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Encouraged, I increasedshuffle sounded behind me I turned Galen rounded a corner Thank fate! He held a dim lantern

He slowed "I told you to stay put You’re lucky I found you Otherwise you’d die down here"

"Sorry When you didn’t coht the worst What happened?"

"They were enlarging a cavern and hit a stink hole"

"What’s that?"

"There’re bubbles of gas trapped underground When you drill into one, a horrible stench hits you first, then it reaches the lanterns and…boom! If you’re lucky it’s a flash fire and you walk aith minor burns"

"And if you’re not?"

"The force blows you apart and brings the ceiling down on your head"

"Which one?"

"The explosion collapsed two quadrants Vasko’s going to be livid"

"Did many miners…" I couldn’t finish

"A handful died" Galen disnificant "He’ll be more upset about the time and cost to open up new shafts"

"That’s--"

"A risk they’re well aware of and are paid extra for And ems from the mines"

Another treet out of here"

Galen brushed past me as he took the lead When his shoulder had touched ic By itself, it wouldn’t cause me any alarm Vasko was a shrewd businessician as his right-hand man But the texture of the power reer on who

My opinion of Galen increased as he navigated the maze of shafts, chambers and intersections with confidence The trip seeer?" I asked My throat burned from the dust

"A few more minutes We have to bypass the weak quadrants"