The Promised One

by David Alric

  proficient adj. skilled; able; having great facility in doing something

  project n. Chapter 1: a task; a plan; a job

  v. Chapter 16: to throw one’s voice (or, in Lucy’s case, a thought) so that it can be heard at a distance

  prologue n. an introductory section to a story, play, speech, etc.

  protrude v. to stick out; to project beyond a surface

  pseudo adj. pretended; fake; put on

  psittacosaurus n. a small (2-metre) dinosaur with a parrot-like beak. It lived in what is now Asia approximately 100 million years ago

  psycho n. (slang) a psychopath – one who commits antisocial and violent acts

  pulsate v. to throb; to vibrate; to quiver

  punctuate v. to occur or to insert at frequent intervals; to interrupt

  punk n. a youth cult of the 1970s, featuring unusual clothes and hairstyles

  punster n. one who makes puns – jokes that play on words

  pustule n. a small spot containing pus

  quandary n. a puzzling situation; a predicament

  quarantine n. a period of isolated detention to prevent the spread of disease

  quest n. a search; a mission to find something or someone

  quicksilver n. an old name for the bright liquid metal mercury, which moves rapidly when touched. In Chapter 3 your mind of quicksilver means that Lucy’s mind can move rapidly from thought to thought

  quintessential adj. having the very essence of; possessing the most representative features or elements of something

  rabies n. a viral infection of animals and man. Also known as hydrophobia, it can cause affected animals to behave abnormally and unpredictably

  radiologist n. a doctor who specializes in images such as X-rays and body scans

  random adj. unplanned; haphazard; occurring by chance

  ransack v. to plunder and pillage; to take apart

  rat (on) v. slang term meaning to betray or reveal secret information

  raucous adj. hoarse; loud; harsh

  recipe n. the ingredients and directions for making something, usually a meal

  recognize v. to know someone or something as being familiar from a previous meeting

  reconstructed adj. put back together; rebuilt; restored to a former state

  recount v. to tell; to describe; to narrate

  refined adj. elegant; polite; not vulgar or coarse

  reflect v. to bounce something back (usually light). In Chapter 14 the eyes of the animals were acting like mirrors by reflecting the light of the fire

  refracture v. to break again

  refuge n. a place of safety; somewhere providing shelter or protection

  refurbish v. to restore; to renovate and repair; to redecorate

  regurgitate v. to bring food back from the stomach to the mouth

  relentless adj. without stopping; sustained; unremitting

  relish v. to enjoy; to savour

  reminiscent adj. reviving memories of something

  remnants n. remaining pieces or parts

  remote adj. far away; distant; out-of-the-way

  rend v. to tear forcefully; to rip

  rent v. the past tense and past participle of the verb ‘to rend.’

  replenish v. to put back what has been used up; to replace; to restore to completion

  resentful adj. feeling aggrieved or bitter about something; indignant

  reservoir n. a store

  resound v. to echo; to reverberate; to ring with sound

  resourceful adj. capable; ingenious; having the ability to deal with difficult situations

  restrain v. to hold back

  resume v. to start again

  retch v. to heave as if to vomit; to vomit ineffectually

  retrieve v. to recover something; to get something back

  reunion n. a gathering together again of people after a period of separation

  revelation n. something revealed or disclosed, usually in a surprising way

  reverie n. a daydream; a state of absent-mindedness

  revert v. to go back to a previous state, practice or topic

  revulsion n. drawing back in disgust; loathing

  rheumatism n. pains in the joints or muscles

  rival n. a competitor

  role reversal n. the exchange of normal behaviour patterns between individuals. In Chapter 18, Lucy is looking after and instructing her father instead of the other way round

  rueful adj. sorrowful; repentant

  ruffian n. a rowdy or violent person; a villain

  rummage v. to search carelessly or untidily

  sabbatical leave n. a special period of leave granted to university staff to do extra research, etc.

  sadist n. one who enjoys inflicting physical or mental pain on others

  sagacious adj. wise

  salvageable adj. saveable; capable of being retrieved

  sarcasm n. a contemptuous or mocking remark, often ironically worded; a taunt

  saunter v. to stroll at a leisurely pace

  saurian n. a lizard-like reptile

  savannah n. open grassland, studded with trees and bushes

  scale v. to climb to the top of a height

  scam n. (slang) a swindle; a method of cheating

  Scotland Yard n. the world-famous police headquarters in London

  sedation n. a state of drowsiness or calm induced by a hypnotic or sleep-inducing drug

