I woke up with the Redhead, her name is Lina I found out, lying next to me. Apparently I had left quite an impression on her. She was coming back on her own now the King hadn’t asked/told her to since the first night. Like I said no technique in the Agers. She was still asleep so I got up as easily as I could and threw on some clothes and left.
“Lawrence” Puff.
“Sir-Yes-Sir”
“I need you to take this drawing down to a good seamstress. Tell her I will send her Agatha later as a model to do a demo and I want to see it by this afternoon. Tell her I’ll pay her double and she’ll make even more when I hire some more girls.
Then find a shoe maker. I need a pair of these made, they're called high heels. Trust me, I know they look strange. They can come later if need be but get them done ASAP”
“ASAP?”
“It means get it done as soon as possible.”
“Sir-Yes-Sir”
I decided it was time to check in on the Inn and get some breakfast. I found that Lawrence had already found a cook. That little bugger is as handy as pockets on a shirt.
I had already gotten Lilly to make up a frying pan and had Agatha run get it. I had just started explaining to the cook what an omelet was when she got back. The pan wasn’t perfect but it would do.
I then found that we didn’t have bacon. As a mountain boy a breakfast without bacon just wouldn’t work. I sent Agatha back out to fetch some. As she left I said.
“If we had a man around the house he could bring home the bacon.” And they all laughed way too hard about it.
When I asked about this they told me something you wouldn’t even wonder about in the 21st. That saying comes from a preacher not far from here. He would give out a side of bacon to any husband that would swear before God and the congregation that he had not fought with his wife in the last year. “Bringing home the Bacon” was a high honor.
Once Agatha returned with the side of Bacon I taught the cook how to make an omelet. That is after I made him wash his nasty hands. I also told him not to throw away any grease. I should be able to use it to make soap or something else eventually.
I hadn’t eaten a meal that good since I got here and I shared it with beautiful company as Agatha ate with me. That surprised her but hell she brought home the bacon she should get some. If only we had scratch made biscuits and gravy.
I asked him and he didn’t know of biscuits but he could make gravy from the grease. I told him not to bother. Not the same without a biscuit and I sure don’t know how to bake. I’ve been a bachelor twice and camping plenty and you learn how to cook breakfast and frying is simple enough but baking is an art. Note to self hire a baker.
Thank God I don’t drink coffee. It’s a couple thousand miles away. Same thing with tobacco. But oh how my heart doeth miss potatoes. Fried, mashed, baked you name it they are so good. I was really missing some hashbrowns about now. I have always been a meat and potatoes kind of guy. It's like I’m only half here anymore.
I’m just glad my weed crop at the Church (wow does that feel wrong now that I think about it) is doing well. All of them are not just mine. Wood chips on the surface (mulch in other words) is a great way to build up soil fertility and we had a ton of them thanks to all the building I caused. It keeps in moisture as well which is good because it has been awful hot considering I’m in the near the far tip of the northern freaking hemisphere.
It would get expensive as hell buying and transporting herbs and vegetables for the inn so I plan on doing a full scale garden next year to cut back on costs. Note to self get Lawrence to find all the unique herb and vegetable seeds he can that will grow in this climate.
After we ate I sent Agatha to find Lawrence. I then implemented some changes in the kitchen. For starters they were to wash the dishes after every use in hot water (I made sure they knew steaming not just warm). Note to self make Soap.
The frying pan was just to be wiped clean when not in use (you don’t wash cast iron even in the 21st). Also the place had to stay clean and I would be inspecting it every day I was here. I also instructed the cook to get me some unique spices and herbs. Especially garlic, you can do a lot with it.
“Madam Claire I will need you to find me some good wholesome girls. Bring in twice what we need to whittle down one quarter by your own means and I will select the final roster. 8 to start with I think then we will go from there. Remember they must be attractive for this to work.”
“I will Sir Arthur.”
