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

I am sure you see the injustice of this.”
    Moses nodded, saying nothing.
    “Of course they offer tributes if they are victorious and many, such as the Spanish and Portuguese will convert thousands of savages to the Christian faith. But as a man of commerce you will understand this doesn’t cover our costs or improve the welfare of the state. Papal policy says we should exclude non-Catholics from benefiting from our fortunate abundance of wealth, but us Jesuits, well, we believe all men are God’s children. Still, we don’t wish to upset the loyal countries or the bishops. Do you understand what I mean?”
    Moses knew exactly what he meant. The Roman Church’s concern was for souls but what use were souls if not to gain profit and power?
    “So, what do I get for my soul?” Moses joked.
    Isaac took off his hat and held it across his chest. “I am here to propose an alliance: we will underwrite loans that you will manage. For all intents and purposes the borrower will only see you as their benefactor. Our portfolio of, shall we call them ‘clients’, shall be passed to you. A position in the palace as Frederick’s banker will lend credibility to your role. To keep it discreet you will only communicate with me concerning these matters.”
    Moses was not yet convinced and asked, “Why me?”
    “I have looked for you for a long time, Moses. You are a fair man, an honest man, a clever man and a good father. If not for the cruel laws controlling Jews you would be a rich man in your own right. Now, I cannot promise that your life will become one of luxury but I will promise you this: the child who I can hear crying will have a great gift bestowed upon him, and his children will have opportunities that most Jews could only dream of. He will be in a position to pioneer a new kind of banking using stocks, bonds and sureties allowing them to be impervious to the tactics that have historically stolen hard-earned wealth from the Jews. What I will teach you will enable you to create a dynasty more powerful than all the kings and emperors on earth and will one day bring your people back to the Promised Land.”
    Moses eyed Isaac for a moment before going into the back room and returning with the good wine.
    Over the next few weeks Moses met with Isaac each day, finalising strategy and rates. He received a letter from the Palace offering him a position at the Royal Court. Moses was still cautious but had begun to believe. He thanked God for this miracle, which would drag his family out of poverty. After years of struggle and strife perhaps he was about to be rewarded, and why not? He was a good man who honoured God. Isaac had suggested that he might need to change his surname to avoid any anti-Semitic discrimination. Bauer was a good name but Moses saw the sense in this. As a tribute to his ancestors Moses had always displayed the red shield above his shop. He decided this would be the new family name, Red Shield, or Rothschild as it is in German. After only six weeks Moses and Isaac were trading with the house of Hesse, secretly funding the Spanish and French alliance as well as their opponents, the British and Sardinians in the battle of Villafranca. The issue of whether this was morally right did concern Moses at first but his concern faded as his wealth began to grow. Moses soon learned that in most wars and battles the only true victors were the financiers.
    With everything in place and months after their first encounter Isaac met Moses one more time. He handed him a leather-bound book embossed with a symbol that Moses at first mistook for a fleur-de-lis. On further inspection the symbol was closer to a three-leaf clover but even more curious was its title Ledger of transactions written in south-western Yiddish, Moses’ native tongue.
    “You read Yiddish?” Moses asked.
    “Yes and I wish for all written transactions to be scribed using your dialect, is that acceptable?”
    Still none the wiser, Moses simply