Summary: Edward, Alphonse and Noah finally arrive to Prague and find housing in one of the dorms of Charles University. Meanwhile Adam Glauer has also come to the city, after being tired of Harrer's lack of results.
Notes: Depending on you interpretation this is either a very late or a very early update. We are still on course to finish the story tomorrow. All the players are now in their proper places, now the set just needs to be set and have everything ready for the story published in January 2024.
"I wish you all the best in your future endeavours," Acker told the trio as they came down the stairs with their luggage. "Thank you, we are going to need a lot of luck," Noah replied, and the brothers nodded. "Hopefully we will find some kind enough to us in Prague," Alphonse wistfully added. "Do not get discouraged," Acker argued, "It took me a long time to find an employer that treated me well. If you do not like your current position, it is completely acceptable to search for other work."
"Yeah, but some asshole bosses will fly off the handle, if they catch you doing that," Edward pointed out. "Then that is only another indication that you really should seek another employment," the head chef pointed out and went to shake hands with them. "You have proven yourself hard-working and reliable. Any place of work will be lucky to have you. If you ever find yourself back in this corner of the world, then Hotel Belveder will be open to you, so long as I remain here."
"Thank you, Mr. Acker," Ed said. "You have been the most enjoyable out of all the bosses we had," Noah agreed. "Indeed, out of all of them, those two had the least complaints about you. Congratulations," Al finished with a smile and then got lightly slapped by the other two. "Thank you, Alphonse," Acker laughed, "Initially I was somewhat concerned by taking on a fifteen-year-old, but you have proven yourself to me." He turned to them all with a slight sniff. "Look out for yourselves, alright..."
"That's a non-negotiable part of being a part of our group," Edward explained with a raised right hand. "Anything that hurts one of us hurts all of us." "Ah, so you are the Three Musketeers." "In a way, I guess," he admitted, while his brother gave him a confused look. "We'll explain later," Noah whispered to Al, and he let it be for a moment. "Goodbye, Mr. Acker," Ed finished, and Alphonse and Noah echoed him. They had eaten their breakfast early, so they could get on the early train with the Altmanns.
That train was already waiting at the station and as they walked past the Chapel of Saint Anne and the railway line came into view they already saw a large pillar of smoke. Noah sighed. "A part of me feels unprepared for this," she admitted. "I think that is the cases for all of us," Al commented, "but I expect it is partly because we are leaving a work, where they gave you actual respect. I am sorry." She immediately grabbed his shoulder. "Look, Al, your emotional well-being is important to me. I am willing to risk another prick for a boss for it."
"It still feels wrong to impose," he argued, and Edward immediately turned around with a frown. "Alphonse, quit trying to balance the scales, before you destroy yourself. I have learned the hard way that it is not always possible." His brother opened his mouth, but he did not manage to speak. "No! Stop trying to impose equivalent exchange on personal relationships, before it hurts us. Please, you will only make your emotional state worse."
"Is that what this is about," Noah asked with a tone of realisation. Alphonse gave a weird wiggle of his head. "Maybe," he eventually admitted, and his brother sighed. "It is an unfortunate fact, that some alchemists forget that equivalent exchange is a natural law in alchemy, but only an ideal in person relationships. Doctor Oberth and Alfons Heiderich had to hammer that tendency out of me, when I studied in Romania and tried to continuously balance stuff, like it was an obsession."
"Just like," both Al and Noah asked at once. Edward gave them the most petulant pout. "Fine... I was doing it for exactly that reason," he admitted and then looked more pointedly at his brother, "And that is, exactly, why I am telling you to knock it off before you are forced to unlearn it by bad experiences." Al sighed. "Fine, I will try, but don't expect miracles from someone, who has spent a decade thinking like that." "Well, we will forcibly take care of you, whether you like it or not," Noah threatened and Edward firmly nodded. Alphonse very quietly muttered something.
This conversation took long enough for them to reach the side of the railway station. They found a large family waiting outside with their own suitcases. "Excuse me, are you the Altmann family," Edward asked and most of the adults turned around. "We are," confirmed the man, who looked like the grandfather of the family, and offered a handshake to Ed, who took it. "Konrad Altmann." "Edward Elric." "Mr. Acker has said a lot about you, and if even half of it is true, we will enjoy your company."