Once I had them all started I went to find Bolt. It was time I laid out the plans for the stadium.
Lawrence was out scouting out a site for it as we speak. It had to be large enough and I wanted it to overlook the Thames and London. I needed a statement to tower above the City.
I found Bolt looking frazzled.
“A hundred men? Yesterday we were a two man company. I can’t do it. What have you got me into?”
I see I might have been mistaken trying to give him time to prepare. How could he? He didn’t know how to. It was like everyone in the world was a child and I had to hold their hand through everything. I wonder if this is how Einstein felt?
It was time for some positive reinforcement for my friend here.
“I have worked alongside you for months. There is nothing you can’t do if you set your mind to it. Besides I’m running this thing you're my number 2 man like always. I’ll take the heat when it comes. And hell if you want you can quit take your original tools, the knowledge I’ve given you, and leave the company with my thanks but if you do you’ll regret it.
I’m about to build one of the greatest architectural achievements since the Roman Coliseum. The builders of this will go down in history for not only building it but for spawning one of the greatest games this world has ever known.”
I once studied Psychology a little in college. In Sports Psychology there is a theory that sometimes all it takes for someone to be great is a powerful figure (a hero so to speak) convincing them that they are.
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It’s a little like the theory of positive reinforcement. If you think good things they will happen to you. It always sounded like a lot of new age crap to me but couldn’t hurt at this point.
“Alright let us commence then.”
I showed him the rough plans I had sketched up. It was obviously smaller than a stadium in my day. It would start at a 10,000 person capacity .
It would still be over 3 stories tall. Higher than even the Tower but don’t tell the King that. I would also use what would otherwise be wasted space by using the space under the seats as living, office, and storage space. As well as a Rump Roast Concession Stand.
In fact I was planning to build my apartment in the highest part facing the Thames and London. It would also have a balcony onto the field but the Kings box would still be a half story above. Got to stroke that ego.
I also took a page out of modern day Pro teams and I designed it so it would funnel crowd noise to the field. Home field advantage and loud crowds have won many a game. I could see I was starting to blow Bolt’s mind.
“We have to build that in a month? Im telling you it can’t be done.” Bolt said huffing.
“And I’m telling you it can. We prefabricate everything at shop then assemble it on site. All the interior will be completed later. We only need the seats and the luxury boxes done.”
“Only? That would take years not a month.”
This was going to take some convincing.
“It will be one of the best paying jobs of your life. In one month’s time you can make more than you would otherwise in a couple of years. Not to mention this won’t be the last stadium. Far from it hopefully. Do you want to be a part of this companies and your countries future or do you not? If you stay you must trust me.”
He finally shut up and we got down to hiring of the crew. We were going to have to hire pretty much every unemployed man under the age of 30 who ever picked up a hammer. I wanted large crews at first to grade the land.
It would allow me to see who worked the hardest and hopefully a few of the brightest amongst them would shine and they would stay on for the normal crew. Probably a thousand to start and work our way down slowly to a crew of a few hundred of the best of them.
We still had regular houses going up so we couldn’t stop that either. I decided we would keep some of the men on rotation as they got experience into the home construction. It would allow me to put the best men in the most needed place at that time. I also had crews that would only answer to Bolt and not housing.
Speaking of tools I had forgot I needed to make a couple hundred sets of new tools. Not to mention all the nails. I think I am going to have to revise my priorities with Lilly.
Once I made sure James understood what he had to have, I left and headed to the Pad. I had started calling it that ridiculous nickname but at least took out Lilly.
“I have changed my priorities I want you to start making these tools after you have made a few helmets.” I wanted that symbol dammit at least on the QBs.
She let out a slew of obscenities that would make a sailor blush.
“Make up your damn mind. I already got 3 done making them thin like you asked and had started on the fourth.”
“That is perfect. It is as if you read my mind.
I need one spare and I have an idea for what to do with the fourth. Give me a completed helmet.” I said and she handed one to me cussing me all the time.
