Grantville Gazette, Volume 70

by Bjorn Hasseler

  After a few minutes, Astrid's night vision came back. "Coming up on Eulau," she observed. "Just beyond is where the train got attacked last month. Watch the ridgeline."

  "I see a torch!" Klaus called out.

  "That is von Hessler's watchtower," Neustatter told him.

  "What is next?" Klaus asked.

  "Camp Terror. It will be on the right. Then we cross the bridge over the Unstrut and stop at Naumburg Station."

  "What is this camp?" Ritter von Kardorff asked.

  "It was a railroad construction camp," Astrid heard Neustatter tell him. "Then the USE regiments built it up when they marched through in '33. Now it has a garrison of SoTF National Guard and Saale Levies."

  "And the name?"

  "A joke made by a Saxon soldier, but the Levies kept it."

  Miss von Kardorff suddenly recoiled from the window. "There is nothing out there!"

  Astrid had felt the clickety-clack of the train change. "We are on the bridge, up over the river."

  "This is unnatural," the woman declared.

  The sound changed again.

  "We are back on land," Astrid offered, still not turning her head. She heard Miss von Kardorff sigh in relief.

  "I see lights," Klaus announced.

  "Naumburg Station."

  A few of the passengers stirred as the train coasted up to the platform. Astrid heard one quietly asking another, "Shall we find an inn here and finish the journey tomorrow, on a safe train?"

  "Nein. This is Saxon County. It is no safer for us than this train."

  Astrid was pretty sure he was wrong, but saw no reason to butt into their conversation.

  The conductor came up the steps. "We are going to add a fourth car here," he announced. "Once it is hooked up, I will ask all of you passengers to move to that car." He leaned back out the door and waved.

  The train was moving before anyone could protest. It rolled a little way from the station and stopped again.

  "What is happening?" Gebhard demanded. "Neustatter, you planned this!"

  "I have been right here with you, Gebhard. How would I have done it?"

  Gebhard's aim shifted from the von Kardorffs to Neustatter. "Who else could have?"

  "That is a good question," Klaus Eggers agreed. He turned away from the door. "How does this extra railroad car happen to be here?"

  "It is for emergencies," the conductor told him. "Camp Destruction was raided a year ago in the spring. There were no trains nearby to transport troops. Since then there is always an engine and an extra car either here or at Halle."

  As if to punctuate his words, another train rumbled. Then there was a heavy thud against the back of the car.

  "They are hooking up the fourth car now."

  No kidding, Astrid thought.

  "The engineer and I know what is going on back here," the conductor informed them. "We are not stupid. You must work this out among yourselves, but we must move our passengers to safety."

  "That makes sense to me," Sergeant Sandhagen declared.

  Someone banged on the rear door. Neustatter unlocked and opened it.

  A beefy man dressed in brown stood there. He had a green cloth tied around his upper right arm. "We are ready for your passengers," he said.

  "Who are you?" Klaus Eggers demanded.

  "Ich bin Peter Hofmann. I am a farmer in Kleinjena, a mile up the road. But I am in the Saale Levies, too." He pointed at the green cloth around his arm and continued in the same almost-Hochdeutsch that wasn't quite the same as the Grantville Amideutsch they'd heard from Heinz Kraft yesterday. "Colonel von Hessler ordered me to take five men and protect the train to Grantville, then come back in the morning. He said to stay out of whatever was going on, just keep the train safe from outside attack."

  "I do not believe you," Gebhard stated.

  "This is part …what do they call it? Krystalnacht, is it not? Not our problem," Hofmann stated.

  "Weak sisters," Eggers snarled.

  Hofmann matched him glare for glare. "There are no witch hunters in the Unstruttal. Since last fall, Jews live in our village—a minyan or something like that. I think it means 'a whole bunch' in Jewish. We do not mind if men from the Yellow Circle Regiment march through or ride the trains. More and more men and women work in shops and factories along the rivers. Most of them belong to unions. We are you." He pointed right at Eggers. "War with Saxony is coming. Do not start anything right here on the border. Not unless you intend to stay and help finish it."

  Hofmann's tirade silenced everyone.

