Hunger overcame her guilt, and Juli settled down by the village pump for a delayed lunch. The sun was shining, the water cool and refreshing and the bread and cheese quite tasty. Suddenly she realised that all was strangely quiet and she looked up to see a blue coated hussar looking at her. Behind him she saw more hussars on the other side of the village green.
“It’s OK lad, don’t worry I’m not going to steal your lunch”
Juli’s fright must have been obvious.
“Now have you seen any girls about that are not from round here?”
“No sir”
“Now if you or your friends see any strange girls then they have to inform the Gendarmerie straight away”
“Yes sir, I’ll keep an eye out“
With that the hussar returned to his comrades. Juli breathed a sigh of relief, these were Piosasque Hussars, if it had been the Schwartzgarde then she would have been interrogated far more thoroughly.
A short while later the hussars mounted up and headed off towards Minenhafen. Juli decided to head the same way, but as before keeping to the side lanes. By evening she had arrived close to the small riverside village of Wacht. She would hide up for the night and then investigate whether she could get a boat here in the early morning or move on to Minenhafen.
Sunday 26 June 2011
Saturday 11 June 2011
The road to Minenhafen
Making her way by back lanes and across fields when necessary Juli paralleled the road to Minenhafen, there were a couple of occasions when she saw hussars in the distance, and was glad she had kept of the main highways.
By evening she felt that she must be about half way so she finished the last of her food and although exhausted she burrowed into a haystack to provide a safe shelter for the night.
The next morning Juli considered her position and although she had plenty of money provided by Herr Bohler it was more than any farm lad would ever carry. She then hide most of the cash in the seams of her jacket before continuing.
Juli continued on her way but my midday she was hungry and decided she had to get food in the next village. She wasn’t sure if it was her hunger, but she quickly found the local baker and asked for a quarter loaf. She then added “Do you have anything to go with it?”
“Well how much have money have you got?”
Juli pulled out a 10 groschen coin
Well I could give you a small amount of cheese”
At that moment the baker’s wife appeared, “Now what are you up to sonny?”
“I’m off to Minenhafen, I been told that there is work on the river, there’s no work for me on the farm”
“And, how much more money have you got?”
Juli pulled out a second 10 groschen coin and showed it.
“Well that’s not going to get you very far. Ernst cut him a bigger piece of cheese and I’ll get a couple of last years apples".
Thanking the baker and his wife profusely Juli left promising to stop if he passed that way again.
By evening she felt that she must be about half way so she finished the last of her food and although exhausted she burrowed into a haystack to provide a safe shelter for the night.
The next morning Juli considered her position and although she had plenty of money provided by Herr Bohler it was more than any farm lad would ever carry. She then hide most of the cash in the seams of her jacket before continuing.
Juli continued on her way but my midday she was hungry and decided she had to get food in the next village. She wasn’t sure if it was her hunger, but she quickly found the local baker and asked for a quarter loaf. She then added “Do you have anything to go with it?”
“Well how much have money have you got?”
Juli pulled out a 10 groschen coin
Well I could give you a small amount of cheese”
At that moment the baker’s wife appeared, “Now what are you up to sonny?”
“I’m off to Minenhafen, I been told that there is work on the river, there’s no work for me on the farm”
“And, how much more money have you got?”
Juli pulled out a second 10 groschen coin and showed it.
“Well that’s not going to get you very far. Ernst cut him a bigger piece of cheese and I’ll get a couple of last years apples".
Thanking the baker and his wife profusely Juli left promising to stop if he passed that way again.
Sunday 5 June 2011
Customs
Van Danewald’s coach bowled into Bruckewasser in fine time; “at last” he thought “I’ll be out of this accursed state”
The coach rolled through the streets and up to the bridge over the river Farret.
“Halt, who goes there!” challenged the sentry
“The Glowstein ambassador” replied the coachman.
“Stop right there” shouted the sentry aiming his musket at the driver. An officer and an infantry squad emerged from the guardhouse by the bridge, followed by a customs officer.
The ambassador looked out the window “What seems to be the problem”
The custom’s officer responded “It appears that contraband may be concealed on your coach”
“Preposterous”
“Indeed so sir, however I have my orders. Now if you would alight with your portable personal belongings, which will not be searched in accordance with imperial protocols. We will proceed as quickly as possible”
“I protest”
“Yes, sir, I have arranged for you to take refreshments in the guard house while the search is conducted”
Grumbling the ambassador aligned from the coach with his diplomatic bags and was escorted to the guard house, where a charming lady prepared some fresh tea for him.
