SATURDAY DECEMBER 3, 2022 - GOTTFRIED THE GREAT

 SATURDAY STORY, DECEMBER 3, 2022 - GOTTFRIED GOES TO MUNICH

(Wow - it’s been three weeks since I last had time to write an episode of Gottfried Quaas - aka “Gottfried the Great”) 

I left them in Vienna - trying to see if Austria would be part of a unified Germany.

*****

Gottfried Quaas and Edward Bauer went to Chancellor Peter Mennon’s office at 10:00.  They were to meet Peter Wagner, whom the Chancellor was loaning to them for their next trip to Bavaria and Munich.  They had on their freshly laundered clothes to look presentable to the Austrian Chancellor.  Gottfried had polished their boots the night before so they shone.

They were directed into the Chancellor’s outer office space.  His assistant said the chancellor was busy on an important matter and would see them soon.  They were the only two in the waiting room.  There was a tapestry of a Madonna and the Christ Child with what must have been another long-forgotten emperor kneeling in adoration.  A third was a mountain scene with a retinue of nobility crossing a mountain stream behind another resplendent leader.  The fourth wall didn’t have a tapestry but had a display of swords and weapons.  

There were twenty chairs in the room.  As their wait got longer Gottfried counted the chairs five times.  They all were brocaded with gold and blues and all were armchairs.  

Three times another person was added to the room.  Gottfried and Edward said, “Guten Tag” (good day) to the newcomer.  The new person nodded and said “Guten Tag” back.  Edward tried to converse with the first person - who ignored him and immediately read the documents that he had brought in.  Within five minutes, the secretary entered and called the man into the door.

The second was tall and wore a military uniform with golden Epaulets on his shoulders.  He too nodded to their greeting, but immediately reviewed the documents that he had. And, like the first, he was called in soon after arriving.

The third man was shorter with bright and inquisitive eyes.  After their greeting, he came over to visit with Gottfried and Edward.  He said he was a financier.  He asked about the two of them.

Edward said they were visitors from Saxony.  The man indicated he had been to Dresden a few times.  Edward and the man talked about Dresden for a while.  

The man, Saul Weinstein, again said he was a financier.  Gottfried was wondering why he had mentioned that twice - and then remembered a little folklore.  Gottfried had been off the farm less than a year and still was a little naive.  He was thinking as Edward and Saul talked.  The only Saul Gottfried knew about was the first king of Israel.  There was a concept that Christians could lend money to friends - but not with interest.  With some vagueness, he thought that Jewish lenders could lend money to Christians and expect interest on their money.  Maybe that was why Saul emphasized that he was a financier.  

Gottfried had tuned out Edward and Saul’s conversation, but now was listening closely.  Saul was talking about his travels to Berlin, Koenigsberg, Hamburg, and other German cities.  Edward had been to Berlin and Hamburg but not to the other cities that Saul mentioned.  

Gottfried looked closely without trying to analyze Saul.  Yes, there were gold cufflinks.  His clothes were definitely nice.  The idea of somebody making money on lending money was still new to him.  There were a few times when his father borrowed from a neighbor for some farm equipment, and also times when his father lent some money to a neighbor.  Heckendorf was a long way from Vienna and big-time financing was difficult for him.

But, like the others, Saul was called into a meeting within five minutes.  The secretary came back to tell Gottfried and Edward that the chancellor was very busy, but would get to them soon.

Gottfried needed a restroom and thus knocked on the door to ask the secretary where the restroom was.  The building had not been refitted with the new contraption of flush toilets.  The secretary showed him down the hall where an alcove was in the restroom.  As expected, the room had a hole in the floor that must go into some common receptacle and be emptied.  There was also a toilet chair that could be moved over the hole for solid waste.  

This was much better than the outhouse at the farm, or in the army barracks in Gera.

*****

Coming back to the waiting room, Edward was waiting for him.  

Whispering, Edward asked, “Where is the toilet?”.

Gottfried took his friend down the hall and pointed out the restroom.

When Edward returned, he too commented “Boy that is different from back home”.

*****

Gottfried asked Edward about his conversation with Saul. “What’s a financier?”

Edward chuckled, “Sometimes you are still a farm boy.”  

Edward went on to explain that lending money was important to some countries.  “It is like a buy-now and pay-later process.  A company, like Austria, has a need now - for warfare, roads, or even railroads.  But, they don’t have the money now.  Every year they get a certain amount in taxes and other revenue.  They will have money to pay off the loan in a year or two or five.  But, the lender needs money to live on - thus the role of a financier is to loan money at interest.  The borrower pays it back with more money than they borrowed.  Both sides are happy.  The borrower got what he needed now, and the loan person got back more than he lent out.”