"Thank you. We won't pretend to understand the details of your work as brewers, but..." The man gave a dismissive wave. "Don't worry about that, we are not so boring as to spend the entire journey talking about making beer only," he commented and proceeded to shake hand with the other two. "Alphonse Elric." "Noah Horvath." The man did not seem to react at the last part, and the brothers both gave small sighs of relief at that. The man's wife came up next to shake their hands and introduced herself as 'Eleonora Altmann.'
Everybody quickly border the train and took their seats in the several compartments they had booked. The elderly couple sat with the trio, much to their relief, as they were uncertain what they would have done, if they were forced to share a compartment with some of the children that the Altmanns had brought along. "I am told you are travelling to Prague to seek another employment," Konrad said soon after the train pulled out of the station. "We are," Ed admitted. "We are acquainted with the brewers in Braník, if you would want a suggestion," the man offered.
The trio looked at each other and after a moment of some grimaces and whispering replied. "We don't think we are cut out for that," Alphonse admitted. "I am underage, and if people found out that Noah was working at a brewery, they might start boycotting their bear." Noah sadly nodded. "Given the popularity of Braník's beer I would doubt that, but it is your choice. Mr. Acker had implied he wished to offer you the best chance and our offer stands, even if you change your mind."
The train began to slow down for Spitzberg station. "We appreciate it, but it is really not within our wheelhouse," Noah argued, and the man gave a nod with a smile. After a minute, the train pulled out of the station. "Oh. You three have not travelled in this direction by train before, have you," Eleonora suddenly asked, and her husband snickered. "Ah, you will enjoy this then..." "What do you mean," Edward asked, and suddenly they were taken by complete darkness. The trio gave various screams of concern, and the old couple loudly laughed. "Welcome to the Spitzberg Tunnel. A kilometre and three fourths," the woman informed them.
President Masaryk offered to have a meeting with Beneš, Udržal and Švehla as part of a private lunch. They arrived at the Prague Castle shortly before noon and then joined the head of state in his private rooms. "Please, gentlemen, take your seats. Our food will be served shortly," he gestured towards the seats, and they did so after giving him small bows. "I have been told there have been some interesting developments in the Harrer issue."
"Indeed, there have been many since the New Year began. In mere weeks he has done more than in all of December," Udržal agreed, and Masaryk gave him an interested nod and looked at his friend. "It appears he has committed an error of judgement that made his benefactors rethink having him as a freelancer," Beneš added and pulled out of the visa report to slide it to Masaryk. "Who is this Mr. Haji Veli?" "We are almost certain it is the mysterious Mr. Torre, whose real name is Adam Glauer," Udržal explained.
Both the President and Prime Minister Švehla looked at him with surprised faces. "How have you determined that is the case," the latter asked. "Mr. Tusal has come through and identified Mr. Glauer as a co-founder of the Thule Society, who sometimes publishes books under the nom de plume of 'Torre' and shares birthdate and birthplace with this 'totally real' Turkish citizen asking for a visa," Beneš told them and Masaryk looked down. "I did not even notice that he has 'Hoyerswerda' listed."
"Yeah, Mr. Beneš suspects he managed to finagle it, so that the Turkish government covered him and gave him the documents on his request," Udržal pointed out. "Why would they do that," Masaryk inquired with a slightly concerned tone at dealing with some that had the potential support of President Atatürk. "While we cannot be certain, because our Diplomatic corps is still adjusting to the new order in Turkey," the Minister of Foreign Affairs forewarned, "I suspect he may have called on 'fraternal links,' if you understand my suggestions."
"Ah, of course," Švehla sighed, and the President took a deep breath with closed eyes. "That is exactly why I don't like that group. No offence to either of you, but this 'fraternal aid' borders on illegality too often for my personal taste. Why Jan has different opinions, I have yet to fully grasp," Masaryk muttered. "There is however a likelihood that this will actually aid us," Udržal noted and gestured to his colleagues. "They are likely going to try and gain information by contacting the lodge," Švehla informed him.
"You see, Mr. Harrer tried to force his way in our lodge and promptly failed the test. This is the reason Glauer is coming, alongside his suspicion that Harrer is mooching off him," the Minister of National Defence pointed out. "Glauer has actual Turkish citizenship, because he resided in the Ottoman Empire since 1911. That is how he came into contact with their freemason lodges," Beneš quickly explained on the side, and he nodded.
