Day 442

The mine was meant to uncover enough coal for the nearby factories and villages.
They uncovered so much more, so many more than they could ever have hoped for.
It had been said that there was an old Roman settlement in the area before an earthquake.
An entire city had been buried as the ground (allegedly) split in two and swallowed it whole.

The team of miners dared to walk through the ruined citadel, torches shining all around them.
Greed drew them inside several former houses in search of coins, jewellery and other artefacts.
Strangely some of the houses looked almost clean,fabric were draped over broken chairs almost
as if the occupants had just vacated the room.

Some of the unbroken chairs felt warm to the touch which only added to their worries.
Paranoia set in and they frantically threw their torchlight at every slightest shadow.
They never made it further, came running out heck-for-leather with pocketfuls of golden trinkets.
Said they hit a gas bubble, it wasn't safe to go down there any more.

And so within the week the mine that had held such promise for thousands was shut down.
Many years later when most of those old miners had passed, the remaining few told their tale.
Archaeologists and historians flocked from miles around to test their claim.
Sure enough they found the citadel, saw it cleanly swept, clothes hung out to dry and a message.

Scrawled in the dirt in what appeared to be the city centre by the remains of a dried up fountain.
None of the miners had mentioned it, never mentioned seeing anyone living there.
The mine had been sealed shut all these years and yet someone had written an old Roman greeting.
It was even pluralised, directed to a group - perhaps the miners, perhaps the newcomers.

Salvete