  see red v. to get very angry about something

  seething adj. moving in an agitated state, as though boiling or foaming

  self-made adj. to have achieved success through one’s own efforts

  semi-coherent adj. not making complete sense; illogical; inconsistent

  serpentine adj. snake-like

  serrated adj. having sharp teeth like a saw

  shackles pl. n. fastenings, usually metal, used to secure the ankles or wrists

  shamefaced adj. looking ashamed

  shard n. a broken piece or fragment of pottery, glass or similar substance

  shrewd adj. clever; astute; perceptive; penetrating

  silhouette n. the outline of a solid object

  sinister adj. threatening; suggestive of evil; ominous

  sinuous adj. winding; twisting

  slang n. a word or phrase that is not standard language but is used informally; jargon

  smoulder v. to burn slowly and smokily without a flame

  so-and-so n. an unpleasant person. The term is often used to avoid using a swearword to describe someone

  sonorous adj. deep and resonant (sound)

  sophisticated adj. refined; complex; classy; state-of-the-art

  sparse adj. scanty; scattered; small in number

  specimen n. an object of interest, collected and kept for future study or display

  spectacular adj. dramatically impressive

  spontaneous adj. occurring naturally, without prompting or preparation; unpremeditated

  spooky adj. eerie; ghostly; supernaturally frightening

  static n. unwanted hissing and crackling sounds on a radio

  statistics n. facts and figures; quantitative data on a subject

  status n. position or rank in a group or hierarchy; relative importance or standing

  stifle v. to cover up or suppress a sound

  stipulation n. a condition

  stock exchange n. a financial market in which stocks, shares and securities are bought and sold in a regulated manner

  stoop v. to swoop down

  strewn adj. spread or scattered

  strident adj. loud; harsh; insistent; clamorous

  stupefaction n. bewildered amazement; astonishment stupefy v. to astound; to astonish

  subconsciousness n. part of the mind that operates below the level of awareness

  subtle adj. not very obvious; difficult to detect

  suburb n. a district on the outskirts of a town or city, usually residential (where people live)

  suffix n. something added to the en
d of a word

  summary n. a short account giving the main points of something; a precis

  supervise v. to oversee; to watch over

  supple adj. bendy; flexible

  suppress v. to hold back; to keep in check; to restrain

  surmount v. to rise above

  surreal adj. having an unreal or dreamlike quality

  surveillance n. watching; observation; scrutiny

  suss (out) v. (slang) to assess a situation

  sustainable adj. capable of being maintained at a steady level

  swarm n. Chapters 18, 21: a large group of small animals, especially bees and other insects

  v. Chapter 16: to move about in large numbers; to climb

  swat v. to strike or hit something, especially an insect

  swivel v. to turn or twist

  symbol n. a sign, logo or character

  sympathy n. emotional feelings for others (compassion, anguish, etc.)

  systematically adv. in a methodical fashion

  tabloid n. a newspaper written in a sensational style designed to appeal to a mass readership

  taken aback adj. surprised; disconcerted; startled

  tantalizing adj. frustrating; teasing; offering the hope of something desirable

  tawny adj. having a browny-orange colour

  taxi v. (of an aircraft) to move along the ground

  teeming adj. full of; abounding with

  tend v. to look after; to care for; to treat, as in tend a wound

  tentative adj. hesitant; cautious; uncertain

  tentatively adv. uncertainly; cautiously; hesitantly

  tenuous adj. insecure; flimsy; insignificant; of little substance

  termite n. an ant-like tropical insect. Colonies can build large strong hills which may be attacked by anteaters

  terse adj. short; curt; abrupt

  testy adj. touchy; irritable

  theoretical adj. not actually tried in practice; possible in theory or thought

  thermal n. a column of rising air produced by uneven heating of the ground and local area. May be used by birds or gliders to gain height with minimum effort

  thrash v. to beat hard

  throng n. a large crowd gathered closely together

  tidings n. news; information

  timorous adj. timid; fearful

  titanic adj. possessing or involving colossal strength

  toerag n. (slang) an unpleasant, despicable or contemptible person

  tolerant adj. able to accept the behaviour of another; uncritical; indulgent; forbearing; easygoing

  toodle-oo interjection (old-fashioned slang) goodbye

  torrent n. a large and rapid flow of water, words, etc.

