Janissary fanaticism

The first ten minutes were over and he felt sick to the gut and drained. His body already begged for light refreshment and eight hours’ sleep. Where was the strength and wind he’d once possessed in abundance? He was shaken. He’d never fought men so difficult to kill, so reluctant to die even when they were dead. These janissaries were maniacs and he was not—not any longer.
-TR, pg. 348