Island of Echoes by Roman Gitlarz Read Free Book Online Page A

Pearson quavered. As much as we hated to admit it, our primary defenses were gone.
    “Oh this is just lovely,” Father Daniel proclaimed.
    “Let’s not be hasty,” Ella protested, “We’ve been treated with nothing but kindness thus far. These people seem civilized enough after all.”
    Lady Pearson and Father Daniel sneered simultaneously.
    “We should have stayed right where we were,” the priest grumbled.
    “We can’t get anywhere with a damaged ship,” I pointed out. For better or worse, we were marooned with these strangers.
    “Well I can only surmise what that tower may hold,” Father Daniel warned, glaring at the metallic monolith. “Perhaps this island never made it on the map because its visitors never departed!”
    Lady Pearson placed her hand over her head again, a groan of despair escaping her lips.
    “Well really!” Ella huffed. “I would kindly like to request that we stop these negative assumptions!” Her voice betrayed no fear and I admired her quality of character. She picked up one of the containers of water and wet a handkerchief to put over her grandmother’s forehead.
    “These people are clearly gifted in the art of architecture,” I admitted. “I had the opportunity to visit the New York World Building during my last trip home, the tallest building on Earth, and this tower trumps it twofold. At least! ”
    “But I guarantee they lack any advancement in sea travel,” Travert ascertained.
    Rémy nodded. “Yes, we would know of this island if they had ships.”
    “Whatever this place may be,” I answered thoughtfully, “we must assume that we are witness to a wholly undiscovered people. We could very well be the first outsiders to walk these shores in millennia.”
    “As a mariner of this sea, I simply can’t comprehend how that’s possible,” Travert admitted. “But my eyes tell me that it must be true.”
    “Perhaps this is where the ancient stories of Atlantis had come from,” I added. “Suppose we are the first visitors on this island in centuries. We are ambassadors to the outside world.” It was not my intent, but the weight of my words settled upon my companions like a great burden. We remained silent for the remainder of the trip.
    Our carriage reached the crest of a hill which descended down to a large stretch of flat land beside the sea. We were still a mile or two from the tower, but we were offered our first view down to its base. The silver cone protruded from a grassy field at the center of the densely forested region. Its base ended in a perfect circle on the turf, curving out like the lip of a trumpet. Although I spotted a multitude of other buildings among the trees, all were composed of stone and few emerged above the treetops. My rational mind was at odds with what I saw before me and I had difficulty judging the height of the soaring monument. It stretched into the heavens and I suspected it was about seven hundred feet tall. Its bright exterior contrasted beautifully against the deep green foliage of the area.
    The red cobblestone road weaved down the hill and appeared to terminate at the tower, though the path was flanked on either side by a swimming sea of color. A horde of people, many thousands of individuals, stood between us and the tower’s base. Their pastel tunics flashed brightly in the sunlight. The entire group erupted in cheers when we came into view and their collective voices formed a distant roar of enthusiasm.
    A line of highly ceremonial guards blocked off both sides of the cobblestone road so that our path was clear of the masses. Their uniforms were elaborate tunics of deep purple with thick gold belts across their waists. An ornamented purple cape fluttered from the back of each man and woman, for I noticed that both genders were reflected in the sentries. Heavy gold bracelets adorned their wrists. Unlike the sandals of the populace, the guards wore tall boots over their dark trousers. Although their belts had a number of