127 More Work

I was holding the first issue of my newspaper in my hand... and I had mixed feelings, I was happy with the work I did, but the printers had no previous experience of printing a newspaper, therefore its quality seemed poor to me, but perhaps as a person living in the 20th century I was used to something else.

I put one of the copies I had in a leather binding, and I took the other one with me to breakfast to show Sveta, Galina and the child the "new" invention.

(Burgher / Paperboy POV)

"Boy, what is this?" (Burgher)

"It's called a newspaper, it's something to read... Would you like a copy?" (Paperboy)

"No, I can't read, but what is that newspaper?" (Burgher)

"In the printing house where I work, the engravers told me that it was Hetman Jazłowiecki's idea for people to learn more about the world." (Paperboy)

"Do you know what they say there?" (Burgher)

"A bit, I can't read either, but the printers said a few things... Look at this page, it's a balloon and thanks to it a man can rise up in the air and be like a bird, and here it is about the war with the Teutonic Knights..." (Paperboy)

"To fly? That's some nonsense, if God wanted a man to fly, He would give him wings." (Burgher)

(End POV)

"Father, can this really fly?" (Piotr)

I grimaced at the sound of the word Father, there were no strangers at the table, so Piotr was more relaxed, which does not mean that I was happy with it... I exhaled and drank wine... it is a long-term investment.

"In theory, yes. But we lack the right material to make the balloon itself. It has to be strong, light and airtight." (MC)

"Such beasts really exist?" (Sveta)

Sveta looked at the illustration of an elephant. It was the first time she had seen such a large animal, and even in countries that had colonies in Africa, the sight of an elephant was surprising, let alone in the country on the Vistula River.

"Yes, they live far to the south and east. You probably don't know it, but Hanibal used them during the wars with Rome. They are rather calm by nature, but can also be aggressive." (MC)

I spent the whole breakfast discussing various articles, even Galina, who could not read, was fascinated by illustrations. After meal I went to my office where Wroński was waiting for me.

"Lord, success. All copies have been distributed." (Wroński)

"It's not a success, if something is for free, people will always take it, even if they don't need it. We have to wait a few weeks for real success." (MC)

"I understand, but why would someone who cannot read take a newspaper?" (Wroński)

I also thought that it was not logical, but people very often did not follow logic... Maybe they took it because the paper burns well, or to wipe their ass... or to show the neighbor I have a newspaper, and you don't... As the Marquis de Sade once wrote in the 120 days of Sodom. "Oh, what a mystery a man is! (…) And that's why a thinking gentleman said that it's better to fu.ck him than try to understand."

"You know how the people got the ten commandments?" (MC)

"Yes, every child knows. God gave the tablets to Moses." (Wrónski)

"Never mind... you can go back to your duties." (MC)

I'm going to tell him an anecdote about the commandments. How God visited different nations and asked if they wanted a commandment. The Irish refused, as did the French and the Russians. One day God met a Jew and asked him if he wanted a commandment. The Jew thought briefly and asked, "How much will it cost?" God replied that they were free. Jew "If they're free, I'll have ten."

Although it was a joke, it well illustrated human nature... lucky that this Jew did not come from Scotland because there would be fifty commandments.

After a brief reflection, I started working on the next issue... Another part of the Teutonic Knights and another part of my war adventures, it was obvious.

In the science section I presented two seemingly not much significant inventions... a stroller and kick scooter. These two were not epochal inventions, though many mothers might disagree with them, but they were relatively easy to make, unlike a balloon, and their production could become a source of income for many people. I have attached illustrations to both of them.

In the traveling section, I focused again on Japan and the Hyakki Yagyō legend "...every year the yōkai (demon) Nurarihyon, will lead all of the yōkai (demons) through the streets of Japan during summer nights..."

In the nature section, this time I included a description of a rhino and an attached illustration... as always, I left the economy and politics for the very end. Having prepared an action plan, I started to implement it gradually, I had seven days to the next release... but one thing was for sure, I need someone to help.

(Grand Chancellor of the Crown Jakub Zadzik / Vice Chancellor Tomasz Zamoyski POV)

"Interesting, your nephew ..." (Jakub Zadzik)

"What did Wilkomir do again? Instead of settling down, getting married and having children... sometimes I lack the strength and patience for him." (Tomasz Zamoyski)

"You are exaggerating with that complaint. Of course, it was not good for such a lineage to cease to exist, but only a fool would want to turn a wolf into a dog." (Jakub Zadzik)

"Maybe that's true." (Tomasz Zamoyski)

"(hahaha) I did not know that it was like this... all the wounds your nephew sustained in Livonia, he inflicted them on himself... he is a madman. Good God, luckily he is on our side... I don't think your nephew likes the Duchy of Prussia." (Jakub Zadzik)

"No, he considers them a threat to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and believes that we are breeding a viper on our breasts." (Tomasz Zamoyski)

"He's right, Moscow, Ottomans or Swedes are obvious enemies, but no one will hate you more than the one who has to bow to you." (Jakub Zadzik)

(End POV)