hauler in the Osel mine, of Kuttenberg
“I haul ore in the Osel mine. I keep my head down and do what the masters say.”
Things Tobias had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Tuesday before Whitsun, at Vespers
The seam still yields ore, so the iron stays in my hands. Let Edward go to the pawnbroker if he needs coin. I keep my head down and meet my quota. Casper will not find me lacking.
Nota scribaeHe shrugged when asked if he felt any shame.
the eve of St Philip and St James, at Sext
Bread is dearer now with the soldiers on the roads. Julian drank his silver away again and Sebastian took a swing at him. Milada is still in Prague, so there is no peace by the hearth.
the third day of Easter week, at Compline
Edward is shouting again, pointing fingers over his month's wages. I just walked away. A man who shouts wastes breath he needs for the galleries. If the German sees me without that pick, he will sack me.
I will break your jaw if you do not hand it over tomorrow morning.
Leave him be, Edward, the lad is scared to death of the foreman.
Nota scribaeDictated outside the cellar while another man yelled from within.
the Monday after St Gregory, at None
Ten hours pushing the wooden carts. Stale air and chalk dust in my throat. We breathe what the rock gives us. My shoulders ache, but the quotas are met. A man needs to eat, so a man pushes.
Aye, lad. We all suffer the same dark under the earth.
Candlemas, at Vespers
Casper opened a new seam today. The German master says no man comes down the shaft without proper iron. I had no coin for a hollow-ground pick, so I took the one Edward offered. I have rock to break.
I said for one shift, you thief! Hand it back!
The seam is not cleared yet.
Nota scribaeThe man muttered this to the floor and refused to speak louder.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You whoreson. That is my livelihood in your calloused hands.