nomad of the camp, of Nomad camp
“I am a dying man waiting for the fever to finish its work. I have no desire to linger.”
Things Daniel had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Tuesday before Whitsun, at Vespers
Nicholas brought another stranger to look in on me today. I told the man to piss off and let me die in peace. I want no water and no company. The coughing is so bad my chest feels split open, but at least it means the end is near.
Nota scribaeThe man coughed blood onto the ledger. I stepped back.
the second day of Easter week, at None
Simon came for his two groschen. I paid him, though I lack the strength to strike him. He will not spend a single penny on tar to mend the split canvas of this wagon. If I stop paying he will have the guards throw me in the mud to die.
Pay the fee or sleep in the dirt. It is not my wagon to tar.
the feast of St Benedict, at Terce
I lie here watching these fools. Andrew pawned Joseph's mail coif to Drslav for forty groschen, and now Joseph is shitting himself over the Easter muster because Drslav is locked in a debtor cell. I care nothing for their petty debts. My own debt is to the grave.
It is not a joke, Daniel. The king's men will flay me if I have no coif.
Nota scribaeHe stared blankly at the ash of the watch fires for a long time before speaking.
the Wednesday after St Matthias, at Prime
We dug the grave in the Troskowitz churchyard. The ground was half frozen, but Nicholas helped me. I weep for her daily. I should have burned this cursed wagon and slept in the dirt while she lived. Now I have the exact same chill.
the day after Candlemas, at Compline
The heavy February rains have ruined our shelter. Anne keeps coughing. She tries to sew by the fire in the evenings but the damp is in her lungs. I asked Simon to mend the canvas and he laughed. William just stood there and let John steal his carving awl.
It was a fine awl, but I do not want any trouble with John.
Nota scribaeDictated in the pouring rain. The man was shivering.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You cannot die alone in the dark, Daniel. Anne would not want it.