*****

Gottfried's stomach growled as lunchtime came and passed.  Edward closed his eyes and soon was asleep.  

*****

The door opened and the secretary came in and got the men.  He apologized “The Chancellor has been busy with many things this morning.  I’m sorry you had to wait so long”.  

Gottfried thought the apology lacked sincerity.  

He ushered them into a large office with the chancellor, Peter Mellon, and another younger man.

The Chancellor rose to meet Gottfried and Edward.  “Welcome my friends.  This is Peter Wagner.  I’ve asked him to represent Austria as you travel to the various regions of Germany seeking unification. 

Peter seemed to be a youth - may be the son of a nobleman.  He didn’t have the calloused hands that Gottfried and Edward had from their activities.  He also wasn’t as tan as the two men from Saxony.  Gottfried and Edward bowed to Peter - and weren’t quite sure if they should shake his hand or not. Peter bowed back, so they figured it was okay.

The Chancellor asked Gottfried and Edward to introduce themselves.

Edward went first.  “We are from Saxony and our King asked us to visit some of the German-speaking states and see if we can move forward with German unification.  Many of our European neighbors have had colonies.  England, as you know, has Canada, South Africa, India, and Australia and uses raw materials from those areas.  Spain still has some colonies.  Even France and Belgium have some colonies.  The various German states seem to be losing out.  We are just two men sent on a mission to see if there is interest.”

The Chancellor broke in. “Austria is always interested in world activities and thinks unification is a worthy goal for German-speaking areas.”

He turned to Gottfried, and said, “Please introduce yourself.”

Gottfried smiled.  “I’m originally from Thuringia. About six months ago I joined the Thuringia army, and two months ago, Saxony and Thuringia agreed to be a unified state.  Like my colleague Edward, I am in the Saxony army sent by King Francis to visit Austria to see if there is interest.  Our plans are to visit Bavaria and then to return to Saxony and report to King Francis.”

The Chancellor nodded and then asked Peter Wagner to introduce himself.

Peter spoke.  “I’m Peter Wagner, the second son of Johan Wagner, Duke of Salsburg.  I have studied at the University of Vienna and am now a junior representative from Salsburg to the Emperor of Austria.  When Chancellor Mennon asked me to accompany you, I gladly said “yes” and it will further my diplomatic career.”

The four men talked about the next steps.  Chancellor Mellon indicated that he wanted Peter to be the lead spokesperson because he came from a noble family.  Gottfried suggested that all would have the opportunity to interact with the Bavarian leadership.  

After about ten minutes the Chancellor excused himself and the three men discussed their plans.  The train to Munich left Vienna at 8:15 a.m. They would need to be there and loaded by 7:45.  Peter would need at least three changes of clothes, one for the formal meeting in Munich, one for travel, and a backup set of clothes “just in case”.  

They did shake hands and Gottfried and Edward were shown out by the secretary.  

*****

As soon as they were out of range of the government buildings, Edward spoke up.  “Well, it seems we are going to babysit a new diplomat.”

Gottfried laughed and agreed.  “Yes, he doesn’t have much experience and - ahh - seems to be pretty smug”.  

Gottfried had an idea for their last day in town.  “Let’s go see Johann Spricht, the innkeeper from the other day.  I’m hungry and he also had good bier.”

*****

The day was clear but cool as they made their way to Schwechat - along the Danube River.  Herr Spricht recognized them right away and brought them each a bier.  

“Good to have you, fine fellows, around again,” he said.  They each order a bratwurst and bowl of Johann Spricht’s stew.

The innkeeper came back in about three minutes with a written note.  It said “Don’t act strange, but you’ve been followed.  I’ll act like I’m kicking you out.  Go down the block to the Fat Pig inn.  One of you can slip out the back door and come round to my back door.  The other will amble on to the Gossipy Goose order a bier and eventually go to the bathroom and out the back door and come to my back door.  Don’t let them see you sneaking out the back.”

Johann let them think it over and then yelled, “I’ve seen your kind here before - and I don’t want you in my inn.  Get out of here.”

Edward said, “My good man, we are honest hardworking men”.

But, Johann interrupted Edward and even louder said “Get Out, Now”.

The two left with some loud talking of their own.  They noticed a man who had come in after them in a corner that didn’t look like a local man with a purple scarf.

