4 August 1124

　　The morning sun was still climbing but sweat already trickled down William`s back as he walked towards the mine. He enjoyed the walk, a chance to escape the chaos of village life. Holford was a hive of productivity and William rarely found time to relax between project work, Council meetings and helping Matilda. He often thought back to the dull monotony that was his life almost a year earlier. Even on the busiest of days, he couldn`t dream of going back but it was nice to have the odd chance to escape.

　　Despite scattered objections about his age, William was a recognised leader in Holford and responsible for coordinating several projects of his own. Villagers came to him whenever Matilda couldn`t be found and he was increasingly vocal at Council meetings. He`d learnt so much just by following Matilda around for months and she bestowed increasing responsibility upon him as her faith in his abilities grew.

　　The metalrelated projects at both the mine and the blacksmith was an area that made particular sense for William to manage. His friendship with Ralph had been the main driver but he`d also developed a strong relationship with Edric. The Miner had a soft spot for William and still joked that the Boy had literally helped him get back on his feet.

　　Edric`s transformation was as magnificent as Holford`s. With the newfound purpose from his revived mine, he`d gone from the town drunk to a thriving member of society. He tied his unruly into a tight ponytail and worked with the energy of three men, spending more time underground than above. Besides sleep, attending Council meetings was probably the only time he spent on the surface.

　　William entered a familiar outcrop of trees where a layer of grey dust covering the undergrowth indicated that he was approaching the mine. He marvelled at the flurry of activity at the site as he approached. Edric had continued to take on whatever additional help he could find, eager to restore the greatness of his family`s once prosperous mine. Barring the occasional burst hose, Matilda`s pump design had solved the issue of groundwater and the workers delved ever deeper. William heard plans for new tunnels with each visit.

　　Edric`s decrepit hut now served as both sleeping quarters for the Miner and a lockable storage room for his valuable ore. His labourers seemed content to sleep under the summer stars, though some had started to construct basic huts from whatever spare wood they could scavenge. They`d set up a long trestle table and benches where the whole mining crew gathered for their dusty communal meals.

　　Despite the heat, Edric`s smelter blazed every day to free the valuable copper trapped within the ore. William was still amazed each time he witnessed its red-hot contents scraped out. Melting rocks to form nuggets of metal was a special type of sorcery that predated Matilda`s arrival.

　　It was for those nuggets that William had journeyed to the mine. He`d followed Edric`s progress for months, monitoring the mine`s output with an eagle eye. If his calculations were correct, he would finally have enough to finally start his biggest project.

　　Matt Smith didn`t understand Matilda`s desire for delicate threads of copper. A weak metal, he`d said, pretty but useless for anything practical. He had still built a wire extruder according to Matilda`s specifications but used it for steel, refusing to process Edric`s early batches of copper without knowing why it was so important. Matilda said he`d just have to wait.

　　Edric`s labourers paid little attention when William arrived and continued going about their tasks. With so many newcomers, William struggled to recognise any of the workers and his stomach dropped when the only familiar face was Warren, one of his frequent tormenters. Certain that Edric was nowhere to be seen, William reluctantly approached Warren and asked where the Miner was.

　　"Where d`ya think?" he said, surly as ever. "Down the mine. I ain`t helping you with nothing so go find him yaself. Careful tho`, Roger`s down there too&"

　　William was unsurprised by Warren`s taunting tone and left before the animosity escalated.

　　The mine entrance had been reinforced since William`s first visit but his stomach churned as the darkness loomed before him. Taking a breath to steady himself, he withdrew the precious device Matilda had bestowed upon him and ventured underground.

　　William`s biggest project all came back to Matilda`s tiny magic light box. The one she`d first shown him at her cave - he was still the only soul who knew her true futuristic origins - and used when they first explored the mine. After months of constant badgering, Matilda had finally judged that William knew enough to understand the device and explained how it worked.

　　"It`s a torch," she`d said simply, as if it were the most unremarkable thing in the world. "Electricity runs through a diode, or a bulb, and generates light."

　　William didn`t understand half of the words but was amazed nonetheless. His family could rarely afford candles so the day ended when the sun set. Matilda`s device promised endless light and William`s mind exploded with the possibilities of what he could do with limitless daytime. The things he could learn.

