Clack! Clack!! Clack!!!
They've been cracking rocks for hours. Unlike the others, Shamgar was not use to it. His hands are beginning to sore, his entire muscles ached, sweat popped out of his forehead. He felt tasty, but he could not get any water to drink. The guards were watching them like a hawk, if anyone should stop working, even for a second, that person will be punished.
" Work harder!" A guard yelled at an old man. The old man was obviously tired, his hands were shaky.
"please... I'm tasty" The old man pleaded.
" What did you say!" The guard yelled at him, he pulled out his whip and started whipping him hard. " You want water? Here, have some." He mocked as he whipped him more.
The old man groaned in pain, blood oozed out from the wounds caused by the by the guard's whip. Every one who saw the scene, gasped in fright, except the the guards who where laughing. Shamgar wanted to stop the guard from whipping the old man, but Dan stopped him immediately.
" That is not a wise decision to take, my son. You might get yourself killed." He said. " Here, quickly wrap this piece of cloth around your palms, it will prevent it from getting sore." He said each word in a hurry, he didn't want to alert the guards.
" Thank you!" Shamgar replied.
" Get back to work!" Another guard yelled. Without hesitation, everyone went back to their work.
" I can't stand breathing the same air with these animals." A guard said. He wrinkled his nose in disgust, and spat out.
Everyone carried out their work in silence, no one said a word to the other. It was late in the evening before Shamgar finished up his work. Those who finished up on time, went back to their room to rest. Dan and Shamgar were the ones left. Dan slowed down, because of Shamgar, he didn't want the poor child to be alone out here.
Shamgar was new to this, he had never crack a rock in his life. Back home in Melan, he had only worked on the fields.
Before Shamgar finished up, it was already dark. No one was permitted to leave or rest till he finished his work.
" We should get going, or we won't have anything to eat tonight." Dan said. He looked at the boy in front of him who was looking drained. It was obvious, he wasn't use to this kind of work. He gave Shamgar a slight pat on his shoulder, encouraging him.
They both walked back together to the mountain top.
" What will happen to the old man afterwards?" Shamgar asked Dan as they walked towards the dining hall.
" I don't know, son." He replied, shaking his head in regret. " One thing you must know child, don't ever try to confront any guard here. They won't hesitate to end your life. You saw what happened today, no one tried to save the old man. They knew the out come if they do. The guard will not only kill the old man, but the one who tries to help him. You see, it was useless trying to help him."
" poor Asher, he bleed to death."
" Those guards are horrible, they have no conscience."
" Shhhh! Someone might hear, we might get into trouble." Two men whispered as the walked through the hall way.
Shamgar over heard their conversation, he tilt his head to look at Dan, who gave him a sad look in return. They walked the rest of the way to the dining hall in silence.