"So, you want us to properly join the investigation by reporting on him from lodge meetings, since you expect he will attend some of them," the Prime Minister asked for confirmation with a slight frown. "I know that is one of the key articles of Freemasonry, that we are not allowed to expose others. However, I would like to point out that we also agreed to a moral obligation to uplift mankind. Glauer is in no way a follower of that creed," his fellow lodge member argued.
"Doesn't count," he told Udržal, when he raised his index finger to argue like last time. The man shrugged and withdrew his objection. Mr. Švehla however did not. "That is not how those rules work, Mr. Beneš. It would have to be the lodge collectively to decide on how to deal with a person, and even then they would be reticent to go to the authorities to inform them of another brother's conduct." "We do not have a choice. Harrer and Glauer are being potential dangers to our security," Beneš pointed out.
"Do we even know if there is any true to the mystic and occult stories about Prague," Masaryk interrupted them. "We have arranged to consult with a knowledgeable person on that matter this Sunday," Beneš replied. "A 'knowledgeable person'," the President asked with a raised eyebrow. "Mr. Mucha may be more known among the people for his artistic skill, but he is privately a man with deep interest in the history of occult and mystical praxis. He has agreed to meet us as his workshop."
"That is an unexpected source of information," Masaryk pointed out, and the door opened. "Ah, come in, please," he told the group bringing them their lunch. The quartet gave their thanks as they received dumplings with sauerkraut and pork meat. "Before we dig in, I would like to inform you that later today we will be formally permitting the granting of a visa to Mr. Glauer, even though it is under false pretence."
"That does not make me pleased," the Prime Minister said. "Me neither," the President added with a quick nod. "We are aware this is playing it rather loose, but we believe this is the bet wait to progress. Nominally, no provable criminal activity has taken place," Udržal agreed. "I and my department will continue to closely monitor the situation. Fortunately, it appears no member of the Thule Society suspect how good we are at finding out information about them. They likely think we are fully ignorant."
The Prime Minister and President looked at each other for a moment, and both gave the other concerned grimaces and frowns. "Once more we are giving you conditional approval, but you will make certain to maintain us well-informed on the issue," Švehla said. "My condition is reporting any news about Glauer you gleam at your meetings," Masaryk added and before Švehla could open his mouth to protest he added "That is not negotiable, Mr. Prime Minister. National security takes precedence!"
The man closed his mouth and frowned. "Now, let us dig into our food, before it goes cold." The lunch was thus begun in a slightly tense atmosphere. Later that day Beneš and Švehla did indeed send their approvals to their respective offices and by evening their Turkish embassy in Kostantiniyye, which the government of Atatürk was planning to officially rename to Istanbul, sent out a letter for Mr. Haji Veli, that his request was accepted and approved.
The journey into Prague was otherwise uneventful. The Altmanns tried to engage the teens in conversation, but did not succeed all that much. Eventually they reached Pilsen and the trio had to run to another train, so they quickly excused themselves. That was already the two-second transfer after Klattau and there was later another one in Beraun. It was already afternoon, when they could finally see the Vltava river from the window. "I am almost concerned how much aspic, we have been eating recently," Alphonse noted as they ate their lunch.
"If it works, then it works," Noah replied with a little look in his direction. "Honestly, for the price, it seems reasonable enough," Edward agreed after he took a bite of his meat one." "Frankly, I find the fact that we have been sitting on our rears for the past several hours more annoying than a repetitive pallet," Noah added, and the brother gave nodding agreements. "I sort of hope that is the Moldau or whatever the river passing through Prague is called," Al said and pointed out of the window.
"It should be that river. We have been travelling about the expected amount of time," his brother informed him, and took out a small book he found on sale at Klattau's railway station and found the schedule for their train. "Let's see," he muttered as he pulled out a pocket watch. "We should be there in about ten minutes," he eventually stated. "Good. This is getting exhaustingly boring," Alphonse told them after taking a bite of his fruity aspic.
