights quickly armed themselves and began scouring the vicinity, without success. When they returned to the camp, dead tired, they had not seen one of the enemy.
Deeply concerned, the Grand Master called a Council meeting that lasted until sunrise. The tactics of the enemy were obvious: Kaidu, refusing an open battle, would continue his campaign of harassment with swift raids by his expert horsemen. The Mongols knew the desert and could take what supply they needed at every watering place, leaving the spring polluted with the cadavers of dead workhorses.
Must they give up and retreat? Opinions differed widely but, in the end, when an inventory of the water supply had been made, that of Otto of Granson prevailed.
Taking into account the loss of men, there was still enough water for thirty days, if the most stringent rationing was maintained. The precious leather containers would have to be protected from any similar misadventure, and the coats of mail of the dead could be used for wrapping some, while the others would be kept under cover. The knights would have to wear armor and the draft animals would be protected by the padded caparisons.
At sunrise the army resumed its march. The wind no longer blew but the heat soon became intolerable for the knights, sweating blood and water under their armor. The column dragged along, everyone on foot, and the distance covered that day was a grim joke. As might be expected, there were many cases of sunstroke, and nothing could be done for the poor wretches who bestrewed the track behind them.
That night, the exhausted men fell into a profound sleep but they had hardly closed their eyes when the Mongols attacked again. This time the rain of arrows claimed few victims but the alert was repeated many times, so that no one slept a wink.
In the morning, there was nothing to do but resume the march, which became a veritable Calvary. On that day, mirages were numerous and many unfortunates, half-crazed by the heat, floundered across the shifting sand toward the visions that faded slowly away before them the further they ran.
Finally, for better or worse, the column reached the halfway point Now, there was no possibility of turning back. Whether they wanted to or not, they must go on. And the horses died like flies. And the men were unable to quench their burning thirst Some jealously hoarded their meager ration of water, allowing themselves only a few drops, others having finished theirs at one gulp. The latter watched for the slightest chance to steal a few drops of the precious liquid.
Otto of Granson did his best to reason with the malcontents; however, after defiant ones felt a blow from the flat of his sword, they needed no further persuasion.
His friend, John of Grailly, had long since stopped singing the praises of his beautiful princess; nevertheless he often spent the night watches writing poems to console him in his solitude.
Day after day, the identical scenes were reenacted: an exhausting march during the daylight hours, and at night the Mongol attacks. The Commanders tried every way they could devise to cope with the latter. They placed several squadrons at a distance around the camp. Each time the yellow demons located them and, instead of falling into the trap, rained projectiles on them from a safe distance. The Crusaders also tried setting false encampments, pitching their tents in one spot and settling down a distance away. The only result of this stratagem was a spectacular fire because, on that night, their hidden adversary used flaming arrows.
William of Beaujeu, however, had faith that the final victory would be his: he reserved use of his mangonels and grenades and refused to be disconcerted by the continued reduction of his forces, certain that the Mongols could never win a real battle. The skirmishes were irritating, tiring and they played on the morale of the Crusaders; but, after all, each day brought them nearer to Tunhwang.
Furthermore, Brother Joubert, once more sober and for good reason, had suggested an artful scheme that would assure Baphomet’s neutrality. Since the latter placed so much reliance on the automatic transmissions that would signal his whereabouts to any compatriot who came within range, effective interference with them would bring him to terms. Whether he wanted to or not, Baphomet would have to let them work in peace.
The Grand Master at once gave orders for carrying out the plan, using the relays at Baghdad and Cyprus to instruct the Commanderies around Grand-Orient Forest how to accomplish the interference....
Baphomet protested, flew into a rage, but was forced to let the Templars act as they pleased.
Finally, fifty-two days after leaving Charkhlik, in spite of everything, the Crusaders emerged from the hellish desert. But the city where they had ho]Jed to find some rest was destroyed, its walls choked with debris and all the running water poisoned with decomposing animal carcasses.
This in no way deterred William from setting up his camp: the ruins of the magnificent Buddhist temples and houses provided sufficient protection against enemy arrows. The foot soldiers also began to build an emergency rampart with stones taken from the rubble, while the Turcopoles began digging new wells.
