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future if it was filled with normal people? There had been several sermons around then, about the angels
that visited Lot in Sodom without announcing their angelic status. Some of the priests had pointed out,
that if an angel didn't have to tell you that he was an angel, then certainly a demon or devil didn't have to
tell you he was a devil.
It was an enigma. Karl did not like enigmas. They troubled his sleep. His solution at first, was to keep his
distance. Then stories about what Tilly's men were doing at a farm outside of Rudolstadt, and more
significantly, what happened to them, got around. The ease with which the out-of-timers killed was
terrifying. Rumor had it that it had only taken a few of them, half a dozen at most, to kill dozens of
solders. Yet the same rumor said that they had done it to save the farmer and that they had, in spite of the
fact that he had been nailed to a barn door and was the next best thing to dead when they got there.
Some stories said he was dead. Karl didn't believe that, but how much could be believed? Some people
visited Grantville, but Karl was not one of them. A few people from Grantville visited Badenburg. Karl
didn't meet them, though he could have.
Karl was a slow fellow. Not in the sense of slow witted, he was really quite bright, but he liked to take
his time and think things through. Meanwhile he had business to see to.
Adolph, Karl's son, was not quite so substantial a fellow as his father. From what Adolph could tell, his
father thought him quite flighty. In fact Adolph was fairly substantial and becoming more so every year.
He was a journeyman smith, and ran the smithy part of the business.
Adolph's latest worry had to do with Grantville, and it wasn't the least bit spiritual. Several merchants
and more farmers who had been expected to spend their money in Badenburg had instead spent it in
Grantville. A number of potential customers from Grantville had taken the attitude that "Grantville dollars
are as good as anyone else's money and probably better." In short, business was bad.
Upon receiving his son's complaints, Karl had sought out what contacts might be made with people
either from Grantville or people that knew Grantville. He was directed to Uriel Abrabanel, a wealthy Jew
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he had done business with before. Uriel was, it turned out, surprisingly, no, shockingly well connected
with the Grantville elite. His niece was engaged to be married to the leader of Grantville. Karl considered
himself a worldly man, and not a bit prejudiced. He, like everyone, knew that Jews cared for money
above all else. That most of them were usurers. Karl was an educated man. He knew that those stories
about them eating babies, poisoning towns, or bringing on plague were probably nonsense. The
Abrabanels were known to be of a good family as Jews counted such things. But still, the leader of what
was now perhaps the most powerful town in the area was engaged to a Jew.
* * *
Uriel Abrabanel greeted Karl on the ground floor of his two-story home. It was a fairly pleasant room,
with a large casement window for light. There were several bookcases along the walls, and comfortable
seats for guests.
His guest was apparently not comfortable, but Uriel doubted that it was because of the chair. In Uriel's
estimation, Karl Schmidt was a fairly standard local man of business. His prejudice against Jews was
about the standard: enough to keep him from socializing, but not enough to keep him from doing
business. Nor did he significantly overcharge, which had to be taken in his favor. Still, it cannot be said
that Uriel was overly concerned over any shock to the fellow's system that might occur upon learning of
Rebecca's upcoming marriage, and all that it implied.
On the other hand, there was no reason to end a generally good working relationship by rubbing Karl's
nose in it. Perhaps a more general explanation was needed.
"From what I understand, the future nation from which Grantville comes has some markedly different
customs. Religious tolerance is expected. Their attitudes on that and a number of other issues have come
as something of a shock to any number of people. For instance, their women dress in what we would
consider an immodest manner. This should not be taken as license to show them any lack of respect.
That mistake could be very dangerous. They are somewhat casual in their mode of address. They
apparently mean no offense by this, it is just their way. I suspect that it is an outgrowth of their attitude
toward rank. They are the most aggressively democratic people I have ever encountered."
* * *
Master Schmidt was not stupid, and if he liked to think things through, it did not mean that he could not
see the writing on the wall if it were writ large enough. To Karl Schmidt this was writing in letters ten feet
tall. Uriel Abrabanel's social and political situation was now significantly above his. For all intents and
purposes, the man's niece was about to marry into royalty. This United States looked to be something
that might grow.
Yet here he was talking to Karl Schmidt just as he had when, as a good Christian, Karl's social position
had been the higher. Karl quietly congratulated himself on his temperate and unbiased attitude toward
Jews. He really did.
The discussion of the Americans continued. Their technology, and their money. Master Abrabanel
expressed solid confidence in both. Occasionally in the course of the conversation, Karl noticed that his
attitude toward Master Abrabanel bordered on the deferential. Well that was only proper, considering
the change in circumstances.
They talked of business within the Ring of Fire. Karl mentioned that a child, apprentice age,
accompanied by a man who was apparently a family retainer, had approached his son with a proposal to
make certain parts for something called sewing machines. The deal had fallen through because they
preferred to deal in American dollars. They hadn't actually insisted, but had explained that using local
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coinage meant they had to go to the bank and get it. They expected a reduction in cost to cover the
trouble.
Master Abrabanel could not be of much help in terms of the specific business. He had seen sewing
machines in Grantville, but he was unaware of any company making them. On the matter of the money,
he had had several conversations with members of the Grantville finance committee on the subject of how
they intended to maintain consistency in the value of American dollars. Their arguments were clear and
persuasive.
Master Abrabanel then expressed a willingness to accept American dollars, just as he would several
other currencies, in payment of debts or for goods. Even to exchange them for other currencies. For a
reasonable fee.
Karl left Master Abrabanel in a thoughtful mood. His prejudice said that a Jew would not risk money on
the basis of an emotional connection. Which, given Master Abrabanel's expressed confidence, made the
American dollars seem more sound.
August 12, 1631: Delia Higgins' Place [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]