1635 The Papal Stakes by Eric Flint, Charles E. Gannon Read Free Book Online Page A

alliance would call attention to itself, and your most dangerous foes would not miss its significance.”
    “That will occur anyhow, as your ability to balloon directly into Italy becomes more clear to the Spanish.”
    “It is true that they may become annoyed by that, but not so much to mount an attack on you.”
    “Why not?” Ziegler threw his considerable bulk forward aggressively. “Are you suggesting they will sit idly by while this new trade route opens up?”
    “Yes, that is exactly what I am suggesting.”
    Clearly, this was not the answer Ziegler was expecting; his bulk fell back in surprise. “Why?”
    “Because the Spanish—of all the powers of Europe—have shown the least understanding of, or interest in, the new economy that air travel will enable. Their banking methods are hopelessly archaic and filled with exclusions and restrictions that ensure that their nation’s power remains firmly in the hands of the hidalgos, the upper classes. They do not know how to grow wealth—and therefore, will not even understand the value of this new route of exchange. Not until it is too late.”
    That brought a grimly satisfied smile even to Ziegler’s face. But this time, it was Jenatsch who held to the prior point like a bulldog: “However, this still means that there will be no direct military alliance between you and us. And, for us, that means no offensive to liberate the communes that are still in Austrian or Spanish hands. So we might be a bit safer, and a bit more wealthy, but still crushed by foreign occupiers in many of our regions.”
    Miro smiled. “But for how long?”
    Jenatsch looked suspicious. “What do you mean? Do you propose that Heaven will deliver us? God alone knows how often and ardently I have prayed for divine deliverance—”
    —Miro reflected that Jenatsch might even be telling the truth—
    “—but no angels have come to drive out the invaders. So what mysterious power are you suggesting will deliver us?”
    “Not a mysterious power: just simple geography. The geography of realpolitik .”
    Jenatsch blinked at the unfamiliar term, even though it was in his native German. “What do you mean?”
    Miro pointed to the map on the table, located at their equidistant center. “What do the Hapsburgs call the Valtelline?”
    Jenatsch frowned; he clearly did not appreciate any discursive approach that left him feeling as though he was being schooled. “It is the transalpine part of what they dub the Spanish Road. As you well know. From Chiavenna to Tyrol, it is how the thrice-damned Spanish and Austrian Hapsburgs exchange troops and goods. It is also a barrier against similar north-south exchanges for the rest of Europe.”
    “And which Hapsburg activities has it enabled in the last ten years?”
    Jenatsch considered. “The wars in Germany: what the up-timers call the Thirty Years’ War. Also, the Spanish campaigns against the Dutch.”
    “But what has happened to those activities?”
    The smile returned to Jenatsch’s face; Miro could well imagine that savage expression glaring at him over the glinting edge of an axe.
    Miro explicated the obvious for Ziegler’s benefit. “Spain’s adventurism north of the Alps has all but vanished. In the Low Countries, the infante Fernando increasingly turns his back on Madrid; his brother the king seems no more eager to send new troops to him than the new ‘King in the Low Countries’ seems to have them. Besides, any further influx of Spanish troops would make his partner in the Provinces, Frederik Hendrik of Orange, exceedingly nervous. Possibly warlike.
    “And with that old papist firebrand Ferdinand of Austria dead,” Jenatsch said with satisfaction, “his namesake son and successor is pursuing a more moderate course of action.”
    “Much more moderate. Particularly since his sister married Fernando, who rescued her from a war zone with the assistance of an up-time aircraft. Indeed, after the recent war with Bavaria, one could almost