I returned from making a delivery of stuff to a nearby town. Not sure what it was. There were lots of boxes though. Heavy boxes. I asked the guy what was in them but he said he had no idea and to get out the middle of the road. I asked the next person but they just frowned and scuttled away. Don’t know why people do this. Guess everyone’s a bit edgy. Once the truck was unloaded I prepared to leave, noticing on the way that the foreman’s shoes were untied. Wish I’d said something because as I left he tripped and I ran over his hand. Leaping out the truck I offered to help with a bucket of water but he just ranted and cursed, so I left.
As I prepare for rest there is a kafuffle outside. I look out, and that crazy old man is threatening children again. The sheriff rocks up once he starts brandishing a shotgun. Next thing there’s a loud crash, and a tank in middle of the street. Never driven a tank. Wonder how fast they go. The sheriff manages to arrest the old-boy in front of half the town. A storm rolls in over the horizon. I like storms. All the loud noises and flashing lights. I decide to sit out and watch.
Turns out this is no ordinary storm. Started out normal like, with lighting and thunder and rain. But the thunder got really loud and people and buildings were blown to bits by the lightning. Seeing people being exploded, I figure staying still isn’t a good option, so I jump in my car and start driving. Fast. The lightning seemed to follow me so I was forced to go off-road. I got to the railway and decided to follow it. Seemed a safe route out of town. A train was coming the other way so I gave it right of way by driving on the wall. Hanging upside down in the middle of the railway was a new experience. Cutting myself loose I managed to scramble away before the train hit. I hit my head as I fell out the seat. Then there’s loud noises from the town. Kinda’ like a cannon. The cloud screams and disappears. Not like any storm I've ever seen.
With a sore brain I realise I’ll have to walk back to town. I hate walking. It’s too slow. Eventually I get back to town to see the devastation the cloud did.
A recruitment bus for the mines soon turns up. Convenient. Too convenient. But people seem willing to head there for work so I guess I’ll go with them. I offer to drive the bus but the guy gives me that familiar frown and turns away. As people get on the bus I check for undone shoelaces. Don’t want any more accidents to happen. Again, more odd looks. Also on the bus is the creepy farmer who lives on the edge of town. Says he’s Russian, same as the big smelly blacksmith, who has an unhealthy attachment to his hammer. There’s the twitchy deputy who keeps jabbering about seeing the sheriff explode, and the Mexican guy who has a happy knack of making machines work.
The drive to the mines is slow. Too slow. I insist with the driver I can get us there much faster if he tells me where to go, but he just taps on a sign above his head. Apparently it said not to talk to the driver whilst the bus is in motion. Stupid rule.
It’s late when we arrive at the mine. Some guy called Benny greets us, along with a chap called Ramirez who recons he’s all tough. He’s followed by a group of little weasel fellas’ one of which I kick in the shins. They show us to our bunks, and as the others talk to someone about drugs, I think about mining.
