A thin, continuous stream of water fell from a height of thirty feet into a clear shallow pond. Waves rippled, spreading toward the outer limits of the pool. Deja and River sat at its edge on some large rocks.
"Time to eat something other than coconuts," Deja said, as she struggled to secure her knife to a bamboo pole. "What do you think, Sport?"
"Yeah. Something other than coconuts," he mechanically replied. River was becoming responsive, albeit, a long way from being functional. But Deja was hopeful he would continue to improve. There was no way to tell for sure. It could be he just had good periods and bad ones. Maybe he was only doing well for the moment. Either way, she found it entertaining to ask him questions and get simple responses in return.
"Do you think we'll be able to catch fish with my new spear?"
"Yeah. Catch fish," River replied.
"You know we're going to have to eat the fish raw. We can't start any fires around here."
"Yeah. Eat fish raw."
The wind shifted slightly, sending the strong scent of River reeking body in Deja's direction. "River, you stink!" she said, scrunching her face.
"Yeah, you stink!"
"No, I don't stink. You do!" She laughed. "Time for a bath."
"Yeah, time for..." Deja gave him a playful push backward, and he plunged into the water, disappearing below the surface.
"That's better. You can come up now." He sunk to the bottom as if he had rocks tied to his chest. Bubbles floated to the surface. "River!" She jumped in and dragged him back on dry ground. "River, you dope! Don't you have the sense not to drown yourself?"
"Yeah. Not drown," he said, coughing and gasping for air.
YOU ARE READING
Island of the Unemployed
Ficção CientíficaThe world is dominated by a single corporate entity. The human race is enslaved in a tightly monitored and controlled environment, with no reasonable expectation for redemption from the situation. Fortunately, redemption comes in many shapes and siz...
