Island of the Unemployed

THINK ABOUT IT

It was evening. A small fire burned not far from the sobbing woman that River found earlier in the day. Vladi spent much the day getting her hydrated and nourished. The woman was so distraught, she couldn't even speak. Finally, she had cried herself out, and found her voice.

"It's okay. You're safe noo," Cian told her.

The woman looked at the eight pairs of eyes focused on her. Why are so many people gathered around, looking at me like I'm a science experiment?

"Who are you people? What am I doing here?" she sniveled.

"Ah, well that's progress. At least ye got yer tongue back. Might ah ask ye yer name, dear?"

"My name?" she replied weeping pitifully. "Mila."

"Very nice to make yer acquaintance, Mila. The reason you're 'ere is the identical reason the rest o' us are 'ere. The company sent ye 'ere, dear. It's okay. Ye didn't do anythin' wrong. It wasn't yer fault."

"No! No!" She looked at Cian suspiciously. "Why would you say that? What do you mean the company sent me here? The company would never do something like that!"

"What makes yer say that, dear?"

"That ship thing was awful! It was horrid! The company wouldn't treat people like that!"

Sasha looked at River. "Maybe she heet her head. Poor thing. She's not theenking straight."

"Mila, ah have a very important question ah have to ask ye," Cian said. "How in the world did ye escape the soldiers? Do ye think thay might have followed ye?"

"The soldiers!" she said, with a look of horror. "I ran! When the car doors opened, I jumped out as fast as I could, and I ran."

"You ran?" Cian looked surprised. "How did ye noo to run or where to run to?"

"I saw some woods, so I ran to them. I don't think any soldiers saw me."

"Ye ran afore ye saw the soldiers comin'?" Cian looked surprised. "Bit how come? How did ye noo that ye needed to run if ye didn't see any soldiers? None o' us figured that oot 'til 'twas too late. How did ye figure it oot?"

"I didn't figure it out. I was told to do it!"

"Ye wur told to do it? Who told ye to do it? Was it someone on the train?"

"No! No one on the train even spoke to me. I haven't spoken to anyone since they took me out of my work pod."

"Then who could have possibly told ye to run? I'm sorry. This just doesn't make sense."

"Sara told me!"

"Wait a minute," Kylee said. "No, honey. You didn't just say that, did you? You must be mistaken. Sara is the evilest thing I've ever come across. It's not possible Sara would actually try to help anyone!"

"What do you mean?" Mila looked puzzled. "Sara isn't evil."

"I'm sorry, dear. Ah, have to agree wi' Kylee. Based on mah experience, it's difficult to see Sara helping anybody."

"I really don't know what you people are talking about. Why are you saying bad things about the company and Sara?"

"Okay. Maybe she ees just stupid," Sasha whispered to River loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Sasha, shut up! You're not helping," Kylee sneered.

"Tell us whit happened shortly afore ye came 'ere. Maybe we kin help ye figure oot how ye came to be 'ere."