The Skeleton Clock
Page 26
‘I can make anything,’ he admitted. ‘Always could. I was always good at carving wood, sculpting stone, making things work, making them move. I’m too old to learn a new trade now.’
‘You’re not old,’ Sarah said.
‘I feel it sometimes,’ her father said. ‘In my bones.’
‘Hey, I never noticed that before,’ Jake said. They were outside the shop. He pointed up at the faded sign: Jasper R. Hickson.
‘What does the “R” stand for?’ he wondered.
‘It’s an old family name,’ the Toymaker said dismissively, unlocking the door. ‘Been around for years, one way and another.’ He led Jake and Sarah inside.
‘I miss Geoff,’ Sarah said quietly as they went inside.
‘I know,’ Jake told her. ‘So do I.’ He squeezed her hand, shared her sadness.
The toys were crowded round the shop just as they always were. The back room had been sealed off while Sarah’s father rebuilt the broken wall. On a shelf close to his workbench stood an intricate clock. A clock with its workings exposed. A clock with gears and cogs and levers gleaming white as bone. A clock whose face was empty as the hands slowly counted off the seconds of eternity.
A clock that would never stop.
* * *
Justin Richards
Although he is now best known as a children’s writer, Justin Richards is also the author of dozens of genre and sf novels, as well as non-fiction books, audio scripts, television and a stage play. He has edited books of short stories, been a technical writer, and worked as odd-job man in a hotel for postal workers.
Justin is the author of the popular children’s series The Invisible Detective, and also the series Time Runners. For younger children, Justin writes the Agent Alfie series – about a boy who finds himself at a school for the children of spies and secret agents. Though Alfie’s own dad is a postman.
Justin’s novel for older children – The Death Collector – was first published in 2006, followed by The Chaos Code in 2007 and The Parliament of Blood in 2008, with The Chamber of Shadows following in 2010. His series The School of Night also started in Autumn 2010.
He has co-written several action thrillers for older children with the acknowledged master of the genre Jack Higgins.
Justin acts as Creative Consultant to BBC Books’ range of Doctor Who titles, advising on the commissioning and editing of all the company’s Doctor Who titles as well as writing quite a few himself.
Married with two children (both boys), Justin lives and works in Warwick, within sight of one of Britain’s best-preserved castles.
*
For more information about Justin’s books go to: www.braxiatek.com
Also by Justin Richards
*
The Death Collector
When Eddie ‘Dipper’ Hopkins steals George Archer’s wallet he has no idea that he is about to enter a dark world of grave-robbing, assassins and zombies. For George Archer is no ordinary citizen. He has just been offered a job in the top secret Department of Unclassified Artefacts at the British Museum – a department that investigates the bizarre and the unexplained. And in George’s wallet is a clue to one of the biggest mysteries of all. A secret that has remained hidden for millions of years. A secret that people would kill to discover.
On the run for their lives, Eddie and George must join forces to escape the clutches of a depraved genius – a man who needs the secret for a terrifying plan. Helped by the redoubtable Sir William Protheroe and actress Elizabeth Oldfield, they find themselves in a heart-stopping race against time. A race to unravel the secret before London is overrun by creatures from the dead . . .
*
The Parliament of Blood
A tale not for the faint-hearted! Prepare yourself for the horrors that lie within – some may be based on legend, but many are documented fact. You will read of secret societies and hidden mysteries, of evil plans long made and villainy about to be dispatched. Of the legends of the Book of the Undead and the lord of that hellish region. Of vampires and their Parliament of Blood.
It is 1886, and Eddie, George, Liz and Sir William must separate the terrifying truth from the lies and fiction. Or else we shall all be doomed as they return to do battle with their greatest foe yet . . .
*
The Chamber of Shadows
A terrifying new case for the Department of Unclassified Artefacts. Eddie, Liz, George and Sir William return to fight their greatest enemy yet in this nail-biting novel from the author of The Death Collector and The Parliament of Blood.
‘My friends and I have braved the horrors of the Shadow Chamber – its secret traps and snares. We have crawled through sewers to escape an inhuman killer. We have fought creatures of animated clay and feared for our lives in the hidden cellarage of the Emperor’s Theatre. have seen the poor souls whose brains have been replaced by mechanisms of clockwork. I have witnessed how they are entirely under the influence of an ancient curse...
*
The Chaos Code
Deep within the Peruvian jungle, an astounding secret lies hidden . . .
Matt’s dad has disappeared. An eminent archaeologist, he’s left Matt only a coded message with a bizarre set of instructions. Clues that lead Matt to the enigmatic Julius Venture and on to a world-wide treasure hunt. With the help of Venture’s daughter Robin, and the sponsorship of an enthusiastic billionaire, Matt is soon crossing continents, deciphering codes and exploring ancient ruins in an exhausting bid to stay one step ahead of his enemies.
The race is on to find a lost treasure so powerful that it could change the world.
