Project Gutenberg's ...After a Few Words..., by Gordon Randall Garrett

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Title: ...After a Few Words...

Author: Gordon Randall Garrett

Release Date: December 22, 2007 [EBook #23960]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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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. copyright
on 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 helmet
on, 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 Knights
Templars, who had taken the advance. Behind the Templars rode the mailed
knights of Brittany and Anjou. These were followed by King Guy of
Jerusalem and the host of Poitou.

He himself, Sir Robert de Bouain, was riding with the Norman and English
troops, just behind the men of Poitou. Sir Robert turned slightly in his
saddle. To his right, he could see the brilliant red-and-gold banner of
the lion-hearted Richard of England--_gules, in pale three lions passant
guardant or_. Behind the standard-bearer, his great war horse moving
with a steady, measured pace, his coronet of gold on his steel helm
gleaming in the glaring desert sun, the lions of England on his
firm-held shield, was the King himself.

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

"By our Lady!" came a voice f