00061

Almost two dozen miners, accompanied by several human and robot guards, pushed carts full of fuel ore down the tracks of the "unsafe" mine tunnel, the tunnel with warnings painted or pasted on the walls. At the end of the tunnel, the rubble from a huge cave-in blocked the path- and the tracks. Swiftly, the miners cleared off the rocks and stones of the debris/ which turned out to be really not much debris at all, not as much as it appeared to the glancing eyes. Rather, the rock pile had hid the rest of the “dangerous” tunnel behind the faked cave-in.

One of the robot guards turned on the switch inside the newly-opened section of the shaft, and overhead lights flashed on.

At the true end of this winding shaft there was an elevator platform. Those miners at the front of the group rushed to push their heavy carts onto the lift, and then each of these first miners stood with his cart on the lift. Not all the miners could fit on the elevator at one time, so the rest stood at attention, eager to be the next bunch to go down below, to do secret work at the ore processor, and to show their loyalty by not talking about it afterward.

The guards had split up. Some went down with the miners on the lift as it lowered. Others remained watching over the prisoners on the upper level- prisoners who were oblivious that they were prisoners.

Soon a lone miner brought the elevator back up for those waiting, announcing it was okay for another group. And then, another company of eager miners hurried onto the platform to go downward with their carts of ore. This went on for a few trips, and soon, some of the first of the miners to descend now began to come back up on the lift. There were as yet some miners who had not yet had a chance to ride down. These returning miners brought along their empty carts, having already unloaded their load of rocks somewhere below. These miners rushed back down the tunnel from which they had come with their empty carts, using the tracks that branched off from the platform. The miners would hasten to reload and come back with more ore. A few of the guards tried to keep up with them, but soon gave up on that notion. Yeah, well, these loyal miners didn't need guarding, anyway.

The miners kept talking to a minimum. This was, after all, a secret project. However, no matter how much they intended it otherwise, it seemed impossible to do all this work in quiet. The mining carts themselves, riding the rails, made enough noise squealing along the metal. And then, of course, they had to shout and chant the occasional cheer for their Governor, who allowed them this honor of working on a secret project for him.

With all this coming and going, two newly arrived miners found it very easy to push along ore-laden buggies and mix in with the rest, as if they, too, were members of this very-loyal and trustworthy bunch. The guards, giving orders and directions, never even looked over their way.

George (aka No. 317) and No. 248 tried to hide their joy, because this plan of theirs, well thought out-mostly by 248 after some small research, and then implemented by the two of them at the nearest opportunity- gave them hope of being able to escape this slavery den.

At first, the miner George had his serious doubts that they would be able to find out all they needed to know regarding the ore processor's schedule, but they did find out, and so fast at that. First, 248 had set his mind to finding out which miners worked at the secret processor. He had observed and quietly noted over the next several days that many of Gov. Bright's most loyal miners, such as No. 25, seemingly vanished completely from the mines. No. 248 figured he knew where they went. Then he paid attention to whenever this happened, and how often. This was how 248 and George spent their free time, whatever there was of it, anyway- spying on the loyal miners, and deducing the schedule of the ore processor's operating days.

Having compared their own work schedules with each other, the miner George and No. 248 knew when the both of them had free times at the same time, and they decided on a meeting place for those such times, to share notes and to make further plans about how to go about escaping, and also to pray for success.

Haply, the secret processing operating times turned out to be fairly straightforward and regular in nature, so it was easy figure out and to pick a time when both had no work, and also when the processing plant would be in use.

George followed after 248 along the railways, pushing his heavily loaded cart, waiting in the line with No. 248 to get on the lift, to go down together, to slip away from the main group, to find the exhaust vent shaft, and to go from there to freedom!

The line advanced some more as other miners came from below, pushing empty carts off the lift and onto the exit rails.

George waited patiently for his turn... Once the two had made good their escape, according to what George plotted, then George intended to hunt down his past and find out who he really was, and who was Nina, whom he dreamt about on more than one occasion. He hoped he would like what he found out about himself. And Nina.

Finally, George’s and 248's turns to ride down the elevator neared... 

One miner after another pushed his buggie of ore onto the lift, and then it was the miner just ahead of 248 who was next, and then 248's turn came, and he pushed on his own cartload and stood beside it, and after that George's turn. George had enough room to be able to squeeze in also among No. 248 and the other miners onto the platform-

However, unexpectedly, as if from nowhere, a human guard pushed his way ahead, taking George's spot upon the lift.

Annoyed, but not deterred, George aimed his cart, to shove it onto the platform anyway, and to force himself, wedge himself into the crowd on the packed lift, but the guard frowned and stood in front of George's buggie, blocking him. The guard shook his head. "What are you doing, miner? Don't be so anxious to get to work. Relax, take the next lift. I am sure the Governor will understand."