*
The School of Night
Demon Storm
There is an unseen world most people can't begin to imagine... ... Unless they can see the ghosts. Ben's sister Sam saw them all the time. Then she looked into the Judgement Box, and that's when Ben's life changed forever.
Would you look into the Judgement Box? Would you dare?
If you can see what's inside, then maybe you have what it takes to join: The School of Night.
Demon Storm - The Terror is only just beginning...
Creeping Terror
There is an unseen world most people can’t begin to imagine . . . . . . Where the most ordinary things can turn against you. The village of Templeton was evacuated during World War 2. Now even the ghosts are leaving – because something terrible stayed behind.
Ben and his new friends at the School of Night must find out what’s going on. But they are soon trapped in the village, where even the trees and plants turn against them. Could you survive against all the odds?
Could you solve the ancient mystery and free the village from a curse that threatens the whole world?
If you could, then maybe you have what it takes to join The School of Night
*
The Invisible Detective
London, today: When fourteen-year-old Arthur Drake shelters from the rain in a dusty shop, the last thing he expects to find is the antique casebook of The Invisible Detective. It may have been written in the 1930s, but it's in his handwriting...
London, 1936: Whatever your problem, the Invisible Detective can find the answer. He is a mystery, an enigma. In fact, the truth about the Invisible Detective is known by only four children with their own special talents. Together the children use their special skills to solve crimes and mysteries. But who'd listen to a bunch of kids? The Paranormal Puppet Show (US Title: Double Life)
Shadow Beast
Ghost Soldiers
Killing Time
Faces of Evil
The Web of Anubis
Stage Fright
Legion of the Dead
*
Time Runners
"Let me tell you about the day my life ended. I remember it as if it was yesterday which, maybe, it was. Or perhaps it will be tomorrow. I lose track. After all, it was a long time ago."
At first, Jamie Grant thinks people are just ignoring him. His teacher, his classma
tes, even his own mother - everyone apart from his little sister, Ellie - are suddenly acting as if he's not around. He's fallen off the register at school, people don't reply to his questions, and he's not even showing up in old family photos. Creepy or what?
Eventually, with the help of the friendly but mysterious Anna, he comes to realise that he doesn't exist. He never has. He's fallen through a time break and is living in a parallel world in which he was never born.
What's more, Jamie discovers that although he is outside time, he has the power to control it - and so he and Anna are employed as Time Runners to fix the rips in time. But they must work against the sinister Darkling Midnight, who is intent on causing chaos throughout history, to prevent time from falling apart...
Freeze-Framed
Rewind Assassin
Past Forward
Wipe Out
*
Agent Alfie
Jake's dad is head of the Secret Service. Alice's dad is a double agent. Harry's dad has infiltrated SPUD – the Secret Partners for Undertaking Destruction. And Alfie's dad... is a postman.
Thunder Raker Manor is a very exclusive school. All the pupils are there because their parents or guardians are agents and spies. All except one. Because eight-year-old Alfie's dad isn't anything to do with the secret services. He's the local postman who just reckoned that Thunder Raker Manor was a great school. So when the Head Teacher receives a letter from the Prime Minister saying that Alfie has been given a special place and will start immediately, he isn't to know that Alfie's dad wrote it and slipped it in with the 'special' post!
Now Alfie has to get to grips with Thunder Raker's unusual curriculum and some even stranger new friends. He's got classes in camouflage (if anyone can ever find Mr Trick) and Assassination (only kids keep going missing from Miss Fortune's class). And he's now in permanent danger from SPUD agents. But to his surprise, Alfie finds that he might just be quite good at this spying game!
Thunderaker
Sorted
Licence to Fish
*
The Chance Twins
Written with Jack Higgins
The phenomenally successful Jack Higgins teams up with Justin Richards to launch a sure fire best seller series for children.
The mother of fourteen-year-old twins Rich and Jade dies in a car crash and they are told they must go and live with their estranged father, who they have never met before. Neither the children nor their father get on, but when Rich and Jade witness him being kidnapped they are drawn into a dangerous crisis that could engulf not just their family but the whole world!
And that’s just the start of their thrilling and dangerous adventures together...
Sure Fire
Death Run
Sharp Shot
First Strike
*
For more information about Justin’s books go to: www.braxiatek.com
Acknowledgements
I owe thanks to many people who have helped to make The Skeleton Clock what it is. Worthy of special mention are:
Toby Richards – for helping get the technicalities and web stuff sorted out. Find out what he can do for your web stuff at www.txdynamic.co.uk
Lee Binding – for a fantastic cover – find him and marvel at his wonderful artwork at www.tea-lady.co.uk
Nancy Miles, my agent, can take credit for more things than I have time and space enough to mention. Take a look at www.milesstottagency.co.uk
And of course my family deserves more than mere recognition for continuing to put up with me – thanks and love to Alison, Julian and Chris.