The Island of Echoes: A Novel Read online

  “How generous,” I said.

  “She has yet to disclose a method of payment,” Daniel added sharply. “Though naturally, she claims it is entirely out of good-will.”

  “Perhaps it is,” I pointed out.

  “Nonsense,” Daniel scoffed. “Everything comes with a price.”

  “And what was the price for the good-will you bestowed as a missionary, Father?” I asked.

  The brazen statement gave the priest pause and I could see his bony cheeks brighten.

  “That was different,” he countered. “I was working to spread the good of god. These atheists don’t have the faith for such morality.”

  “Everything we have seen thus far leads me to believe otherwise.”

  Daniel chuckled. “One cannot know morality without religion."

  “On the contrary,” I persisted, “just yesterday, the advisor told me that the King is seen as a moral guide for the nation."

  Daniel laughed unabashedly and I ceased providing his pessimism with an audience. I instead turned to our hostess and thanked her for the offer.

  “It is our pleasure,” Sarmia declared. “The King was not lying when he said you are guests of the people of Capribo.”

  A mid-day meal was brought out to us on the lawn and large white parasols were erected to shade us from the heat of the sun. I wanted to engage Ella in conversation but her grandmother sat between us. The elders of our group spent the luncheon discussing the weather and the food before us. I felt as if they lived in a dream world where the reality of our situation failed to take hold. There were many instances in which my logical self wished to argue, but I realized quarrel was futile. All would be revealed in Alexandria.

  Sarmia escorted us into the city of Aleria at the conclusion of our meal. It was initially difficult to spot where the gardens ended and the city began, for the entire area was thick with vegetation. But as the buildings of white stone beneath the canopy of high trees became more numerous, it was like stepping into the long-lost ruins of an ancient civilization. The crawling ivy and mosses at the base of the columns gave the city an air of antique mystery, but it was well-preserved and alive with locals. They stopped to observe us as we made our way through, and I wished everyone in our party had chosen to wear a local tunic. Though I also saw that few people were dressed as I was. Most of the locals now wore darker trousers and elaborate shirts in a variety of styles.

  Unaccustomed to such blatant observation, we had become rather uncomfortable. With the ever-present silver thorn of the Tower of Marble as my guidepost, I saw that we had barely entered the city before Sarmia led us into a building with wide steps and modern geometric columns at its entrance. We were greeted at the door by a number of attendants who likewise wore the variegated outfits I saw outside.

  I made it a point to inquire about the clothing later in the day. I was informed that the pastel tunics were distinctive attire. The outfit was standard for government officials, as well as the King, but the average Capribian only donned it for special events.

  Sarmia introduced us to the attendants and informed us that we were in a medical facility. I will not even attempt to recall the variety of instruments used, but the visit was not unpleasant. Despite the communication barriers, we were treated well and given thorough examinations. The facility even provided me with dental work, and I must note that it was the most painless and efficient procedure which I have ever been privy to. Lady Pearson and Father Daniel were adamant about withholding from any treatments. But when Captain Travert had three of his teeth replaced with duplicates that looked indistinguishable from his own, both individuals capitulated.

  It was nearly evening by the time we finished, but I felt fully revitalized. The physicians injected me with a fluid which I was told would replenish my body with liquids and nutrition which I lacked. I have no doubt that the post-storm exhaustion and dehydration played a part in this diagnosis. But the people of Capribo were many decades ahead of our own medical practitioners, that much was clear.

  I think we all left with renewed excitement. Lady Pearson was even told that she could walk without the use of a cane again, but the procedure would be more extensive than a simple clinical visit. I passed her thanks to our hostess and informed her that Lady Pearson would need to give it some thought before committing.

  We followed a cobblestone path back toward the Tower of Marble. I purposely fell behind in our group and managed to sneak up to Ella’s side as we made our way in the fading light.

  “Ella,” I whispered in her ear.

