Awakenings

Book excerpt: "The flush of adrenaline now running through my veins has long been absent from my life. Though confrontation is not what I anticipated on Topos Hydatos Katharos—place of pure water—the rush of adrenaline reconnects me with the excitement of living. Just as vigorously as I came to Topos Hydatos Katharos to run away from my life, I am now just a vigorously running for my life. Fear and exuberance simultaneously battle for the supremacy of my immediate emotions." Having lost at love and business, Charles sets out for a holiday on the island Topos Hydatos Katharos, renown for relaxation and regeneration. What he finds there is not what he came looking for. An aggressive race of human-like indigenous beings, seeking to dominate the island, has pitted themselves against two other groups who want only peace for the island. Caught in the middle of the conflict Charles begins to learn that, "We are not strong because of what we can do. We are strong because of what we choose not to do, even though we have the power to do it."