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    The Last Dominion: The Iron Skull
    The Last Dominion: The Iron Skull
    The Last Dominion: The Iron Skull
    Ebook103 pages1 hour

    The Last Dominion: The Iron Skull

    By Frank Schildiner

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    About this ebook

    In the deepest heart of the Amazon rainforest, a team of explorers are about to place their lives in the deepest peril. They will face eldritch horrors, ancient mythological monsters and nightmares of long forgotten empires. But unknown to them, a secret protector is in their party. This being, an ancient, inhuman sentinel of justice will attempt to guide them through the horrific dangers of lost Lemuria. He is the IRON SKULL!
    The Iron Skull, originally created by comic legend Carl Burgos for Centaur Comics, appeared as a backup feature in AMAZING-MAN COMICS #1. He was reimagined by Frank Schildiner and Jay Piscopo who present to you a unique and surreal adventure starring this almost forgotten hero of comic legend.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPro Se Press
    Release dateMar 7, 2016
    ISBN9781311780867
    The Last Dominion: The Iron Skull

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      Book preview

      The Last Dominion - Frank Schildiner

      The Iron Skull

      By

      Frank Schildiner

      Published by Pro Se Press at Smashwords

      Written By Frank Schildiner

      The Last Dominion is a concept created by Jay Piscopo, copyright 2016.

      Cover Art by Jay Piscopo

      Edited by Gregory Cabaniss

      eBook Design by Antonino Lo Iacono

      This book is a work of fiction. All of the characters in this publication are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is purely coincidental. No part or whole of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing of the publisher.

      Copyright © 2016 Frank Schildiner

      All rights reserved.

      They were a wealthy family looking for a guide to a lost city, and every gangster, conman, and dangerous person in the area were beginning to circle them like vultures. Some were interested in their money, others the pretty girl that stuck by the side of one of the men. No matter how you looked at it, they were in grave danger before they even embarked on their grand adventure.

      The Iron Skull watched them with a disinterested eye, usually oblivious to the acts of mankind in the microcosm. Rich or poor, good or evil, he had a larger mission to all of humanity, and smaller crimes were often beyond his purview. But he also was a warrior for justice and would not allow these three to be murdered because they were foolish enough to discuss their plans in loud voices. His mission was to the larger world, but sometimes one had to be concerned with the individuals in the scheme of life.

      No, he would have to steer them to a reputable guide, a man who would help them seek their goal honestly and keep them alive should the harsh conditions of the jungle. There were several men in the region who the Iron Skull knew, or better to say they knew him and would do as he bid. The Iron Skull was a protector who often appeared in small jungle cities, saving men, women, and children from menaces far beyond the powers of humanity. Street crime and the like was something he left to the local police or people. But if he could prevent someone from placing themselves in a potentially lethal situation, the Iron Skull would not turn a blind eye.

      He was about to find a guide he knew when the younger of the two men said a word that immediately forced the Iron Skull to listen closer and revise his plans. The word was Zol, and it held special meaning to anyone who knew the history of ancient Lemuria. If these three Americans were going in search of the lost Lemurian outpost city of Zol, they were in greater danger than that of a few ruffians and murderers. No, the Iron Skull needed to be present if this terrible land was discovered.

      As he was, his true form, the Iron Skull knew he would probably terrify these wealthy Americans and possibly cause them to make an even more foolish choice. Standing well over six feet tall, gray skinned, noseless, hairless and possessing black eyes with yellow pupils, only a select number of men and women failed to recoil at his unusual looks. But with a little concentration, he transformed himself into a form he used from time to time, a tall man with blond hair, a small nose and dark eyes. He still looked very intense and powerful, but not completely alien as was his true shape.

      Good afternoon, sir. The Iron Skull stated, stepping out in front of the oldest of the three Americans. I heard from the chief of police you required a guide who knew the lands. My name is Ivan Sturm, and I’m here to lend you some aid.

      The older man, a man of medium height and strong barrel chested build, eyed he newcomer with the look of one used to dealing with rogues and having some skill at recognizing their nature. He was balding and looked as if he was one who earned his money rather than gaining it by fortuitous birth.

      Barros sent you? He asked, his voice a boom of command. He told me he didn’t know anyone local.

      Don’t trust him, Pop! He looks shifty to me! This came from a younger man with similar characteristics to the older man, but finer and more refined. His brown hair was thick, though plastered to his head with sweat.

      Chief Barros wasn’t aware I was back in the area. If you go and ask him about Ivan Sturm and describe me, he’ll provide you a recommendation. I will wait at Silva’s Café, if you’re interested in hiring my services. If not, the good luck to you, wherever you happen to be traveling. The Iron Skull said, nodded and walked away without looking back. Chief Barros knew Ivan Sturm was just another identity for the Iron Skull, and he would provide a glowing recommendation. He had rescued the Chief’s daughter and her friends some years back, and the man was a good and loyal ally since that day.

      Less than an hour later, the old man, his younger companion who was probably his son, and the young woman sat across from the Iron Skull at a table outside Silva’s Café. They all looked hot, tired and very out-of-place in this setting, The older man seemed to be a leader, and he finally leaned his heavy, hair arms on the table and began to speak in a low, hushed voice.

      My name is Bradley, Oswald Bradley. This here is my son Timmy and his fiancée, Jenny. The Chief said you were a square shooter, a decent character. So I’d like to hire you. We want to go on a big expedition, one that will find a lost city. Have you ever heard of Zol? Oswald Bradley stated, looking closely at the Iron Skull’s face.

      The Iron Skull knew more of this city than Bradley, but wished to know what this man intended. Therefore he just shook his head once and said, Sorry, no.

      Bradley smiled slightly, Zol is a city made of gold, the true city of El Dorado. It was built by people so ancient, all other traces of their civilization is long since gone.

      El Dorado’s a myth people have been seeking since Europeans first hit South America. The Iron Skull scoffed, hoping to put these people off the trail. The truth of Zol was far more frightening than this man and his family realized. Preventing the disease that was Lemuria from returning was one of the Iron Skull’s missions in this world.

      Bradley shook his large head, A missionary in the 1600’s was taken there as a captive. He barely escaped with his life, but his journal ended up in my hand when I bought a house on the Riviera. The owners had books they never touched in their library and I bought them all. Timmy’s girl, Jenny, translated it, and we found it’s all true. We need you to guide us there, and we’ll give you a share of profits if we make any. $10,000 up front. You in?

      The Iron Skull disliked this story more and more, because it sounded very truthful. He’d hoped they were intending to wander somewhere where the usual rumors abounded. He could take them there, keep them safe and kill the tales of Zol for another generation. But no such luck it appeared.

      Possibly, The Iron Skull replied, Do you have a map of where you think this lost city is hidden?

      The girl nodded and pulled out a folded piece of thick paper, unfolded it on the table, and said in her slightly high-pitched voice, I used Father Martin’s hand drawn map from his diary and increased the size on my computer. Then a bit of research into the man himself and some searches using Google and I had a place that fit every description to the letter!

      The Iron Skull studied the map and, had he had a standard human heart, it would have fallen. The locations these people wished to go through was dangerous for oh so many reasons. And the idea that Zol was hidden in this location…it made a great deal of sense sadly.

      "I know the area. That’s Yamano territory. The Yamano are one of the most dangerous

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