Wilhelm Pederit is the private secretary to a German prince who has offered to sell twelve thousand of his male citizens to the British to serve as soldiers in the war to stop the American Revolution. Pederit's two brothers are among those to be conscripted. Pederit seems uninterested in their fates, but in actuality he hopes to find a way to save his brothers and, perhaps, the other men of the twelve thousand. A petty request by the prince's seemingly spoiled mistress shows Pederit a possible means of turning the tables on the prince's plans.—Jim Beaver <[email protected]>