Two...
The small man had a name. It was Ryuk. He trembled in his need to discharge his duty, and his trembling made his actions awkward, uncoordinated.
He stood, wearing protective lenses over his eyes, holding the cutting device he had shown the tall man. Flame, concentrated into a point like a needle, poured out of the device's nozzle, and Ryuk pressed it into the stone wall.
The tall man watched him. He waited with growing impatience for the device to cut its hole so he could enter.
But minutes passed, and though the stone warmed to the point that it glowed, it did not melt, did not retreat.
At last the cutting device made a noise like a cough and the flame vanished. Ryuk, expression fearful turned to the tall man and tried to express a thought.
It was a bad thought. It meant that the device didn't work anymore. Even if it worked forever, Ryuk seemed to be saying, it would not cut through this.
Bitter disappointment filled the tall man's heart. He gestured, shoving, and Ryuk slammed into the black stone.
The tall man heard Ryuk's bones break and, as Ryuk slid down the surface of the stone, saw blood trailing behind. He felt Ryuk's emotions go from fear to quiet to nothingness.
The tall man needed another person, someone with better machines. He turned to leave. He would find such a person...