Gottfried and Edward went into the Fat Pig and ordered a bier.  They talked loudly about food and getting kicked out of the Old Krone Inn.  They noticed the man who had been at the Old Krone had followed them to the Fat Pig.  Edward excused himself to go to the bathroom, and Gottfried ordered another bier.  The innkeeper brought the single bier.  Gottfried had drunk Edward’s bier and hid the glass under the table so it looked like only one person had been there.  Twenty minutes later, he finished the second bier and walked out - trying to act drunk.  It wasn’t much of an acting role as the bier was strong.  

Gottfried went to the Gossipy Goose and found a table near the door and ordered a half-pint of bier.  He noticed the man with the purple scarf who seemed to be following them come in and look around and spying on Gottfried took a seat towards the back of the common room where he could see Gottfried.  Gottfried tried not to stare.  The Gossipy Goose was a little upscale and had a barmaid that took his order.  He tried to talk her up like getting a date, the barmaid was wise to his talk, having been hit on by many patrons over the years.  He sipped at his bier, and then acted like he really needed (and he did) to pee.  He asked the barmaid where the outhouse was, slipped her two coins under the table, said “don’t make a fuss”, and waddled to the outhouse.  He did pee quickly and made a big loop going around the village, through alleys and back streets, and back to the Old Krone Inn - but this time to the back door.  He knocked quietly two times and Spricht let him in quickly and quietly.  

Anthony from the other day was there in a small back room where the kegs were.  Edward and Innkeeper Spricht. 

“What’s going on,” asked Gottfried quietly. 

Anthony answered.  I saw you two come into the Old Krone and thought I’d join you for a bier, but then I saw the man who was following you.  He had a purple scarf and nobody in this neighborhood would wear a scarf like that. That looked strange, so I told good man Spricht to warn you.  

Gottfried and Edward told them of losing the man.  Stefan came in a minute later saying the man who was following them was still at the Gossipy Goose but was getting a little nervous when Gottfried didn’t come back from the outhouse.

Between them, they didn’t know why they were being followed but thought it was strange.  Innkeeper Spricht had two extra coats and Gottfried and Edward put them on, and Anthony went out with them and escorted them far back up the road to Vienna by back roads.  

They halted behind a building and watched the main road as the stranger who was watching them come back with a puzzled look.  The man with the purple scarf kept going on the main road back to Vienna and Anthony quickly led them back to their inn near the castle.  

They thanked Anthony and promised to come back someday!!!!  Edward had the money and gave Anthony a nice tip.  The two sat in the common room and sipped beer until about an hour later the stranger with the scarf came in - saw them and immediately left.

“What a strange case”, Gottfried said.

******

The next morning was cold and damp.  It felt like it could be snow or rain.  

Gottfried and Edward were at the train station at 7:20.  They each had a single bag.  They had started this trip on horseback and had to pack lightly.  At 8:00, Peter Wagner showed up with two large trunks in a carriage.  Gottfried and Edward looked at each other and had a secret smile.  They helped Peter get his trunks onto the train.  And, both men had to control a gasp as Peter was wearing a purple scarf that was very similar to the man who followed them yesterday.

At precisely 8:15, the train gave out a series of whistles and started toward Munich.  The three sat opposite each other with Gottfried and Edward facing toward the front of the train, and Peter facing the rear.  

Peter talked about his uncles and cousins who were nobility and in the diplomatic service.  When Edward talked about his background as a soldier, Peter seemed to lose interest.  And, when Gottfried talked about growing up on a farm in Heckendorf, Peter actually fell asleep.

The train stopped at Linz and Salsburg.  The Salsburg stop was an hour-and-one-half so the three looked around the town.  Since Peter was from Salsburg, he took Gottfried and Edward to lunch at an elegant restaurant.  Gottfried was glad that Peter was paying as it would have pretty much wiped out his money.   

Peter showed them where Mozart had grown up and the wonderful opera house.  They were almost late getting back to the train.  Gottfried ran ahead to tell the conductor to hold the train for three minutes.  Edward was still hobbled by his leg when he fell in the snow near Bad Gottleuba.  The train made up the three minutes and arrived right on time in Munich. 

Gottfried looked out the window as the train wound through the foothills to the Alps.  It was beautiful.  Wow - what an adventure he had in the past months.  

*****

Karen adds:

Well, we’ve been to Vienna, been followed by a scarf-wearing stranger, and now have a traveling companion. 

Hopefully, I’ll have some spare time this next week to get the next chapter written!!!

Aside - twelve years ago, I took the train from Munich to Innsbruck Austria and I was awed by the beauty.  

LOVE TRANSFORMS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, © DECEMBER 3, 2022