Chapter XXX - Escape





With Godwin’s arm wrapped around my neck, I dragged him through the little-used alleyways, struggling to reach the Northwest side of the city.

I had indeed found Godwin alive, and though not well, at least in the same state as before. The Turks had overtaken the infirmary, and I could see evidence that many had been executed, save those who were of considerable monetary value. It was indeed a surprise to me that they had considered Godwin of such worth. Landowner though he was, the Turks were looking for men of particularly high distinction, and this Godwin was not.

The infirmary was not guarded. No doubt the enemy saw no cause for this, and the Sultan wished to give his men some rest and leisure after their exertion. Aye, and the opportunity to plunder was also in their minds, I am sure.

I knew that there was nothing left to be done here. God had smiled upon Godwin and I, sparing our lives. We would make our way home, but first I determined that we should proceed perhaps to Greece, Hungary, or Italy and recuperate therein. Thence we would make the long journey home, fraught with peril though it may be.

Greece, I reasoned, must be Mehmed’s next target, being part of the old Byzantine Empire, so it would be madness to tarry long there. The Hungarians I did not trust, being a shifty and opportunistic people. In Italy, on the other hand, we might receive sanctuary from the Papacy or other of the Italian states, and there abide at our leisure.

The journey to Italy would be longer, but not impossible. We would make to the coast of the Adriatic and proceed to Italy by boat. I felt sure that we could accomplish this in a timely fashion.

But first I had to escape Constantinople. I was, ironically, aided in these efforts by the fact that the walls of the city were punched through here and there by cannon shot, which would facilitate our escape quite conveniently.

Over the process of some hours, Godwin and I stumbled through the city, taking regular rests wherever we might hide safely in rubble or an abandoned house. At about the halfway-point of our journey, I took stock of my provisions. From the makeshift infirmary in which Godwin had been held, I had procured a very little food; enough to sustain us for a day or two if we took sparingly. I had also brought a sword for each of us, some cloth for Godwin’s wound, a long rope scavenged from the ruins, and for myself, the ancient manuscript. It was a comfort to me in these dire times.

On our final leg of the journey, we were behooved to cross a major thoroughfare to reach the wall, our point of escape. Giving a generous period of rest (as we were to cover this distance quickly), we set out. Godwin had little to no energy left in him after a day of strenuous travel, so I was left to bear the weight.

I was struck with a sense of horror that permeated my entire being, as I heard the thump of feet and the clanking of metal. I was in the middle of the wide street, and would no doubt be discovered. Filled with anguish and despair, I sank to my knees.

Even if I were to leave Godwin lying here and run, I thought, I would still be seen.

But there my weary mind hit on an idea! Leave Godwin lying! Quickly I set Godwin, who was now unconscious, face-down on the ground, scrambled over a few feet, and flopped on the dirt as well. This was the only possibility of survival.

As the body of men marched closer, I heard them stop. Never in my life did I struggle so fiercely to force myself not to look. I knew that if I made the slightest movement, the game would be up. But this was hardly the end of my terrors.

The next thing I knew, I heard chattering from the Turks, and suddenly felt myself being lifted over the ground! Then I felt a strange weightlessness as I was tossed into a heap of rubble. Presently I felt Godwin’s mass fly into the rubble as well.

Apparently the Turks wished to clean the dead bodies from the streets. My hasty scheme had prevailed! God, in His wisdom, continually saw fit to let us live.

After waiting for some period of time (how long I know not), I took Godwin up and stumbled to the wall. From there, it was five minutes’ hard labor to heave Godwin over what was left of the wall, although thankfully the section which we had chosen for exit was only a few feet high.

We lay outside the wall until dark for fear of sentries on the walls, which would spot us easily if we made our escape during the day. But when the sun fell, we made for a stand of trees a good distance from the city.

My feelings upon departure of my home for the last few years were an indescribable mix of joy, confusion, hope, and a distinct feeling of being lost.

I had nearly forgotten that a real world existed outside Constantinople, having endured so long with no relation to anything but that old city. I felt as a man must feel when he steps onto a new uncharted land, or as one who makes a voyage to the moon.

Finally I reconciled to myself: I was going home!