"Eric Flint - 1634 - The Bavarian Crisis" - читать интересную книгу автора (Flint Eric)

1634:
THE BAVARIAN CRISIS—ARC
Eric Flint and
Virginia DeMarce
Advance Reader Copy
Unproofed
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any
resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

1634: The Bavarian Crisis: Copyright © 2007 by Eric Flint and Virginia DeMarce

A Baen Book

Baen Publishing Enterprises
P.O. Box 1403
Riverdale, NY 10471
www.baen.com

ISBN 10: 1-4165-4253-1
ISBN 13: 978-1-4165-4253-7

Cover art by Tom Kidd

First Baen printing, October 2007

Distributed by Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
t/k


PROLOGUE
January, 1634
To me alone there came a thought of grief
Munich, Bavaria
Duke Maximilian of Bavaria kneeled by the side of the bier upon which his late wife's body lay in
state. "Nobody else remembers," he cried out. "The rest of you only recall how she was these last
years—an ill old woman, tired, discouraged and heavy in spirit because she had not given Bavaria an
heir."
He banged his forehead against the stone pedestal upon which the bier had been placed; then
turned to the chamberlain who was standing behind him. "Only I remember what she was like when she
came to Bavaria as a bride. I am the only one who remembers what it was like. She radiated merriment;
she was so lovable. Under God, she was the greatest blessing of my life. So virtuous! So pious! I have
lost the most wonderful wife that any man ever had. Her price was truly above rubies!"
He turned back to the bier. "O, My God, how have I offended You? In what way has my service to
You and to the Church failed, that You have so bereft me? Elisabeth Renata, may God take you directly
to paradise. You never did anything that would require you to remain in purgatory. Elisabeth Renata. My
wife."