In the distance, a giant catapult, accompanied by a piercing roar, collapsed a wooden tower in half.
The bed crossbow mounted on it toppled down, crushing several Saracen crossbowmen who couldn't evade in time into pulp.
Jewish soldier Ramla shivered like a quail hiding behind the parapet.
Gravel rained down on his rudimentary iron helmet, yet he hardly felt any pain; his body shook uncontrollably, loudly reciting prayers, as if he believed that with God in his heart, he would not be harmed by blades.
"The Lord will be king over all the earth; on that day, the Lord will be the only one, and his name the only one."
Shouting their chants, the Crusaders pushing siege towers and cloud ladders slowly approached the city wall.
A Saracen officer shoved Ramla, shouting, "Get up quickly, pick up a pole, and push away those ladders!"
