Dig

The story begins in a tavern in the Temani Deep, an ancient silver mine with its own underground city. Ouaros Antoni drinks with his friends, Dane, Bean, and Maron. Despite living underground, the people receive all they need for their existence and enjoyment from the Temani in exchange for silver ore.

The next evening, Ouaros walks with his girlfriend, Melina. As they walk, Ouaros hears something like “last of me” being shouted above them. Some small stones fall, followed by an older man, Col Menek, who dies on impact. Ouaros finds a strange coin near his hand with an image of the Great Tree and a queen. Melina finds Constable Serul, who examines the body. The constables take Col away and as Ouaros and Melina walk away, she finds a small booklet on the ground titled “Dig,” containing childish drawings of a man digging a stairway upward toward Eitema, the city where the Great Tree resides.

The next morning, Ouaros reads for schoolchildren at the Shrine of Mandak, which honors their ancestor who is said to have brought a branch of the Great Tree and people from ten noble families to the Deep to protect them from a comet, where they later discovered silver and chose to stay.

The next day at lunch, the little book falls out of Ouaros's satchel. Ouaros shows his friends the book and the coin. When Ouaros asks his father, Andros, about them later, he is admonished to avoid the zealots who still keep to old ways. That evening, Ouaros, his friends, and his father watch Maron win the championship in slinging, a game like squash and jai-alai.

The next day, while Ouaros and Dane are working, there is a rumble. They find Bean staggering out of a tunnel. Three men are dead, and Maron's legs are paralyzed. Ouaros attends the funeral. He watches their ashes being planted under the Tree and thinks about the unknown world above. Ouaros and Dane visit Maron in the hospital and see an older woman drown in her own blood from liver failure caused by heavy drinking. Later, Ouaros shows his grandfather Nico, who is dying from lung disease, the book and coin. Nico says they are from Eitema. Ouaros asks if the story about Mandak was true. Nico isn't sure, but says some would consider it blasphemy to think otherwise. Ouaros remembers the murder and realizes that what he heard shouted may have been “blasphemy.”

The next morning, Ouaros tells Serul what he remembered. Serul shows him coins and copies of the “Dig” booklet and a small, polished, blue stone with gold flecks. Ouaros recognizes it as 'amul, which only exists in items brought from above. Later, Ouaros goes to the Shrine of Mandak to ask its keeper, Barlam, about the story he read. Barlam says it is the most reliable account. Ouaros asks if anyone had ever gone back to Eitema. Barlam tells him to concern himself only with work, play, and family. Ouaros wonders if there isn't something more.

Ouaros begins to dig a stairway in a secluded cavern. Ammon, a former mine engineer, finds him and introduces himself, showing him one of the little books. He tells Ouaros that Col was a friend and takes him to a secluded house, behind which another stairway has been dug. He introduces Ouaros to his friends, who have been digging for much of the last ten years. Hale, their leader, tells Ouaros that their Tree is dying, polluted by the sins of the people whose ashes are being planted underneath it, and when it dies, they will either die, or worse, lose all connection with their past. Ouaros decides to help them.

One evening, Ouaros is with Melina, Dane, Bean, and Maron celebrating being promoted. Ouaros is overwhelmed by the meaninglessness of the revelry in the tavern. Outside, he tells Melina that their Tree is dying and he is digging out. His friends try to make sense of what he's saying and come to accept that Ouaros may be right. They agree to help. Maron asks Ouaros to take him to the healing waters in Eitema when they break through.

One night, they dig out and head toward Eitema. They are escorted to the city gate and met by Gaela, the daughter of Queen Efrema. They are given a suite where they can bathe and given food and clean clothing. As Ouaros washes the grime off of himself in the sunlit brightness of the palace, he is shocked by his dark skin. He becomes self-conscious and nervous before meeting the Queen, but Melina tells him that he has nothing to prove and should meet her with confidence.

The party, minus Maron and his family, meet with Efrema and Gaela. Efrema tells them about their history. They learn that Mandak organized a rebellion with ten noble houses against his brother, Leonas, and that they were exiled to the Deep and given a branch of the Great Tree for a consolation. Their exile was meant to be temporary, but after the mother lode was discovered, they stayed underground. They understand that the Temani were more effective in keeping them in service by providing for their pleasures, rather than through coercion. Maron's wife rolls him to the table beside Ouaros, and to their amazement, he stands. They go to see the Great Tree and ask Efrema what will happen to the people of the Deep if their Tree dies and they have to leave. She tells them that the Great Tree emanates virtue and that those without virtue will not want to approach it, and many will scatter.

Their absence has been noticed. The foreman for Ouaros's crew, Moldan, goes to check on Ouaros, only to find that his parents don't know his whereabouts. Because he witnessed a murder, they become concerned. Moldan tells Serul that Ouaros is missing. Serul discovers that others are missing, too. He goes to where he followed the men who took Col's body, finding the house empty. He finds the stairway in the cavern and begins to climb. He reaches the top and steps out under a starry sky.

That morning, a servant awakens Ouaros, who goes to find Serul in the guard house. Serul tells him about his night and that people were looking for them. Ouaros suggests that they go back down to set things straight, but Serul tells them to wait for him to set up a meeting of their council. Ouaros, Hale, Efrema, and Gaela discuss the meeting. Efrema considers going with them. Gaela thinks the Deep is no place for a queen, while Hale thinks it may send the wrong message. After resting, Serul returns to the Deep. Gaela tells Efrema her misgivings about bringing up the people of the Deep. Efrema tells her that they have the right to come up and shows Gaela a little book drawn by a child titled “Dig.” Gaela drew it long ago and forgotten about it. Efrema sent copies of the childish book to ensure that only those with the purest hearts would follow its instructions. That evening, Serul tells Ouaros's parents where he is. He asks Councilman Rai to arrange a meeting for the following morning, revealing no details.

The next morning, the meeting convenes in front of a large audience. Serul tells the assembly what he just experienced. The crowd murmurs, but is stunned when Maron walks out. Another councilman is skeptical, and Ouaros and the rest of the party walk out on stage. When asked why they dug to the surface, Gaela reveals herself. She hands a letter to the councilman abolishing their exile. Everyone is thrown into confusion, with someone even thinking it is just a performance. Ouaros tells them their true history, how they once had healing water, how their Tree used to bloom every year, and that it is dying because they have turned from what it stands for. When he tells them that Mandak was a rebel, Barlam steps from the wings and strikes Ouaros on the head with a silver staff. Stones fly from the staff, one of which rolls to the feet of Serul. It is a polished, blue stone with flecks of gold.

Ouaros's friends and Gaela carry him away to the healing water, and many people follow out of curiosity. They climb the stairway and go to Eitema. Some return to take sick relatives to the healing water. Ouaros awakens the next morning to find his parents and Nico, who is in much better health. A crowd keeps vigil for him in the courtyard below his window. Over the following weeks, people continue to come up, but many remain below. Serul tells Ouaros that Barlam is to be hanged, but Ouaros has no desire to see another death. Serul says he will go see the world and tells Ouaros about a custom called a “honeymoon,” hinting that Ouaros and Melina should get married.