  She turned, shocked, to face me. “Mr. Laurence!” she breathed. “What ever are you doing?”

  “I want to steal you away for a few minutes,” I smiled.

  “We mustn’t!” she countered. Her eyes darted to the rest of our group, though I discerned the outline of a smile on her lips.

  “And why not?” I teased.

  “Because…” she stuttered. “Because…”

  “Because you’re a proper English lady and I, a meager academic?” I asked mockingly. “Neither are of any consequence here,” I pointed out.

  “It matters to my grandmother,” she said more sternly. “Now please, let's not cause a scandal.”

  Despite my putting her on the spot, my emotions got the better of me. “Very well,” I stiffened. “I shan’t pester you.” I walked away brusquely.

  Rémy was sitting in the lounge of our apartment when we returned. He had likewise received medical care after his lessons that afternoon. I was eager to learn some of his new knowledge and asked if he would be kind enough to share it with me.

  “But of course!” he laughed and I realized how refreshing his presence was. He was my companion in excitability. How different my time on the island would have been without Rémy’s constant optimism to reinforce my own. I had already thought of him as a friend and our bond continued to blossom.

  It chanced that I sat at a distance from Ella over dinner. Though truth be told, my pride was still somewhat wounded. I passed the time speaking to Rémy and we excused ourselves to our bedroom at the conclusion of the meal. He had learned how to operate the wall screen with greater precision and was able to bring up the study aide he spoke of the day prior.

  “See?” Rémy asked. “Like this.” He touched an image of a cat.

  “Chat,” his recorded voice said. After a quick pause came a woman’s voice with the Anuprian equivalent: “Bes.”

  The audio even allowed us to practice without images, and we spent hours with the interactive dictionary. The King was right about one thing: Rémy was a natural student of the language. He was already able to voice complete sentences in eloquent Anuprian. The phrases were introductory, of course, but my entire first month of German lessons in secondary school looked completely unproductive by comparison. It was late into the night when we finally decided it was time for bed.

  “I am so excited about Alexandria tomorrow,” Rémy said as we turned the light off and dimmed the glass wall.

  “Me too,” I replied.

  “But a part of me is nervous too,” he admitted. "What if this is all some dream, and we are thrown back into reality once we depart?”

  “Your uncle certainly isn’t convinced of what the King told us, neither are the others, I don’t think.”

  “Are you?” he asked me quietly. “I know you said you want to, as do I, but can you say for certain that we are on another world?”

  “If not, then why the illusion?” I countered. “And how would we explain the technology?”

  “I know, Phillip,” he agreed, “but can you say for certain that Capribo is what we have been told it is?”

  “For certain? No, I can’t. But we will know tomorrow.”

  “Yes,” he said thoughtfully, “and that is why I am nervous.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  T he return journey to Alexandria had everyone in good spirits the following morning, our fifth on the island of Capribo. The breakfast fruit tasted exceptionally ripe, the cof
fee was particularly smooth, and even the conversation around the dining table was lighthearted. Everyone was looking forward to the trip, albeit for different reasons.

  Sarmia did not visit us that morning, but she did send a message by attendant. It was written in block Latin and informed us that the King’s ship would be leaving shortly before dinner that afternoon. The hours leading up to our departure did not pass quickly. We hadn’t been granted free reign within the Tower of Marble, and I did not want to upset our hosts by drifting through its halls again. I likewise had no intention of leaving the palace, for we were celebrated individuals on the island and I would surely be recognized. To make matters worse, Ella and I had no privacy within the chamber and we could not continue our brief exchange from the prior evening.

  I passed the time writing on the couch and observing the locals through the large windows. I spotted what I presumed to be the King’s ship approaching Aleria from the east. It was small, perhaps double the length of our Bigorneau, though it embodied nothing of the latter’s bulky construction. The ship was smooth and reflective, like white ceramic. The bow and stern tapered up into delicate stems which spread out at their tips. Silver accents shaped the ends into lotus blossoms.

