The Mine
The more we dug without finding anything, the stronger our conviction grew that the precious minerals were close by.
Although earthquake presages aroused worries, we never stopped working frantically ignoring the consequences of a potential catastrophe. The dogs that trace vibrations and warn us about imminent quakes have run off. The parrots that locate the leak of dangerous gases have already croaked. Some among us are wondering why we keep on instead of running away. Even the foremen fled. Now, we are all equal among equals.
Apparently, there is something behind those moist rocks, something much more appealing than a precious metal. The employers told us we are looking for diamonds. Now, we are finally convinced they were lying. The more we approach the deposits of the unknown mineral, the more we lose our will, our look becomes void, we don’t eat, only drink a little water, but despite the fact we are emaciated we continue to keep our strength in the extreme.
Some conjecture that an extraterrestrial spaceship is buried in the proximities. Others claim that our pickaxes will reveal an ancient, mythical city. Nothing but rumours, voiced through whispers and murmurs, of which nothing is true. I do know, however, because I dug deeper than the others: what we are looking for is ourselves.
On the other side of the rocks dirty miners are opening tunnels in our direction. Not only can I hear them, I can also dimly discern them through holes. They are striving as much as we do in order to meet us and their state is as pitiful as our crew’s. Who knows what shall happen once our sharp pickaxes will have removed the last rock between us… Are we going to face ourselves, approaching from the other side, like a lost brother, or like a despised enemy?