The Isle of Gold

By Nick Hayden

I had willingly joined the legions that dove into the unknown. The romance of this world stirs my soul; I cannot live in peace in lands already known. But when I awoke in the sand on that beach, I had lost everything, my every comfort and my every necessity. I had spent the previous week in that dying vessel, starving, sipping from a single canteen, drifting in the windless Sea, lost in her sinuous curves. I remembered spotting land for the first time since I had set forth, and I remembered struggling weakly to shore like a man at the end of a too-long race. And now I remembered waking up, with sand in my mouth.

I thought I should feel excitement now that I had solid ground once more beneath my feet. Here I was, beyond known lands, beyond the furthest reaches of knowledge, beyond civilization and beyond safety—where all the wonders of the world waited for my hands and for my eyes. And yet, all my dreams and visions were as dry as dust. I wanted one thing only, and it was the commonest thing in creation. I wanted a cup of water.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nick Hayden
• Release date: Mar 8, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458092137

Nick Hayden

Nick Hayden has never known exactly what to write in his author's bio, but he's willing to try. Nick is married to his lovely wife Natasha, he is father to his wonderful son Fyodor. (No, we are not Russian.) Sometimes Nick really loves to write. Sometimes, he prefers to dream about writing. Most times, he enjoys reading things he's already written. Without a doubt, he has to write. He truly believes that fiction is a lie that tells the truth. That is why he writes, and that is why he loves fiction. He tends to read books published before his birth, though he is always willing to make exceptions. He tends to write speculative fiction, though he is always willing to make exceptions. Nick believes in the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus Christ and believes that Jesus is the truth. This may very well show up in his writings, but hopefully won't land like a piano from a third story window. Above all, Nick hopes that something here will inspire you, entertain you, make you think, or simply make you smile. If not, he supposes he'll have to keep at it until something does.

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