Watching the soldiers prepare the dead for burial, Dray wandered among them. One miner died, Aldel, who had been relatively friendly to Dray. He hadn’t known Adel very well, but Adel had been a good man, getting on in years. He had volunteered to go for the same reason Dray had, the possibility of ensuring their family was cared for.
Dray didn’t do anything, still shocked, as Aldel was lowered into his grave. He said a prayer to the gods, in the hopes that Adel would be happy to know that his family would now be taken care of. The soldiers didn’t pay much attention to him, only the other miners paid attention to him. The miners were surprised by this death, but they had seen death before. Dray remembered these men had probably been there when the cave-in killed his father.
The mining tools were mostly left alone, too heavy and obviously of little value to be taken away. After inventory was taken, and the wagons loaded, the march resumed. The soldiers were on higher alert, some of them had died, and they wanted revenge. He didn’t talk to the soldier walking near them because he could see the soldier clenching his teeth. If he patted him on the back, it would seem farcical.
He drifted along in silence, listening to the sounds of the horses’ hooves and footsteps of men. Once in a while he’d startle, and scan the treelines. That night the soldiers dug in more than their usual routine. Trenches were dug and logs were cut to be used as fortifications. Once everything was set, and the watch was walking along the edges of their camp, Dray felt relief from the pressure. His body felt as if it had begun loosening as he breathed deeply.
The cook passed around bowls of stew to the miners, who ate in silence. Dray was hoping someone would breach the quiet, if only to announce that he was scared. Finally, when he could see the bottom of his bowl, someone spoke up. Helmand, another of the older generation, who had been somewhat friendly with Aldel. “I will miss him.”
They all turned to Helmand, who continued. “I was a young man when I first met Aldel. He was slow to approach others, but when he thought he could give good advice, he would.” Dray and a few others nodded. “He was easy-going, I suppose mostly because no one ever seemed to want to quarrel with him.” Helmand set his bowl down on the ground. “I am sad for his family, but I know it was quick. And I know that he lies easier knowing that his family will be taken care of. That’s what I hope for. I am an old man myself, and I don’t have long to live. No miner ever enjoys a long life. So I came along for the money, but also because dying wasn’t the worst thing that could happen. Not if it could help my family.”
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Dray knew what everyone was thinking, that of course that was why they came. That if they died, their families would be looked after. Rather than dying in a cave-in, as Dray’s father had, their death would at least have some value to their family. Occasionally a miner would look around, and inevitably it seemed his gaze would land on Dray. As if wondering, what a healthy young man was doing, possibly throwing his life away.
Dray kept his head lowered, and listened, as the other miners began to talk, the firelight reflecting from their faces, as they told stories about Aldel. Finally, a pause came, and Dray realized he had not spoken. So he lifted his head, and realized many were looking at him. “Aldel gave me advice, from time to time. Usually about mining, how to swing a pick. But sometimes, he’d give me advice about anything that came into his head. How to select the best peach. The right way to calm a horse. How to mend a carriage wheel. He was full of knowledge it seemed. I thought he might be a scholar from somewhere else.” there were a few chuckles at that notion.
“Luchtun, please take care of our friend Aldel. He mined for you for many years, and now, lead him out of the darkness, into the light. Do not force him to remain underground, but allow him to enjoy the sunlight with his ancestors.” Helmand finished his prayer. Slowly, the miners began to drift away from their small circle. They went to their tents, and laid down in the darkness, waiting for morning.
The mood was better when the sun rose. The warmth of the sun helped ease the dark mood. The miners smiled, looking at each other. They had proven that the sun comes up, life goes on. They marched along with more cheer in their hearts. And in this way, they traveled for several weeks, until they came near the site of the potential mine.