The long and steep Barrandov Rock to the left side of the railway line suddenly fell away, and the train started to slow down. "That is a bit earlier than ten minutes," Noah noted. "There is one more station in the suburbs before we go to the actual main station," he explained and pulled out Uher's plan of Prague. "See these two curved lines," he continued and pointed to a spot near the bottom of the map just left of the river. She nodded. "The station is just below that off the edge, we'll then take this bridge over," he traced with his finger, "do this odd wiggle and take another tunnel that emerges into the station itself."
The steam engine made noises that sounded like coughing as it slowed down to comfortably enter the platform of Smíchov station. "Huh, a lot of people are getting off," Alphonse noticed. "Yeah, that's because this place is used as a station for a lot of workers. I am not really surprised," his brother said, and started putting the rest of his food into a suitcase. "I suggest you start putting everything back into your suitcases as well." They gave small nods and started doing so.
The train decided now would be a hilarious for it to depart without giving the usual blast on the horn. None of them were expecting that and ended up getting flung towards the back. "Shit," Ed cursed as he fell backwards from standing up. Alphonse grabbed for the iron bar used as racks and manage to just about avoid banging his head on them. His brother meanwhile fell on Noah, who gave a brief squeal and moved just far enough to not get hit by her falling friend's fumbling arms.
Instead, they ended up looking like two marionettes folded on each other. "Sorry," he muttered and opted to not move without getting his baring. "Would have been nice to have some warning," she angrily muttered, and then reached to pull out a small can she had nearly fallen on top off. She then looked at Edward, still partly sitting on her and trying not to move, and gave him a small grin. "What, did it knock the wind out of you?"
"No, but I know if I start moving I might end up touching you and that is a little bit not okay for people, who relatively recently had an entire conversation about wanting to remain friends." "Wow, an actual teen gentleman," she teased and despite a slight blush he shrugged with a small smile of his own. "I am still not getting, when you had that discussion, by the way," Alphonse pointed out as he continued packing up with his hand near to the bars just in case.
"Cooking stuff gets boring after a while," Noah explained. "Plus, we are two eighteen-year-old with our only other close personal contact being you. That needed to be discussed, because hormones will do their stuff." Edward nodded with closed eyes and started to slowly and carefully unfold from the pile they were in. "I am not using this as an opportunity to feel things I shouldn't no matter how much my libido wants to beat me up for ignoring it. I doubt you would do something else," he pointed out, and his brother thought for a moment.
"Well, not on purpose," he stated, and then his sentence was forced to end as a very loud clanking of metal filled the compartment. The train was passing over a bridge. "Wow, that is a nice view," Noah said and gestured towards the outside. As Edward finally disentangled his right leg, he looked out alongside his brother. "It is," he agreed. "The partly frozen river reflected the low sun and looked like glistening gemstones. "Don't they say that Prague is a magical city," Al pointed out and Noah nodded. "I did hear some people say that is literal."
"It better not be," Ed almost screamed as he turned to her with a deeply disturbed face. The train itself took a sharp right turn and passed through the Vyšehrad railway station. "I have had enough with arrogant pricks trying to find occult, mystical or magical abilities to make themselves more powerful for one lifetime." "Says the eighteen-year-old," his brother pointed out, and Noah snickered. "Do you not agree, Mr. Mentally-a-fifteen-year-old," he immediately retorted. "Oh, I very much do, but you know what our luck is like in that area."
Edward groaned like a true adult, while they took a sharp turn left. "God, please no!" "You are that annoyed, that are begging a deity, for aid," his brother nonchalantly asked and got slapped on his thigh for that. "Hush!" Ed finally got up and started to finish packing up. This time, the final left turn was much gentler. "Now comes the more fun part. We have to weave through several blocks of buildings to reach the offices of Charles University, where we will ask about if they will allow us to live in their dorms."
As he finished, they were thrown into darkness once more. Noah groaned. "Yeah, that is not fun," Alphonse agreed, "Hard to pack, when you can barely see." "At least this is the final part for us," his brother pointed out as he finally managed to blindly grab the iron bar rack on his side of the train carriage. "The most important part now will be finding our way about the city. We can keep the search for work for later," he added. "How much money do we have," Noah inquired. "Last I counted, we had somewhere around 450, so we should last the entire week."
