Though Cecilia was quite excited about her impending motherhood, she could quite do without the morning nausea and the fits of dizziness. During most of the morning these days, she didn't accomplish much of anything. The queasiness and related symptoms that overcame here often made her retreat to bed until the spells passed.
It was afternoon now and Cecilia felt much better than she had earlier. With Robbie out with the building crew, she thought she might like to take a walk along the shore until he returned.
The last thing Cecilia expected to see on her leisurely walk was a woman appear out of nowhere, although this was precisely what she came to see.
"Hello there," Cecilia said after staring at the woman in shock for a long moment.
Harriet had never really thought much about the afterlife. She'd been brought up Church of England, of course, but only in the half hearted way that most families who didn't have much time for church but still vaguely believed in god were Church of England and she'd long since turned away from even that kind of faith. Still it was not like she'd never been surprised before, she had seen aliens when the rest of the country still thought extra terrestrials only existed in bad movies, after all and if there was life after death then there was no need to panic about it. So she kept her head held high and gave a friendly smile to the young woman in front of her.
"Harriet Jones, former prime minister," she introduced herself and she held out her identification for a moment to prove it.
Cecilia's eyes rounded considerably as she inspected the woman's identification. A female Prime Minister! My, how times truly would change at home in the years to come. Why, at the time of her own demise, Sir Winston Churchill had been Prime Minister for several months. She thought him brilliant. Thinking on him now reminded Cecilia that perhaps she might try to coax some books about him and the war from the bookshelf later on today, if it were feeling charitable.
Smiling politely up at the woman, she said pleasantly, "Cecilia Turner, former ward sister."
Harriet returned the smile warmly. "Thank you, Cecilia. Tell me, is there a procedure for new arrivals? I don't have to be taken before St. Peter, do I?"
Her voice was warm and friendly and she laughed softly at the end but there was a tone of command in it as well. It said that this was someone who was used to being listened to and expected answers when she asked for them.
"There are a few procedures, yes. But I'm afraid there is no St. Peter here. This isn't Heaven," Cecilia explained gently. Briefly worrying her lower lip, Cecilia reflected on her own arrival to this island. She hadn't even considered the notion that she might be in Heaven. Perhaps that said something about her, though she did not wish to dwell on what that might be. "You've been brought to an island called Tabula Rasa. I, and everyone else here, was brought the same way as you. One minute you were at home and the next you simply weren't. I'm afraid I can't tell you how to return home; no one here has quite worked that out. However, at times the island does send people back upon its own will."
She was well aware that Harriet Jones might find her mad.
"I believe you." Smiling sadly, Cecilia continued, "I died as well. It was October 14, 1940 in the Balham tube station. We're from all different times and places here, Ms Jones. Queer as it sounds, that is precisely how this island operates."
If people arrived here after they died then Harriet wondered exactly why Cecilia had explained that she could not return home. Surely new arrivals wouldn't expect to be able to?
"I am sorry," Harriet said softly in response and she was. The girl in front of her looked so young to have died like that. War really was a horrible thing. "Are there many of us here?"
"It isn't so bad as all that." Cecilia hoped her smile was a reassuring one. "I was reunited here with the man I love very much, so I find I am quite happy here."
Turning toward the rest of the island itself, Cecilia gestured to the lit wooden pathways and beyond. "From what I understand, there are over three hundred of us here. There are villages of huts and more proper buildings, like the Compound. There is a clinic there, kitchens, washing areas, law enforcement... You'll want to go to the Island Police Department to tell them you've arrived; they take some of your basic information and can help you acquire a temporary cot until you've settled more."
She smiled broadly at that, "Congratulations, my dear."
Three hundred seemed very few people when compared to all the dead. There was little chance then that Harriet would meet anyone she knew.
She gave a pleased nod at Cecilia's explanation as it seemed a reasonably advanced set up but there was still one other thing she needed to have confirmed before she could feel comfortable. "We are free here, is that right? There are no aliens running things?"
A pleasant warmth blossomed in her cheeks at Harriet's well-wishes. Cecilia and Robbie were so very happy that sometimes Cecilia quite wondered if one day she would wake up and find it all a fleeting dream. "Thank you."
