"Look who's here." "Little Uru!" "Where's my little brother going?" "To the village, Koopa!" "There's Midsummer's Eve bonfire." "Ye saphead!" "Whoever's heard of Midsummer's Eve in a July?" "But why there's so many people in our village?" "It's because your brother found a bride, the most tolerable bride out there." "Why do you laugh so strangely?" "You just don't understand that I'm the happiest man of our farm." "Come now!" " Estonia is so beautiful!" "Europe at the brink of the 13th century." "Sly and, as seen on the map, mystiquely red French Templars, and ruthlessly green German Order were both reaching their greedy hands toward free lands of the East." "It was Estonia, at the Baltic Sea, that they most graved after." "Both Orders hoped to find some kind of weapon so they could crush their competitor for good." "However, it was the Pope, sparkingly secular Innocent III, who gave out a permission to conquer Estonia." "Henricus de Lettis." "Jot it down!" "German culture must spread." "Drang nach Osten has begun!" "Right!" "Wrong!" "Because in the very next room were the French, who, unaware to boring Germans, plotted plans slyer by far." "Dear brothers Templars!" "The real flavour can be found only in Estonia." "Estonian toads, natterjacks, bufos." "Like beaks of oriole, yet even better." "True, after our small gift of chicken, the Pope should bend our way." "A bit more exciting French, however, were unaware of the Pope's plans." "Francia and line!" "My friend Thomas!" "Swoosh!" "I see!" "The Germans." "It's time to enact plan B." "Infiltrate the ranks of Germans and enact plan C." "Brother Wolfram, the responsibility for our nation lies on you now." "Beararse village, Estonia, 1207" "Who the hell are you?" "I'm Hippolyt, the bailiff of Jurmala!" "Who?" "!" "I'm Hippolyt, the bailiff of Jurmala!" "Drive pagans inside!" "And take this imp with us." "Bloody Latvians!" "MEN AT ARMS" "Lubeck, 1208" "After a weird sea trip, small Uru was dragged to the monastery, which was run by debutant abbots, father-son llmus and Christus Tascus." "The monks began schooling Uru into a fine European." "He was beaten in his cell, flogged in scriptorium," "scourged in the garden." "But there were also darker times." "Sinister clouds of trouble gathered above his head." "Good morning, boy!" "Don't be afraid, I've no intention to harm you." "You see, I'm not actually a German monk." "I'm a Frenchman." "Those who have tortured you are also my enemies." "You have suffered a lot, but remember, you can fight back." "But how?" "I can teach you secrets unknown to them." "There's a lot to learn, but it can be done." "I promise you, you will see your home again." "Together we will make great things happen." "Years formed Uru into a handsome disciple to his new mentor." "Beside his good looks, other skills begun to evolve." "Uru learned to read and write his name with several mistakes." "But he also learned something else." "Paris, May, 1217" "Brother Wismuth!" "How's our secret weapon's training progressing?" "Rather splendidly, master." "Uru is a most diligent disciple." "Fortunately, our counter-espionage is quite successful." "Well, I..." "WE, we all really need those frogs," "But peace is also nice." "Break thy enemy without fighting!" "If we'd finally manage to cleverly unite all the Eastern and Western European frogs into a European Frog and Toad Community, then we would have all frogs and avoid war with the German Order." "But if there's a joint control, then who actually has control?" "Take a close look at this very room, my dear friend." "But now, let the pot boil!" "Blithe me!" "What's this terrible stink?" "Lubeck, June, 1217" "Uru, it's time to talk about important things." "About the new plans of Templars?" "Hush!" "Even the walls have ears." "The time has come." "Uru, our plan is beginning to succeed." "Which one of them?" "Tomorrow at dawn, we'll take a cog to Riga, where we are welcomed by bishop Albert." "See, even tomorrow we'll start liberating Estonia." "Already tomorrow?" "For fifteen years the Templars have worked for this." "Mentor?" " Yes?" "I've been thinking..." "Why does the Order really want to help us?" "Why haven't the Templars helped other troubled nations?" "The Jews, the Gypsies, or the Russians?" "Dear boy!" "We want you to be happy." "We want you to be free." "The Germans took your freedom." "We want to restore it." "Together!" "Absolutely no lust for your natural resources!" "Just pure goodwill..." "Hush, someone's approaching." "See you at dawn." "Uru found himself on a way to Riga, where lived a foppish bishop Albert." "He had christianized many Livonians and Latgals with his slick tongue." "Only the Estonians resisted Albert." "A decisive offensive of powerful, yet creativeless German warmachine was finally threatening Estonian tribes." "Beloved dignitaries from Riga!" "Esteemed guests from