'Four hundred years!' he choked out as the tears ran down his cheeks. Everything he knew was gone, his entire life.
He felt the cold nose nudge his hand and looked down to see Buddy resting his head on his leg.
Louis smiled and scratched the dog's ear. 'Yeah, you're still here aren't you Buddy? I guess it's just the two us now.'
Louis sat down on the hillside and waited for Buddy. The dog was having trouble making it up the hill, but soon joined him.
He scratched Buddy behind the ear as he looked out over the landscape. Just down the slope was the smooth wall of dirt where the West Virginia hills didn't quite line up with the German countryside.
Reaching into the bag he carried, he pulled out the small strip of spiced jerky. He tore off a piece and gave it to Buddy, then took a bite for himself. The spices in the jerky weren't really good for Buddy, but the dog liked it.
Louis laughed to himself. The spices didn't always agree with his system either.
They had just come from the vet and the news wasn't good, but then it wasn't anything he hadn't heard before. Buddy was old and his joints were getting stiff, probably arthritis or something similar. And there wasn't really anything that could be done; even back home all they could do was give the dog drugs to lessen the pain. Here, they were just waiting for it to get too bad for the dog to endure. After that, well, he didn't want to think about that yet.
Louis shivered as the wind cut through him. He reached up to flip his collar higher on his neck and then shoved his gloved hands back into his pockets. He knew that the world was in the middle of the Little Ice Age, but damn it, it wasn't supposed to be this cold at the end of April.
He and Buddy were on their evening walk through the streets of Grantville. Buddy seemed to have a definite destination in mind as he pulled strongly on the leash.
Louis laughed. 'Easy there, boy. I'm not getting any younger and neither are you.'
Buddy pulled him along and then suddenly stopped as they rounded a corner.
Louis looked up at the black and white building in front of him. This was the restaurant he had come to visit that fateful day when the Ring of Fire had ripped them away from their home.
Because the store's owner, Nino Sanabria, Jr., had been out of town doing business that day, he had been left up-time, separated from his family just like Louis. The store had been closed shortly after the Ring of Fire. With no owner to run it and no supplies due to the rationing of the previous winter, no one had bothered to open it again. All the former employees had gone on to either the military or other jobs, with the exception of one poor woman who now lived at the Manning Assisted Living Center because her medicine no longer existed.
With Nino gone, ownership of the shop had reverted to his wife, Michelle, and because the financing was with an out of town bank, she now owned the store free and clear. But Michelle knew very little about running a restaurant and had sold or used the supplies within.
Louis stood staring at the building for several long minutes and an idea began to grow in his mind. In the last year, Grantville had grown by leaps and bounds as both refugees and the curious poured into the area. More people meant a need for more services, especially when many of those people were travelers and other temporary residents. And those people would need a place to eat, a place like the empty building standing in front of him.
He looked down to where Buddy stood beside him and the dog looked at him with questioning eyes. 'What do you think, Buddy? Should we see if we can make this place work?'
Buddy wagged his tail and barked happily.
Andreas Muller took a few moments to calm down and build up his nerve. He was getting desperate and there were few options left. The last thing he wanted was to go back to being a soldier. Unfortunately, many people were reluctant to hire a soldier. They had too many bad memories of what soldiers had done, if not to them, then to family or friends.
Now he stood before the building of the business he was about to enter. Like so many of the up-timer buildings, this one had a lot of glass, letting anyone see what was inside. He could see the gleaming counters and tables inside. He didn't hold out much hope, but he had heard that the owner needed help.
Andreas took another deep breath and pulled open the clear glass door. He heard the small bell tied to the inside handle tinkle as the door closed. His eyes took in the gleaming black and white tiles on the walls and floor and the shiny metal of the counters and table legs. The tables were not filled with people, but then it was the middle of the afternoon, not really mealtime. Several people were seated at the tables and two young women were moving among them, taking orders and serving food.
Near the door, a golden-haired dog was resting on a mat. The dog raised its head and looked at Andreas.
Andreas gently reached down and patted the dog's head. The dog accepted the attention and laid his head back down.
A tall man sitting at the counter was motioning to get his attention, so Andreas walked over to him. As Andreas took a seat on the stool next to him, the big man extended his hand in greeting. 'Hi, my name's Louis. I haven't seen you in here before, have I?'
The man's accent was definitely that of an American. It was hard to tell his age, since all Americans seemed to be younger in appearance, but Andreas guessed he was probably in his forties. Andreas took the man's hand. 'Hello, Louis. My name is Andreas Muller. No, I have not been here before. I was told that the owner has need of help.'
The man's face widened in a broad smile. 'Well, welcome to the Amideutsch Lunch Counter. I think you'll like it here; I'm in here all the time. The manager will probably introduce himself shortly. Are you new in town?'
'Yes. I am looking for work.'
Louis nodded in understanding. 'I wish you luck with that. What did you do before you came to Grantville? Are you one of the refugees?'
Andreas paused as he considered his answer to the question. Would telling the truth keep him from getting the job? But would telling a lie not be bad as well? He exhaled deeply. 'I was a mercenary, but I am tired of fighting.'
He could see Louis considering what he had said. But then the big man nodded. 'Well, this seems to be a great place to work. You should try some of the food.'
Andreas was hesitant in his reply. 'I do not have much money.'
Louis laughed a bit and patted him on the shoulder. 'Don't you worry about that, Andreas; this one is on me.'
Louis motioned to the elderly woman working behind the counter. When she approached, he spoke to her. 'Magda, please bring my new friend here a cheeseburger and one for me too.'
'Thank you, Louis,' Andreas said as the woman left to fill the order.
Louis waved his hand dismissively. 'Don't mention it. If you don't mind my asking, why are you interested in working here?'
Andreas took a moment to collect his thoughts. 'As I said, I am tired of being a soldier. But before I was a soldier, I worked in a tavern. When the wars started and people were struggling to survive, they did not have the time or money to spend in a tavern. My wife had died of disease and my children had grown and married, so I took work as a soldier. But I do not like being a soldier, so I need to find other work. I was told this place needed help.'
Louis nodded. 'Yes, it could use an extra hand or two. With the way people keep coming to Grantville, I think it's going to be pretty busy.'
Andreas looked around. 'This is not like any tavern I have ever been in.'
'That's because it's not a tavern,' Louis answered. 'This place is sort of like what we called a diner up-time, but of course the menu will have to be changed to foods that can be found in the area.'
Andreas thought about what Louis was telling him. 'I must admit, Louis, I have eaten some of your American foods, but I do not know how to make them. I may not be of any use to the owner.'
Louis again waved his hand to dismiss Andreas's doubts. 'You don't need to worry. You won't be expected to
