As we descended, it got dark and the air got cool. I looked up into darkness and down into deeper blackness, then the elevator stopped, and everyone got out. Then came the hard part, climbing another 10 meters down a long, slippery metal ladder. At the bottom was a dark tunnel filled with dust and smoke. Sandhogs were using explosives like dynamite to cut through the solid rock. The tunnel extends slowly-only four meters a day-and with each day come new dangers. Sandhogs live in constant fear of being hurt by sharp pieces of exploded rock. Their bodies are covered in such scars.