Frustrated, George the miner aka No. 317 relented. "Yes, Sir." Now what? As George watched the lift descend, carrying No. 248, he sighed. The pair suddenly found themselves split up! Well, a problem, but a minor one. Surely he and 248 would be able to find each other again downstairs, and still carry out their plan. Okay, probably No. 248 would have to play along, act like he truly belonged on the trusted crew, while waiting for George. Naturally, 248 wouldn't be just hanging out idly by the bottom of the elevator until George arrived. Instead, he would have to take the ore and dump it off at the designated spot, but then No. 248 could find a place to duck into and so conceal himself until his partner in their Operation Freedom showed up.

At last the elevator came back up with several miners and their empty ore carts. Once they disembarked, George made sure to get on the lift this time- Since he headed the line, there presented nothing to block him from accomplishing getting on the elevator this time, of course... And, as at the previous times, guards also hopped on to take the ride down with the miners.

Down, down they went.

Much to George's surprise, he saw 248 actually did wait for him right at the bottom of the elevator. And with No. 248 were several of the guards- both human and robot, blasters drawn- including the guard who had pushed ahead of George on the trip before with No. 248. Some pointed their weapons at 248, and some aimed at George as he came down on the lift. And there in that crowd of guards were the two robot guards who had chased them out of this hidden tunnel the last time they were here. George saw all this from where he stood on the lowering lift, before it even touched bottom. So did the other miners, who then noticed just who these two were- and they immediately recognized the two.

"It's Nos.317 and 248!"

248 hung his head, not looking George in the eye. "Sorry, No. 317, I guess we didn't think out this part of the plan. I never expected them to catch us mingling with the other miners here."

The lift completed its descent. The other miners proceeded off the lift, sparing some glares at George and 248. They didn't know what was going on, but they saw the guards surrounding them, and they also knew these two did not belong here with the trusted miners! Especially No. 317- Only the most loyal miners were on this secret duty. "Imposters!" they called them between sneers and scowls while they went past the two.

317 sighed and walked over to 248, not putting up a struggle, resigned. "How did you guards know what we planned and that we aren’t members of the group? We covered our numbers with grime and dirt, in case you’d notice them and realize it.”

The guard who had pushed his way onto the lift ahead of George answered him. "When there had been some intruders down here days earlier, you were one of the suspects, No. 317. But No. 248 surprised us, but not you. I have been following you tactfully about for some time today, and so now, here we are."

248 shrugged. "Yes, we are. Now what? Will you feed us to the Eaters?"

"I wish. But 317 shows great talent at his dangerous job of digging out pure fuel deposits when they are uncovered. He is a master at it, and has yet to blow himself up. Since he's been doing that job, we have lost fewer miners in pure fuel accidents, except for when miner first stumbles upon a deposit. 317 is an asset, even though a bad miner. I don't know if Somebody Up There is watching out for him, or if, because he obviously lacks the proper zeal for serving the Governor like he should, maybe he instead watches out for himself selfishly and, whereas a regular miner is so excited about to work and he doesn't take the time to be careful, No. 317 is less excited, and so uses more care in digging up the pure fuel."

248 nodded. "I see. That's what you think of 317, an asset. Now, what of me, then? I have a feeling I will be learning the same trade which No. 317 has been doing. If so, perhaps I can be his apprentice or something."

The guard laughed. "As if we would trust you two working together. But you are half right. No sense in tossing you to the Eaters, either. You can be No. 317's backup, in case he finally does go boom. But you will be operating solo, and you must figure out the tricks of the trade on your own, or blow up trying. You certainly won't be working alongside 317." He told the other guards, "Okay, we got 'em. Let's go.”

The guards took the prisoners back up on the lift to the tunnel above. They kept their blasters on them all the way up and all the way through the rocky corridors to the detention center.

The detention center consisted of a chamber carved into solid rock, with several miner-sized cages with exceptionally thick bars. These cages lined both sides of the chamber walls. A few cages held miners already, but only one to a cage.

The guard said, "Sometimes we must lock up a miner, maybe for punishment or for incompetence and repeated failures in meeting quota goals. Sometimes we just keep them here until we set up a gladiator fight for them, to teach them a lesson. But the bars are very thick, and very strong, a special alloy, too hard to smash through even for a miner If you do try, you will be caught before you can even make a dent in the bars."

They put George in a cage at one end, and 248 in another cage at the other end, both at the farther ends of the chamber. The cage doors were slammed in their faces and locked.

The guard smiled at George. "Don't get any ideas that these locks are the weak link. They are just as strong as the cages. I hope you like your new accommodations. You will continue to work, but then, when you finish your shift, you will immediately be brought back here and caged. And then you will go to work again, when it is time to go. And then be brought back here again. And so forth. Don't waste your time thinking you can get out of here. This is how you will spend the rest of the days of your life. I hope you have a nice time."

George told the guard, "I do see a bright side in all of this, at least.'

"Oh? Do tell.”

“At least we won't have to attend those stupid pep rallies for the Governor anymore."

The guard turned away in disgust, not responding.

In his cage at the other end, 248 laughed heartily, "Amen to that, No. 317, amen, brother!"

George considered the situation. His and 248's plan failed, but George refused to give up. He must find a way out so he could find out who he really was, and who was this Nina... Already George had another escape plan forming in his mind...”

(c) drk 2012