The officer entered and apologised. “It appears that criminals are trying to escape from the Duchy and we have to take all measures possible to catch them or prevent them contacting their paymasters”
“Sir, sir!” came a shout from outside.
“Excuse me, ambassador” The officer bowed and exited.
The coachman’s assistant was pressed up against the wall, while a soldier holding him waved a letter.
“Now what is this?” asked the officer.
“Just a letter I was asked to deliver in Welle, sir, they gave me a twenty groschen to deliver it to the landlord at the Rode Leuwe in Welle and said he would give me a drink on receipt”
“and who gave you the letter?”
“Just an old gentleman who said he needed it delivered quickly to Welle and I knew we would be going that way”
“Hmm, the contents make no sense, must be some sort of code”
Entering the guardhouse the officer turned to Von Danewald “My apologies sir, as we have discovered a secret message being carried by your coachman we will have to delay your onward journey until tomorrow in case your arrival without it may indicate something to our enemies. I will make suitable arrangement for your accommodation”
“Oh and would you like to join the officers of the garrison for dinner and a few games of cards?”
“Thank you that is a most generous offer” Van Danewald contemplated making some easy money in compensation for the inconvenience.
The coach rolled through the streets and up to the bridge over the river Farret.
“Halt, who goes there!” challenged the sentry
“The Glowstein ambassador” replied the coachman.
“Stop right there” shouted the sentry aiming his musket at the driver. An officer and an infantry squad emerged from the guardhouse by the bridge, followed by a customs officer.
The ambassador looked out the window “What seems to be the problem”
The custom’s officer responded “It appears that contraband may be concealed on your coach”
“Preposterous”
“Indeed so sir, however I have my orders. Now if you would alight with your portable personal belongings, which will not be searched in accordance with imperial protocols. We will proceed as quickly as possible”
“I protest”
“Yes, sir, I have arranged for you to take refreshments in the guard house while the search is conducted”
Grumbling the ambassador aligned from the coach with his diplomatic bags and was escorted to the guard house, where a charming lady prepared some fresh tea for him.
The officer entered and apologised. “It appears that criminals are trying to escape from the Duchy and we have to take all measures possible to catch them or prevent them contacting their paymasters”
“Sir, sir!” came a shout from outside.
“Excuse me, ambassador” The officer bowed and exited.
The coachman’s assistant was pressed up against the wall, while a soldier holding him waved a letter.
“Now what is this?” asked the officer.
“Just a letter I was asked to deliver in Welle, sir, they gave me a twenty groschen to deliver it to the landlord at the Rode Leuwe in Welle and said he would give me a drink on receipt”
“and who gave you the letter?”
“Just an old gentleman who said he needed it delivered quickly to Welle and I knew we would be going that way”
“Hmm, the contents make no sense, must be some sort of code”
Entering the guardhouse the officer turned to Von Danewald “My apologies sir, as we have discovered a secret message being carried by your coachman we will have to delay your onward journey until tomorrow in case your arrival without it may indicate something to our enemies. I will make suitable arrangement for your accommodation”
“Oh and would you like to join the officers of the garrison for dinner and a few games of cards?”
“Thank you that is a most generous offer” Van Danewald contemplated making some easy money in compensation for the inconvenience.
Friday 3 June 2011
On the run
As she approached the Traunsburg to Bruckewasser road Juli kept a close watch out, and observed a coach speed past towards Bruckewasser at high speed. She reconsidered the options of getting a lift from a passing cart in that direction, but discounted it as too hazardous.
Just as she was about to cross the road she saw dust in the distance and shortly after a detachment of hussars passed by, again heading towards Bruckewasser.
Once there were no other signs of movement she quickly crossed the road and headed towards the Rhine road using back lanes, so as to keep clear of anymore passing patrols.
Just as she was about to cross the road she saw dust in the distance and shortly after a detachment of hussars passed by, again heading towards Bruckewasser.
Once there were no other signs of movement she quickly crossed the road and headed towards the Rhine road using back lanes, so as to keep clear of anymore passing patrols.
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