miner at the north houses, of Kuttenberg
“I hewed rock for fifteen years until a rotten ladder broke me. Now I cough blood in the dark and wait for the end.”
Things Geoffrey had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Thursday after Philip and James, at Vespers
Every breath tears my chest apart. I fell twelve feet when that rotten ladder snapped. I am spitting black blood into a rag, and Robert is working double shifts so Maresh does not cross my name out. If I die without a priest, it is because I lack the pennies to pay one.
Nota scribaeDictated from a cot in a very foul-smelling cellar. The man had to pause to spit blood into a bowl.
the second day of Easter week, at Prime
God is punishing me for my pride. I lent my militia war kit to Kunz, and the whoreson pawned it to Julian to pay Katchka's rent. Now my ribs are shattered and Julian has my gear in Prague. I should have broken Kunz's nose when I had the strength to stand.
the eve of Laetare Sunday, at Sext
The silver carts are delayed on the Prague road again, and the King's men hold our wages. The whole camp is starving. We are eating Katchka's watery cabbage and living on pawn tickets. Wilhelm the Scar was right to save his coin, but the rest of us are chewed to the bone.
I told you all winter to keep a few pennies back. But no, the alehouse called.
the Wednesday after Saint Matthias, at None
Thomas is a loudmouthed fool. He spent half the shift mocking Reginald the Hog, and he will get himself killed for it one of these days down in the dark. Better to keep quiet and swing the pick. Roger is still weeping over his spade, too.
Reginald is as fat as a sow and twice as stupid. Let him try me.
It was a good spade, Geoffrey! Kunz had no right to keep it.
Nota scribaeThe speaker was covered in stone dust and drank from a jack of sour ale.
Candlemas, at Terce
I borrowed a heavy rock-pick from Andreas this morning. It is a finer tool than mine, and the iron bites into the vein like a hungry dog. I meant to hand it back at Vespers, but I think I will keep it a few days more. The work goes faster.
A few days, Geoffrey. Do not forget. Maresh will fine me if I show up empty-handed.
Nota scribaeThe man patted a borrowed tool as if it were a lapdog.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Rest easy, old man. I will keep the tally up. Just stop trying to talk.
Are you still sitting on my tool then? I need it back, broken ribs or no.
It is by my cot, Andreas. Come and take it if the dust does not choke you first.