Patrols sent out did not encounter the enemy, but they brought back a substantial quantity of game which was more than welcome. Very soon thereafter an appetizing odor emanated from the spits that turned over many fires. Suddenly, morale was considerably higher. . . .
Another blessing, even more precious: the night passed without an alert and everyone slept in peace.
The leaders of the Crusade evaluated their situation: the forces were reduced to forty thousand men. All the throwing engines were intact and there were sufficient chargers and beasts of burden that could be hitched to the carts now that there were usable roads.
To the north was Qomul, capital of the province and further Mongol Karakorum, Kubla’s imperial city. According to information from the spies, Kaidu’s troops, greatly exhausted themselves from the long stay in die desert, were resting in Qomul. As for the forces of the great Khan, they were massed around Chang-Chu, north of Peking. It seemed that the threat posed by the Templars had given Kubla enough concern so that he had called up both his regulars and his reserve forces; all his supporters, in fact.
Commanders and lesser officers agreed that they should remain where they were, at least long' enough for the men to regain their strength. For his part, Brother Joubert started to work again, achieving the remarkable result of duplicating a vase. It disintegrated soon afterward; however, no such success had been previously achieved: the philosopher was nearing-his goal.
Then, on one fine morning, the lookouts signaled the sighting of a small group of horsemen. Some were Mongols, but there were Christians among them, for colors of Venice shone side by side with the yak-tail pennants. The order was given that they be allowed to pass, after they had been searched and disarmed.
The Grand Master at once called his Templars together, lining them along either side of the road along which the strangers must travel, with the French and English dressed in all their finery, and between their ranks the embassy made its entrance into the ruined city.
’Some of the Crusaders had never seen a Tartar at close quarters, so that they stared with the greatest curiosity at the slitted eyes, the brassy skin, and the peculiar helmets— pointed steel caps, encircled with a fur corona. They also admired the small horses which were known, despite their short legs, to be almost tireless.
The Mongols wore clothing of silk or fine linen beautifully embroidered with gold, their capes lined with ermine or mink. Their cuirasses, however, made of plain leather left the Templars somewhat skeptical as to their efficiency. The bridles of their horses were magnificent but, for the most part, the horsemen rode without saddle, astride a plain piece of fur or a cloth pad. All wore a large quiver, normally filled with arrows, on their backs, with the bow slung over the shoulder.
At the head of the group rode a Christian, dressed in silk and sumptuous furs. He dismounted before the Grand Master, knelt with great dignity on one knee, and introduced himself:
“Noble Sire,” he said, “I am a humble Venetian merchant: Marco Polo by name. That name, perhaps, is not completely unknown to you since my brothers, on their return to Italy, made a report on their travels here. However, it is not as a merchant that I pay you this visit: the great Kubla Khan honors me with his friendship and has made me his ambassador. Here are my credentials which he was good enough to entrust to me.”
With which, the young Marco gave the Grand Master several golden tablets on which were engraved a strange script “Please stand, Master Polo,” William of Beaujeu answered. “We agree to hear you, although it seems strange that a Christian would serve as spokesman for an infidel. ...”
Leading the way, he conducted his guests into an almost intact room which he used as his quarters. Commanders and guests seated themselves on coffers covered with furs, then the Templar continued, “Well, young man, tell us the Mongol’s message.”
“The Lord of Lords, sixth in the line of succession after Genghis, the most powerful of all emperors in this world, to the Great Master, William of Beaujeu, Commander of the army which, without a declaration of war, brings destruction and death into our empire, greetings.
“Rumors of your exploits have reached our ears in distant Cathay. Now you have arrived at the gates of my empire and a confrontation of our two armies becomes, it seems, inevitable. You possess a powerful weapon which launches lightning: it proves the worth of the sorcerers who surround you and most assuredly demonstrates the power of your god. The few priests who have come before me, up to the present time, gave a poor idea of your religion, because I, too, possess a few magic secrets and not unimportant ones. Food appears in the air and comes to me without being touched by human hand. I also know how to launch thunderbolts. Furthermore, I have an army of many hundreds of thousands of brave warriors. As of this moment, a battle between us risks costing us a great many human lives without any decisive result; unless it be that the decreasing of our separate forces, to the joy of jealous rivals, counts as a result.
