Dig

Here the start to a short story I'm working on.

Sweat ran from his callused skin. If his boss paid him for the salt in his secretions, Jengo would be the richest man in western Uganda. Knee deep in Lake Katwe, Jengo felt the warm black water ripple against his black skin. Synthetic shores were black, just like spirits, while the sky was a hellish red.
Journalists came occasionally, taking pictures and asking question, then leaving. They came to capture the geographical bleakness of the land, never once understanding the true horror was the workers who relied on the jagged chewed-up piece of earth. To them this wasn’t hell: it was living.
Jengo felt the equatorial sun drying salt crystals around his nostrils. His skin tightened but at least he couldn’t smell sulphur anymore. He dipped his hands past his waist and into the soulless water. His fingers pawed at nothing more than resistance until his shoulders were submerged.
Bent as if touching his toes, Jengo struggled to keep his head above water. His eyes were already bloated and gunky. He knew workers who thought it was easier to put their heads under, but Mr Jang had taught him otherwise.
“Boy, this mine’s going to tear your body up. Put your head under and you’ll only make the whole thing quicker, understand me?”
Jengo nodded, an eager streak of a boy he was quick to learn. “Any other tips for me mister?”
“Any cuts you get yourself some superglue and seal ‘em before you get in. Water will eat ‘em up something good.”
“But I haven’t got money for glue”
“Not many people have. You ever get a nasty cut come to me and I’ll give you a drop of glue for it.”
Jengo watched Mr Jang pull a square of blue foil from his pocket. It shone like a jewel in the desolate land. Mr Jang’s crusted fingers tore the foil and fished around inside. Carefully, he pulled out an oily, yellow rubber.
“Wrap one of these on everyday. Women don’t like men with ulcerous ones.”
Jengo took the condom, turned away from Mr Jang and slipped it on. It felt close and unfamiliar, but once inside the Lake Katwe, Jengo was glad for its protection.
Now, with his chin nuzzling the surface of the water, Jengo felt his hand strike salt crystals. His fingers worked like little teeth, gnawing at the lump to break it free. In the struggle, water danced into his mouth and nose.