The Mining Problem
Bradbury School, Chloe Byrom, Fiction: Group 2
I
t was a quiet morning in the Gobi desert. The nomads were tending their animals when a
loud drilling sound filled the surroundings, surprised, the nomads called for their elder Zigsa.
Zigsa sighed sadly and said “That sound is people mining for gold and silver. In the past
my tribe had to move a lot because of them.”
One of the nomads shouted out loud “My animals are escaping because they are so frightened!
“I can’t stand another morning like this!”
“Silence!” ordered Zigsa. “We will move tonight at dawn is that clear?”
(Meanwhile in the mining station)
“Boss?”
“The nomads want us to stop mining for gold and silver.”
“Tell them that we can’t because this is our only job. I want to help them but we can’t understand?”
“Yes boss”
(At dawn)
“Is everyone ready? Good let’s go then.”
The nomads rode sadly away from their campsite. Finally the nomads found a good spot, they
then made their tents.
The morning was peaceful when there was another anonymous drilling sound. Annoyed by
the sound, the nomads rushed out their tents and scanned the area and sure enough there was
another big mining site. They rushed forward to have a quick look but a cloud of smog blocked
their way one of the nomads coughed and shouted “Come on everybody run back to the camp!”
And there they found Zigsa with a face like thunder. “I was worried sick about you, you could
have got lost!” scolded Zigsa. Everyone mumbled an apology looking sorry and abashed.
Then before Zigsa could accept their apologies, a man in a white lab coat leading a worn out
camel walked by then stopped, Zigsa greeted the man then the man asked “Do you know where
James mining site is?”
Zigsa suddenly turned serious and said “So you are a miner I should have known before.”
“No I’m going there to examine their work.”
“The mining sites are endangering us and we can’t continue moving all the time!”
“We should better make a stop to this,” said the man gravely. “By the way my name is Tom.”
(Tom visits the mining site)
“Hello can I see your boss please?” asked Tom.
“Sure he’s just in his office at the moment.”
“Thank you!”
(At the office)
“Hello Tom I was expecting you!”
“Hello James I have something important to discuss, the nomads are unhappy with your work.
Your mining is polluting the desert, I know it’s your only job but you have to think about other
people. Why don’t you move your mining to the southern parts of the Gobi and the nomads can
enjoy the other parts of the desert! Do you agree?” asked Tom. James hesitated then finally agreed.
Delighted Tom ran to the nomads camp site and told them the exciting news, the nomads
cheered and praised Tom.
