porter at the weigh-house, of Kuttenberg
“I haul silver ore for the mint masters and I pull my full weight. A man has to provide for his family.”
Things Leonard Albrecht had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the second Tuesday in May, at Compline
Another full shift done. I carried fourteen sacks before None, and I could have carried more. Some of the older men look ready to drop by Vespers, but I have my youth. I just need to sit quietly in widow Vlasta's cellar for a while to catch my breath.
Nota scribaeDictated in the dark corner of the cellar. The man's voice cracked twice.
the feast of Saint Mark, at Vespers
God's truth, Bohuta Alder stepped right backward without looking and knocked the crate of silver blanks clean from my hands! The mud was deep and he was clumsy. Maurice saw it. I had a perfectly tight grip on the wood. It was not my fault.
You dropped it yourself, you lying whoreson. You let it slip and Maurice docked my wages for it.
You stepped into my path! I am as strong as an ox, I do not just drop things.
the third day of Easter week, at None
Andreas Berger tried to get me to cast dice by the church steps again. I told him no. I lost a whole day's wage to him last year and my mother nearly wept. My sisters Grete and Mandelina need the coin for bread, not to line a gambler's purse.
You just have no nerve, lad. A few good throws and your sisters could eat pork.
Nota scribaeThe man rubbed his lower back compulsively while he spoke.
the Tuesday after Laetare Sunday, at Sext
The mud in the yard is terrible. It sucks at your boots when you carry the heavy sacks. Old Franz Schneider offered to help me lift the crate this morning, but I waved him off. I do not need an old man's help to do my work.
I was only being neighborly. You looked like you were about to tear yourself in half.
Candlemas, at Prime
Praise be, Maurice picked me for a full shift again. I was out before the sun came up, standing in the cold. It takes a strong man to haul the silver, and I make sure I am seen at the front of the line.
Good lad. Bring the coin straight home to your mother.
Nota scribaeHe asked me to underline the word strong.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Keep your voice down, Leonard. Some of us are trying to drink without the bailiff hearing.