　　Matilda showed him how to dismantle the torch and described each component. The bulb, the crank, the casing. Most important was the battery, which Matilda said could do so much more than make light. William thought she was joking but Matilda explained how she planned to use the mill to make a much more impressive device. Powering lights was just the beginning.

　　Matilda ended up gifting the torch to William, knowing how much time he spent at the mine and how much he hated being underground. William cherished the gift as he delved deeper in search of Edric.

　　He interrupted two groups of workers before finally stumbling across the Miner. Edric hummed one of Matilda`s tunes as he squatted by a stone wall, the steady ring of his pick adding percussion to the base of his voice. He was far too comfortable in the cramped surroundings.

　　"Ho, William!" he called, pushing himself upright with a grunt. "Fancy seeing you down `ere, all by yaself. None o` the boys offered to help?"

　　"I can manage on my own," William replied defiantly.

　　"That you can. Here for the nuggets?"

　　Edric brushed past William and headed back outside without waiting for a response. William scurried after him, terrified of being left behind. Darkness swallowed everything behind him.

　　"Matthew didn` happen to give ya any o` the tools we been waitin` for?" the Miner asked, his deep baritone echoing off the walls.

　　"No, he didn`t mention anything."

　　"That`s a shame. We`re all back to rotatin` shifts til we can get more. Been workin` so hard that we went through the whole month`s supply in only two weeks. Almost too many of us now. But Lord has it been worth it. You shoulda brought that mate of yours to help carry it all back. You`ll be hurtin` when you sleep tonight."

　　Edric`s hearty laughter echoed around the mine. William feared he was right but couldn`t help smiling at the reformed man`s energy.

　　William breathed a sigh of relief when they reached the surface, though the wall of humidity made him miss the cooler depths. Almost. Edric pulled out a long iron key that matched his hut`s heavy lock - another of Matilda and Matthew`s more recent creations - and unlocked the door before rifling around under his bed and withdrawing four bulging sacks. They looked small but William noticed that even Edric strained as he lifted them onto his bed two at a time.

　　"That should do for now," the Miner said. "I`m not sure you`d be able to carry much more to be honest." He eyed William`s arms. "The Redhead has ya running around too much. You`re too scrawny. Ya should come down and swing a pick with us for awhile. It`ll do ya some good."

　　"Uh, thanks for the offer," William stalled. He couldn`t think of anything worse. "Maybe if I find some spare time. But I`d better get going, Matthew`s waiting."

　　"Me too," Edric said, eager to return underground. "Always more to do but never enough time. See ya tonight," he called over his shoulder as he marched back into the earth.

　　William shook his head in disbelief at the Miner`s enthusiasm. So different to the slob he`d met in a pigsty.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

　　Edric wasn`t exaggerating about William struggling to carry the bags back to Holford. His arms ached before the mine was out of view but he soldiered onwards, refusing to let the labourers see a soft villager fail at such a simple task.

　　His frequent stops reminded him of another interrupted journey between the mine and the village, though this one had less vomit. His arms were ablaze by the time he arrived at Matthew`s forge.

　　"I just don`t understand," the Smith said as William dumped the sacks by the forge. "Why copper? She can`t make anything with it! Perhaps cheap jewellery but our time would be better spent improving the steel or recreating her chainmail."

　　"Not the chainmail again?" Ralph asked impatiently as he joined them, handing William a pitcher of water and the magnetic lodestones Matilda had requested. "Haven`t you preached that there`s more to this noble craft than warfare?"

　　William downed the entire pitcher and massaged his sore arms while the blacksmiths continued to spar about the noble art of metalwork.

　　"How long until the wire`s ready?" William interrupted.

　　"A few weeks perhaps, depends what Matilda wants to prioritise," Matthew said. "I`ve made my arguments but it seems that even my apprentice is against me. Insubordination I tell you!"

　　"You can ask at the Council meeting tonight, but I`m sure she`ll say it`s the priority. She really wants to get started on this next mill project. Trust me, it`ll be worth it."

　　"Look at you," Ralph mocked. "All high and mighty knowing what the secret project is." He looked to Matthew with a smirk. "I`m sure one of those iron rods could get him talking. You heat it in the coals and I`ll pin him down?"

