00042

Today, there was no physical training for Osmo Martin. Instead, Security Leader Clyden took a fresh rotation of Security Agents aboard the midsize land-transport and headed to the mines. The replacement guards carried or wore their headsets, which they would need for their dity at the mines, to muffle that constant mining music meant to inspire digging.

Sec. Ldr. Clyden brought along the "punk" and, along the way, explained to Osmo Martin some of the facts regarding duty at the mines.

Gov. Bright came along as well for this trip.

"The fuel ore dust that hangs in the air carries slight traces of radiation,” the Security Leader told Osmo Martin. “It doesn't hurt the miners at all, but the human guard shifts are rotated every week or so, because the dust contamination to humans over an extended period of time isn't healthy. Because of that, the humans coming back to the city are not allowed to go back on guard duty at the mines for at least a month, so their bodies can clear themselves of the toxic dust. We can't afford the expensive radiation-removal therapy developed several years back on such large numbers on a regular, continuing schedule.”

"But what about the technicians, who transform people into miners?" asked Osmo Martin.

Sec. Ldr. Clyden said, "They do their jobs mostly behind protected barriers, so they don't get contaminated as much. Of course, we still rotate them as well, only it's not necessary to keep their time at the mines so short as only a week at a time, since their exposure is not nearly so much. There is a small miner's clinic where the doctor and health staff and the techs and administrative personnel stay, on the surface, on the other side of the mining mountain. They usually come into the mines proper only when needed.”

"Oh. And I suppose if there are danger spots- I don’t mean just the danger of possibly too much exposure to the dust, but that, too. Danger spots surely are well-posted with warnings, right? Of course they are, what am I saying? You and Gov. Bright don’t want more accidents, like what happened when Mr. McCleer was caught in the cave-in.”

“We certainly don’t want more of that,” replied Sec. Ldr. Clyden.

“What about those still looking for his body?” Osmo asked. “The searchers must get rotated on a regular basis as well, no? Especially since they are right in the thick of the dust, as they dig for Mr. McCleer."

"Ah, don't, ah, worry about it, punk. We had mostly miners looking for his body, but it seems to be a futile task, so, um, we might have to abandon the efforts to locate him."

Somewhere seated by himself, Gov. Bright suggested, "Osmo, I want you to go with the fresh shift, and let them show you about the mines. Learn the routine. One day it may prove useful for you to know.”

“Yes, sir." Osmo Martin silently wondered why the Governor chose to come with Sec. Ldr. Clyden on his weekly checking on the mines and rotation of the guards, because it seemed to be a rather routine thing for the Security Leader. But Osmo Martin did not ask aloud, of course.

The vehicle stopped in front of the greyish-blue mountain and everybody headed for the mine entrance. Crossing the narrow bridge over the moat full of Eaters, Osmo Martin jumped a little as the beasts below bellowed and growled. With such monsters attracting his attention, he barely noticed the music blasting out from the mine entrance.

Only one of the veteran guards laughed at Osmo's surprise. Everybody else had enough sense to be scared, too, but nobody else was surprised. Cautiously, all passed over the bridge, single file. The Eaters roared, hungry, hearing them pass on that bridge which proved so hard for the Eaters to reach. Even Gov. Xavier Bright walked across very fast, slightly unnerved by the commotion in the murky trench.

Once inside the cavern entryway, Clyden instructed his Agents as to where to go, and to take Osmo Martin along with them (but not to bother getting Osmo a headset, since he would not be staying at the mines).

Sec. Ldr. Clyden remained behind with the Governor near the entrance.

Some miners, their duties taking them near the entrance cavern, upon spotting Gov. Bright, immediately stopped to hail their leader and hero.

Gov. Bright lazily returned the greetings. One miner just stared, finally saying, amazed, "Who would have guessed that I would be lucky enough to see the Governor? I am indeed honored today.”

"I, too, am honored to have such a loyal miner working for me," the Governor replied distractedly, obviously not giving his full attention to what words he said by rote. Nevertheless,the miner beamed happily. After all, Gov. Bright couldn't be expected to focus  full attention on a lowly miner. But at least he acknowledged him. What a Governor!

Xavier Bright and Tretl Clyden visited the Warden's Office inside the mine, a zone quite close to the entrance, but also protected (as well as it could be) from the fuel ore dust in the air. There was also an office at the administration/headquarters for the humans on the other side of the mountain, but Gov. Bright found it too inconvenient to travel there.

This month's Warden, Jacobs, met them warmly and hospitably, offering a drink. Gov. Bright, in no good mood, declined the hospitality. He got to the point. "I came for an account of No. 317."

The Warden nodded. "Yes, Sir. He's been a bit of trouble for us. It's like the ID Wipe didn't achieve quite the loss of identity and subsequent remolding of his mind for which we had hoped. We can't quite get him to, eh, love you. The miners marginalize him because of his lack of love, but he doesn't get ashamed enough to fall in step with the mind molding."

"I see. I feel sorry for him," Gov. Bright stated. "Is his life here being made less than comfortable? Does he find himself being subjected to more-than-normal hardships and higher quota demands during his stay?"

