Stone Rider

by David Hofmeyr

  —

  Outside the rain has stopped. Adam stands at the open door and blinks. The cabin looks unreal in the growing dark. Fake. A cardboard house. He could make it real again with the money he’s won. Fix it up. Buy more chickens. Sadie and him. He takes a deep breath and thinks about their prospects—living here in Blackwater. Waiting for Levi to come.

  How long do they have? A few moons? Days? Hours?

  He picks up a stone. Turns it in his hand. Then he loads the stone in his sling—his hands an expert blur—and he hurls, surprising even himself with the ease and speed of the move.

  First the bullwhip CRACK! Then the smash of glass. The remaining shards of a broken window shatter. Adam fishes out another stone, but he doesn’t sling this one. Instead he turns and walks away. He knows he won’t be back. At Frank’s grave, he stops one last time.

  “You were right about most things, Frank. All those mantras. All except the last one. Trust no one. You’re on your own. You were wrong about that one.”

  Adam swings up onto the Longthorn and looks at Sadie. “We can’t stay,” he says.

  Sadie watches him, sitting upright on her byke. “We should find the next Race. Keep boosting our points. Till we both have enough to make it to Sky-Base. We’ll survive. Together.”

  Adam nods, but his thoughts float to the Nakoda. He thinks of children with long hair and valleys green with succulents. Moss-covered ground. Fields of colored flowers. Juice squashing out of their stems like blood. Real freedom. Out in the wild. Where people don’t just survive…they live.

  He rubs the smooth stone in his hand and he drops it in his belt pouch. Then he looks up beyond the cliffs and sees a white plume of jet stream climbing into a darkening sky. A departing solar rocket. He imagines Kane—strapped in—drifting off to sleep as the rocket soars.

  A wind whips up and Adam shivers. It carries a winter chill.

  “Where to?” Sadie says.

  “There’s only one place,” Adam answers, snapping on his goggles. “Sky-Base.”

  A guide to the mystical art of byke riding and maintenance. Understand the volatile nature of bykes. Learn to get more from your connection and attune to the powerful echoes that inhabit your byke.

  THE BIOMECHANICAL NATURE OF BYKES

  Bykes (and this may seem like stating the obvious) are not just machines.

  They may look like machines. They may even sound like machines (although this point is debatable – many attest to bykes sounding exactly like a purring or growling animal and some say they make an almost human sound). But they are not merely machines. Bykes are biomechanical entities.

  It is, of course, the Voddenite in the frame that gives a byke its biomechanical nature.

  Voddenite. Possibly the most important discovery in the history of mankind (even outranking fire). No one truly understands the essence of this miracle stone mined from the Earth’s core. But everyone knows its power. It forges connections. Between men and slings. Between Riders and bykes. It links them together with a living current that runs from one to the other. [See Diagram B]

  In short, Voddenite imbues bykes with sentience.

  From the Rider, the byke draws life.

  From the byke, the Rider draws strength, and a vestige of the machine.

  It crosses over into the Rider’s consciousness. You will become familiar with this feeling of otherness. Ride for a long time and you will feel the cold resilience build up inside you. But you must learn to master the sensation. Don’t succumb to the machine, or it will destroy you.

  The trick is to let go. Don’t fight the byke. Understand the byke. She derives her energy from the sun and the wind, but also you. The more precise and rhythmic your movements, the more efficiently your byke will ride.

  If you remember nothing else from this manual, then remember this: A byke, like a horse, has personality. She becomes attuned to her Rider.

  You cannot expect to coax performance from her at will (no doubt your many scrapes and bruises will attest to this). Winning a byke’s trust and confidence requires sensitivity. A byke is changeable. She will react to your mood. And she will have moods herself. Sullen one moment. Spitting with energy the next. Learning to appreciate these idosyncrasies not only ensures your connection with the byke is stronger, but makes you a far more accomplished Rider.

  Given the brutal terrain bykes cover and the speeds they reach (up to 80 klicks per hour) they are prone to degenerate over time. Retuning by a qualified Bykemonger is required on a regular basis. You will find a list of registered Bykemonger stores at the back of this manual.

  However, Bykemongers are not always available to get you up and running. In the event you are stranded in the Badland with no access to a Bykemonger (or even a lowly Greaser) you will be required to troubleshoot on the fly. Here are three of the most common problems and solutions:

  1. Transfer engine jam. Bykes can shift form to suit the terrain. They can elongate on the flats for speed and lift higher to tackle extreme off-road conditions. But a common glitch of this manual versatility is that bykes are prone to stick in either mode. Unjamming the transfer lock requires unbolting the engager panel and recoupling the lever arms by hand. Take care not to bolt the left lever into the right engager and vice versa (and try not to get your fingers caught in the cogs).

  2. Wheel puncture. It is perhaps one of life’s great ironies that while byke sentience can be achieved, you may still suffer the ocassional puncture. In your Race Pack you will find a standard wheel puncture set. The task is first to locate the site and dimension of the tear. This is simple with the murmer scope. Turn the byke upside down and work the scope over the entire spinning tyre. Place the funnel of the scope in your ear and listen for hissing. Once the fault is located, all you need to do is inject sealant directly through the rubber outer tyre. The sealant injector is designed to adequately flood the area with glue and not cause additional damage. The tyre will automatically pull air into the intake valve and refill as you ride.

