The Viennese Waltz(131)

“Yes, some day. Probably starting in about ten years.” Sarah shrugged. “The economy is going to grow much faster than silver stocks, but that’s not the only factor. Right now, silver is a monetary metal that is losing its status. That decreases its value, producing a glut which decreases its value even more. Eventually, that will turn around, but not any time soon.”

“There is no way we are blowing barbies on silver.” Susan’s voice was very firm.

“Okay, okay,” Trudi said. “But then we need some way to prop up the reich money.”

“No,” Judy said. “That won’t work. The reich money is dead. We killed it. Not on purpose, but we killed it.”

Sarah looked at her sister in shock. Judy was looking as grim as Sarah had ever seen her. “Judy, there has to be an answer.”

“I think I have an answer . . . but all the Barbies will have to agree.” Susan took a deep breath. “And I do mean all the Barbies. Every investor in American Equipment Corp, here or back in the USE.”

“What?”

“We have to sell the Austro-Hungarian Empire BarbieCo.” Susan sounded sad.

“It won’t work,” Judy said. “It’s us, the Barbies, that they have faith in. If we sell Ferdinand III BarbieCo, who will trust Barbies? No, just like before, we will have to have skin in the game and everyone will have to know it.”

“We can accept payment in BarbieCo,” Sarah said.

“Sarah, I don’t want the Austrian economy to collapse, but that doesn’t mean I’m willing to let Ferdinand III turn BarbieCo into waste paper and pay me in that same waste paper.” Susan shook her head. “I won’t do it.”

“No. We will have to keep control,” Judy said, “and not just for Susan, but for everyone. If the people out there are going to have faith in our money, then it’s going to have to stay our money.” Judy had an abstracted air as she spoke. “Trudi, would you go ask Hayley what’s the fastest way to get a message to Grantville?”

“A steamboat up the Danube will reach Regensburg in three, maybe four, days. Then radio to Grantville.” Trudi knew that answer.

“Fine. Go tell Hayley to order a boat. We are going to offer a buyout of BarbieCo stock at ten percent over face value in silver. And, Trudi, when you tell Hayley, make sure that there are servants in the room.”

“No one is going to take ten percent,” Susan said. “Not in silver, not in Grantville.”

“I really don’t care. We’re offering it, so if they don’t take it, it’s their own look out.”

“What are you planning?” Sarah asked Judy.

“I’ll tell you once we get to the palace.”

“No, I don’t think so, Judy,” Sarah said. “Tell me now.”

“I haven’t got it all worked out, Sarah.” Judy grinned. “But basically, you . . . well, you and the Barbies . . . are going to become the national bank of the Austro-Hungarian empire.”

As it happened, Trudi was in the process of stepping out the door when Judy said that.

In the living room, where Hayley and Dana Fortney, Gayleen and Ron Sanderlin were waiting—along with half a dozen servants, merchants, and shopkeepers—there was a sudden and profound silence.

“Hayley,” Trudi said into that silence, “can you arrange the fastest boat possible to go up-river to Regensburg? We have some instructions for Heather Mason.” Trudi paused and looked around the room with a little grin on her face. “Oh, and can someone run tell the royal yacht to get up a head of steam? We’ll be going to the palace directly.”

The Hofburg Palace, Vienna

The Barbies made an entrance. Sarah and Judy were in the lead, heads together, apparently arguing. “No,” Judy said. “I think we should get Carinthia.”

“I don’t want Carinthia,” Sarah responded. “I swear, Judy, you’re getting downright medieval in your outlook. Besides, we’re doing this to save the economy, not to make you and your gang even richer.”

“I don’t mind saving them, Sarah,” Susan piped in from behind them, “but I expect to get paid.”

The doors to the council room opened just as Susan said this, and the young women filed into the room, still talking about the empire of Austria-Hungary as though it was a gown they were considering buying.

Once the girls were all in the room, Judy looked around. “Where’s the Ken Doll? We can’t do this without him. He’s going to have to agree.”

Then she turned to the emperor and curtsied very low. She made it both respectful and graceful. “Your Majesty, you called and we are here.” She looked around again. “I don’t doubt the faith or discretion of your servants, Your Majesty, but even the most loyal and trusted retainer may make a slip. And there will, I suspect, be things discussed that you will not wish the world at large to know. So I beg your indulgence, that we might discuss these matters with only your closest advisers present?”