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Dump Miner
- Chapter Nine
leO and mariA are approved to have a child.
leO is called into Bishop Lamb’s office. As he enters Bishop Lamb is waiting for him behind his desk with his chair turned to the window.
leO:
Why did you call me here?
The Bishop turns his chair leisurely to face leO as he speaks.
Bishop Lamb:
I don’t know how, but you have been approved to procreate with that piece of trash.
leO is shocked but tries not to show his surprise, but can not. His excitement overwhelms him.
leO:
He is coming! You cannot stop it now. He is coming!
Bishop Lamb (to a guard) :
Shut him up.
The guard takes his nightstick and strikes leO on the back. leO falls to his knees in pain.
Bishop Lamb:
You have been a thorn in my side since the day I met you. I am disgusted that such a waste of life is going to be created in god’s image with your spoiled seed.
leO:
There is nothing you can do, he is coming and he will smite all the moneylenders and heretics…
Bishop Lamb:
Shut up or you will taste more penance from my guards. Your seed will arrive tomorrow. Your whore will receive this gift after the workday is over.
Bishop Lamb (to the guards) :
Take him back to the dumps.
The guards drag leO out of the office and put him on one of the trams to the depths of the mines. As the train speeds down into the depths of the dumps, leO stares out the window, and watches the illusion of life that has been so carefully erected on the walls. Images of fields of daisies, children playing, and family sitting down to thanksgiving dinner. He thinks to himself, “Now there is hope. I will bring hope.”
mariA is working in the dumps leO runs to her and tells her the news.
leO:
mariA we have been approved! They are going to let us have the child.
mariA:
Oh leO, that is wonderful!
leO:
He is going to save us all. The Messiah is coming!
mariA:
Oh leO, do you really think he will be a leader?
leO:
Not a leader, our savior! He is coming to save us! He will smite those who enslave us.
The dump miners stop and look up at leO. leO continues his rant with more and more intensity.
leO:
He is coming and the meek will inherit the earth!
mariA is laughing and trying to contain herself. All this screaming attracts the guards’ attention.
Guard:
Get back to work!
leO and mariA keep celebrating. One of the guards lifts a large bazooka-looking object and aims it at leO. The guard fires, a large net hurtles towards leO. leO crouches abruptly as if he knows what is about to happen. A net tangles around him and throws his body off the mound to the ground below. Four guards in full combat gear run to him, unsheathe their nightsticks, and beat leO ferociously. He does not resist, his body bounces with each blow. mariA tries to stop them and is pushed to the ground. Finally, a siren blows two sharp toots, the guards stop and lift leO’s limp body and drag him to the Bishop’s office.
The guards throw leO onto the floor of the Bishop’s office.
Bishop Lamb:
You can’t stay out of trouble for one minute. Why do you think that what you say is going to do anything but hurt the morale of the flock? Stop making waves, leO.
leO looks up from the floor:
You cannot contain the truth, we will…
Bishop Lamb:
Enough about this “truth”!
Bishop Lamb smacks leO across the face with the back of his hand.
Bishop Lamb:
The truth is that no Messiah is coming from your seed or that bitch you associate with the Madonna. If your child survives, it will be just another dump miner, nothing more.
leO:
No! He will be the King of Kings and the Reagan of Reagans! He will free us.
Bishop Lamb:
You keep talking about the truth, but you are too blind to see the truth.
leO:
So what is the truth?
Bishop Lamb:
You are ones who keep your selves here, you are the dregs that never amounted to anything, never tried to better yourselves, never caring about anyone but yourselves. The Party offers the chance for you to help yourselves.
leO:
LIES!
Bishop Lamb:
Lies no, the truth yes. Our supreme Reagan Walker offers you the chance to better yourself, but it is up to you. We don’t hold you here; you are always free to leave.
leO:
That is not true, why are we surrounded with barbwire fences? Why aren’t we given enough food to grow strong? Why do you believe that this is the way that man is supposed to live?
Bishop Lamb:
Not all men just dump miners. You are always free to leave.
leO:
To live like animals in the city; with no vouchers we would starve.
Bishop Lamb:
You work for your vouchers and I believe that the Reagan Walker offers more than a fair deal for the scraps you retrieve from the facility. You people sicken me! Wait a minute… Didn’t we have this same conversation recently?
leO:
And we will have it again until things change.
Bishop Lamb:
No, we are not! If I hear one more report of you acting up I will take matters into my own hands, then only the Reagan himself will be able to save you. Do you understand?
leO stares at the Bishop an reluctantly speaks trying to control his passion and fervor.
leO:
Yes
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