abroad!" "I have invited you here on this beautiful spring day when a bird chirps on a branch and a flower blooms so adorably to this small banquet, to announce the last crusade against pagans." "And please, do taste the warship, it's my very own recipe." "For two years we have endured this treacherous truce!" "It has to end!" "Well, we have strengthened our troops and..." "Brother Wolfram!" "It's HIM!" " Calm!" "The bailiff has a memory of a fish." "He won't recognise you." "...before the end of truce we move all our forces to Estonia, and drown the Estonians into their own blood!" "Right..." "But now my dear guests, I kindly ask all of you to taste the pastries and sip a drop of goat-yoghurt!" "Friar Wolfram!" "Glad..., glad to see you here." "Bishop Albert." "Who is that young man?" "This is novice Uru." "An excellent find amongst these barbars." "First Estonian to be christened and schooled in Europe." "A christened Estonian?" "What sort of animal is that?" "He might learn some tricks, but once a dog, always a dog." "If it were up to me, they'd all be hanging from the nearest tree." "Fortunately not all pagans are mad." "Take Caupo, the elder of the Livonians and our ally." "Couple of years ago he went to Vatican to see the pope." "As they say, Mediterranean sun tans heavily, and his gentle skin could not withstand the blaze of the sun." "He's alright!" "Not like those Estonians, total savages." "Especially their elder," "Lembitu of Lehola, who is said to be the ultimate brute." "It is rumoured that he once ravished seventeen women in one night." "In his own village!" "How could such a thing be even possible?" "Well, one thing is clear:" "As long as he lives, no Christian is safe." "And that is why we have to launch our campaign very soon, and eradicate that weed!" "For good!" "Amen!" "If you'll excuse me." "A bite from the stern perhaps?" "Did you hear what he said?" " Yes." "We have to warn Estonian elders at once." "Estonians must unite." "Quarreling tribes would be easy pickings for Teutons." "You'd better stay out of bailiff's sight from now on." "Meet me in an hour in woods near the towngate." "Go now!" "May I have your attention for a moment?" " Of course." "I don't understand..." " I won't let you..." "I'm afraid you have mistaken me for somebody else..." "Flee!" "Warriors are coming!" "Master!" "Swarms of pagans have hounded me for two days." "The tracks of brave hunters lead Uru to his homecounty" " Sakala!" "All paths here led to one place." "Oh, Lehola!" "Oh, Lehola!" "Village of dreams!" "House of love!" "A prosperous place where all wishes were fulfilled!" "It was a living-place of Lembitu - the elder of all elders." "You fool, what crazy rags are you wearing!" "Tugis, how can you be so dim?" "I'm not to blame that you don't have an aesthetic taste." "What?" "Mouldboards are beautiful." " Tugis?" "Is it really you?" "What are you?" "A friend of yours, Leholas?" "Leholas!" "Don't you recognize me?" "!" "Uru..." "Uru, flesh and blood, indeed!" "Flesh and blood!" "Dear god Taara!" "Tugis, don't kill your friend again!" "No, I won't!" "Where have you been hiding all these years?" "I was in Lubeck." "So you didn't go to Nimbleshire to wed?" "Tell me, what kind of hats do they wear in this Rupeck?" "Look Uru, I still have the cat you gave me." "Kitty!" "Well, she doesn't catch mice or fish anymore." "Tell me, what has happened here." "What's all this?" "Well, here's what happened." "Recently..." "When I became man, then Lembitu gave me his own plough." "Yes!" "I have to see Lembitu at once!" "The Germans are coming to kill us all!" "First we dress you up trendy." "Homer." "A robe of invisbility from human nails." "Good day, Lembitu!" "So, you must be the lost boy." "That's what all women talk about." "Yes..." "Actually, there's something very important I want to talk about." "Bloody German maggot..." "Be careful with this German fiend, husband." "Strange habits he's got there, there's no place for him here." "Well, Lembitu, I say..." "Man or a... old..." "Grave danger looms above us!" "They'll attack you..., us, soon!" "Trees and woods!" "I just arrived from Riga, I overheard their plans." "They won't continue the truce!" "They want to kill everyone." "A male cow!" "You have to prepare as fast as you can for war!" "Lembitu!" "A huge army is needed." " Manure!" "You must gather men from all counties." "Urgently!" "The Germans are strong, They have knights!" "Right-right..." "Lembitu!" "Enough of work!" "Estonia is in peril!" "Right!" "Enough of work!" "Let us sing!" "Lembitu will sing!" " It's songtime!" "I want it first!" "I am a virgin!" "Tugis, wait up!" "I went to see Lembitu, and tried to convince him to gather an army, but he... he never listened to me, but started to sing." "Song-time!" "Totally forgot...," "I hope I'll make it for the last verse!" "Tugis, wait..." "what about the Germans?" "Wait for me..." "Tugis also sings!" "Are you fouling our sacred grove with fat christeners' witchery?" "Oh no..." "I was just... practicing." "What were you practising?" "All christened people start to itch all over the body!" "And cannot shit well anymore!" "No, no." "I don't have any itches and have no worries with other..." "You really are handsome!" " But christened!" "Well!" "Get going!" "Now let's sacrifice one of us so we can get married faster." "Sacrifice me first!" "So you are the one the Germans tortured?" "What were you doing in the grove?" "No-no, they didn't torture me, perhaps flogged at most..." "At least they've kept your looks." " They didn't..." "I'm llge." " I'm..." " I know!" "How come you took their torture so well?" "You do look handsome!" " Well, I... they..." "I don't know..." "But I like to work and I'm very sturdy!" "Yes, you are... rather..." "rather pretty, like a Merovingian majuscule." "I have to tell you something." "Let's meet in the birch grove behind the fir grove." "Able cornflower..." "Are you laughing at me?" "Not at all." "A flea bit me, and it tickled." "Look what I've got!" " But it's sheer beauty," "Like a snowflake cast in a silk scarf, falling onto a rosebud, painted with a finest brush." " What?" "Like a beautiful shining crystal..." "Like a stall?" "Your words are so nice, Uru, son of Käigu." "No one has ever said this to me before." "Now take a look at this!" "Your wrists are loose-limbed as willow twigs, your eyes are full of maternal instinct." "Do you know what love is?" "Love's pillar is the highest, faithfulness is its foundation, staying together is happiness, my endeavors have a haven in your eyes, my llge." " Boy, you talk too much!" "You are sturdy and warm." "Let me be the head of your household." "I've waited a few days already for this to happen." "Ooh!" "I am ablaze!" "Help me with the belt." " Sure!" "How does it come off?" " With force, Uru, like a man!" "Dear me!" "I almost forgot." "I have to spend a night with the elder." "What?" " The right of the first night." "Surely you know that every girl gets to see the elder on the night she finds her husband." "It is there that she becomes a woman!" "How?" " What do you mean, how?" "The usual way, you know!" "But it's wrong, it's barbarous!" "You are not going there, are you?" " Are you mad?" "Lembitu is such a proud elder and he sings so well!" "What about love?" "Faithfulness?" " Exactly!" "Tomorrow I'll come and we'll wed!" "If I'm able by then, that is." "Ilge!" "Wait!" "What is going on here?" "What goddamn habits are these?" "Lembitu!" "Riverbed!" "Branches!" "Lembitu!" "More power to your elbow, Lembitu!" "Thanks, it is needed!" "Tell me, did llge come to you last night?" "Yes, she did!" "The girl was very elated." "I toiled with her until morning." "Just after the dawn, but slightly before cockcrow, I fell asleep." "But she was my bride!" "Why did she do this to me?" "Why did you ruin my happiness?" "Happiness isn't some lining board to be ruined with one planestroke." "For me it is hard work." "Village is big." "I cannot even sleep, have to frolic about with the virgins." "Lembitu!" "You have built the door shut!" "But it's a sin!" "The whole nation is in grave danger, yet you are befouling young girls!" "Are you listening to me?" "If we don't immediately rally a huge army, then knights ride roughshod over us, just as your plane over a log." "A plane?" "An important tool!" "You have to hold it right or you'll end up with splinter in your arse." "Don't you understand, elder, the whole nation will be annihilated!" "You can't plane against the grain, or a cuckoo will fly into your mouth!" "What cuckoo?" "The nation needs a leader!" "There are good elders all over the land, ruling like gods!" "Manivalde, Purts, Nikker..." "Hey, do you know this song?" "Do you know this little stick?" " I'll go and see other elders!" "Perhaps they grasp how frail a plant our freedom is!" "It can be pricked to a murky pit with taste of a bad and sour dip." "Uru, wait!" "I'm tired, but ready for you." "It's all over between us!" "Uru, hold on!" "I did it for you!" "I'll go on a journey." "Don't bother waiting for me!" "We'll never see each other again." "When will you return?" "When freedom is more than a HOLLOW PHRASE to you!" "But I did everything as I was supposed to!" "The course of events needs to be hastened." "Paris is starving." "Revolution may raise its head." "Why haven't we heard anything from brother Wolfram?" "We've been trying to find him, but so far without any results." "Then we'll have to operate without him." "On one hand, of course, we try to further assist Uru... but on the other hand, we do need these frogs immediately." "Yet even we are no strangers to the concept of hunger." "Send brother Wismuth with nets to Estonia." "Let the first shipment of frogs be here in a month at latest." "Uru!" "Wait for us!" "Leave me be!" "Return home." "There you can sing and work." "Isn't that what you want?" "Grumpy mood brings sulkiness, dour grudge stirs up your tummy!" "Uru, we are your friends!" "Let's go then!" " Let's go!" "Wait for us, too!" "And so did Uru go with his friends to see many other elders." "Unfortunately he met only numbness, dimbwittery and greed, and, in the case of old Tabelinus, especially foul grandnepotism." "The only man with principles was" "Manivalde of Varbola, a man of people, who, thanks to his quick wits, was also known as Harju Logical." "German boot is already trampling on our mothers' chests, that's why it's essential to do something about it!" "Quite right!" "Let's drink some beer!" "Uru, you worry too much." "Right now there's a truce." "If you took an egg from a hen, she'd soon lay another one." "Simple!" "When truce ends, we'll make another one!" "One cannot make truce with the Germans, it's too late for that." "The only hope is the all-Estonian army." "If you wanted to chew a radish, you'd have to seed it in spring." "Simple!" "Elders chose their best talkers day before yesterday." "We'll send them to renew a truce day after tomorrow." "It isn't late!" " It's a trap." "They won't return." "They must be stopped!" "Sure they will." "A heart of a bear also lusts for sheep and maidens." "It comes once, but then returns to woods." "Simple!" "You can't buy off the Germans." "They are ruthless murderers." "I saw with my very own eyes what they did in Riga." " Sure we can." "We'll give them silver coins, beer kegs, lungs of an ox, assortment of peasticks, planed by Lembitu as a matter of fact." "Our talkers are clever, Nurmekundians shall translate." "By the way, this time, the negotiators are led by myself!" "The future is as bright as a shirt of an elf!" "What are you talking about?" "...as bright as a peeled turnip, as a beard of a wise elder, as herringscales on a virgin's cheek." "Uru, believe in the future!" "I surely do!" "Simple!" "It was obvious that even the Harju Logical wasn't of much use in rallying the army." "Now, Uru could only count on the elders of Saaremaa, who were famous all over their isle." "Firstly, the most famous of them all, Vesse!" " I have no time." " Our neighbouring isle" " is too unpillaged and unravished ...then Vesse's son..." " Can't do!" " I have to go with my family" " To the neighbouring isle," " To pick cloudberries." "Aaaaaargh!" "...then Vesse's brother and finally Vesse's brother-in-law." "Feeling low-spirited, Uru had to return to Lehola, where momentous events were about to unfurl." "Daddy, why is he floating in the air?" "Hush!" "That's Pent, the elder of Nurmekundians." "They know many languages and have learned to fly." "Only they are uppish and think that we are dumb." "Lads!" "Return fast with new peace, so you can taste this fine mead!" "The Lembitu's Day is about to begin!" "Toreida, August, 1217" "A horseman?" "A horseman!" "Manivalde!" "?" "Speak!" " All... men... killed!" "Sticks..., the sticks were... broken." "Outrage!" "Slaughter!" "Betrayal!" "Rally the elders' council!" "Every single Estonian tribe sent their wisest and most important elders to the elders' council." "Men from all counties showed up, even the elders from Mohu county." "Only people of Vaiga couldn't find anyone wise enough to send." "Most furious were Manivalde, and elders from Ridala and Alempois." "It truly was an important moment." "Brethren!" "You know what we have to discuss here today!" "The Germans have committed a bloodshed most foul in nature!" "Revenge must be had!" "Many fine lads have fallen, the bravest of us ache in pain." "What do we do now?" "Onnepeve of Ugandi, what is your say?" "Let their kin be destroyed!" "With Taara's help, we'll sing them to death!" "It's rather painful for me to say this, but let's hew their oaken walls to pieces!" "Simple!" "Ouch!" "What?" "!" "What oaken walls?" "This has got to be the most hare-brained talk." "So the men from Ridala begin to blab now, right?" "Your blabbing drove all our women into wells." "We were left only with these..." " An insult!" "I refuse to sit here in the presence of this man!" "Easy now, brethren!" "Far gone feud fills furrows full, failing food fulfil you fatty!" "What a dug of a taurine!" "Pent, your twin brother died there." "What do the Nurmekundians think?" "We'd support a more flexible..." "No!" "Let's drag the land away from under their feet." "Then they'll fall down." " Right!" "Now where exactly do they fall?" "Down!" "Right!" "And then let's brew some beer, and drink it all up!" "And then off to snuggle!" "And then some more beer!" " And then some more snuggle." "Right!" "What does the honourable Jogentaganan think?" "Dear brethren!" "Let's call in the Russians for assistance, their numbers are great, they are experienced..." "What?" "Let Jogentaganans stick to their own matters." "What a boor!" "We cannot..." "I've got it!" "First, let's build a huge dam-wall around Riga and then let's tear it down." "Simple!" "The huge wave will drown them all!" "Good god, Taara!" "Once again you're blabbing about the wall!" "Hey!" "Before I was talking about an oaken wall, now about a dam-wall!" "Wall and wall." "Simple!" "I say, these men from Ridala are just plain stupid." "They are too busy with blabbing..." "What are you talking about?" " Brethren!" "Oh, sod the fuck off!" "What if we'd get them drunk..., when they're asleep, it'd be easy to..." "Let's stuff their pants with weasels and martens, see what..." "Right!" "Where does it take us?" "Let's hook fingers and pull 'em off!" "No, this won't do at all..." "What are they talking about?" "I'll go and bring them to reason!" "Uru!" "You are not that smart yet." "Silly boy!" " MEN!" " Let's build a huge hedgehog," " That is hollow from inside." " And stuff it with" " Many small hedgehogs." " Let's take it to the woods" " And pick mushrooms." "What?" " Milky caps!" "But how is all this related to the Germans?" " But how is all this" " Related to the Germans?" " It isn't, I guess." "The islanders are a peculiar people." "Indeed, no one can match them on a battlefield, but when they talk..." "You'd better shut up for good!" "Right!" " What?" "Shut up!" " Let's go!" "Let's steal pants from the northerners." "Men!" "Just listen to what you are saying!" "Do you honestly believe that we could destroy that huge army by acting like this?" "I've been trying to explain this to you, but you keep bragging here like some roosters!" "And bed other men's women..." "Don't you understand that we have to gather an army!" "Right!" "Let's rally many men from every county." "A big army has more men than a small one!" "WHY NOT, THEN?" " Much more!" "Then it's decided." "Gather an army!" "To the war, brethren!" "Why not!" "Great elders, let's celebrate by singing the elders' song!" "Do you know a little stick, a little stick with a crackened tip?" "It surely couldn't get any worse than this!" "Ke... ti, vuet..." "li." "Pitiful pothooks and hangers!" "It is simple!" "Estonia and China!" "Damned crossroads!" "Father Genghis, which road should we follow?" "As the destiny wants, Ogdai, my son!" "Let those, who won't bend to our will, tremble in fear..." "Their lives are like dewdrops that perish in the blaze of sun... that by the solemn will of the noblest of nobler race of Mongols lets to shine upon the earth." "Let them all tremble before the emperor of all..." " Ogdai!" "Enough of blabbing!" "Forgive me, father Genghis." "If this viable swallow should take wing as a breeze, then let our journey end on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, but if it should, by any chance, fall dead onto this very ground," "then let the mothers of our victims have given them birth in China." "Fall, the dynasty of Qin!" "Now who on earth could have conceived this numbskull?" "Madise Day, September, 1217" "Here, lead Fly to the back." "Let her chew grass, lest she is hurt in the rage of battle." "This war isn't nice at all." "It was a sad sad day for Estonians." "In the huge Madise battle, many sons, daughters, fathers, mother-in-laws, workers and singers fell." "Many homes went silent, bereft of the sounds of wind harp." "Brave Lembitu was survived by his plane, unmilked battle-cow, and a nation without a leader." "What a splendid battle it was!" "Oh yes!" "We did not die in vain!" "By the way, which burial do you prefer?" "Cremation or the regular?" "I've always dreamed about a regular burial." "The soil is so mushy..." "like a wet wool." "I'd bury myself right here, but then this accident happened..." "I feel so... helpless." "Brother!" "Allow me to dig a grave for you!" "Even though it causes me unbearable pain..." "Be my guest!" "I will remember this till I die!" "Aye, brother!" "Are you still alive?" "Of course!" "I'm in no hurry!" "Now jump into the hole, will you?" "I finished your grave." "I'll even cover you with soil." " Listen..." " Yeah?" "I had some time to think" "and I realized I prefer cremation." "What?" "All my ancestors were burnt." "Say, have you got a tinder?" "I have firestone of my own." "You ungrateful badger's piss!" "I'll make you a cremation..." "Uru, you woke up!" "Uru, let's chop this forest down, and turn it to a vast ploughland, and begin to... plough it..." "I'll start to plough." "We're going to make a huge plough with Leholas, much bigger than the one that was." "And you Uru, you're going to bed peas." "Uru, you're going to bed peas." "You're going to bed peas like no one has ever bedded peas before." "I'm going to plough, you're going to bed..." "You may plough too." "Two furrows, or three, if you like." "PARIS, 1217" "A shipment from Livonia, Your Mastership!" "Brethren!" "The hour of truth has struck." "The future of our order..., of our nation lies in this chest." "Jean-Paul, open it!" "Keep your hands off the frogs." "He devours the whole shipment." "Jean-Paul!" "What happened?" "Tell me!" "Look at me!" "Keep away from it!" "I've seen it once before." "It's a frog-plague!" "Destroy the frogs, before it spreads." "Damn!" "Not a single Estonian frog anymore, we wouldn't survive the Green plague." "Next to that, the Bubonic plague seems nice." "Ooh..., my bladder just exploded!" "All our activities in Estonia must be stopped immediately." "We mustn't leave a single trail." "I'll leave to Estonia right away." "To hell with the Eastern Europe!" "Uru!" "Uru!" "Brother Wismuth, you!" "What?" "You have to leave Estonia immediately and return to Paris headquarters." "Why?" "We made a terrible mistake." "The frogs have a deadly malady." "Everyone has been called off." "Brother Wismuth, are you alright?" "Frogs, frogs..." "It was the only reason we came here." "Frogs!" "But nothing went the way we had... planned." "We have to return." "You are coming back with us, don't you?" "You are one of us, aren't you, Uru?" "But how?" "What about freedom?" "The fight?" "The Estonians?" "It's secondary." "Let's go where our temptation won't take lives!" "No, no!" "My friends, my people, I have to help them." "Your people?" "Your friends?" "What are you talking about?" "They are pi-ty-ful crea-tu-res." "Just look at them." "They've recently lost a huge battle, and what do they do?" "They dance, sing, trudge in a bog." "They are destined to die, even before they are born!" "No!" "The Estonians are not bent yet!" "Uru!" "The order won't let you stay here!" "It should be the order's duty to help, not to flee like a dog." "Don't play with a hot egg!" "The order will never forgive traitors." "You're not only blind, damn it..., you're also dumb, you nitwit!" "Who do you think will help you?" "You are all fated to extinction!" "You think the Russians will help?" "Or that you're going to form an alliance with the Vepsians?" "I'll tell you!" "Whatever it takes, the order will avenge you!" "People!" "Estonians!" "It is possible to win the Germans!" "They expect us to come onto the battleground with ploughs, start to plough and sing." "Let's not do that!" "You mean leave all undone on the day of battle?" "Where would you work, if the Germans destroyed all the fields?" "How would you sing, if they tear out your vocal chords?" "The injustice must be met with insurgence!" "If you'd want to brew beer and snuggle with girls in the future, then you'd have to draw a sword!" "You have to fight for yourself!" "And fight completely differently!" "I will teach you to kill!" "This is the only way we'd belong to enlightened nations." " Right!" "Uru, be our new elder!" " Yes, Uru..., please!" "First we have to recover and rally a new army!" "I will train you!" "Do not listen to him!" "Who'd you think will pull our songcart then?" "Who is going to stitch family signs on shirts like our ancestors taught us to, when everyone is busy wielding a sword?" "I'll be the elder myself!" "I'll bring peace and happiness." "Lembitu would have..." " He is dead!" "We don't want you!" "We know how you used to scold with him and how you exhausted our worthy elder to death." "Let Uru speak!" "Alright then!" "If I'm not good enough for you, then let's choose Manivalde, who brought prosperity to his county." "Now wait a moment!" "I'm not a proper war-time elder." "Let Uru be our elder." "His plan is good." "I was thinking exactly the same earlier." "Simple!" "Good Manivalde, your words honor me!" "But the enemy is not weak." "We need auxiliaries." "Let's call in the Russians to assist us." "Right!" "Let's do it!" "And in return let's give them Jurjev town back." "Someone has to go to Pskov and persuade them to come." "Uru, in your name we'll go to the frontier of the county." "Tugis!" "We need your strength here." "Leholas, you go!" "Your father was a Russian!" "Now there's nothing to keep us from working... and killing the Germans." "My very own land!" "Why the hell do we have to wait and slack off against winter?" "Why haven't our auxiliaries arrived?" "They are on their way..." "coming with the ships... soon." "Without auxiliaries these pagans may recuperate their losses, and we'll sit in this quagmire a long time." "If we'd capture one village and move farther, then they'd sneak back to the old spot." "What kind of war is that?" "But perhaps...?" "Abbott Tascus has to recruit immediately new auxiliaries." "L- e-b-e-n-s-r-a-u-m!" "Do you understand?" "Don't worry, my dear Hippolyt!" "We'll become timeless." "It will be a historic victory!" "And how would "Your Eminence" intend to conquer them?" "Like the Egyptians won the Persians in the battle of Troy!" "We're going to ram them with ships!" "Then we'll go around the hills, like Hannibal did, with horses." "And blow the trumpets of Jericho upon the barbarians!" "And, as Caesar, I'll come to a meadow, exclaiming "Veni, vidi... "" "You are not Caesar, but the most idiotic parson!" "Even my squire's dog knows more about commanding tactics!" "We're at the brink of destruction." "We barely have five hundred men under our command, half of which are former bakers, the rest are shabby syphilitics and wastrels." "If the Estonians would gather a proper army, and call in, say, the Russians or the Vikings for assistance, then..." " Then what?" "You Jewish bastard, don't you yell at me like that." "I may get sick of it." "I'm the one who has helped you come so far." "Helped?" "You?" "Nobody has ever helped me." "Never." "I have killed very many..." "people." "And will again!" "Don't you come to threaten me!" "I know everything about you." "I know what you did to your brother..." " Silence!" "What you did to my sister..." " But at least I did it before you!" "No!" "You need me!" "The pope will give the bulla only to me." "Enter!" "We captured Estonian pagans near Lake Peipus." "They had taken off their clothes and wanted to swim to Russia." "What would a scum like you have business with the Russians?" "I know nothing!" "I haven't taken my clothes off." "The scoundrels had two kegs of some weird potion with them." "The men are taking a closer look outside." "I am going to give you a simple choice." "Tell me here and now, what did you do near the lake?" "And I'll tear off your nails after I have killed you!" "You maggot!" "I'd rather die than betray Uru!" "Uru?" "A familiar name..." "Who is this Uru of yours, anyway?" "Uru is our new leader!" "He will whack you all off!" "Why did Uru send you to see the Russians?" "We wanted to get help." "The Russians were awaiting us in the marsh." "How many men do you have?" " I won't tell you..." "The whole Estonia is united!" "Worthy sword!" "Sturdy!" "Boys, empty your bladders!" "Ease your butts!" "Boys!" "Dive!" "Well done!" "How long has the previous bunch been in?" "From the last autumn!" "Good!" "Don't let them out before Midsummer's Day." "Done!" "I'll dive for myself and mark their positions." "What?" "Is something wrong?" "We'd like to wed, but we can't do it." "Why not?" "We need the elder's approval." "All right then, go and wed!" "It's not right!" "The elder must romp with us before we could wed." "Romp?" "What do you mean?" "Well, you know." "To frolic..." " To groove..." "To furrow..." " To riffle!" "No!" "You should end this nonsense!" "This is most barbaric." "Just wed like that!" "We can't like that." "I won't groove with you!" "Alright, let's frolic then." "And me first!" "I will not groove, nor frolic with you!" "Go away!" "But Lembitu frolicked!" "Just go and wed." "I will give you my approval." "Now this isn't fair..." "This way we won't get wed at all." "You are the elder and you have to sleep with us first." "There will be no grooving." "From now on, the practice of lus prlnmae nhoctls will end!" "What?" "What ends?" "There will be no grooving." "It's time to become decent." "As your elder, I will say so!" "Lo!" "Now look who's talking." "An elder my arse!" "I don't want to wed like this!" "I will not get married until a new elder has come!" "Dammit, moron!" " Right!" "Up yours!" "Now my Lembitu, he was the true elder!" "Uru?" "Are you still mad at me?" "Look, I made you a wooden stick with a crackened tip." "You did what?" "A wooden stick with a crackened tip." "You are our elder now." "Every elder must have one." " What should I do with it?" "It will show everyone that you are our elder, the protector of the women and the father of the children!" "Besides, it will bring you luck." "Take it!" "Llge, leave!" "Don't bother me!" "Why are you so mean to me?" "I only wish you well." "And that's why you went to Lembitu?" " Of course!" "How else could I've come to you?" "You are a silly boy and sometimes you act strangely, but I like you." "Very much..." "What is going on here?" "What is this brawl?" "What's is this?" "Answer me, you lout, or I'll rip your nipples off." "This wondrous nectar, that..., Estonians had in kegs... godlike!" "What nectar?" "Soldier, speak up, you are a German!" "Heavenly nectar!" "Good bishop, thank you for taking us here to fight." "What a bliss it is!" "Thanks!" "It used to be much worse." "What on earth is this?" "This poison of pagans has transmuted them into animals." "Now, I'm going to block and slide from here..." "Fifteen Germans..." "are coming from east." "How far are they?" "Take cover!" "Hide!" "Into the swamp!" "Tugis, hide." "You too over there, hide!" "The Germans are coming!" " Hey, it's full here!" "The mainland isn't safe." "We have to move onto islands." "Meelis of Muhu gave his new keep to the newlyformed army on a condition that it'd be unharmed in a battle." "Grim sound of German boots was already heard on a small island." "The noose around the Estonians tightened fast." "I love you, llge." "Uru!" "I love you too." "But you have to understand that tomorrow's battle will be fierce." "It's possible that after tomorrow you may remain alone." "No, Uru!" "I haven't told you..." "What?" "There are more than two of us here." "Is Tugis here?" " No, Uru!" "Then who?" "Your mother?" " No, Uru." "I'm standing here, as two." "You want to say that..." "you mean... it's mine?" "Yes, Uru..., yours!" "Or Lembitu's!" "Damn!" "What takes Leholas so long?" "Didn't the Russians really want Jurjev?" "Not even beer?" "Pass it here!" "Well then!" "We fight with the forces that we have." "Men!" "I am Uru, the son of Käigu." " Yeah, we know!" "I am an Estonian!" "Like we all are!" "Do we want to be masters on our own land?" " YES!" "Do we want to have Estonia in our own hands?" " YES!" "Everyone here must ask himself, what is it we stand here for?" "What is it that makes us stride toward our almost certain death?" "Freedom!" "Yes!" "I'll tell you what it is!" "FREEDOM!" "Well!" "?" " YES!" "The battle will be bloody!" "But we have to find courage to fight for freedom, not only for ourselves, but also for our children!" "Brethren, fear not!" "Our lives are sacrifices, that we gladly lay on the altar of freedom!" "Unwavering in our faith and with an unswerving will to safeguard and develop Estonia that is founded on liberty, justice and law!" "We must guarantee the preservation of Estonian nation and culture!" "Men!" "Is slavery our choice?" " No!" "No, it isn't!" "Our choice is freedom!" "Men!" "Into the battle!" "Good hands!" "You murderer!" "You killed my family and burnt my home!" "You robbed my childhood!" "I'll kill you with my hands!" "It wasn't enough for you to take my family from me." "You also killed the only one, who cared about me after that." "Brother Wolfram?" "He squealed like a piglet." "I wonder what did that frog-eater find in a puppy like you?" "Uru, you are as silly as a Polish goose!" "Estonians will never become a free nation!" "Oh yes, your messenger greets you, the one you sent to Russia." "You bastard!" "Prepare to answer for your crimes!" "How do you kill someone you can't see?" "The nails have a magic power and now that I'm invisible, I promise you one thing!" "I'll let you live!" "I'm here!" "I'm here!" "I'm here..." "But it was all written down, on the paper." "Homer!" "You traitor!" "Uru!" "Uru, turn around!" "Uru, look, behind you!" "Uru, my dear boy!" "Look at me!" "Ah, my eye!" "Uru, my darling!" "Uru!" "You've got a scratch!" "Llge!" "Uru, can you hear me?" "Please forgive me!" "The Templars made a mistake." "I wanted to help you, but after Riga...," "I was on the brink of death..." "Mentor!" "At last I revived and came to help you." "But it was late." "Too late!" "Uru, forgive me." "I didn't make it over the lake." "It's alright!" "Everything has changed." "Wolfram!" "Llge!" "Save my child!" "Raise him into a European!" "Wolfram!" "Take her and llge with you!" "Show them world." "Promise!" "I promise!" "Victory!" "Freedom!" "Estonia!" "Brethren!" "Our leader and the elder has fallen by the enemy's sword!" "Calm!" "Calm!" "When a lizard loses its tail, it'll grow a new one!" "Brethren!" "I will lead you!" "But first, let's set the scores with these German pigs!" "Please forgive us!" "Don't kill us!" "I'll write a book about you!" "Forgiveness!" "So forgiveness it is you ask!" "After all you have done to us, you plead for forgiveness?" "Noble elder!" "I beg of you, please spare us!" "We'll become your slaves!" "We'll do all the work for you!" "What?" "Did I hear it right?" "Yes, we plough your land and look after your animals..." "You, saucy prick!" "Not only have you looted our land for years, now you want to take all the work from us as well?" "Enough of it!" "I'll give you an easy choice - death, or idling!" "Yes, but we still have to eat and earn our keep..." "Manivalde..." " Yeah?" "Maybe it's tad bit cruel?" "They are also humans." "A bit cruel?" "Have you forgotten what happened to your parents?" "Have you forgotten whose body lies up there on a hill?" "These German louts will have the fiercest fate!" "I can promise you one thing!" "We'll bust so hard on a day and night just to see you rot slowly." "Brethren!" "Today we've made history." "A better future lies ahead!" "Estonians got so inspired so that they did all the work for the Germans." "They even built some manors for the Germans, out of spite." "After Uru's death I started to drink..." "I drank for days and my beautiful maiden voice turned into a wheeze of a broken man." "How exciting!" "But what happened to others?" "Wolfram kept his promise and took good care of me." "When I arrived here in France, I gave birth to Uru's child." "A daughter..." "A daughter?" " Yeah!" "I named her..." "Jaan!" "Jeanne?" " Yeah." "Still, your wine is good..."