  "Guess I owe you five bucks, Miss Schäubin," Neustatter spoke into the silence. "Well, Herr Eggers, I agree to Hofmann's terms if you do."

  Astrid could practically see the man thinking.

  "We are now behind schedule," the conductor announced.

  "We cannot have that."

  The conductor gave a firm nod. He'd evidently missed Eggers' sarcasm. "Since it is all settled, I will move the passengers now."

  "Go ahead," Eggers agreed.

  The passengers quickly gathered up whatever they had brought with them and moved to the fourth car.

  Gebhard pointed at the noble Astrid was still covering. "He stays."

  "Why?" Neustatter asked.

  "Because he is one of them," Gebhard stated.

  "He was not going to help until you forced the issue. He appealed to Sergeant Sandhagen and was not going to defend the von Kardorffs. How does that set him against you?"

  "He spoke against us!"

  "I speak against you, too. Gebhard, you are a dummkopf. Free speech."

  Gebhard swore at Neustatter.

  "And the horse you rode in on," Neustatter returned.

  "Silence!" Klaus Eggers ordered. "Get the noble out of here!"

  "Your call," Sergeant Sandhagen said. "Herr, this way."

  The noble shied away as he passed Neustatter.

  "Now you come back here and sit down, Sergeant," Eggers instructed. "I do not want you planning anything against us."

  "Fine." Sandhagen looked at Hofmann. "Neustatter has another team in the first two cars. Try to work together if anything happens."

  Hofmann nodded. "Good luck."

  They shut and locked their respective doors as the train began to move.

  As the clickety-clacks came closer and closer together, Gebhard said, "We cannot make an example of the reactionaries without witnesses."

  Neustatter glanced away from his door. "Do you seriously want to kidnap an audience?"

  Eggers smacked Gebhard in the back of the head. "Nein."

  "Next item. You need to convince me that the von Kardorffs are legitimate targets," Neustatter stated.

  "We told you. The father—"

  "But they are not on your list, are they?" Neustatter's tone was harsh. "What makes you think you can kill them?"

  "We have to cut out the rot," Gebhard answered. "Like father, like child."

  "You are just like them," Astrid blurted out. "They know of one lazy villager, and treat us all like that. You know of one rapist and murderer and treat them all like that. But the Constitution forbids corruption of blood. I thought the Committees followed the Constitution."

  She had the satisfaction of watching Klaus's mouth open and close a couple times. And Silent Hans flushed.

  "They are …Not …On …Your …List," Neustatter stated. "You are not allowed."

  "Do not presume to tell the Committees what we can and cannot do," Eggers snapped. He turned away from his door as well. "We are past the camp and approaching Jena. That is the Committees' territory. You have no one else you can call upon."

  "Do not be too sure," Neustatter told him. "But since we are not in Jena yet, what do you have to say about Miss Schäubin's point from the Constitution?"

  "The anti-Semites and the witch hunters are not going to follow the Constitution, so neither are we," Gebhard stated. Now weapons came up all around.

  "Herr Eggers, that does not explain why you seek to kill people not on your list
. Something else is going on here, and I want to know what," Neustatter demanded. "Right now."

  Astrid noted that Eggers and Gebhard exchanged looks while Silent Hans looked uncomfortable. Gebhard finally spoke up.

  "One of the women that von Kardorff had killed was the grandmother of a CoC member."

  "So this is private justice."

  "He is not on this mission. Someone has to see to it."

  "You are committed to this," Neustatter observed. "Against orders. Why?"

  "My grandfather was killed by the adel."

  "I see," Neustatter said. "This CoC man whose grandmother von Kardorff killed—would he happen to be on the team going after the adel who killed your grandfather?"

  Astrid saw Gebhard's eyes widen and knew Neustatter had scored a hit.

  "How do you know that?" Gebhard blurted out.

  "Because Sergeant Hudson made me sit through Strangers on a Train," Neustatter said.

  Astrid couldn't help it. She started laughing.

  "You find this funny?" Eggers demanded.

  "That Neustatter figured it out from an up-time movie?" she asked. "Ja, I do."

  "So why are you permitting it, Klaus?" Neustatter asked. "Do you approve? No, I see you do not." He paused and thought. "Does he have something on you? No. You are not a man to blackmail. Honorable …He saved your life, did he not? During Krystalnacht? Or before?"

