hewer at the Osel mine, of Kuttenberg
“I am the best pick in the deep shafts, brother. I just need a fat vein to buy my way out of this dust.”
Things Christopher the Miner had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Tuesday before Whitsun, at Vespers
Brother, my arms never tire in the deep. I strike hard while Prokop coughs his lungs up in the dark. The old men are broken, but not me. I will hit the silver yet, and then I will be the one buying the ale.
Nota scribaeHe spoke very fast and kept pointing at my inkwell with his chin.
the third day of May, at Compline
Hans the Rat is sleeping behind the timber again. I told Tobias the overman I could dig twice the ore, but he puts me on the same sparse rock as the rest. A sorry bunch I am trapped with, truly.
Leave me be. My head aches from Milena's sour ale.
the second day of Easter week, at None
If a brother has a spare iron wedge, and another brother puts it to good use in the rock, where is the sin? Black Veit has tools aplenty. I am saving us from the master's rent, and he calls me a thief for it.
It is my wedge, you arrogant whoreson. Return it before I break your nose.
Hold your temper, brother. I only borrowed it for the good rock. You will have it back.
the second Tuesday of Lent, at Terce
Christ almighty, do not stand me in the cage next to Konrad the Lousy. The man is covered in boils. I told him to pray to Saint Roch, but he just oozes. It makes a man sick to look at.
The boils are a test from the Lord, you vain bastard.
the morrow of Saint Blaise, at Prime
That bitter cheat Alan rigged the board! My lucky soot-stained die, gone! He slid the dice instead of tumbling them. It was a slick board, I swear it. Fourteen groschen to any man who brings my bone die back to me.
You lost fair and square at hazard, Christopher. The die is mine now.
I can fetch it for fifteen groschen, if he leaves his pouch unguarded at the tavern.
Nota scribaeDictated outside the alehouse. The man was breathless and agitated.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
We all spit dust eventually, lad. Your time is coming.