After attending a session of Bektashi prayers on Thursday dedicated to celebrating the life of Fatimah, the daughter of Prophet Muhammad, Glauer departed from the former capital city of the Ottoman Empire. When he went to the Czechoslovak Embassy, he found it in slight disarray, since the diplomatic corps was still trying to get used to the abolition of the Ottoman Empire and the occupied areas ceded to the Entente Powers established by the Treaty of Lausanne.
The transfer of the Turkish capital to Ankara was also causing issues, and Beneš had told them to try and quickly create links to the new government. Glauer's involvement meant it was a priority. While it was possible that Beneš could call on Freemason connections, those were liable to taking too long in this instance. Besides, he was still unaware how much power the Turkish Freemasons had. And even then, if they would cooperate against another brother was a question itself.
During Thursday afternoon Karl Harrer was reading his recently purchased 'Two Excellent Treatises on the Philosopher's Stone, Together with the Theatre of Terrestrial Astronomy' in his valiant efforts to find some sort of result that would be pleasing Neuhaus and Glauer. So far he was no managing to get through the poetic Latin, and it was slowly making him even more nervous. When the hotel clerk knocked on his door, he got so scared he actually jumped. He then almost instinctively grabbed the table in front of him, and that was the only reason he did not fall over.
"Mr. Harrer, you have another telephone call at the front desk," the clerk announced, ignorant of that he almost gave the German reporter a heart attack. Harrer was still raggedly breathing as he tried to calm down. "I'll be there in a minute," he eventually squeezed out, and try not to think of his soon to come judgement. This was the promised call about his new co-worker. He put all his notes, dictionaries and writing utensils aside and put on his jumper, because a recent cold snap meant the front desk was not as warm.
On his way down the stairs, he was already shaking like he had walked into the snow in shorts. He almost dropped the phone receiver after taking it from that same clerk because of it. "Hello. This is Karl Harrer." "I know," said the still annoyed voice of his benefactor. "My agent has left Turkey in the morning and will arrive shortly before midnight by the last train from Vienna. You will go to the main station and walk with him back to your hotel.
I have arranged a room for him at the Golden Goose. As far as you are concerned, his name is Mr. Haji Veli and you will refer to him as such, unless you are ordered otherwise. Am I understood," Glauer quickly explained and Harrer started quickly nodding, before realising he was on a phone. "Yes, sir. I understand you. It is crystal clear and there can be no confusion." The other man gave the most unimpressed grunt Harrer had ever heard. "Do you have anything to report whatsoever," he asked almost as an afterthought.
"No at this moment, but I continue looking." The mocking harrumph was indication, enough, about what Glauer thought of his statement. "Then we are done for today. Go and prepare to meet the man. If you fail this for any reason, then you shall be punished as we have promised." "Of course, Mr. Torre. Right away, sir." His answer was the beeping of a disconnected call. He gave the receiver back to the clerk and tried not to faint. About an hour later, Udržal had a laugh at the transcript.
"Oh, you are in deep shit now, aren't you," he snickered to his empty office, before take a call and ordering an available agent to go to Prague's main train station that evening to spy on the meeting. He then arranged for another field agent to catch that same train, when it stopped at Břeclav, to go and spy on 'Mr. Haji Veli' as he travelled from the first stop after the border with Austria to the capital city. "Make sure you remain inconspicuous. We cannot risk it, if the man is properly paranoid," he reminded them.
In the evening, there were two people waiting for Harrer's 'co-worker' to arrive. The agent was sitting in the front hall pretending to read newspapers, while Harrer was walking back and forth nervously from one said of it to the other. There was so much sweat on him; it was starting to leave traces on the actual floor. Finally, a station attendant announced the arrival of the Vienna express and shortly after the journalist left for the first platform, the agent got up and pretended to walk there to meet someone.
Udržal gave him and the man in the train a secret password to recognise each other and pretend to be meeting there. After loudly greeting the other in Czech, the agent from Břeclav quietly informed the other, who they were following. When Glauer walked out of the train coach dressed in a very formal suit, with a monocle on his left eye, a walking stick and black gloves, Harrer nearly fainted. He thought that he could possibly bribe his co-worker, but no, when he was using that very co-worker's money! This was going to be his god-damned funeral.
