Grantville Gazette 37

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Astrid Schaubin was standing guard duty outside the University of Erfurt, out front with Neustatter. Freedom of religion is a good thing, she mused. But guaranteeing it is a little more exciting than civics class suggested it ought to be.

"More students," Neustatter identified the two young men approaching.

"An honor to meet you, Fraulein. I am Matthias von Spitzer. And this is my fellow student, Friedrich von Alvensleben."

"Miss Astrid Schaubin of Neustatter's European Security Services."

They stumbled over the name of the firm. Astrid explained. Von Spitzer and von Alvensleben followed up.

"Why is your company guarding the university?"

"We're guarding the Bibelgesellschaft," Astrid explained. "Erfurt is a little tense right now."

Von Spitzer nodded. "The townspeople were celebrating the Congress of Copenhagen's recognition that both the city and the hinterland are formally independent of the archbishop of Mainz. The city has been a Stadt since early '32, of course, but it's nice that the captain-general made it official." He laughed harshly. "But there are unanticipated consequences."

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