Island of Echoes (17 page)

I wish with every fiber of my being that this little tome reaches the shores of my distant Earth, for the Capribians have generously offered to copy these memories for me and send the journal into the approaching storm within a protected case. But wherever it may come to rest, I hope that the inhabitants of that sphere have found a way to respect their fellow man. We think of society, laws, the economy, and beliefs as being a natural phenomenon, but that is not so. Humanity created the restrictions of our lives, and humanity can break them down. It may take centuries, or millennia, but now I know that it is possible.

Building upon the achievements of our ancestors is natural, but we do not need to preserve their faults. It only took a few generations for the Lisispal to rid itself of war. The resulting peace provided a forum to thoughts which had hitherto been neglected. This world could not turn back to the old ways after witnessing this peace, and neither could we. Some of us stayed for love, others for freedom, and others still for enlightenment. Whatever our place in society, our beliefs, or our gender, we were offered something here which our old lives did not allow.

I thought of this as I took Ella’s hand on that ancient platform and we exchanged a kiss in the firelight. Lady Pearson came to embrace us. King Eireas stepped up and put his arms around Rémy. Daniel shook hands with the Captain, and they were each hugged by the priestess. Time seemed to slow as we stood among the cheers. I had the opportunity to look at each of my companions in turn. Something changed in us that night which I knew would follow us in our hearts forever. We did, indeed, become bound to the world around us. For as Rémy so wisely put it, we are all echoes of the same song.

This book would not have been completed without two very special people in my life.

The first is my mother, who eagerly read the early drafts of this story when I was twelve years old. Her constant support of all my endeavors has motivated me to pursue more interests than I can count. She has been an impeccable role model in all things and I am proud to have inherited her spirit of optimism, respect, and rationality.

The second is my dear friend Liza, who acted as both editor and cheerleader throughout the final writing process. Her infectious enthusiasm and insightful feedback kept me on track. Considering the overwhelming amount of projects I have started without completing, this gift was more valuable than she realizes.

I would also be remiss if I did not mention my beloved cat, Bessy, whose warmth and affection accompanied the writing of much of this text.