corners here and there on fans and filters and it all eventually blows up . Big deal ! It ’ s not like these ignorant hicks weren ’ t busy breeding up the next generation of miners anyway . Hell , the explosion should have created a few immediate job openings .
It should have created some job openings . But the weasels on the board had ordered the mine blasted shut to boot . “ Out of respect for the dead ,” they said . Well , screw that ! He ’ d personally sent flowers . That was enough . When they blasted that mine shut it was gonna cost HIS money and jobs in the “ community ” that the board was so worried about . It was gonna happen any day now ; he ’ d been so disgusted with the whole thing . He would just sign the necessary paperwork without looking at the date or the particulars .
Hiking for what seemed like an eternity , Tommy sat down for a minute to take a small break . Too many years of good meals on the company account was his problem . He hadn ’ t been this deep into a mine in years except on a cart for an “ inspection ” here or there . Those trips were just for PR , and the occasional reminder of his roots as a miner . The equipment was so different now . Truthfully , half the time he had no goddamned idea what he was looking at on those tours . As long as the pencil pushers assured him that the machines ran coal faster , that ’ s all he cared to know . Maybe in another 10 years they could automate completely and the “ community ” could go pound sand if they didn ’ t like how he ran his mine .
The problem with sitting still was the dark started to encroach on all sides . The weight of the mountain began to feel heavier and more and more oppressive . Tommy had time to think about where he was , and the key to being able to be a miner was to never think about where you were . A lot of them told the red hats , “ You ’ ll get used to it ,” but the simple fact was you never did . He had to give his workers that , though . They manned up and faced their fears every day for a living . The key was to keep working , stay busy and not stop to think about the inky void right beyond the lights , and to never think about where you were .
After the explosion trapped those men , that was ALL they had left . Time . Time to think about the dismal , oppressive environment closing in all around them .
Nope , he didn ’ t want to start thinking like that . It was time to get up and get moving again . Rest was for the dead , and he was sweating too much to be dead . He slowly pulled himself up to his feet with a great heave and push . He grunted a bit as he did , making a personal commitment to use that damned machine Darlene had parked in the living room “ for his health ” last year . He used to jog through these mines . Now he was huffing and puffing at walking speed . It was time to get into better shape . He ’ d made a lot of money running these mines . There was no point in keeling over , clutching his chest and letting other people enjoy his money for him and without him .
But that was a worry for later . Right now , he needed to get out of this labyrinth . Depending on where he was when he hit the surface , he might have to beg a phone call off one of the locals to get a ride . That would never be a problem , not for Tommy Allison . Oh , sure . They might tell all the reporters how much they hated him , but when push came to shove , they ’ d fold . Weaklings always did . They knew in their hearts that even with the explosion happened at Stone Ridge mine , even with the inspectors hinting it was the company ’ s fault , they ’ d never tell him no . You get it on record you helped Big Tommy Allison , you might actually make something of yourself . You might just get yourself a job as a red hat in any one of his mines and finally move the hell out of your Mamma ’ s trailer and stop needing to deal Oxys to get by . The future looked bright , well brighter than it did if you told Tommy Allison no .
Tommy Allison had money , and plenty of it . Money could buy you any damned thing you