'I'm Dr. Johann Gerhard, dean of the theology faculty at the University of Jena. And who, good sir, are you?'
'Uh, Watchman Heinkel.'
The crowd quieted down quite nicely, Astrid observed.
'It probably would be a good idea to view the scene,' Meinhard stated loudly enough for everyone to hear him. 'Let's go.'
'One moment, please,' Neustatter requested. He reached out a hand to one of the men he dropped. 'Are you willing to let the watchmen sort this out?'
'As long as they make the right decision.' He accepted a hand up.
The other man didn't. 'I want your name!'
'Edgar Neustatter. Neustatter's European Security Services. You're with the Committees, aren't you?' When the man didn't answer, Neustatter sighed loudly. 'A quarterstaff is your weapon of choice. You jumped in ahead of the watch. Tell Dieter Strauss hello from me.'
'You know Strauss?'
'Of course I know the head of the Erfurt Committee of Correspondence, What kind of a security consultant would I be if I didn't know the important people in cities I operate in? If I give you your quarterstaff back, do you think you could refrain from taking a swing at me?'
'He'd better,' Meinhard warned.
The Committeeman nodded sullenly.
****
The townspeople and a good chunk of the university congregated at the mouth of the alley. 'Jost, we brought everybody,' Meinhard told the watchman who had remained there.
'That is a lot of blood,' Dr. Zapfius acknowledged.
Astrid couldn't see any of it. She, Karl, and Lukas were sticking to Katharina and Barbara who were in the center of the group of BGS students staying on the edge of the crowd. Phillip was mingled into the crowd.
'It was that one!' a woman shrilled.
Astrid snapped around to see a woman pointing at Neustatter.
'I saw him! He was sneaking off!'
'When was this?' Neustatter shouted over the hubbub.
'Yesterday.'
The watchman who had stayed at the scene-Jost-poked at Neustatter with his cudgel 'Where were you going?'
'Martial arts lesson,' Neustatter replied with a grin. 'Do that again. I'll demonstrate. It'll be fun.'
Watchman Meinhard stepped in. 'Knock it off, Jost. I'm not sure what a martial arts is-' He repeated the English term. '-but I saw him take Huber's staff away from him and trip up Goren with it.'
'Why haven't you arrested him?' Jost demanded.
'Because it was self-defense on Neustatter's part and stupidity in the first degree on Huber's part,' Meinhard answered. Huber glared at him.
Neustatter laughed. 'You got that one from Dan Frost, didn't you?'
'I did. You know Herr Frost?'
'He helped me set up my security company.'
'I see. And these martial arts lessons?'
'Fighting styles from Japan and China that a few up-timers know. Sometimes it's nice to have a surprise.'
'So I see. Which up-timer teaches the lessons?'
'Gena Kroll.'
Seeing Meinhard's blank look, Neustatter added, 'Gordon Kroll's daughter. Dennis Stull's secretary. They all work for military procurement.'
'Oh, right. I've met Herr Kroll. His daughter . . . isn't she more or less betrothed to Sergeant Hudson?'
Neustatter was grinning again. 'Yes.'
'He and his friend Sergeant Allen don't like Germans. They call us Krauts when they've been drinking.'
'Gena is dating one of the no-Kraut men?' Katharina asked.
Meinhard looked her way. 'Why does that surprise you? And who are you?'
'Katharina Meisnerin of the
Meinhard frowned. 'Her betrothed may not let her do that anymore.'
Neustatter laughed again. 'It's clear you don't know Gena very well. Besides, you are underestimating Eric Hudson.'
Meinhard blinked. 'I never said his first name.'
'No, you didn't. But I know him. It's true that he says he dislikes us Germans. But he tends to forget that once he knows you. He likes movies-the up-time moving pictures.'
Meinhard frowned. 'Sergeant Hudson was transferred to Halle. He's courting Miss Krollin and watching movies in Grantville . . .'
'And drinking at the 250 Club,' Neustatter added. 'He's very efficient. There's a reason the Army put him in charge of train schedules.'
Meinhard said, 'We'll need to verify all this, of course.'
'Of course.'
'Under close questioning,' the nasal voice added.
'That's not going to happen,' Neustatter answered. He didn't bother to turn around.
'This is Erfurt,' another voice spat. 'Not Grantville.'
'They will be tried by our laws!' someone else in the crowd shouted.
'Thuringian law is the same in Erfurt and Grantville,' Watchman Meinhard stated.
'They shot someone and carried him off!' came a shout from crowd. 'They're working for the Catholics! They must be punished!' There was a general chorus of agreement from the rest of the crowd.
Neustatter shucked off his coat and let it drop to the ground. His holster was very visible as he turned around.
A few of the more perceptive citizens of Erfurt-and everyone who'd ever see one of the Western movies in Grantville-started moving away, thinking about such things as lines of fire.
'Calm down, all of you!' Meinhard ordered.
'We can take them!' one Erfurter insisted.
Karl and Lukas exchanged incredulous looks.
'Do something!' Astrid heard Katharina hiss at Georg.
'What do you want me to do?' Georg asked.
'I don't know! Think of something!' Katharina was becoming frantic.
Georg started easing his way through the crowd toward the alley.
Astrid decided that Katharina and Barbara would be safe enough for the moment. They were flanked by fellow students Horst Felke and Johannes Musaeus as well as having Karl and Lukas close by.
'Karl,' Astrid said, 'watch the others. I'll cover Georg.' She slipped through the crowd after him.
Meanwhile, Meinhard was telling his partner, 'Heinkel, go to the base and ask if Sergeant Eric Hudson and Fraulein Gena Krollin would please accompany you back here. Be polite. Bring Herr Kroll and Herr Stull if they wish. The whole rest of the city is here-they may as well be.'
****
Georg got to the front and stood there looking into the alley. The crowd was becoming increasingly aggravated. He knelt down. Astrid sighed. That would make him even harder to protect.
Suddenly Georg straightened and carefully walked a little ways down the alley. 'Whatever happened, no one was shot,' he proclaimed.
Everyone in earshot turned to look at him.
'What?' Astrid demanded. 'Of course
