Another Night Down the Pit

In spite of my worry I am tired enough that eventually I doze off, uncomfortable though the mat is. I am woken by the banging of a gong, indicating that the food wagon has arrived with the late afternon meal. Apparently for the night shift this is the main meal of the day, though we had had breakfast shortly after returning to the dormitory.

Along with everyone else I am given a enormous bowl of stodge and a spoon, together with a huge tankard that looks as though it holds at least two pints. Ordinarily I might have turned up my nose at the food, which doesn't look or smell very appetising. But I must have expended an enormous amount of energy last night and as a result I am ravenously hungry, so I wolf it all down. I quickly drink the tepid water in the tankard, hoping that it and the drink I had earlier with my breakfast will be sufficient to replace what I have lost in sweat.

None of the other slaves speaks to me. I suppose that's partly because I am new, but there is very little conversation even amongst the others. I think they are all too tired and depressed to talk much.

Shortly after the meal the guards escort in the day shift, who will have use of the dormitory whilst we are working. Then the guards take us back to the mine, for my second night's work. It progresses much the same as the previous night. As then, there is a brief break about halfway through the shift, when we are encouraged to drink as much water as we can manage. Water costs almost nothing to provide, and a slave that collapses from dehydration is an unproductive slave. We aren't allowed to use any of the water to wash, though. Since my skin was already dyed a darkish hue, it doesn't show that much difference, but my originally almost white loincloth is by now dark grey.

I struggle a little with my pickaxe at first, for the unaccustomed labour of the first night has made the muscles in my arms, back and legs stiffen up, but they soon loosen again. Apparently the guards are still going easy on me, as I am not whipped, but I wonder how long my immunity will last if Zal doesn't come for me soon.

The next day:

1. There is still no news.
2. Yunis has me brought to his office, where I am overjoyed to see Zal.
3. Yunis has me brought to his office, where he has some very bad news for me. Yesterday he went to see Zal, but found the inn a smoking ruin. He has no idea what has happened to Zal, Don or Nadia.

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