Island of the Unemployed

BACK FROM THE DEAD

They made their way through the thick forest surrounding the base of a small mountain. Branches hit Mila in the face, repeatedly knocking her glasses askew. She, somehow, seemed incapable of simply pushing them away from her.

"Ye micht want to take care regarding those branches." Cian couldn't help but wonder how such a clumsy woman managed to escape so many soldiers. Now, at least, he knew how her face got so badly scratched.

"Why do we have to walk through all these trees?" she asked.

"We kin can turn back if ye like, but wur heading to a place where ye kin see the entire island."

"We are?" Mila's face brightened.

"Wid ye rather na' go there?"

"No, that would be okay. I guess" She said, trying to hide her enthusiasm. You see! Fate really did intervene! I really am going to find my father!

Two hours passed. They made it to the top of the main part of the mountain, and stared up at the rocky peak.

"Why don't you go first," Cian suggested.

They were quiet for the first two thirds of their ascent. Nothing but the sound of heavy breathing, and distant waves crashing. Then Cian heard a loud gasp.

"Ohhhhhhh!"

"Whit is it, Mila?"

"It's so beautiful!" Mila covered her wide-open mouth with her hand.

"Mila, ye aboot scared me hauf to death!"

"This is amazing!" She reached down and clenched Cian's arm.

"Ah thought you'd like it. Ye might want to close yer mouth afore ye start catching flies," he teased.

"Oh! I'm sorry! I just can't help it! It's just so beautiful!"

"Na need to be apologizin'. Ye best keep goin', though." They climbed the rest of the way, and surveyed the scenery. "It is beautiful, isn't it? Wance in a while ah like to come up 'ere just to git a fresh perspective on things. The warld's just a bit different fram up here, don't ye think?"

"Yes! Of course! I can certainly understand why you'd want to come up here! I've never seen anything like this! I would never have imagined it. It doesn't look anything like the nature they showed in the films back home."

"Och! Mila, I'm telling ye. Don't be acceptin' anythin' the company tells ye. It's all aboot control fur them. They just tell whit thay want ye to think."

"Oh. I don't think so. They wouldn't just lie like that. Maybe they just don't know."

Cian cocked his head slightly, wondering what went on inside that head of hers.

"Ah suppose that's a possibility now, isn't it?"

"And I'm sure that sending people here must be some sort of mistake."

"Ye think so?"

"Of course! Why else would they?"

"Ah don't think it's a mistake, Mila. Ah think they send fowk they just don't want. There's nothin' new here. Fowk that have some kind o' problem whaur they don't fit in. It's easier to discard them or ignore them than to hulp them. Fowk like that used to live on the streets or wur sent to prison. Noo thay send thaim 'ere."

"I don't know what you're talking about. That makes no sense at all."

"Life doesn't always make sense, Mila."