"Oh... Mister," before he called him 'Torre,' Glauer gave him an intense stare, and he quickly corrected himself, "Mister Haji Veli. Welcome to Prague, sir." "Pleased to meet you," the man lied with a scowl. "Mr. Torre has said a lot about you," he added, and Harrer thought he would rather have somebody flay him alive, than endure this man's presence. "Since this is my first time in Prague, could you please accompany me to the Golden Goose Hotel," he continued in a tone comparable to silk hiding steel, which Harrer noticed and thus quickly figured out was actually an order.
"Of... course, just... follow me," he replied and turned around. Not looking at the furious face with a monocle making one eye appear particularly angry, he stopped having to consciously try to stop himself from hyperventilating. The two agents walked to the door first, so they could walk ahead of them and be less suspicious. The followed, or in this case following, pair were mostly silent during their walk to the Wenceslaus Square. When they arrived, Glauer looked the National Museum and the Equestrian statue of Saint Wenceslaus with a scowl.
"Disgusting degenerate pride. As if there was any accomplishment of their nation that did not come from them being half-breeds with the Aryan race," he muttered indignantly and spat on the ground. "Yes. How very pitiable," Harrer quickly tried to soothe the man's opinion of him. "Pitiable? Perhaps. Some would argue insulting and worthy of punishment," the pretend – Turkish citizen added, still speaking in perfect German. The agents passed by the entrance of the Golden Goose Hotel and let the men behind them enter it.
There was no need now. Udržal had another agent already in the hotel and in the room opposite to the one 'Mr. Torre' had reserved for 'Mr. Haji Veli.' "You are to inform especially of everything unusual for tourists. However, keep an eye out for the locations and people they seek out. Especially, any visit to the old four quarters of Prague is to be reported in as much detail as you can gather without breaking your cover," Udržal has instructed his subordinate. "Mr. Haji Veli may be on the lookout, so be ever vigilant of potential breaches and report them."
The trio managed to find a dorm that accepted people, who were not students. A neo-renaissance building on the corner of Dittrichova and Jenštejnská Streets close to the Charles Square allowed them to settle down. Edward gave a louder than necessary groan as he entered the room with a box of coal. "And here I thought we would get away from doing this," he loudly declared, and his brother laughed from the nearby bed, where he was reading a German booklet about the city.
"I mean, we could not bother, if you are willing to sleep in a cold room," Noah suggested. "I would not 'look a gifted horse in the mouth' or whatever that phrase is," Alphonse agreed. "Personally, I prefer the much more frank 'beggars can't be choosers'," Noah suggested. Al scratched his head. "I mean it is certainly more compact," he admitted as his brother put a paddle of coal into the heater, "but we are not exactly beggars, are we?"
"Technically we are," Ed pointed out. "Unless I missed something, none of us are employed yet," he reminded them as he stood up and walked over to the window. He put his hands above his head and took a stretch with a loud groan of relief. When he looked down, he noticed an odd individual walking along the side walk. It was a bald man in a former suit with a monocle in front of his left eye, a walking stick and black gloves. Normally such a look would not be that odd, but the man exuded an aura of importance.
A black-haired man was following close behind and like almost like a peculiar kind of servant. He quietly continued to observe them as they continued towards the South. "Is something wrong," Alphonse asked, and his brother slightly jumped before he looked at him. "No... Just saw some... weird looking guy. Sorry." He got a confused look in response. "You seemed really interested and had a frown, which I really see on your face, unless something really disturbs you."
"It's probably nothing. Sometimes people just have a face that makes you feel weird about them, but they turn out to be really nice after you meet them." "But the opposite can also be the case," Noah argued. "Yeah, but we are probably not going to meet this guy regardless." Alphonse turned to Noah. "Want to be he just jinxed us, and we will absolutely meet him again?" Edward gave them the firmest eye roll he could. "Unless you are betting against it, I am not taking that. Even I know that is a trap for a fool," Noah replied with a slight grin.
"Do you know something, you didn't tell us," Ed asked her with a still annoyed tone. "Not about the man, since I do not know what he looks like. However, I have experienced enough time with you and seen enough of your memories to understand that you are a weirdness magnet. In both the good ways and the bad." "Gee, thanks." "You know we love you," Alphonse replied with both a pointed and teasing look in his direction. "I hope it's platonically from your end," he muttered, and Al pretended to gag. "Besides, you are too old for me regardless of that," he quietly sassed, but got hit with his brother's pillow anyway. "I heard that!"
