hauler at the Saint Wenceslas shaft, of Kuttenberg
“I break my back hauling rock so I don't starve, but the men here are wolves waiting to watch me fall.”
Things Menhard had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at Compline
Every shift I expect the shaft roof to come down on my head. A man cannot work without his mother's rosary to pray over. Black Erhard knows this, but he holds onto it like a miser, claiming a wager is a wager. By the wounds of Christ, he'll be the death of me.
the second day of May, at Vespers
Fritz the Gob still has my only digging spade. I paid him the three groschen for the rent I owed Walpurg, but he keeps making excuses to hold the spade as a spare. How am I to pass Dietrich at the gate without my own tools? Bread is dear enough without going hungry.
I will give it back when I finish clearing the rubble from my spot, lad. Do not soil your breeches.
Nota scribaeThe dictation was interrupted twice by the man frantically checking his pockets.
the third day of Easter week, at Prime
I only threw the dice with Erhard to win enough coin for some iron of my own. Dietrich turns away any man empty-handed at the Saint Wenceslas gate, and I was desperate. Now my mother's rosary is gone. I thought he would let me buy it back, but he is a stubborn old mule.
the day after St Matthias, at Terce
My mother's good eating knife is gone. I left it on the tavern table last night, and Andreas pocketed it while I slept. He claims I gave it freely to cover my share of the ale tally. It is a lie! He stole it, and now I am cursed.
You offered it yourself when the alewife asked for the coin. Drink less if your memory is so poor.
Nota scribaeHe spoke very fast and shifted his weight constantly from foot to foot.
Candlemas, at Vespers
Dietrich stood at the gate this morning and nearly sent me away. Praise the saints that Black Erhard lent me a splitting wedge, and Andreas a heavy crowbar. I hauled their ore all day in the deep pits. I earned the sweat on this iron, and I am not giving it back to them.
It was a loan for the shift, you whoreson. I need that wedge tomorrow.
Give me back my crowbar or I will break your jaw with it.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You gambled it freely at Easter, Menhard. Bring me my splitting wedge back and we can talk about your wooden beads.
I earned that wedge hauling your heavy ore out of the deep shaft!