Empire of the Saviours (Chronicles of/Cosmic Warlord 1) by A.J. Dalton

weak to venture. There hasn’t been a single accident since you joined us, you know. Even Darus has to listen when you say where we should and shouldn’t work, although I don’t think he likes having to do so, eh?’
    ‘Darus doesn’t like me, Norfred!’
    ‘Ah, don’t worry, Freda – he doesn’t like anyone. That’s just his way. It’s his job as Gang-leader not to like anyone or have any favourites, as that way he makes sure we all work as hard as possible. Our Overseer made Darus the Gang-leader precisely because Darus was the meanest of everyone here, you see. But Darus is in a far better mood these days now that you help us find so much sun-metal. The Overseer is very pleased, I hear, and there’s talk that Darus might soon ascend as reward. He would be the youngest of us ever to do so. It is the just reward for hard work to which we all aspire, Freda.’
    Freda’s nose cracked as she wrinkled it. ‘I don’t like the sun-metal, Norfred. It frightens and blinds me. And it hurts to touch.’
    ‘It’s just the way it glows, Freda, that’s all. Your eyes aren’t used to it. But many think it is as beautiful as it is rare, and the Overlords need it to make their weapons for the war they fight on our behalf. There is nothing stronger than sun-metal, you see, and it burns our dark foes terribly. We supply the sun-metal to the Overlords, and in return they make great sacrifices above to ensure that we remain safe down here. And they will often go without food to ensure we eat properly.’
    Freda nodded, although she didn’t understand much of what Norfred said. He’d talked of such things many times before and it seemed important to him that she understood and agreed. But she didn’t eat the food of the others because it made her feel weak – she was far happier with the slurry that came from the thickness. It meant her bones were never soft or breaking, unlike the bones of the others.
    ‘So, you see, the sun-metal is important, and you are a blessing to all of us. And you are a blessing to me in my old age, Freda, for I’d never thought to have anything like a wife or child again. But the Overlords have been kind, for I have lived long enough to see the day.’
    Freda was very familiar with the idea of children, for there were always some of them running and playing about the main home chamber, and the larger ones tended to work side by side with the adults. And there seemed to be two types of adults: husbands and wives. They tended to stay in pairs, for companionship and to look after a child or two. Freda was not sure she would know how to look after a child, though.
    ‘What happened to your wife and child from before?’ she asked curiously.
    Through the gauze over her eyes, she saw Norfred scrunch up his face in a way she associated with him being unhappy.
    ‘The rock blight took my dear Tasha, but our son Jan was done the great honour of being chosen for the army of the Overlords. He’s a handsome and strapping lad, you see, and those like him are often selected by the Overseers. There was a great celebration in the home chamber, for a whole level of the mine takes pride when one of its own is taken like that.’
    But Norfred’s voice sounded sad rather than proud. ‘Are you sorry you do not see and touch him any more?’
    Norfred smiled. ‘Of course, Freda. I miss him dreadfully, even though he was taken so many years ago. I fear that the fighting is bad, I wonder where he is and I imagine he has a wife and a child of his own now. A grandchild, you see. And maybe that grandchild looks like my dear Tasha. Ah, but listen to me going on. It’s nothing but fanciful talk, best not dwelt upon.’
    ‘Maybe we can go and look for him if that will make you happy, Norfred.’
    ‘What are you saying, Freda? There is a terrible war up there. It would be far too dangerous. And every miner must work as long and as hard as they can to find sun-metal. If they were all to go off looking for their children,