psychical

"Hey, you, get up." Matty, the fat barkeep who owns the famous Eighth Heaven Tavern, shook the young man slumped over a workdesk, his tools scattered all over. "I'm not paying you to sleep on the job, you know."

"Oh, hello there, Matty," Otto said as he slipped the glasses on his forehead back over his eyes. "Is something the matter?"

"Is something the matter? Of course something's the matter!!! YOU'RE SLEEPING ON THE JOB, YA IDIOT!!! Are you really the best those engineers could send me? I swear I..."

"Matty... Matty..." Otto gently interrupted. "Your brewery's as good as new since 3 hours ago."

"Ahehehehe, I... see..." said a flustered Matty. "I'm sorry."

"I was waiting for you to finish up upstairs, but I got tired waiting, so I..."

"Oh, that's fine, Otto. If someone's apologizing now, it's me for being too rash."

"No need to apologize, Matty. Anyways, I was waiting for you so we could start testing this fine machine you have over here. Shall we give it a go?"

"Of course. Though it'll take at least a week for us to taste the finished product. I'll have the boys come over in a minute to jumpstart the brewing process. BOYS! Get your butts over here and start brewing!!! Oh, Otto, you won't be staying here any longer now, are you?"

"No, I'm afraid I'm not."

"Mind if I ask why?"

"Guild business. I'm not supposed to talk about it."

"Oh, I see. When're you leaving, though?"

"Tomorrow afternoon."

"Too bad... Ah, do you hear that, Otto? That means the brewing's going smoothly... That's a good sign, and I have you to thank for that."

"Sure, you're welcome."

"If the beer comes out strong, like it always does here at the Eighth Heaven, I'll just send you a nice, fat bonus... Hey, how am I supposed to pay you if you ain't here tomorrow night?"

"Try the local Engineering Guild Chapter House in town. They'll send it over to Breislau for you."

"It's a damn shame you won't get to see any of it till you get home. But you haven't slept for almost two days now, so I have to make it up to you somehow... I know! Why not at least have a drink and spend the night in one of the rooms we have upstairs for now? It's all on me."

"Lemme think for a minute... Matty, I'd be honored to."

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