　　Matthew picked up a rod with a flourish and William was feigning terror when there was a sudden commotion from the village square.

　　"Heeeelllppp!!!" a desperate voice cried. "Someone!? Anyone!?"

　　The three men ran out of the forge to see what was going on. Several other villagers emerged from nearby houses.

　　One of Edric`s labourers stood alone in the village square. He was covered from head to toe in dust and looked around frantically.

　　"What`s going on?" Matthew asked the man, cool-headed as always.

　　"Cave in! Down the mine. Most got out but there`s people trapped down there!"

　　Matthew and William reacted instantly, running towards the mine. William stopped only a few strides in.

　　"Matthew," he called. "Tools! Edric said they`re low on tools. Have you got more?"

　　Matthew stopped too and took Ralph back to the forge to grab them. William ran on, urging the labourer back towards the mine. The crowd continued to swell and he spotted Elizabeth and Astrid.

　　"Tell Matilda to come to the mine. Astrid, with us! Now!"

　　Elizabeth sprinted towards Matilda`s mill and William urged everyone else to the mine.

　　"What happened?" William asked the labourer as they ran. "I was just there."

　　"One of the old shafts collapsed. Only just reopened. Ed`s been pushing us hard to beat his quotas so we didn`t have time to redo all the supports."

　　William cursed Edric`s stubborn determination to redeem himself and thundered towards the mine.

　　When they finally arrived, the mine was a different type of chaos to what William had witnessed that morning. Cries of pain tore through the trees and people ran everywhere. Two men groaned on the long benches, covered in even more dust than usual. One was bleeding profusely from his head. Astrid rushed over to help.

　　William did what he could to coordinate the rescue efforts and, lacking any other leadership, the frenzied labourers quickly updated him on the situation. One of the older tunnels had collapsed. Edric had ordered it reopened a week ago. Reinforcing timbers had been used for huts. Two men had already been dug out, one was dead. Four more were missing, including Edric.

　　William was consulting with Astrid when Matthew and Ralph arrived with additional tools. William tasked them with coordinating things on the surface before rallying some familiar labourers and running down into the mine. Despite the clear risk of another cave in, William`s mind noted with amusement that he felt no fear as he delved underground once more.

　　The air was dusty and the floor littered with debris. William pushed his way to the front of the rescue effort and used Matilda`s torch to illuminate the space for the workers. He barked orders, organising a human chain to remove debris and telling others to find additional wood to reinforce the walls.

　　Progress felt excruciatingly slow and William lost track of how long they`d been digging. Larger rocks had to be levered out and the diggers tired quickly. William made them swap and started digging as well.

　　William finished a third rotation before returning to the surface. It was much calmer and he found Matilda walking around and tending to the wounded. He ran over to give her an update.

　　"Well done," Matilda said. "It sounds like you`ve got things under control. I think we&"

　　There was a sudden commotion from the mine entrance.

　　"We`ve found one!"

　　Midsentence, William ran back into tunnel.

　　It was one of the labourers. They`d exposed most of the man when William arrived but the man`s crushed chest made it clear that he was dead. William stepped aside as the body was delicately extracted from the rubble and carried back up to the surface.

　　Digging resumed with renewed vigour and it wasn`t long before they found a shoe and its accompanying foot. They initially thought it was another casualty but the toes wiggled as they brushed dirt away. The group accelerated their efforts and hastily extracted the man.

　　It was Roger, William`s other tormenter. He was in a bad way, his breathing ragged and his torso purple. He was barely conscious but his eyes pleaded for help. William ordered that Roger be carried straight to Matilda and resumed digging.

　　The debris became finer and William`s team eventually carved a hole through to the other side of the tunnel.

　　"Hey!" came a weak cry from the other side.

　　"Gregory!" a female labourer called out with relief. William had never met either of them.

　　"My legs are busted," Gregory announced. "Hurry! I`ve managed to dig Edric out but he`s not good. Stay with me Ed&"

　　Wary of the insecure ceiling, William ordered that the roof be braced before they resumed digging. They dug as fast as possible, carving out a hole big enough for the female volunteer to slide through. She reported that neither man was in a state to clamber up the debris so work resumed to carve a hole large enough for a stretcher.

