Island of the Unemployed

WHY ME?

The barrack was long and narrow. Double bunks made of wood, devoid of mattresses or blankets, lined each side of the structure. The room was dirty and the air filled with stench. Marcus laid face down on a lower bunk near the center of the room. The sergeant that processed him upon arrival walked into the room, then up to Marcus.

"You are going to have to get up, Marcus!"

"I can't!" Marcus laid face down, hoping the sergeant would go away.

"I think you can!" the sergeant insisted.

The barrack housed individuals placed in group 'A' six days earlier. Each occupant of the barrack arrived with the same debilitating condition that River suffered from, with Marcus being the only exception.

Marcus spent his first five days on the island locked up and kept out of sight while the others assigned to group 'A' spent those days at a detox center. They left in an entirely nonfunctional state, and returned quite normal. Their experience had a happy ending, while he remained in his same physically challenged state.

Thirty minutes earlier the room buzzed with young men preparing to go off to their second day, tired, and sore, and well aware of the consequences if they did not. Marcus, on the other hand, stayed in bed. Consequences were of no concern to him.

The load on the first day of work was heavy, even for his young and healthy bunkmates. He was sure he would never be able to keep up. Besides the work, he couldn't stand the smell in the barrack. But worst of all was the food, or the lack thereof. It consisted of two small meals a day made up of some form of unidentifiable sludge with worms in it. Marcus was sure he would never get used his new life. He didn't even care to try. He was ready for whatever consequences came for refusing to work. Maybe more than ready. Maybe 'welcoming' would be more accurate. Why did Adrienne have to change my paperwork? He thought about what kind of death Boden suffered, and wondered if it was any worse than what he was currently experiencing.

"It was your first day. It's hard for everyone. You just need to get used to it. In a week or so you'll be fine," the sergeant said. His name was Adrienne, and he was doing his best to encourage Marcus to get back to work, not just for Marcus' sake, but for his own. He had a lot invested in Marcus. He risked his own life to save the life of the man now lying in bed wishing he was dead. "Here. Let me give you a hand." He reached his hand toward Marcus.

"No," Marcus replied, thinking Adrienne was giving him a choice. He yelped, as Adrienne grabbed his left hand, and yanked him into an upright position.

"See! That wasn't so bad."

He was right. It wasn't nearly as bad as Marcus expected.

"Look, Adrienne, why did you have to save my life? Of all the other people you could have saved, why me?"

"Just work in the fields again today, and tomorrow I'll take you on fishing detail. That way you'll be able to rest while I do the work. It'll also keep you out of sight. If Lieutenant Haden sees you in this state, we're both in a lot of trouble. Trust me. You don't want to get on his radar. This guy has me waking every morning in a cold sweat, just knowing I'm likely to run into him."

Marcus nodded. He got to his feet, and slowly got dressed.

"But why? Why did you choose me?"

"Look. Marcus. I'm sorry. How was I to know you didn't want to be saved?"

"I know, but why me?" It's a simple question. Why the reluctance to answer it? "Why not someone else?"

"Because you reminded me of someone. My brother. My older brother."