Like Veins of Red Rubies (Most Precious Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

him
for a while scurried up to him and said, "Mr. Barrett, how is the dig
developing? I heard you and Victor made good progress yesterday."
    "Yes, we’ve dug up far,
thanks to the new drills. If we advance at the same rate, we’ll reach the
surface in no time," said Stanley. "Honestly speaking, I am excited
for the outcome."
    The old woman nodded. "I’ve
heard the stories, as everyone has, but can you imagine? A world without roofs
or walls, to see trees that wither! Oh, it may seem grim, but it adds
character."
    Stanley nodded.
    When Stanley reached the town
square, he parted with the old woman and passed through the crowd. The other
workers made their way into the broken wall. They waded through the lake that
sloshed due to their rough steps. Stanley walked gently through the middle and
met Mr. Roberts.
    "Ready for the second
day?" said Mr. Roberts.
    "I am very well
excited," Stanley said.
    "Well I hope you can manage
the dirt from piling up today," said Victor. He approached from the lake.
    "My mind has been
refreshed," said Stanley. "We should have no trouble today."
    "That’s it, a clear mind,
the mind of a good man," said Mr. Roberts. "That's what we
need."
    Victor dried his legs and
equipped his gear, Stanley as well. Victor picked up his drill and secured it
on his back. He walked over to the tunnel and climbed in.
    "Let me go first," said
Stanley.
    Victor turned and said,
"No." He flicked on his light and slowly progressed up the tunnel,
with Stanley following patiently behind. After a considerable amount of time,
Victor’s helmet tapped against the end of the tunnel. He grabbed his drill and
said, "Get ready, I’m starting now." As soon as he flicked the
drill’s switch, it spun and dug into the earth, ravenously eating away at it,
and regurgitating it almost immediately at Stanley who shuffled to push them
down. Victor progressed upward in tremendously efficient time and Stanley
matched his pace. The drill did not falter, but soon enough, the men did. Victor’s
arms loosened and Stanley’s movements lagged.
    "We should take a
break," said Victor. He turned the drill off and set it beside him as he
rested his head.
    Stanley heaved and slid a final
massive mound of dirt down the tunnel. "I would appreciate that very
much."
    "I’ve been holding this
thing too long," said Victor, "that my head is still vibrating."
    "My arms feel like mush.
It’ll be difficult for me to fold my clothes tonight."
    "You think the others are
having as much trouble as we are?" said Victor. He raised his head and
glanced at the end of the tunnel then rested his eyes and scrunched his nose.
    "Trouble?" said
Stanley. "This isn’t trouble; it’s just a lot of work. We’re making great
progress now."
    Victor nodded and picked up his
drill. He aimed it at the end, but froze and slowly set his drill down.
"What is this?" he said. He pulled something from the earth.
    "What have you found?"
said Stanley.
    "I don’t know," said
Victor. "It’s flat, smooth, maybe plastic?"
He studied it a bit longer before saying, "It has six holes on it. Maybe
we put our arms in them." Victor removed his gauntlet and slid his bare
arm in.
    "Let me see," said
Stanley.
    Victor slipped and thudded onto
his chest, dropping his drill. "Oh damn," he said.
    Stanley lunged aside and grabbed
the drill. "What’s wrong?" he said as he set the drill into a ledge.
    "Oh no," said Victor.
"Stanley, help!"
    Stanley hurried and climbed up on
the ledges. "What? What?" he said. He squeezed beside Victor, but
Victor’s elbow flailed and blunted Stanley’s nose. He rubbed it, but it only
tickled it and incited a sneeze. He looked up and said, "What happened?
Tell me."
    Victor held before him a white
sheet with holes. He waved it and said, "Did you not see what it has done
to me? It's a torture device!"
    "Let me see that," said
Stanley. He grabbed the sheet and observed it. It was thin and had six holes
that were only slightly smaller than his fist. But the material was