  Sarmia came to greet us shortly thereafter. We had gathered in the lounge, observing the vessel, save Ella who had not yet finished dressing.

  “Dinner will be served aboard the King’s ship,” Sarmia informed us. “A number of other advisors will be in attendance including Etia Yawa, whom you already know.”

  Daniel was about to respond when Ella entered the lounge and broke all our thoughts. Rémy and I had once again donned the Capribian garb, and our appearance had by this time become commonplace among our group. But it was an entirely different matter when Ella emerged likewise wearing the local attire.

  She chose a closely fitting tunic of pink, with long white trousers beneath. Her sandals and belt were similar to mine, but of a darker beeswax leather. Her hair was left to hang freely at her sides and I noticed for the first time the lovely ripple of curls within her brown locks.

  “Ella!” her grandmother gasped. “What do you think you are doing?”

  Ella held her head high. “I am following the example of Mr. Laurence and Mr. Durant,” she proclaimed defiantly.

  “But what will happen when we reach Alexandria?” Lady Pearson piped. “People will think you’ve gone mad!”

  “Why would that be?” the younger woman questioned.

  Lady Pearson put a hand to her heart. “My dear,” she began slowly, attempting to keep her composure, “you are a Pearson and Egypt is under British occupation. You don’t believe you will be spotted and recognized?” She stared adamantly at her granddaughter. “It has happened before."

  “Grandmother,” Ella’s tone was firm but not unkind, “Egypt is not under British occupation because the Alexandria we are traveling to is not the same one which we left. As for my name and my place in society…” her eyes looked up and stared directly into mine, “neither are of any consequence here.” A discrete smile appeared on her lips and I could feel my heart leap up within my chest.

  “Please inform Ella that she looks wonderful,” Sarmia requested approvingly. “The King will be so pleased to see her.”

  I passed the message to Ella, who erupted in a full smile.

  “Let us proceed to the ship,” the Etia suggested.

  Our group was escorted down to the first floor of the tower and we waited in the large entry chamber. The throne room doors opened after several minutes and King Eireas emerged. He looked exactly how we first saw him upon the throne. Clad in pure white, silver laurels atop his head, he gave us an acknowledging nod and led two rows of purple sentries out of the palace. We followed the procession.

  It was a beautiful day in Aleria. The warmth of the sun was balanced by the refreshing breeze from the sea. Three open carriages awaited us on the cobblestone road. The King took the first. Sarmia, Yawa, and three other advisors, all men of middle age whom we did not recognize, took the second. My companions and I were pointed to the third. The guards divided themselves across the coaches.

  We proceeded away from the tower, and away from the water, down the same road we had taken on our first approach to the city. The thelísta path eventually branched out to either side, leading into the woodland. The carriages turned and followed the right branch of the road.

  The temperature under the trees was noticeably cooler. The white stone buildings continued to remind me of some long-abandoned ruins within the Amazon or the Congo. Citizens stopped their daily activities to wave as we passed by. I could see that Eireas was particularly relaxed, appearing nothing like the stiff and distant royals of our own nations. The people called to him by name and he waved and nodded to each of them in turn. Our carriages made a wide arc around the Tower of Marble until our path left the city center and progressed straight through the gardens and out toward the sea.

  The King’s ship was a marvel to behold at close range. The silver lotuses were not its only embellishments. The deck was paved with large tiles of blue stone. A dozen striking columns protruded up into the sky, like white stems emerging from a calm lake. They supported a curved sheet of glass overhead. There were no docks at the water’s edge. A single elevated walkway led us out over the water and onto the polished vessel. I looked down at the waves below me as we made our way across the extended path. The King and his retinue instantly disappeared below deck, though Sarmia remained behind. She escorted us down the staircase and into a comfortable chamber.

  “Please make yourselves comfortable,” she requested.

