House of Pieszczoch 1: House of Pieszczoch, #1

By Richard R Lockwood

Karl Pieszczoch was an officer in the Polish Legion supporting Napoleon until he was maimed at Borodino in 1812 and invalided home. Time travelers arrived on his Earth and offered advanced medicine to replace arms and legs for any veterans willing to enlist in a new Polish Legion. Karl worked for the High King Nikolai for eight years, rising in his service to become a King's Councilor, earning the command of his own expedition among the timelines. His goal was wealth, power, and the independance of Poland. He had the High King's own example to follow and his own twin to assist him. There wasn't much that could stop him, aside from his own human nature and a universe that doesn't like to be predictable.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Richard R Lockwood
• Release date: Dec 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215446324

Richard R Lockwood

Was born in Miami FL. Worked for the University of Florida until I retired. Been married to the lovely Cecelia for 40 years now, proof that I'm a lucky guy. Now living on the Nature Coast in Citrus County. Enjoy all kind of wildlife, especially reptiles and insects, so I'm pretty sure I'm in the right place. When I'm not writing I enjoy wood carving. Both of the heads beside me in the picture are cedar from the Chassahowitzka Forrest. I also love to walk my dog Bark Anthony. Probably need to go do that now. A Chronology of the Twins Alternate Universe novels and some thoughts and rationales - https://www.ricklockwood.net/Chronology.html My Books on Books 2 Read - https://books2read.com/ap/RaZ9Br/Richard-R-Lockwood  

Book preview

House of Pieszczoch

Volume One

––––––––

1 - 1817

––––––––

Karl Pieszczoch had been a major of lancers in command of a cavalry regiment of the Polish Legion fighting for Napoleon. That all changed when he lost the lower part of his left leg and his horse to a cannonball at Borodino in 1812. Invalided home to Poland he missed the occupation of Moscow and the disastrous retreat after, a fact he sometimes considered as saving what was left of his life, when he thought about it. He had been sending what pay he received home to his older sister to help her keep her farm at Rzeszow. Urszula had lost her husband and their parents during a Cossack raid, she gave her brother a tired smile when he arrived on a cart and added him to her burdens. One of her farm workers cut him a peg leg and after a few months of moving himself along on crutches he forced himself to get along with a cane. He could still ride a horse or milk a cow, cutting firewood became a task that he enjoyed more as he grew better at it.

Memories of battlefield glory receded under the constant irritation of Russian, Prussian, and Austrian domination, and he freely admitted that Napoleon had not been a great bet, but no better bet had been offered until Dominik Dziewanowski sent a message to his former officers that he was forming a new Legion, this time under a Polish Prince, a Kosciusko, but one unrelated to Tadeusz. This Prince claimed to be from the future and possessed new weapons and the magic ability to restore limbs.

Karl had been unable to resist, despite his own time-worn skepticism. Dominik had always been a solid man; there must be something of substance to this newcomer, and if there was the slightest hope to become whole again there was no possibility Karl would not seize it. Arriving in the recruitment camp he discovered he was not among the first to respond and had to settle for a corporal’s rank, but the next day he woke with what looked like the lower leg of a four year old. It rapidly improved and he began training on the gun platforms after three days. When the new Prince ordered them to free Poland a few weeks later Karl put aside any doubts and committed himself to his new lord.

He continued to send most of his pay to his sister and she bought new equipment and animals, then later a neighboring farm, but that all disappeared in 1819 in the Disaster. He had been unable to save her from Earth’s destruction, but when he arrived at a new timeline along with the other New People and took leave a few days later to find her, there was Urszula along with his maimed and bitter twin. Karl knew exactly how he felt, of course, and a medical pod and rejuvenation quickly restored him. He could have supported both of them on his Royal Pacifica salary, but he and his twin agreed that a new career was a better idea. Karl One was able to get Two a squad sergeant’s slot in the Fleet Marines, figuring that the new Polish Royal Army would see little action and therefore advancement would be slow.

Karl Two had become a Lieutenant by the time he visited One a year later in New Orleans. Not from any great deed of mine, he told One. The force is expanding, I was lucky enough to not get shot again, so I got promoted.

