hired hand at the administration house, of Horany
“I sweep the floors and run messages for the clerks. It is tiring work and Drslav never stops shouting, but it keeps me fed.”
Things Jan had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Tuesday before Whitsun, at Vespers
John Smith asked me again today if I found my father's iron clasp. I told him no, and he gave me that look of his. I wish he would stop asking. It makes my stomach turn over. I know I lost it, I do not need reminding every time I go near the forge.
Nota scribaeThe boy wrung his hands on his apron the entire time he spoke.
the third day of Easter week, at None
I reached into my pocket in the yard today and my father's clasp was gone. I tore through my pallet in the dry stores and dug through the mud by the pitheads but it is nowhere. That rusted iron was the only thing I owned in the world. I feel sick.
Christ almighty, lad. Come sit by the forge fire later, I have a heel of cheese for you. We will find it.
the eve of Palm Sunday, at Prime
Drslav shouted at me for tracking clay into the counting room, even though I had just spent an hour sweeping it out. He threw a broken tally stick at my head. I try to stay invisible to him but a bucket requires less bread than I do, so he hates the sight of me.
Nota scribaeHe asked me not to let the senior clerk see this page.
the feast of St Gregory, at Sext
The wind off the Kuttenberg hills is bitter today. My woollen blanket does nothing against the chill in the stores. I am glad for John Smith. He lets me sit by the forge fire when my fingers go numb, and he talks to me about the old days when the hewers pulled good silver.
Your father was a strong worker, Jan. He knew the rock better than any.
Candlemas, at Compline
Four winters ago today the rotten timbers gave way in the lower galleries and my father Stislav was crushed beneath the rock. The administration took me in because a boy is cheap labour. One day I will be a proper miner and learn the adits and the footwalls like he did.
Nota scribaeDictated quietly at the back door of the kitchen. He used the word footwall incorrectly.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
I only ask because Stislav was a good man and that clasp was all you had of him, lad. Do not take it amiss.
I know you mean well. But my head aches from looking in the mud for it.