City of Gold Read Free Page B

here?” Cody asked exasperated while using his foot to nonchalantly flick the purple robe out of sight.
    “The same reason as you—to hide away,” Eva replied softly. “I come here often.”
    “How do you know I’m hiding? I didn’t…never mind. What is this place anyways?” Cody questioned as his breath settled back into its regular rhythm.
    Eva was an enigma. He had only shared an extended conversation with the modest Princess one other time—the night she had appeared unannounced at his chamber to warn him that her siblings were dangerous. The counsel she had offered had been wise. Cody felt surprisingly comfortable in her presence and the tension in his muscles ebbed away.
    “What it once was is no longer,” Eva replied as she motioned to a stone structure in the room’s center. The rustic construction, surrounded by a mosaic platform, resembled the periscope of a submarine, with the shaft opening at face level—one of Atlantis’ famed tunnel-phones.
    “In ancient days this was the royal communication chamber. But this channel has long since been decommissioned. Now it’s no more than a storage closet for things that belong nowhere else…like us,” she finished with a tender smile.
    Cody stroked his fingers along the polished surface of the appliance. “Where did the channel lead?”
    Eva hesitated before answering. “It’s the prototype; the first ever constructed. It leads, or rather, it led , directly…” she paused again as Cody leaned forward in anticipation, “to the throne room of El Dorado.”
    Cody stumbled back a step, rubbing his dazed eyes. His surprise morphed into anger. “You mean…we have direct communication with El Dorado…and nobody informed me?! Don’t you understand what this means?” Cody didn’t wait for a reply; his face was already at the chute. “Whoever hears this, I demand to speak to your prisoner, Jade. Let me hear her voice! Answer me…ANSWER ME!” Cody bellowed.
    Silence.
    Eva placed her hand upon Cody’s clamped fist. “I was trying to tell you; this channel hasn’t been used in a thousand years. It’s either caved in naturally or El Dorado filled it in centuries ago. I’m sorry.” Cody suddenly felt embarrassed by his impulsive theatrics.
    “Don’t be ashamed. Jade would have done the same for you,” Eva comforted, as though reading his thoughts.
    Jade would be stronger. She’s always been stronger , Cody thought bitterly. He scanned the room, anxious to change the subject. “What’s this for?” he asked, grabbing the first object within his reach.
    Eva smiled, offering no resistance to the shift. “One of my favorites; another of Lamgorious Stalkton’s long-forgotten experiments. It’s called The Speaking Sands .”
    Cody examined two pewter bowls and a small, transparent vial containing white sand. Eva chuckled. “I’ll show you.” She set the dishes on the floor. Removing the vial’s lid, she poured sand into each basin and began tracing her finger through the sand in one of them.
    “I still don’t und…” Cody reeled in his tongue and rubbed his eyes to assure they hadn’t been deceived. Within the second bowl lines were carving through the sand on their own accord. Eva stood and joined Cody in looking at the two dishes that now perfectly mirrored each other in displaying a jagged mountain range sketch.
    “ Hello ?”
    Cody glanced to Eva in surprise. “Excuse me?” The Princess stared back blankly. “I didn’t say anything.”
    “You must have; I heard a…”
    “ Hello ?”
    This time Eva’s eyebrows elevated as well. The voice was being projected from the tunnel-phone.
    “I thought you said…” Cody began but Eva cut him off. “It’s not supposed to work.”
    Cody stepped to the chute and cleared his throat.
    “It is I, Cody Clemenson, Book Keeper and protector of Atlantis. I demand to speak to Jade.” He grimaced, having sounded painfully more timid than intended.
    A rumbling echo sounded in the distance.