They were sitting in the main salon of Karl’s yacht, a BabyLux starship with 20 suites, hovering over a new canal dredging project near Baton Rouge. I heard the aliens fired moons at the marines, One replied.

It’s true, but they don’t aim well and we’ve learned to come at them from all directions. Nice setup you have here; I don’t see any superior officers.

I work directly for the High King - whatever promotes his interests - a little business, a little intelligence, a little problem removal.

Problem removal, that sounds like what my marines do. It looks like you have a rosy future here.

The future is not what it used to be, brother.

Aye, how could it be? Do you have any plans in mind? Or just make the best of it as usual?

Karl ordered a bottle of Polish vodka from the food service unit and it floated over a few moments later. As he poured them both a glass he replied, What will make me happy now? I had a different definition of that a few years ago, as did you.

True. I suppose I’m happy enough; no better soldiers than the Fleet Marines, but if I retire in six years...

As you said, I have a nice spot here. I’m a couple years ahead of you, but I doubt I’ll be ready to retire when my six years are up. If you’d like to work for me I’ll have something ready for you if you want, but that’s not my final goal anymore.

I’m listening.

How does this sound? You and me, when the time is right, we mount our own time expedition back to 1812. We rescue the Karl of that time from Borodino, then make him King of Poland.

Hmm, an interesting plan. Of course, King of Poland is nice for Karl Three, but you and I...?

You would be Admiral of the Fleet, and I would be High King.

Ah, well, it’s ambitious enough. I like the sound of it, three of us would make a good start for the House of Pieszczoch, but maybe I’m listening to your excellent vodka. I’ll take another.

Karl One poured another for them both, And two Urszulas, if she wants to go. She seems married to that farm, though.

It’s a much happier place now, without me and my complaints.

One shrugged, I may have a different plan by then; Sabine and I are expecting a son in a few months, but if we stick with this plan there’s no reason we can’t take family with us. Nikolai will give me a carrier and equipment when I’m ready.

I would like a little land to go along with my Fleet Admiral spot, say, Russia.

Fine with me. I think I can trust you to treat the Romanovs appropriately.

Good. Well, if you come up with a better plan than that one I’ll be happy to listen to it. In the meantime...

I could try to get you a spot at the Fleet Academy if you wanted, but it doesn’t seem necessary.

When we go back, we’ll have all the boys from our old regiment, too, won’t that be fun?

It’s also a problem, Two. We lost a lot of them at Borodino, and after.

God’s Wounds, we sure did. I see what you’re saying; if we arrive before the battle we’ll be able to save them, but they’re sworn to serve Napoleon. If we arrive after the battle, many of our best will be dead. And on the bloody retreat from Moscow...

We lost as many as we did from the battle. This will take some planning, Two, it may be better to make some kind of deal with Bonaparte before he throws all those lives away in Russia. Say, the year before when he is focused on England and Spain? We help him destroy the Royal Navy blockade and he’s so happy he sends the Legion home.

Does that sound like Napoleon? I’d rather have a gun to his head and then ask nicely. But why not go back even further, One? The Kosciusko Uprising, we were all lads then, you could save us a lot of... valuable experience. I see, you want us and our regiment to be the men we knew.

Yes, wise and experienced, but before we become hardened cynical bastards.

Hah! So, after Spain, but before Russia then?

That’s about right. We still had a few illusions about Bonaparte and his promises for an independent Poland, but then after Moscow...

Sure, we loved that Corsican bastard then, didn’t we?

Aye, like a streetwalker loves a rich man going by in a carriage.

Well, it’s a start on a plan and I’ll give you some time to make it better. Until then, is there any entertainment in New Orleans?

So you’re in?

Will someone else give me a better deal?

I’ve heard anything is possible.

I believe I’ll trust you. You do have a nice face.

I know where there are some nicer faces. Come along.

2

In the morning they met for breakfast in the salon of the yacht. Karl Two was cheerful and deferential to Sabine, his twin’s wife and now in her sixth month of pregnancy. One had told Two a bit about her; she was an heiress he met at a party in New Orleans. Beautiful and wealthy, she had been difficult to approach at first, but she had been looking. Once I broke through the wall of her admirers, her resistance crumbled. Now she had her own suite on the BabyLux and was served by a largely useless maid.

