No! I will never forget that first dozen tons of coal! In exasperation I threw full shovels of coal. A shovel is big. After 11 days without food I did not have much strength. The air fell short. But I worked without a let-up. It is almost finished. A very little more.
"Hey! Gal! That will not do... When there is the gas you should go! Otherwise you are dead!"
I realised they were carrying me somewhere. I gave a jerk. They let me go. I heavily stand up looking crazily about.
"I... A very little left there... I will finish soon...
Thus I got acquainted with the mine, carbon monoxide and two good friends with whom I worked for almost 6 years, Volodya Jordan, a driller, and Shtamm, a local mechanic.