* 6 *
Chapter 6
Vienna, Autumn 1909
"Your sister is quite a hard worker, aren't her?" said Bronshtein bluntly toward Hitler. "I can bet she's the one doing all the cleaning and laundry jobs in this house."
"Yeah, so? I also done the same thing in my free time, cleaning things and making things presentable." said Hitler.
"That's Adolf for you, even when he's still a street artist, he always put a premium on cleanness and being cultured man." said Kubizek.
"She did remind me of Zina and Nina, my daughters... Your parents must be proud with her." said Bronshtein calmly.
"Our parents was dead, and I could use my sister for helping around here, better than leave a thirteen years old girl living by herself." explained Hitler while he pulls down the neatly folded curtain on the windows.
"She's thirteen years old? I almost think she's older than that." said Bronshtein. "In Russia, she's already considered marriageable age."
"Why don't you come here and have a seat?" said an obviously irritated Hitler while pointing toward the chairs.
"..."
"Good Morning gentlemen..." said the Archduke himself while entering the Studio while both Hitler and Kubizek immediately stand to greet him, before Bronshtein also decides to be polite and stand as well.
"Good Morning your grace." said Hitler while politely pull the most comfortable looking chair for his patron to sit upon it, Aristocratic privilege at it's finest, Bronshtein think that to himself.
"Alright, let me guess... you are known as Lev Bronshtein here, but let's be frank, to the Socialist circles around here, you are known as Leon Trotsky..." said the Archduke calmly while mentioning everyone to sit.
"Did I actually just walked into a trap?" said Bronshtein while pulling the chair to sit on top of it. "I mean, you never said before that the one interested in Socialism and Marxism is the Archduke himself... I think previously that that was some sort of joke..." Bronshtein cannot help but look at some shadows walking outside the curtain, must be some bodyguards here, maybe to arrest him or...
"I do honestly interested in that ideology of yours. While some Socialist elements did try to subvert things here and there, with all the calls for struggle in behalf of working class, I see that some of the grievances you all listed against largely unchecked business capitalism as a valid one." said the Archduke with a wry smile.
"Interesting, so, I'm sorry your grace, but can I assume you also read some socialist literature already?" said Bronshtein.
"Not too much yet, but still, I think for a starter we all agreed that there is an inequality between worker's rights and what their business class employers has done to curb them. Letting those run unchecked will only raise unrest and resentment. Let me made myself clear here, I am not interested in your more radical line of thoughts regarding revolutions and such, but I do interested on how to honestly improve the condition of working class." said the Archduke.
"Well? I'm not sure if I'm the one most qualified to explain that to you, honestly, but let me try..." said Bronshtein calmly.
"..."
"..."
"Thank you for your insight today, Mr Bronshtein, it really gives me a good insight on what's really happened with the worker's plight." said the Archduke while sipping his cup of tea.
"I only said what should be said, though I agree to not saying anything about our little chat today to the outside. I just cannot imagine what kind of expression Adler, Babel... and especially Vladimir Ilyich Lenin will wear on their face when they know that was me who get the chance for direct audience with the Archduke himself." said Bronshtein.
"I must say I can't really agree with all your viewpoints, but still, to settle the plight of workers, something must be done." said the Archduke.
"In short, you want to replace Ethnic Nationalism with some milder form of socialism right? With aristocratic nobilities, that feels wrong, but maybe you are right your grace, that was my upbringing because nobody in Russian aristocracy is as open minded as you are." said Bronshtein.
"You guessed that right, and speaking of which, you can go with your life as if this meeting never happened. As long as you refrain from endorsing outright violence, and writing in more or less academic viewpoint, your little group could stay here. No violence or call for violence, that's all I ask. And oh, no telling outsider our little meeting before I said you otherwise, I will trust you in this regard."
"Thank you your grace..."
"I do cannot really guarantee your safety against the Tsar's agents, but still I think you should refrain to call for his dethronement or even the abolition of the monarchy, Socialism did not always equate with uncontrolled Republicanism, that's my opinion."
"In that case, we have agreed to disagree with that, but even that, your view for us is definitely much more progressive than the others..."
"..."
