A Miner Inconvenience

Description

You're wandering around the mine camp, hoping to bump into someone who will give you all the ore you could want as well as a few billion moolah, when suddenly you bump into someone who says, "Hey there, you look like the kind of person who might like to have all the ore you could want and a few billion moolah." You nod your head. "Well, have I got a deal for you! If you'll just help me out with something, all of that will be yours. And maybe more."

You follow him without asking what he needs help with. Just as that thought dawns on you, he turns around and says, "Oh, you never asked what I need help with." You shake your head. "Truth be told, I haven't gotten around to cleaning my mining equipment in a long time, and was hoping you might help me clean it."

"Uh... clean your equipment? My mum always told me..."

"Now now, there's no need for that kind of talk. There might be children around. Besides, that's not what I was talking about. See?" He points at a huge pile of pickaxes, helmets, and random other bits of equipment that may or may not be potentially useful in a mine. You're just about to say that you've never seen so much stuff before, when the miner says, "I'll bet you've never seen so much stuff before, eh? So, what do you say you get to cleaning it up? Remember, all the ore you could want and a few thousand moolah." "You mean 'billion'." "Yeah, that's what I said." "You said 'a few thousand'." "Maybe I did. But consider this: A billion is a thousand thousand thousand. How many 'thousands' did I just say?" "Three." "Well, that's a few, right?" "Yeah, but..." "Well there you have it. Now get to work."

You can't resist the logic.

You start scrubbing a random piece of equipment, but just as you think you're about to cut through the thick layer of dirt, it breaks into pieces. You look around, hoping that jerk of a miner didn't see you. He's busy talking to a little boy about a bike, and isn't looking anywhere near your direction.

You shove the pieces of the broken thing away, and get to work on the next item. You barely even touch it with the cleaner and it falls apart. At least the miner is still talking to that little boy. You grab another item, hoping it stays together, but it immediately turns to dust in your hands. Wait a minute. You look around and notice that everything in the pile is completely covered with dirt. Out of curiosity, you push on a couple of the items. Unsurprisingly enough, they crumble. You walk around the pile, watching the whole thing fall to dust with the slightest touch.

Standing in the big pile of dirt, you realize what that stupid jerk of a miner is going to say. He's going to tell you that since you "broke" all of the stuff rather than cleaning it, you're not going to get paid. Suddenly you hear a voice from behind you. "You know, since you broke all of the stuff rather than cleaning it, you're not going to get paid!"

You storm off, annoyed by the fact that he wasted your time. "Hey look, I know you think I wasted your time," he calls after you, "but if you want to make some REAL moolah, I have a bridge that could stand to be painted."

You wisely keep walking.

Location(s)

• Mine Camp F