Role

Chapter 7

The table was littered with empty plates and crumbs that had spilt off them during the
course of the dinner that Bartis and Boris had just consumed. Sated by their meal the two
twin brothers reclined in their chairs with two large mugs full of ale and were chatting
lightly about whatever came to their mind.

'Do yer think we'll always be minin' these tunnels?' Boris asked in a way that was
startling because it was so out of the blue and off topic.
'I dunno, somethin' 'bout workin' tha rocks feels right, yer know. It be hard ter explain,
but, I really ain' sure I could imagine somethin' else.' Boris responded honestly to his
brothers question.
'Yer feel that too, eh? The rocks?' Boris arched a testing eyebrow at his brother, 'I know
we svirfs are bein' close ta the earth an all, but, do it be feelin' more ter ya? Like tha
earth be talkin' ter ya?'

Stunned at this question Bartis hesitated before blurting out the answer that exploded into
his mind. 'Yes! Do it be tha same fer you?! I always thought it be a crazy fancy er
somethin' an people'd think I were mad if I ever talked 'bout it. But, I do be feelin' that
way. Like when were workin' I feel like the rock be tellin' me tha best place ter strike wit
me pickaxe. Or, when we be walkin' a dangerous tunnel it be tellin' me tha best places
ter step ter avoid loose rocks an' holes.'

A wide grin played across Boris's face as he leaned back. The two brothers just stared at
each other in silence for a few moments with this new found revelation, this kinship they
shared with each other and the stone.