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Planet Kill
Chapter 20 —The end begins
The digging unit was used later that day. Hiro led a hearty detachment that started digging the tunnel a couple of miles from the aggressor’s installation. However, a rock formation thwarted their efforts but created a simple test for the digging machine.
After burning through nearly a foot of rock, Hiro released his grip, said, “The handle is heating up. We’d better take a break.”
Joe Huntley responded, “Works for me. I can’t believe how quiet that thing is!”
Bevo Tucker stood at the hole’s lip, said, “You ought to be up here. You won’t believe how that thing stinks.”
Huntley frowned. “What are you here for? Pick? Pick? Pick?”
“Let it go,” Hiro said. “Better to work out the kinks before we get underground.”
General Washington helicoptered in the following day to check Hiro’s impression of the digging unit. They met in the plywood shed while Shawn Tudlow worked on the tunnel.
Hiro reported, “It was slow going early on, but once we got the hang of things, we dug down around forty feet and managed to get some tunnel out of the way.”
Washington said, “I hope we can expect better progress in the future!”
