Attrition of the Gods: Book 1 of the Mystery Thriller series Gods Toys. by P.G. Burns Read Free Book Online Page A

those who know secret things or else alone.”
    Rainer Maria Rilke
     
    The tall, distinguished figure of Isaac looked for the house of Moses the money-lender in the Jewish ghetto of Frankfurt. The town was quiet on this cold winter’s night. His search ended when he saw the sign bearing a red shield above a shop door. Finally, he thought , this is the shop I’ve been looking for . Isaac knocked upon the well-constructed heavy wooden door.
    Moses the proprietor was none too pleased as the unrelenting knocking on his front door woke his sleeping family. He wielded a wooden baton and had a bayonet tucked in his sash. A money-lender was often a target for desperate thieves and Moses was a cautious man.
    “Okay, okay,” he called from inside. A small peephole allowed Moses to see the caller but he did not recognise the tall, thin man standing outside. The fact that this man was wearing the robes of a priest did nothing to instil any trust in Moses. He shouted through a small crack in the door.
    “Who is it? What do you want at this time of night?”
“I wish to speak with the man called Moses Bauer,” replied Isaac. “I have a letter of introduction from the King of Prussia himself.”
    Isaac pushed a wax-sealed envelope under the door. Moses picked it up and broke the seal; concern washed over him as he recognised the seal to be that of Frederick II. He was wary but what could he do?
    “Come in,” he said, standing to one side as he opened the door.
    Isaac entered and warmed himself next to the remaining embers that had survived in the large fire dominating the small but tidy room. He took off his gloves and placed them on the wooden table in the centre of the room and rubbed his cold hands together.
    “What can be so important that a king would need a poor, hard-working Jew at this late time of night?”
    “His Royal Highness has recently decided that he is destined to unite the kingdoms of Prussia.”
    Isaac made his statement, getting straight to the point, and then looked around the room nonchalantly.
    “How does this concern me?” Moses looked puzzled.
    Isaac continued to look around the rest of the house, wandering into the small back room where he could see that Moses conducted his business. Moses had a feeling that he was looking for something in particular. His hand fell down to the bayonet tucked under his tunic, as he prepared to confront this man on his true intentions. The cries of a child momentarily stopped Isaac’s snooping.
    “Ah, yes. I believe you have a new baby boy. May I inquire his name?”
    Moses felt even more concerned and with no desire to discuss his family with a stranger, he carefully pulled out the bayonet for Isaac to see.
    “No you may not. Now, are you going to tell me what you want?”
    Isaac barely acknowledged the appearance of the weapon.
    “The king needs money.”
    Moses paled.
    “Don’t fret. I can see you have little or no money.”
    Isaac casually picked up a small ledger that lay on the desk next to a catalogue of silks. Moses was deeply regretting letting this stranger into his home.
    “As you say, I have no money. I cannot see what help I can be to his Highness,” said Moses
    “You will soon have money.” said Isaac.
    Confusion replaced the concern on Moses’ face. Isaac’s robes fell to the side revealing a tunic that Moses recognised to be that of the Jesuit order.
    He continued, “Let me explain. As servants of the Lord Jesus Christ we are forbidden from charging ‘usury’ on the money we lend, or interest as you would call it. Yet many states expect us to fund them in some campaign or other: France and Spain want money to aid their war with Austria, Catherine in Russia wants to build another palace, Sardinia and England need to buy boats to defend their shores. All this costs money, money we have. My masters have no qualms in lending this money out but feel it is unfair to do so without the possibility of increasing our yield. As an astute businessman