  The room stretched across the entire width of the ship and accommodated two crescent couches of brown leather atop a natural wood floor. The couches faced the windows rather than each other. An oval table stood within each crescent. To my delight, Ella immediately sat down beside Rémy and me. I could see the look of disapproval on her grandmother’s face as she took a seat with Daniel and Travert on the other couch. The seat backs were tall and we could scarcely hear the elders’ conversation, much less see them. The ironic privacy of the little room was most-welcome.

  “Now if you’ll excuse me,” Sarmia continued, “I must join his highness in the forward chamber. There is a reclining room through those doors,” she pointed in the opposite direction, “and the lavatories are located at the stern of the ship. I believe Rémy’s grasp of Anuprian is strong enough to ask for me should you need anything before our arrival.”

  We thanked the Etia and she made her departure. The lights of the room dimmed a few minutes later and that odd soothing music, the likes of which I first heard in the Egyptian dining hall, began to play throughout the chamber. I could only guess at the instruments which produced it, but the combination of flutes, drums, and occasional choir produced an atmosphere of utter enchantment.

  The ship withdrew from the shore and began to pick up speed on the open water. I was astonished by the stability of the interior given the speed with which we glided through the water. Although the familiar sway of sea travel was ever-present, the ship’s movement was neither jarring nor unsteady.

  “I am pleased to see you in the local tunic, Lady Ella,” Rémy complimented.

  “Thank you, Mr. Durant,” she said humbly. “The two of you have given me courage to try something new.”

  “It becomes you,” I admitted, and I was pleased to see the young woman look up with a smile rather than turn away with a blush.

  Dinner was brought out shortly after departure. The main course was comprised of little pastries similar to quiche, charred sweet potatoes, a chickpea salad, and a variety of vegetables. The wine, as always, was superb.

  Ella, Rémy, and I talked of our excitement at seeing more of this sister Earth. Our couch happened to face starboard, and we were treated to a magnificent vista of the setting sun on the horizon. I stole several glances at Ella, her skin glowing in the golden hue, and admired the delicate features of her face. The curvature of
her lips and the ornament of freckles on her cheeks were captivating.

  “That was a delicious meal,” Rémy stated at the conclusion of the last course. “But if you will excuse me,” he continued, “I would like to retire to the reclining room for a bit.”

  “Of course,” said Ella. “Thank you for your company.”

  “The pleasure was mine,” he replied as he stood from the table. I saw him flash a boyish grin and give me a wink before parting. I smiled and thanked him with a discrete nod.

  The sun had already set but its glow still remained visible at the edge of the sea. Ella and I sipped our wine and gazed out at the motley of colors sweeping the sky. The elders at the other table could scarcely be heard over the music and distant rumble of water rushing past the hull. I realized that I could speak freely.

  “Ella, I know why you left Alexandria with such haste,” I confessed quietly. Of all the possible things she suspected I may say, her eyes told me that those words were not among them.

  “But… how?” she pondered aloud.

  I placed my hand over hers. “The important thing is that this world offers you a fresh start. Your past is not held against you here.”

  “So you think I made the wrong decision?” she stiffened.

  “I do not know the extent of the situation, but you no longer have to run here,” I reassured her.

  She snickered sarcastically. “My run was cut short when my grandmother discovered me.”

  “I have no doubt she was doing what she thought best,” I admitted. “The charges were a shock to be sure.”

  “Charges?” Ella inquired. “What charges?”

  I sighed. “Forgive me, but one of your books was misplaced with my own. I saw the court summons inside.”

  She chuckled, her laugh genuine this time. “Court summons? I must admit I have no idea what you mean.”

  “There was a court summons for theft nestled between the pages,” I informed her.

  “Well I am proud to say that neither my flight to nor from Egypt had anything to do with theft,” she boasted, and took another sip of wine. “Goodness, Mr. Laurence, you must have thought me quite the scandal!”