  For the second time, Astrid saw the CoC men's eyes widen in surprise.

  "First week of Krystalnacht." Eggers' voice was gruff. "A man not on our list shot at me after I let him go."

  "Ah. So Gebhard's belief that none of the adel can be trusted rings true. Dank schön, Herr Eggers. Now I understand."

  "We are going to take them off the train here in Jena," Eggers stated as the train began to slow down. "Stand up!"

  Astrid heard the young Ritter von Kardorff stand. Then she heard the hiss of a blade being drawn. Gebhard came down the aisle, pistol raised. She stepped in front of him.

  "Gebhard!" Klaus warned.

  "Stand aside!" a deep voice called out on the platform. "CoC!"

  Gebhard smiled menacingly.

  Another voice shouted. "National Guard! Herr Engineer, keep that train moving!"

  The train began to roll.

  Klaus Eggers glared at Neustatter, his rifle coming up again. "You cheated!"

  "I and most of my men are National Guard," Neustatter told him. "That includes Miss Schäubin's brother. So if you shoot her, Gebhard, I am going to let Hjalmar kill you. Personal vengeance cuts both ways."

  "Gebhard, step back," Eggers directed.

  "Nein. It is time to end this."

  "Stop!" Von Kardorff tried to pass Astrid. She stepped in front of him. The boy half-sighed, half-growled in frustration. "Do you think I am so stupid that I would take vengeance on my village for your crimes?"

  "Of course that is what they think," his sister spat out. "They do not think of us as people. Not one of them knows anything about us except what lands we own!"

  Eggers began to argue, but she spoke over him. "What are our names?" she demanded.

  "Von Kardorff."

  "Our names. Not our lands."

  After an awkward silence, Neustatter said, "It is clear they do not know your names."

  "Nor do you."

  "That is true. I have been too busy saving your life."

  She sniffed.

  "Neustatter," Eggers said, "you do understand that we cannot let the boy rule over the village, do you not?"

  "You could educate him instead of killing him," Neustatter pointed out.

  "Not much chance of that in a village."

  "Maybe the CoC should open a school."

  "I am not going to a school," von Kardorff declared.

  "Why not?" Astrid asked. "I take classes in Grantville. English, civics, finance."

  "The best education is in Grantville," Neustatter agreed. "Herr Eggers, if you want him to rule the village well, those classes will be a good start."

  "I do not trust him or his sister. They will go back to the village."

  "Listen to you," Miss von Kardorff interrupted. "The village. We are not of the hochadel. We own a village. We know everyone there."

  "And who does all the work administering it?" Gebhard asked.

  "Herr Reimers oversaw most of it for Father," von Kardorff stated.

  "And will he oversee most of it for you?" Astrid asked.

  "Of course."

  "Perfect," Neustatter said. "You can attend school in Grantville and learn to rule well. Reimers can continue overseeing the village."

  "I told you we own a village," Miss von Kardorff reminded everyone. "One small village. One hundred sixty-two tenants, only one hundred twenty-seven of them ours. We cannot afford to live in Grantville."

  Klaus Eggers laughed. "Get a job."

  "A job?" Astrid wished the young ritter hadn't shouted from right behind her ear. He sounded outraged. "That is dishonorable."

  "So find an honorable one," she told him.

  "The only honorable occupation for a ritter is to be a soldier," he stated.

  "Or some other job where you carry a weapon," Neustatter said slowly. "Kid, I got an idea. How about you come work for me while you are taking classes?"

  "Nein!" Gebhard shouted.

  "Neustatter, you are wahnsinnig," Eggers told him.

  "Why not?" Neustatter asked. "How old are you?"

  "Sixteen."

  "You have kept your cool as well as anyone could expect from a sixteen-year-old," Neustatter told him.

  "I will not leave my brother alone," Miss Kardorff stated. "What would you do with me?"

  "Do you intend to help your brother govern the village?" Neustatter.

  "Yes, of course—until I marry."

  "Then you should take classes, too."

  "Will you give me a job, too? Hand me a sword?" The questions were definitely sarcastic.

  "Miss Schäubin?"

