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72 Amit Bobrov
“I mean …” he began, “… there’s really no reason for you to
walk in as a prisoner when you can be a soldier instead.” The

full implication of his words suddenly became clear to me. I’d
heard the rumor once that some hardened criminals are given
the choice to be soldiers instead of going to prison.
“Enlist me,” I replied, smiling. This is how my short career as
a tavern-brawler ended and another career as a soldier began.
I dreamt of becoming a Chevalier and marching on Jerusalem,
conquering it from the hands of Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah.