the-secret-crusade-oliver-bowden

strange symbols – writing he didn’t understand.
Behind him he heard Al Mualim speaking: ‘I applied my heart to
know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also
was a chasing after wind. For in much wisdom is much grief and he that
increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.’
Now Malik and his men rushed into the garden. With barely a glance
at the body of Al Mualim, they stood hypnotized by the Apple. In the
distance Altaïr could hear shouting. Whatever spell had been cast over
Masyaf was broken.
He readied himself to dash the Apple against the stone, still unable to
take his eyes from the spinning image, finding it hard to make his arm
heed the command of his brain.
‘Destroy it!’ called Al Mualim. ‘Destroy it as you said you would!’
Altaïr’s hand trembled. His muscles refused to obey the commands of
his brain. ‘I … I can’t …’ he said.
‘Yes, you can, Altaïr,’ gasped Al Mualim. ‘You can. But you won’t.’
With that, he died.
Altaïr looked up from the body of his mentor to find Malik and his
men gazing expectantly at him – waiting for leadership and guidance.
Altaïr was the Master now.