　　They cut though in no time, the woman digging from one side and the rest of the team from the other. William pushed through and scrambled down to Edric. The torch beam passed over the Miner`s face, coated in dust and flittering eyelids barely open.

　　"You`ll be alright," William urged.

　　Edric couldn`t speak but gave a weak smile upon hearing the familiar voice.

　　Warren helped William fumble in the dark to assemble the makeshift stretcher. Edric grunted in pain as they loaded him onto it and was fully unconscious when they passed him through the hole.

　　William ignored the gaping abyss behind him and focussed on Gregory who was bathed in sweat and moaned as he clutched his shattered legs. They bundled him onto another stretcher which Warren and the woman guided through the hole while William pushed. When he was though, everyone scrambled out and William followed, relieved to be back on the safe side of the collapsed roof.

　　"Out!" he cried. "Everybody out! Now!"

　　The few remaining volunteers ran out of the mine. William was the last to leave the godforsaken tunnel. Darkness lapped at his ankles.

　　The atmosphere was subdued when he reached the surface. Two bodies lay on Edric`s long trestle table, coarse cloaks draped over their faces. Astrid wept uncontrollably.

　　"William!" Matilda cried from the door of Edric`s hut. "Get over here!"

　　William rushed inside and was shocked to see the floor covered in blood and Roger lying on Edric`s bed. The intrusion in Edric`s abode felt wrong

　　"I`ve done everything I can but he`s still looking pretty bad," Matilda said. "Keep an eye on him while I check Edric and the man with the broken legs. Just remember what we discussed in the winter, pressure and pulse."

　　Matilda ran out of the hut, leaving William alone with his tormenter. William wasn`t entirely sure what to do but he diligently watched over the man, willing him to stay alive. William`s hands shook uncontrollably but he refused to take his eyes off the injured miner.

　　Matilda eventually returned and relieved William of his terrifying watch.

　　"That`ll do Will, I`ll take it from here."

　　William gladly stepped aside and let Matilda perform a quick check of her patient before she knelt down and started to clean Roger`s grimy face.

　　"How were Gregory`s legs?" William asked.

　　"Shattered," Matilda said with concern. "There`s a chance they`ll heal but they`ll never be straight again. I`m afraid he`ll be crippled for the rest of his life. We may even need to amputate but he`ll live. I`m not so sure about this one."

　　She gestured to Roger.

　　"He`s tough," William conceded. "A real arse but I`m sure he`ll make it. And Edric..?"

　　Matilda stopped mopping Roger`s brow.

　　"I`m so sorry Will. Edric didn`t make it&"

　　William`s blood froze.

　　"He was gone before he reached the surface. The other labourer died too. I asked poor Astrid to take over when Roger reached the surface but she was well out of her depth. I fear I`ve caused her great trauma today."

　　Matilda paused and looked up at William, her eyes full of compassion and concern.

　　"He died doing what he loved," she said. "A man in his mine, not a drunk in the mud. You`ve done so well William. Helping him get back on his feet. Keeping him motivated. Organising this rescue all by yourself and leading from the front." She paused. "I really don`t know what to say. I`m so proud."

　　William gave her a weak smile. Despite everything, the sincerity of Matilda`s praise meant a lot.

　　"Go home and get some rest," she continued. "God knows you deserve it. I`ll stay here with Roger. He looks stable but I doubt he`d survive the journey to Holford. There`s no way in hell I`m letting another soul slip away. Not today."

　　William didn`t need to be told again and fled the cabin. A crowd had assembled outside. They`d wrapped the bodies and loaded them onto stretchers. William huffed impatiently for them to move but it was only after a nod from Matthew that he realised they were waiting for his directions.

　　"Ah, alright then. Back to Holford."

　　William led the mournful procession back to the village, all the way to the parish church. He was glad someone had run ahead and warned Father Daniel, meaning he only needed to give a cursory explanation before the crowd dissipated and William could finally return home.

　　Ma, Pa and Elizabeth`s faces were etched with concern but they didn`t press him to talk. Still fully clothed and covered in dust, William dropped to his bed without a word. His arms ached but consciousness left him almost immediately.

　　He slept like a rock.

　　(C) Jay Pelchen 2023. All rights reserved.