Though it wasn't terribly polite, Cecilia's brows knitted together at her questions. Aliens? Cecilia hadn't met any aliens here and frankly hadn't heard of any taking up residence, but this island was rather curious. Therefore, perhaps it wasn't outside the realm of possibility, though she would feel more comforted if it were.
"There is a council of elected officials who oversee things -- all human. We're all free. Everyone who arrives here begins a new life with a clean start."
Harriet was well used to that confused expression and paid it no heed. It was one that she had seen on many new staff and she supposed she had worn it herself as well when she had first encountered aliens.
"Good," she nodded. "They were chosen by the people."
That was the only type of leader that she trusted. She respected even bad selfish politicians to a certain extent because of who they spoke for but she did not extend the same courtesy to warlords.
"Could you tell me where this Police Department is, please?
"Yes, they were. There were speeches and everything. It was all very interesting." Of course, not everyone Cecilia supported was voted in, but she supposed that was all part of the democracy here.
"Of course." Gesturing to the wooden path, she said, "Follow that path until you come to the large building. You'll know it when you come across it; there should be all manner of people going in and out. Take the first door on the left. It's a laboratory, which you'll walk straight through. The door to the Police Department is in there."
She listened intently to the girl's instructions and then nodded once.
"Thank you, Cecilia."
It was said in a polite, friendly tone but it was obviously a dismissal and once she'd said it she turned and walked away in the direction she was pointed.
It was afternoon now and Cecilia felt much better than she had earlier. With Robbie out with the building crew, she thought she might like to take a walk along the shore until he returned.
The last thing Cecilia expected to see on her leisurely walk was a woman appear out of nowhere, although this was precisely what she came to see.
"Hello there," Cecilia said after staring at the woman in shock for a long moment.
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"Harriet Jones, former prime minister," she introduced herself and she held out her identification for a moment to prove it.
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Smiling politely up at the woman, she said pleasantly, "Cecilia Turner, former ward sister."
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Her voice was warm and friendly and she laughed softly at the end but there was a tone of command in it as well. It said that this was someone who was used to being listened to and expected answers when she asked for them.
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She was well aware that Harriet Jones might find her mad.
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There were perhaps other things she could say in response to Cecilia's explanation but that was the only thing she could focus on.
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"I am sorry," Harriet said softly in response and she was. The girl in front of her looked so young to have died like that. War really was a horrible thing. "Are there many of us here?"
Reply
Turning toward the rest of the island itself, Cecilia gestured to the lit wooden pathways and beyond. "From what I understand, there are over three hundred of us here. There are villages of huts and more proper buildings, like the Compound. There is a clinic there, kitchens, washing areas, law enforcement... You'll want to go to the Island Police Department to tell them you've arrived; they take some of your basic information and can help you acquire a temporary cot until you've settled more."
Reply
Three hundred seemed very few people when compared to all the dead. There was little chance then that Harriet would meet anyone she knew.
She gave a pleased nod at Cecilia's explanation as it seemed a reasonably advanced set up but there was still one other thing she needed to have confirmed before she could feel comfortable. "We are free here, is that right? There are no aliens running things?"
Reply
Though it wasn't terribly polite, Cecilia's brows knitted together at her questions. Aliens? Cecilia hadn't met any aliens here and frankly hadn't heard of any taking up residence, but this island was rather curious. Therefore, perhaps it wasn't outside the realm of possibility, though she would feel more comforted if it were.
"There is a council of elected officials who oversee things -- all human. We're all free. Everyone who arrives here begins a new life with a clean start."
Reply
"Good," she nodded. "They were chosen by the people."
That was the only type of leader that she trusted. She respected even bad selfish politicians to a certain extent because of who they spoke for but she did not extend the same courtesy to warlords.
"Could you tell me where this Police Department is, please?
Reply
"Of course." Gesturing to the wooden path, she said, "Follow that path until you come to the large building. You'll know it when you come across it; there should be all manner of people going in and out. Take the first door on the left. It's a laboratory, which you'll walk straight through. The door to the Police Department is in there."
Reply
"Thank you, Cecilia."
It was said in a polite, friendly tone but it was obviously a dismissal and once she'd said it she turned and walked away in the direction she was pointed.
Reply
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