Does it feel odd, my lady, Karl Two asked her, to have a twin of your man around?

Not as odd as having a stranger growing in my stomach, she replied. Karl has a birthing chair in my suite, we often watch his little devil growing on the screen.

Interesting. It’s not a mystery anymore?

Au contraire, the chair reveals even more mysteries. God still has his secrets.

Good for Him.

The conversation lagged while they were served, then Karl asked, I thought you might like to accompany me today while I inspect a few projects. Interested?

Of course. It’s a pleasant surprise to see you building things.

To me as well. At first, Nikolai just wanted an agent in New Orleans, but, as always with him, things grow.

What are you growing today?

I want to inspect one of our developments on the Yazoo, just above Vicksburg. Then, a personal project in Arkansas.

A cabin in the woods?

Something like that. Maybe if the chief is around you can meet him as well.

The chief? One of the natives?

Aye. The High King has adopted the Comanche. I’ve sort of adopted the Osage. They seem more civilized.

A civilized savage.

You might like him. I do.

That’s another mystery, mon frere. And perhaps also a danger.

Yes, I’ve noticed we think alike. We’ll be able to trust each other, but we should get some advisers who can tell us when we’re wrong.

What are you two planning? asked Sabine.

The same as every military man, my dear, One replied, to take over all the stars so our little prince can rule them.

Today?

You have some time, cherie.

Good. You might have noticed I haven’t even produced him yet.

You are doing splendidly, darling, and perfectly on schedule.

Hah! Every hour I think I should do what Queen Siroon suggested and use a machine.

Karl One did the only sensible thing and smiled, then kissed her before leaving for work. A lift pad took him and Two out to his cruiser and they rose above the Mississippi valley before starting out. He ordered the cruiser to pause and stood before the central display to take it in for a moment.

Nikolai loves to look at maps, he commented to Two, lounging at a bridge station beside him. Says they’re inspiring.

He can take whatever he sees, replied Two, so why not? Ah, you’re admiring your own domain.

There’s only one High King in North America, but I do have a certain power here.

You say go, and they go, eh?

One nodded, still staring at the display as the cruiser rose higher. They were well above any significant part of the atmosphere and could travel without sending shockwaves below, but still he paused.

Want to look at the Vistula like that, one day? Two asked. When I think of this crazy theory you New People have... Millions of Earths, millions of Polands, most of them suffering under the Russian boot, or the Austrian boot, or the Prussian boot.

Yes, it makes you want to get started. Well, here’s one thing we may not think alike on; Nikolai has placed a great deal of faith in me. I’m also a King’s Councilor, someone whose opinion he feels he can trust. I’m not going to abandon him at the first chance.

Two considered that for a moment, then shrugged, We both owe him, brother, and no one is talking of abandoning the poor lad.

One smiled, then ordered the cruiser to descend towards the construction site.

You know, Two continued as they watched the Yazoo come near, Poland has some unusual customs.

I wonder what you could be thinking of? replied One.

It’s clear I’ll have to go elsewhere to find someone who appreciates my charm and wit.

Another problem we share.

Yes. So?

You’re aware that Nikolai ordered Dominik to seize the throne. He was not eager, for exactly the reason you mention.

It worked out well enough.

They were now near enough to make out six diamond shaped islands lined up in the middle of the small river. Two saw a few lift barges moving dirt around inside one set of walls while a dredging balloon approached from the west with another load.

The mud has been settling in the first one for almost a week, One said. We’ll start planting apartment towers next week, four to each island.

And then the money will come pouring in?

Karl One gave a small hand wave, We sell them to a management company. The money goes to our banks in Denver and Texas City where we loan it out to small businessmen. We keep enough for salaries and expenses.

Moneylending? Your Jews will have nothing to do.

They can do what they want in Pacifica and the United States. No laws forbidding them.

It’s none of my business, of course.

The cruiser has scanned the property. Everything is on schedule. You might like the next spot better.

I like this one just fine. I’ve always liked mud, especially in the springtime.

The cruiser lifted up for the hop to a spot along the Arkansas River.

It worked out well enough for Dominik, One said, returning to their previous conversation. The Sejm ratified his crown four months later.

He wouldn’t talk to them until they did.