  Astrid was still looking at Gebhard. She rolled her eyes, because she knew what was coming. "Ja, Neustatter?"

  "You handle NESS's finances and are a security consultant. Do you want to train her?"

  "Sure, why not? But, Neustatter, you can forget about buying any Winchesters if you are going to add two more staff. Maybe not even SRGs."

  "The Committees must have some guarantees," Eggers began.

  "Three more staff, Miss Schäubin," Neustatter corrected.

  "I am not working for you!" Gebhard declared.

  "And I am not inclined to take you," Neustatter agreed. "Besides, Gebhard, you are concerned about the villagers. Why not go there and help them? You promised your comrade you would make things right, did you not?"

  Klaus Eggers laughed. "So why do you say three, Neustatter?" After the briefest of pauses, he said, "Nein! Not me!"

  "Why not?" Neustatter asked. "The Committees seek assurances that Ritter von Kardorff will learn to govern well. Who else would the CoCs send? Gebhard made a promise about the village. Hans …you plan to return to your volunteer regiment before the war starts, do you not?"

  "Ja," Hans confirmed. "I am going back. This had to be done, but our assignment is over, except for these two."

  "The Committees are strong in the cities and larger towns," Neustatter pointed out. "Not so much in farming villages. Let Gebhard work with the village. Klaus, you can figure out what ritter and freiherren should learn from the up-timers. I could use another rifleman. You could use some contact with the Grantville Committee of Correspondence. You can keep an eye on von Kardorff here, and he can keep an eye on you."

  "I do not approve of this," von Kardorff proclaimed.

  "Nor do I," Klaus Eggers concurred.

  "So it is settled, then," Neustatter stated.

  "I think we need to discuss this further," Eggers protested.

  "It is dawn," Neustatter stated. "We will arrive at Schwarza Junction in a few minutes. I think we need to have everything settled by then."

  "Y
ou will pay us enough to live in Grantville?" Miss von Kardorff asked.

  "In an apartment building," Astrid clarified. "Not a schloss." She described the apartment she shared with her brother and her cousin.

  "You must let my brother call it his grand tour," she demanded.

  Klaus sighed. "Fine. What do I care?"

  "Klaus?" Gebhard asked.

  "I think we should do it, Gebhard," Klaus told him.

  "You are a CoC team leader."

  "Neustatter has outmaneuvered me since we jumped on this train," Klaus admitted. "Perhaps I should learn from him. And you could help Johann's family."

  Gebhard finally stepped back. "I want regular contact with the Committees," he said. "And with you, to make sure they do what they say." He pointed at the von Kardorffs.

  "Okay."

  Hans spoke up again. "You. Wolfram. Let us order arms."

  Weapons were slung, holstered, and sheathed while the clickety-clack on the rails lessened. Secure the area, Astrid thought, happy to mentally check off Neustatter's third principle, even if it had taken all night to accomplish.

  As the Schwarza Express pulled into the station, Astrid saw four Mounted Constables waiting on the platform. As they all filed out of the third car, one of the constables stepped forward, hand on his holster. "What's the problem?" he asked in Amideutsch.

  "No problem, Officer," Neustatter said. "Just train guards going to breakfast after the overnight."

  "That's a big group of train guards," the constable stated.

  Neustatter pointed at Hjalmar, Jakob, and Phillip disembarking from the first two cars. "Team Two." Hofmann and his Levies poured out of the fourth car. "Some reinforcements from Colonel von Hessler, up in West Saxony." Neustatter's gesture took in his own group. "Team Three—and my new hires." He pointed at Hans. "One soldier on leave." At Gebhard. "And a CoC village liaison."

  "So no trouble?"

  "No trouble. From Magdeburg, with love, you might say."

  Astrid wasn't sure if the constable believed Neustatter or not, but he made no effort to stop them when Neustatter asked, "Breakfast in Grantville? I'm buying."

  As the group moved off the platform, Otto Brenner inserted himself next to Neustatter.

  "Everything okay, boss?" he asked.

  "Ja," Neustatter told him. "Everything is fine."

  "He is one of yours?" Eggers demanded. "He sat right there from Halle to Naumburg Station, and we never had him covered!"