‘Don’t worry about him,’ said Bentley. ‘He’s thrown his weight around for too long and the position of constable is overdue for re-election. I might even decide to stand myself.’
Verity and John Bentley shook hands, then he walked down the hill, raising his hand in salute as he went. As he reached the village a small, golden-haired figure broke away from the crowd and ran towards him with a squeal that could be heard all the way to the top of the hill.
John Bentley lifted Bella on to his shoulders and the crowd gathered around them. India smiled – she couldn’t wait to see Bella again – but for now that time belonged to her father. Then India’s eyes were drawn to a wild-haired creature sitting alone on the earthworks. As usual, no one was paying much attention to Cromerty, but the old woman was staring at India with an intensity she had felt once before, in a tent in a far-off land. India raised her hand in a half-wave and the old woman nodded in reply.
‘I hear Bulldog offered you a job,’ said Verity, breaking into her thoughts.
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Assistant engineer on The Beautiful Game II, as Pieter’s replacement. I think the Captain wants to make sure he doesn’t hire another spy by accident.’
Verity looked impressed. ‘That’s a good position. Are you going to take it?’
‘I don’t think so,’ said India. ‘I’ve had enough of Siberia for a while. I’d like to be somewhere a bit warmer. And besides, I can’t see myself getting on with Tashar in that tiny rig, can you?’
They both laughed and then an awkward silence fell between them. Verity began checking the motorbike, kicking the tyres and tightening the straps on her few items of luggage.
‘What about you?’ said India. ‘What will you do?’
Verity shrugged. ‘Well, we may have saved the world but the pay was pretty lousy. Bulldog’s gold barely covered my expenses and now Trans-Siberian has collapsed I’m out of a job too. I’m going to lookup some people who owe me money and then I’m going to do what I do best: go tech-hunting.’ She looked up from the bike and her eyes twinkled. ‘I’ve heard about a tech-mine just outside New Peking where they’ve discovered technology no one’s ever seen before, hundreds of years ahead of what we have now But, apparently, it’s all controlled by a local tech-lord who . . .’ She stopped and then laughed. ‘But I guess that’s a different story, huh?’ She paused as though she still had something to say. ‘I’ve been thinking,’ she said. ‘I might look for a new assistant. You don’t know anyone who would fit the bill, do you?’
India grinned. ‘I just might,’ she said. ‘I’ll give it some thought and let you know.’
‘You do that, kid,’ said Verity. ‘I’ll be back this way in a couple of months and we can talk about it then.’ She stepped forward suddenly and gave India a fierce hug. ‘Take care of yourself, soul voyager,’ she said. Then she turned away quickly and fired up her motorbike.
‘Do you think,’ said India, raising her voice over the roar, ‘that I could really be a tech-hunter?’
The bike backfired and pulled away sharply.
‘Sure you can, kid,’ shouted Verity over her shoulder. You can be any damn thing you want to be.’
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The process of writing a novel is a bit geeky to say the least. It involves long hours closeted in a room like a mad monk while you try to make words behave themselves on the page. It means you don’t go out much, your friends have conversations about you that begin, ‘Whatever happened to . . .’ and you miss loads of good TV. That’s OK, I was expecting that.
What I didn’t expect was that the process of turning a novel into a published book was anything but a solitary activity. Ironheart only got here because a lot of people were prepared to give me their help, advice and support when I needed it and they had faith in the outcome even if I doubted it myself at times.
I would particularly like to thank my agent, Julia Churchill, for investing so much time and effort in my work without any certainly of a return (just kidding). Also, thank you to the truly lovely people at Macmillan, particularly Emma Young and Rachel Kellehar for their incisive editing, and for Rachel’s boundless creativity and truly splendid ideas.
At home, any lack of inspiration is always quickly dispelled by my kids, Ryan and Katie, who are funnier than me and more disobedient than a roomful of rig pirates. But, most importantly, my biggest thanks go to my wife, Carol, who has unflinchingly managed the inconvenience of living with a hermit whilst only ever making one demand of me – that I follow my dreams.
And look, I did!
REFERENCES
I have drawn on many books and articles on Siberia and its people to try and get my facts straight and I am indebted to the many authors of web pages and articles whose work has informed and inspired Ironheart. I would particularly like to acknowledge and extend my thanks to the following:
Reindeer People: Living with animals and spirits in Siberia, by Piers Vitebsky, published by Harper Perennial, 2005
Fingerprints of the Gods: The quest continues, by Graham Hancock, first published by William Heinemann Ltd, 1995
Soul Hunters: Hunting, animism and personhood among the Siberian Tukaghirs, by Rane Willerslev, published by University of California Press, 2007
Shamanism in Siberia: Aboriginal Siberia, a study in social anthropology, by M. A. Czaplicka, first published in 1914, reissued 2007 by Forgotten Books.
Yakutia: Valley of Death: Hidden Mysteries of Siberia
(Parts 1, 2 & 3), by Valery Mikhailovich Uvarov. Web articles:
http://www.astrologycom.com/yakutiai.html, http://www.valeryuvarov.net/
Fluid Dynamics: Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluid_dynamics
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, first published by the George M. Hill Company, 1900
Coming in January 2015
India Bentley returns in the
epic Ironheart sequel.
THE SUN MACHINE
‘Aren’t you interested in the legend of the three kings who broke up the Sun Stone?’ India said excitedly. ‘Wouldn’t you like to find all the pieces and bring them together again?’
The boy’s eyes opened wide and he looked aghast at the suggestion. ‘That must never be allowed to happen,’ he said darkly.
‘But why ever not?’ asked India.
‘Mankind is not yet ready for its secrets.’ He shuddered. ‘If the pieces are brought together too soon . . . they will bring about the end of the world.’
Allan Boroughs is a successful business adviser and writer with a passion for classic adventure stories. His debut novel, Ironheart, was inspired by his travels in Siberia. Allan is also a founding member of Future Perfect Writers, who perform regularly at spoken-word events. He divides his time between his business in London and his home in Cornwall, where he lives with his wife and two children.
www.allanboroughs.co.uk
First published 2014 by Macmillan Children’s Books
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ISBN 978-1-4472-6151-3
Text copyright © Allan Boroughs 2014
Illustrations copyright © Fred van Deelen 2014
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