Warden Jacobs again nodded. "Frequently, he is deprived of his meals. When there is a dangerous job to be done, usually he is the one called to do it, even if he is on his sleep shift. I tell you, Gov. Bright, life here is hell for him."

"Good. Just what kinds of dangerous jobs is he asked to perform?"

"A favorite is, whenever a Mine Team finds a deposit of pure fuel, No. 317 is chosen to be the one to dig it out of the ground so the others can resume their mining without there being any danger to them. It is a very touchy job. One mistake, some spark or too much force hitting the pure fuel, and the miner is disintegrated in a flash."

The Governor's eyes twinkled ever so slightly. "I like that. But, tell me, what is the reason for this lack of a complete success of the ID Wipe which lapse also occurs in some other subjects as in No. 317? Has there been any progress on understanding the reason for partial failure of the ID Wipe?”

"In the few cases with which I am acquainted, it seems that the miner, in his previous life, already held some deep views, usually of a religious nature, so that when we try to make him devoted to you, sir, after his mind has been splintered during the transformation process, and then erased and reshaped with the ID Wipe, the miner is still devoted to something else that somehow his unconscious mind holds onto and won’t release. It is very hard to get that type of subject to switch his allegiance whole-heartedly. Nobody can figure out how to crack them. They might not remember what had had them so enamored in their previous lives, but yet they won't come around to loving you, Gov. Bright. At least there’s not very many of those.”

"Interesting. Then what becomes of those miners? Are they of any use to the production teams? Do they seek to destabilize the devotion of the rest? I don't recall reading much of that angle in the reports."

Warden Jacobs sighed, frustrated over the whole affair. "They don’t, mostly. But the best we can usually hope to get from those miners is that they fake their love and appreciation of you, Sir. To some degree they can appear to be devoted, but, upon a bit of examination, it is usually deduced to be false. But at least we get the desired quotas from them, so we let it go. We don't make a point of it, and we let the other miners pick on them. There are very rare times when some of those kinds of miners cause some trouble, such as a lack of, shall we say, robust digging and such.”

“Then what happens?" asked Gov. Bright.

"Well, sometimes we toss the miner to the Eaters if he is too problematic." Warden Jacobs shrugged. "What choice do we have? No. 317 seems to be borderline trouble like some of those I just described. Do you want him tossed to the Eaters, too?"

Gov. Bright shook his head. "I don't think so. Not yet. Who will then dig out the pure fuel deposits? Have him brought here. I want to see him, speak with him.”

Warden Jacobs sent a robot to find No. 317 and bring him to the office ASAP. The wardens seldom used the PA system, which continued to crank out the music, because the PA system often proved unreliable and faulty, due to the dust in the air. The system required extensive maintenance.

It didn't take long for the robot to return with the miner, who introduced himself. "No. 317 reporting, as per your instructions, Warden Jacobs."

"Ah, good, good, 317," Warden Jacobs greeted him. No. 317 remained standing. Warden Jacobs waved to Gov. Bright and Sec. Ldr. Clyden seated by his desk. "We have visitors, No. 317."

No. 317 peered at them. "Do I know you? Oh- Oh! You are Gov. Bright, aren't you? Every time before a

shift, we are shown your picture and your benevolence is explained to us." He reached out to shake Gov. Bright’s hand. "How very good to meet you, Sir! I've heard so many things about you!"

"Have you now, No. 317?" He ignored the outstretched hand.

"Yes, Sir." He dropped his hand. "We are told everything good we get at the mines, we owe it all to you."

"And how do you feel about that?" asked the Governor.

“Oh, grateful, Sir, very grateful."

"As well you should," said Sec. Ldr. Clyden.

"Right," Warden Jacobs quickly agreed. "As well we all should."

Gov. Bright told the miner, "I, too, have been hearing things about you. I hear that you ceaselessly take on the almost suicidal task of always extracting the pockets of pure fuel, whenever a Mining Team uncovers some."

"I am often called upon to do that job," confirmed No. 317.

“Does it bother you? You could be vaporized in an instant with one wrong move. Or do you do it because you see it as a chance to serve your Governor?" asked Gov. Bright, probing, wondering if George McCleer was still in there somewhere. Outwardly, the miner's misshapen face still resembled his old room-mate, but was there anything of him left inside No. 317?

"If I am vaporized, it will happen before I even know it. It is asked of me, so I do it, Sir. If it's my duty, so be it," No. 317 answered.

"Yes, I see." The Governor continued to study No. 317's face, to see if any trace of his old acquaintance existed. Finally, the Governor said, "That will be all, then, No. 317. Thank you for your continued service. The people of Hope appreciate your loyalty."

"Thank you, Sir, for, um, the opportunity to serve. If that is all, then I must be going. I want to dig my amount today."

After Warden Jacobs and Gov. Bright dismissed him, Gov. Bright noted, "No. 317 is respectful, but not fawning. It is as you say, Warden Jacobs. It must be as you say. Those with deeply held religious beliefs unconsciously resist loving me. They just fake it. If I am to have good, devoted miners digging our ore, how do I combat something like that?"

"It is a challenge, Gov. Xavier," agreed Sec. Ldr. Clyden. “Maybe the only way to combat it is to toss them to the Eaters.”

(c) drk 2012