1634: Turn Your Radio On by Eric Flint

Author:Eric Flint [Flint, Eric]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Alternate History, Germany, Canada, 1632, Grantville, Eric Flint, alt history, 30 years war, Ring of Fire
Publisher: Ring of Fire Press
Published: 2013-06-23T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

February 1634, Jena, State of Thuringia, United States of Europe

Der Kronz was very pleased with himself and the results of this little trip to Jena. Add up all the new six-month ad buys and this was by far his best visit to this town yet. With the increased listenership, no one had even blinked at the latest rate increase. Sticking the folder containing this particular ad contract into his very thickly filled satchel was especially satisfying.

"So, Mordechai, what is it with the 'Marc'? Isn't the name your mother gave you good enough for you now?"

Marc grimaced. Cousins! Who could live with them? "I told you, Isaac. It's a perfectly normal and modern name for Jews in the twentieth century." Marc responded, "A very good name for dealing with all the up-timers around these days, and the Germans too for that matter."

"Leave your cousin alone, Isaac! If Mordechai wants to be called Mordy or Mortimer or Marc or whatever else, it's his business as long as he's still looking for a good Jewish girl to settle down with and have kids." Marc had hoped to avoid that particular topic this trip, so to his way of thinking Rachael's defense was a double-edged sword.

Marc was about to reply, when the door bell jingled as several burly, heavily dressed men walked in with grim expressions on their faces.

"Good morning, gentlemen," Isaac said. "How may I help you?"

"You can give us back our father's money that you stole for one thing, Jew." The man in the middle with the long blond beard snapped. "Franz Holstein. You and your dirty Jew usury ruined him."

Isaac should have known that Franz Holstein would cause him trouble. Nothing but hate in his eyes every time he came into Isaac’s door with his payment. Even though Isaac regularly forgave him for being a few days late, never once did a thank you come out of his lips. But Isaac had been startled at the news of Holstein’s suicide on Christmas night, the Lutheran Christmas just past.

Isaac replied cautiously, "I heard about your father. I'm very sorry, but I assure you his unfortunate death had nothing to do with the loan. I offered to forgive him the last quarters interest and put him on a new payment . . . "

"Shut up, you Goddamned lying Jew." The man on the left slammed the palm of his hand down on the counter top. "Martin Luther was right! He called it. All of you are just poisoned, envenomed worms who should be expelled for all time. Well, this is the day, thief! We're here to take back all the money you stole from good Christians, just as Luther instructed."

All three men whipped out their down-time, single shot pistols and aimed them at Isaac and Marc.

Isaac raised his hands above his head as he slowly backed away from the counter. The pistols these men were brandishing were only accurate at a very close range. His chances were better further away.

"Gentlemen, please! Calm down! There's no need to do anything rash," Isaac began, using his gentlest tone, "Very well.

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