hewer in the Osel mine, of Kuttenberg
“I hew rock in the Osel mine, though God knows my bloody boils leave me no strength.”
Things Konrad the Lousy had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the eve of the Ascension, at Vespers
The damp in the lower gallery is cursed, I swear it. It brings out these bloody boils on my neck worse than ever. I rub them till they bleed, but the mine water is poison. If Tobias puts me down there again tomorrow, my skin will rot off my bones, sakra.
Nota scribaeHe scratched at his neck the entire time he spoke. The collar of his shirt was foul.
the second day of Easter week, at None
Hans the Rat is sleeping behind the timber stacks again. Christ almighty, the man is a lazy drunk. I warned the new lads not to lend him a single groschen. He leaves his gear with Milena for sour ale and we have to pull his weight in the shaft.
Keep your whining mouth shut, Konrad. I was resting my eyes.
the Tuesday before Palm Sunday, at Compline
I am renting a dull pick from the master's store and it takes a quarter of my wage before I even strike a blow. I cannot buy anything but stale bread and sour ale. All because a certain man will not give back what is mine.
Your luck is just rotten, Konrad. Come throw dice tonight, maybe your fortune will turn for the better.
You are a foolish boy. Dice will not haul rock.
the feast of Saint Matthias, at Terce
Bartholomew still has my best iron wedge. He claims I owe him for a week's lodging from last winter, which is a lie. Poor Joan died in the summer of ninety-nine, God rest her soul. When she was alive, she kept him from taking other men's things.
A debt is a debt, Konrad. You slept under my roof, you pay the toll.
Just take the iron back when he is not looking, lad. Before my cough takes me.
Nota scribaeDictated in a low mumble. He looked over his shoulder twice to see if the other man was near.
Candlemas, at Prime
Bartholomew's pick broke in the deep shaft this morning. Like a fool, I lent him my best iron wedge to finish his shift. It cost me a month's work to buy that wedge. Sakra, I only hope he gives it back by Vespers.
Much obliged for the loan, lad. I will hold onto it for safekeeping.
Nota scribaeHe sighed heavily before saying the Amen.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
The water is no worse than the barren seam he gave me. Keep your head down, Konrad.
You complain too much, Alan. Just dig the rock.