  trance n. a dreamlike or hypnotic state

  tranquil adj. peaceful; calm

  tranquillizer n. a calming drug

  transmit v. to pass on; to transfer; to impart

  trauma n. physical or emotional injury

  traverse v. to cross; go over

  treasure trove n. a hidden store of valuables

  trek v. to make a journey, often a long and difficult one

  tributary n. a river or stream that joins a larger one

  trip n. (slang) an abnormal state of mind caused by an hallucinogenic drug

  trivial adj. unimportant; petty

  troupe n. a company of travelling players or actors

  truculent adj. aggressive

  tuber n. a fleshy underground stem or root

  turbulence n. gusty air currents

  twig v. (slang) to understand suddenly; to work out what is going on; to catch on

  twinge n. Chapter 1: a sudden, brief stab of pain

  Chapter 19: a sudden pang of emotion

  ultimatum n. a final demand

  umpteenth adj. (slang) one of very many

  unanimous adj. in complete agreement (of a group of people)

  uncanny adj. having a supernatural quality; eerie

  understatement n. a description of something that represents it as being less than it really is

  unerring adj. consistently accurate; without any mistakes

  unfathomable adj. immeasurably deep

  ungainly adj. awkward; ungraceful

  unison n. complete harmony; complete co-ordination

  unkempt adj. untidy; ungroomed; dishevelled

  unmolested adj. left alone; not attacked; not interfered with

  unravel v. to untangle or undo

  unsavoury adj. unpleasant; distasteful; disagreeable

  unscalable adj. not possible to climb; insurmountable

  unwieldy adj. too awkwardly shaped to be handled easily

  vanguard n. the leading group in a party; those at the front

  vantage point n. a position giving a favourable view of a scene or situation

  vegetate v. to pass time monotonously and inactively

  venomous adj. poisonous

  venture v. to set out on a possibly hazardous undertaking; to set forth with caution or trepidation

  vestige n. a very small amount; a trace of something larger that was there before; a remnant

  veterinary adj. to do with the health of animals

  veto v. to forbid; to refuse to give consent to

  vile adj. particularly unpleasant; abominable; wicked; hateful

  villa n. a large and often luxurious residence

  villain n. a wicked person

  vivid adj. bright; brilliant

  vulnerable adj. capable of being hurt or wounded; weak

  waft n. something carried on the air, especially a smell

  warrant n. an official document that authorizes a course of action such as an arrest

  wax and wane both verbs to get bigger and smaller

  well v. to flow upwards or outwards. In Chapter 15 it means that the water comes up out of the ground like a spring

  whence adv. (poetic) from; ‘from what place’

  white lie n. a fib; a minor untruth

  whither adv. (poetic) ‘to what place’

  wide berth n. in Chapter 14 the machrauchenia give Richard a wide berth (originally a nautical expression) meaning they avoided him by staying well clear of him

  wimp n. (slang) a feeble, ineffectual individual

  wince v. to move or grimace suddenly because of a pain or injury; to flinch

  wistful adj. sad; pensive

  WPC n. abbreviation for woman police constable

  wrath n. extreme anger; rage leading to retribution or vengeance

  wreak v. to cause; to inflict (havoc, chaos, etc.)

  wrinklies pl. n. (slang) old people

  yonder adv. (poetic) ‘over there’ – often far away

  zillion n. (slang) an unimaginably large number (based upon a million, billion, trillion … etc.)

  zoom v. to move rapidly with a buzzing sound

  Unit conversion table

  1 inch = 2.54 centimetres

  1 foot = 12 inches = 0.3 metres

  1 yard = 3 feet = 0.91 metres

  1 mile = 1760 yards = 1.61 kilometres

  1 league = 3 miles (archaic)

  1 ton = 2240 pounds (1016 kilograms)

  1 centimetre = 0.39 inches

  1 metre = 3.28 feet = 1.09 yards

  1 kilometre = 0.62 miles

  About the Author

  David Alric has had a highly distinguished career as a medical professor in which his publications, research and teaching established him as an eminent medical writer and an international leader in his field. He was a pioneer in the development of methods of investigation and treatment that are now routinely used in medical practice and he played a major role in the introduction of computer technology into medicine.

  David’s writing experience and scientific knowledge have now been brought to bear on writing for a very different readership. In The Valley of the Ancients and his first novel, The Promised One, he combines his storytelling skills – honed by years of reading to his children and grandchildren – with his deep and wide-ranging u
nderstanding of natural history, science and general knowledge to create a fascinating mixture of adventure, fantasy and factual knowledge.

  David is married with three children and six grandchildren. They see him most days and are his severest critics.

  Copyright

  First published in 2004

  by Bladon Publishing

  12 New Street, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire OX7 5LJ

  This edition first published by

  by Faber and Faber Ltd

  Bloomsbury House

  74–77 Great Russell Street

  London WC1B 3DA

  This ebook edition first published in 2012

  All rights reserved

  © David Alric, 2004

  Artwork © David Dean 2007

  The right of David Alric to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

  Disclaimer: With the exception of the historical characters, any resemblance between the people and animals in this book and any real person, living or dead, is entirely accidental

  This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly

  ISBN 978–0–571–29714–6