Early May was always a pleasant month in Vienna. The capital of an Empire was never neglected. Streets were swept, parks were green and every house had flowers blooming on window sills. But something was in the air. A silent tension, un-noticed by the average city dweller or visitor.
Hans Prozwan, the Vienna station master noticed it. He noticed everything. He worked his entire life in the gateway of Vienna. Before the railroad he was an experienced coach master and as soon as the iron horse got its place in the Empire, he was personaly picked to run the station. He knows every arrival and departure of anyone worth noting. And the last few days caught his attention.
Every commander in the Empire arrived in the capital. Nothin new there. Von Hess has his wife in Vienna, Radetzky had frequent rummy games with fellow noblemen and war games were at least twice a year. But the lack of pomp gave it away that something was different this year.
The Habsburgs were full of themselves and anyone favoured by the crown never arrived without a kings welcome. Nearly cost Colonel von Augsperk his marriage when a 30 men march band avaited him when he visited his mistress. Radetzky, the hero of Novara arrived with only a guard detachment in plain clothes to greet him. Hans also had a small talent. He knew how to read people. He knew that the 20 men that boarded the special train to Venice were diplomats. He knew that they were given instructions by the Emperor Himself. He knew that they werent on a delegation they would not enjoy.
Cold chills went down his spine. He remembered a similar tension he witnesed as a young porter nearly 50 years ago. The silent arrival of generals, the dashing of diplomats and less than a year later, the French marched in.
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