There was no point in talking then, and not much point now.

You weren’t always such a royalist, One. Damn! Neither was I!

Every Pole knew what our problem was; the Russians and all our other neighbors just kept biting off chunks of our land while we were at each other’s throats.

Hey, brother, I was there too.

One snorted. Maybe we’ll try to do it some other way when it’s our chance. Here’s my cabin.

They were still a kilometer up so Two could appreciate the Ozark mountains to the north and the wooded terrain below. Just back from a moderate sized river, about fifty meters from the bank, a large ring wall had been placed and filled with dirt. From above you could see a barge moving structural wall pieces.

My little dot on the map here is 300 meters across, said Karl One. The Countess of Miami has a similar one but it’s only 200 across.

You’ll need room for the little prince, correct?

Aye. We started building two weeks ago, but I only have a few men working on it. You can see the house foundation and most of the first floor; the house itself will be four stories. There’ll be a big fountain in the middle courtyard and gardens around it.

Nice. You’ll be living like a szlachta.

Everyone will live like a noble in the future, Two.

Except the tough hard working Marines.

And other types of dogs.

Oh, that was low, brother.

It was. Will you be able to walk?

Well enough. What will you do with this place when we leave?

I’ll give it to whoever Nikolai appoints in my place as King’s Agent.

I’m guessing it will be easy enough to build another when we arrive.

Easier than this was. I’m studying the design process, and the factories.

Smart boy. I like that about you.

3 - 1809

Prince Jozef Poniatowski, the Minister of War for the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, had not slept well, and rising in the morning of April 19, 1809, he was not expecting the day to go any better. Several reports greeted him as he pulled on his boots, then sipped tea while eating a biscuit for breakfast.

He had moved his men southwest of Warsaw to face the Austrian threat, and that threat was growing larger by the hour. While Napoleon faced the main Austrian army to the west in Bavaria, a corps under Archduke Ferdinand d’Este had been sent to threaten Poland. Bonaparte has more Poles than I do, the thought briefly passing through his mind before he schooled himself to his work. Hah! d’Este may have more Poles than I do. The only course we have is to fight, as always, and Napoleon is the only one who can give us back our country, though it may be a little bruised when he is done with it.

The latest numbers were not encouraging; he faced about 30,000 Austrians with about 13,500 Poles and Saxons in his own forces, but he had faced bad odds before. He believed in mobility, and Polish valor would have to make up for the rest. A commotion outside his tent made him brace himself for more bad news; that was the usual way with war, every few minutes you were handed another plate of shit.

Highness! His sentry threw open the front door of the small farmhouse he was using for a headquarters.

Come!

Your Honor! the guard, a lieutenant, stuck his face in and exclaimed, You must see! It’s... I don’t know what it is! Up in the sky!

There had been reports of Austrian observation balloons, but surely they would not be using them here? The French had tried them a few years ago and given them up as a waste of effort. If the Austrians had any of the unreliable death traps they would use them against Napoleon, he concluded as he stepped outside after shrugging on his jacket and placing his tall uniform hat on his head.

Once outside there was some difficulty in seeing the object that was causing the commotion, he moved several paces to get a good view through the trees. A large black... not a round balloon, an airship? After a few moments he gave up trying to estimate how large it was, impossible with only the gray skies behind it for context, but then it changed color. It was now half white along its pointy end and half red along its blunt end. But then he exclaimed with his men as Légion appeared in red in the white half, and Polonaise appeared in white in the red half. Whatever it was, it appeared to be on his own side.

What does it mean? several excited voices around him asked.

Poniatowski chided himself for his optimism, then chided the men around him, It means we need to act like soldiers, not children! Get in order! Where is General Fiszer?

An aide replied, He’s inspecting the 1st Chasseurs, Highness. He should be back any moment.

According to their plans last night, the 1st Chasseurs were to be sent to reconnoiter the Austrians at first light. Fiszer would be giving their colonel the latest intelligence before sending them out, although, if that was an observation balloon... but why wouldn’t he be told if such a craft was operating in Poland?"

It’s coming closer!

It was true, the object was getting larger.

I see a smaller thing, Highness, said a sharp eyed sergeant, and moments later all of them could; a tiny