Ghosts in the Machine by

Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781304352569
Publisher: Lulu
Published: 2013-08-22T16:00:00+00:00

A Perfect Apple

Alois Wittwer

It was the second day in her new home when she planted the sapling. It was a small, pitiable thing at first but she would enjoy watching it grow day by day until it finally blossomed into a beautiful apple tree. The fruit was sweet all year round here and she could eat it whenever she wanted. Once grown, the tree would peek out from behind the neighbor's small, wooden house up by the river bank. For a time, it would be a secluded place, and the girl found comfort far away from the hustle and bustle of the village.

Mother had gone to great lengths to warn her of country folk.

"They have no sense of privacy! They come in uninvited and leave your kitchen empty!"

“So? That just means they're comfortable! Have you forgotten what visitors are like?”

“We don't have them in this household for three very good reasons,” she flung her hand up in exasperation. “They'll take all your things and never give them back, they'll ask for ridiculous favours, and they're animals with no sense of morals or public civility.”

“Mother!”

“‘Getting away from it all’ does funny things to your mind, dear.”

***

Her house was small but, despite the dire living situation, the girl felt a deep sense of satisfaction. She'd paid for all of this out of her own pocket (she’d had no choice, really). No, it didn't have amenities or gas, but as the first result of her newfound independence it held immeasurable value. And the house wasn't completely barren. There was a diary and AM/FM radio nestled in two separate corners respectively. The antenna had been snapped off so radio wasn't an option, but she was sure she'd be able to find some old tapes in the village. Much like the tree the girl planted today, her home held unimaginable potential.

Over the next few days, she familiarized herself with her surroundings. Her house was one of four, placed to circle around the others and form a small, paved yard in the center. A notice board stood in the middle of the enclosure but hadn't been used for a long time, frayed around the edges. She knocked on each door. If the girl did have immediate neighbors, no one was home.

She had better luck outside of the square. Most villagers were friendly, some more than others, but she'd done her best not to ruffle anyone's feathers. From what she could gather, no one worked. Poncho, a particularly sociable sort, said he simply sold off the old things he didn't need anymore and lived off the savings. With all the fruit trees around the village, he didn't need to worry about food and could simply live the good life. Everyone could live the good life thanks to the hard work of the local merchant.

The three statues outside the train station remained a mystery to her, however. Placed in front of the crossing, they looked as if they were designed to draw the attention of any visitors or

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