Magdeburg Noir by David Carrico

Author:David Carrico [Carrico, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

If the Shoe Fits

Chapter 1

Magdeburg

February 1636

Manfred Müller didn’t look back as he walked up the gangplank. He and Edwulf Klein had agreed to leave the boat separately and join up later. It was Edwulf’s idea, mainly. Manfred thought it a bit silly. No one in Magdeburg was going to be looking at them or for them—two nondescript country boys arriving by river boat from Halle. Especially since they arrived by boat. Anyone from the south who had serious business in Magdeburg came by train. It was faster and more reliable in schedule. But those who needed to hold onto their pfennigs and didn’t need the speed would still come by the river boats. There were always a few on the way who would be willing to sell a seat on the deck to a poor traveler. But only the poorest would travel by deck passage in February. It was cold, and the water wasn't much better than liquid ice.

The gangplank flexed a little up and down as Manfred set foot on it. That combined with the narrowness made him a bit nervous. He wanted to walk faster, but at the same time he didn’t want to fall off, so that made him want to slow down. When his left foot landed on the wharf, he sighed in relief and moved off.

This wharf was south of the original city—Old Magdeburg, Manfred had heard they called it—and he could see the city walls rising up just to the north of him. There were other wharves along the riverbank, of course, but most of the river freight landed at this wharf, the boat captain had told him, because that was where the industrial complex had developed. Manfred didn’t understand what industry was and he didn’t really care. He was here for far more important reasons.

Edwulf brushed by Manfred and moved on down the street in front of them. Manfred let a long moment go by before he shrugged and pulled his coat closed and followed, hands in pockets, bundle across one shoulder. They traded off taking the lead, until Edwulf finally spotted a tavern and went in. Manfred saw that the sign hanging out front called the tavern The Fisherhawk. He thought that was an odd name for a tavern, but shrugged and followed Edwulf in.

For a moment Manfred just enjoyed the relative warmth, edging toward the fire in the fireplace in the back wall of the room. By that time Edwulf had acquired a mug of beer and was heading for a table. Manfred strolled up to the bar. The host said nothing, just raised his eyebrows. "Beer." Manfred said. The host jerked a thumb at the sign behind him that announced that regular beer was either $1 USE or one pfennig. Manfred took the hint and dug into a pocket, pulling out a crumpled and stained one dollar bill and laying it on the bar.

The host pulled it up and held it in both hands as he looked at it against the light coming in through a nearby window.

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