Once upon a time in a kingdom far far away , the people lived quietly on their lovely hills. One day, somebody forgotten by History discovered a black and shining stone. It burnt and burnt so well that the stone became very expensive. So, people organised the production of the stone. At first, they called it « coal », then they dug an enormous hole, called « Big Pit ».
_ OK, the people thought. For ten years, we have been building this mine. But what are we doing now?
_ Men can work for me, suggested fairy Money.
_ And they can die at 35 years old too ! whispered fairy Justice.
_ But we’re too tall to go everywhere in the mine, explained people.
_ There are horses, said somebody.
_ Or your children, answered fairy Money.
_ Children ? But you’re completly crazy ! You lost your mind ! Screamed fairy Justice.
But nobody heard her and work started. Day after day, men, women, horses and children took the cage and went down in the mine. Men dug the rock and found coal, horses pulled carts full of coal and children kept doors locked, in the dark.
Unfortunately, the spirit of gas Methan came out of the Earth and exploded. When the light became blue and birds stopped singing, everybody ran, but more than 250 miners were killed in explosions.
Finally, the mine closed and the black and shining stone stopped making people dream in the kingdom. But somewhere, fairy Money is still alive, and some children work to extract rock under our feet.
Laura Labasse
