Silver

The veins snaked underground. Only the shine of the day showed their true worth. Silver, gold, cobalt. Riches beyond this world, making broken dreams come through under the burning logs and scorched earth. The sour smell, the acid water, the eternal dust in the lungs. Such a small price from a distance, and such a high reward.

The men descended into the pit one by one. The ground was soft underneath them, ready to collapse from any tremble, any wrong move. He held on to the rope, fe...