“Thank you, Lilly. You are twice the blacksmith that Grumpy is. I know it isn’t much of a compliment but it’s the truth.”
And I meant it. You ought to see it. It looked exactly like I remembered it except it was made of iron. There was something powerful about a football helmet. Steel isn’t easy to come by so I had to make them of iron.
As I looked at it inspiration struck.
Have the QBs in what would effectively be lightweight plate armor. I started explaing it to Lilly which of course got more swearing.
It would only cover the torso and be more made similar to football pads but the process would allow Lilly to get a head start on my eventual plate armor that I would give to my Army. The only problem would be time. I told her to put it on the backburner which got me a look.
She gave me another strange look when I showed her a claw hammer and my other devices that Grumpy had already made that I needed. You might be wondering why I keep calling him that. Well it is because I honestly can’t remember his name and it seemed better than calling him the other blacksmith all the time.
Once she understood what I wanted and how many she of course gripped and I of course casually mentioned that Grumpy could and had done it already. I think I should have a factory on tools before long.
She’s a one woman factory but I’m going to get Lawrence to round up some assistant/apprentices for her. Each one doing one tool with Lilly doing hammers as that is what we need the most of. We’re going to need a lot of wood just for the handles. London is going to have more breathing room after I get done with the trees around here after this project.
I would also need all sorts of brackets made to hold cross braces. I was designing the whole thing so we could make as few different parts as possible. Faster to make and assemble that way.
After I had her started I left. Once I walked back down the street I hollered for Lawrence who didn’t answer.
“I was starting to think he really was a genie.” I said chuckling.
“Sir-Yes-Sir” He scared the shit out of me.
“Dammit boy you’re as slippery as a greased pig.”
“Thank you sir. You called sir.”
“Yes have you found someone to make the pads?
“Yes Sir they are putting together a sample based around their son. Who is the second largest man I have ever seen. Second only to you that is sir.”
“Really and how old is this son?”
“18 sir and they say he eats like a horse.” He said
“More vitamins and nutrients that way I guess. If he is active he might be a promising prospect.”
“Vitamins and nutrients Sir?”
“Nevermind that. I will have to see this boy and the pads. Can you arrange a demonstration this evening?” It might be time for an in-home recruiting the kind I always wanted to have happen to me.
“I will see, Sir”
“Good what about the location for the Stadium?”
“I may have found one sir. It is heavily forested now we will have to cut many trees to clear it.”
“Won't work. As much as I would like the Lumber I don’t have time to remove the stumps. Maybe in a few months (or with gunpowder) but now I need land that is already reasonably flat.”
“I know of one other sir but it is King Henry’s hunting preserve. I do not think you will persuade him to give it up.”
“I can try. Or better yet I know someone who has power over him.”
“I doubt the Pope would listen to so silly a request Sir.”
“No, his daughter. Do you know how hard it is for a daughter’s begging to be ignored?”
“If you do that sir, well I would have to guess maybe there is magic in you yet sir. .”
“Do you mean I’ve got the magic touch? I know that’s what the ladies keep telling me.” I said as I chuckled and walked off.
I set out in search of the Empress. I found a servant in the Tower who took me to her quarters. I didn’t know what to expect when I entered them. Flashes of images of whips and gags come to mind. I shook it off as just my silly imagination ran wild.
“Come in” she said as I knocked.
“Oh Sir Arthur. You may leave Ida.” She said to the servant that brought me.
“You are a beast Arthur. Coming to my quarters in broad daylight to take advantage of a lady. Oh what will my Father think?”
“I have come to ask another favor.”
“What might that be?”
“I need you to ask your father to give me his pheasant hunting preserve overlooking the city. I want to build my stadium there.”
“That would be a large favor indeed. What would I receive in return?”
“Other than my gratitude?”
“You know what I want. Do we have to play this game?” She said with a grin.
For Queen and country.