  3. Gearbox malfunction. Byke gearboxes are tough, but over time they can wear and break. Stripped gears and broken chain links will leave you stranded. Spare chain links are usually located in the byke seat panel. These can be grafted into the main chain structure with your fusion drill. Fusion drills charge as the byke rides, so don’t forget to check the connection. Stripped gears can be unscrewed from the main rotor and replaced, or sprayed with Vodden oil as a short-term fix.

  Since bykes are manufactured from Voddenite, their multitude parts can be prohibitively expensive. New bykes cost anywhere between $1,000 and $5,000, depending on model.

  It’s for this reason that bykes are passed down from parent to child. It’s quite possible the byke you’re riding today has been passed down through four generations. And the result of this blood lineage is the echo.

  Put simply, an echo is the imprint past Riders leave behind in the byke. Their feelings. Their character. Their strengths and weaknesses. The thoughts they might have had riding. Conversations from the past. All these things, these moments, are held in the fibre of the machine, like DNA fragments.

  But an echo cannot be explained. It must be felt to be truly understood.

  Don’t be afraid of the echoes stirring in your machine. Use them to your advantage. Allow them to guide you. They (mostly) have your best interests at heart.

  It’s your bloodline after all.

  Insights into the mechanics of the Voddenite sling as well as the skills required to master the deadly art of slinging. Learn to plan a strike, perform an expert swing and release at the perfect moment.

  PLANNING THE STRIKE

  In trained hands the Voddenite sling has remarkable power and accuracy. A stone shot loose from a Voddenite sling will slice clean through a glass bottle five hundred yards away. It is most effective at a range of over ten yards and can strike a target up to seven hundred yards away.

  The longest Voddenite sling strike on record is 760 yards (this has not been legally verified).r />
  At close range, quick-fire speed is essential, especially in a duel. But, at long range, many factors come into play before an accurate deploy is possible. At any distance over 500 yards you should have plenty of time to consider these. Don’t worry, if your sling fails your byke is your escape, unless darkness has fallen, in which case neither sling nor byke will prove reliable.

  Slingmasters, generally speaking, have one rule in common.

  PATIENCE ABOVE ALL.

  It isn’t just a rule. It’s a mantra (and it applies equally to long-distance racing).

  Understanding this precept is essential for sling wielding, given the sheer volume of factors that must be considered for an effective release. The following are a priority:

  1. Wind. This one is vital. It requires awareness of subtle deviations in velocity and direction. Be aware, the prevailing Banshee is a north-easter and can reach gale force, around 40 klicks per hour. Enough to throw a stone well off course (some say enough to blow the feathers off a buzzard, although this is unproven and the author considers it rather unlikely).

  2. Sun. Behind you, an advantage. In front of you, an enemy. This may seem obvious, but you would be shocked by the number of times a simple fact like this has been ignored by the rookie slinger. A grievous error. Keep the sun behind you.

  3. Terrain. A glass bottle five hundred yards away is difficult to see. In rocky, sun-drenched terrain, even more so. Now replace the glass with a moving target and position the target downhill, or at the crest of a steep slope, and the task becomes exponentially more challenging. It stands to reason that you should decrease sling speed for a downhill shot and increase for an uphill attempt. In addition, it is sensible to position yourself close to a well-sized boulder or tree, to shield from potential return fire in the event that your planning is thwarted by a cross wind (or ineptitude).

  Once these natural circumstances have been duly considered, the sling wielder is ready to take aim. However, it is advised (and prudent) to execute a rapid recheck of all natural factors.

  Remember, patience above all.

  The sling is constructed of a length of hemp, braided through with fine strands of Voddenite. It’s important to note that while Voddenite enhances the sling’s potential, the sling’s true power is not technological, it lies in user skill.

  One end of the sling has a loop and the other end is knotted. You operate the sling by slipping the loop over the ringfinger of your hand (right or left depending on your disposition) and the knotted end is held in the same hand, between the thumb and the centre joint of your forefinger.

  A stone projectile is then placed in the diamond-shaped pocket.

  The advantage of stones is that they can usually be found when needed (although it is wise to carry at least three well-shaped stones at all times) and they are difficult to see in flight. Dry, smooth and rounded stones are far more effective than any other shape.

  Projectile sizes vary. Stones can be as big as buzzard eggs or as small as walnuts. In high winds select a larger, flatter stone to maintain true flight. In humid weather conditions use a small stone (about ten grams and one inch in diameter).

  The swing itself can be executed in three orthodox methods:

  1. The underhand method. Stand side-on, right side away from the target. Point the pouch (with projectile) at the target with your left hand (if right-handed) and hold the other end near your head with your right; the elbow of your right arm should be pointing to the sky. Now, keeping hold of both ends, rock your body a little right and then release the left hand and whirl the sling once underhand at the target.

  2. The overhand method. Side-on again. Same stance. Point the pouch at the target and hold the sling near your head on the right. Keep the cords tight in your hand. When you’re ready to fire, twist your body to the right, then jerk back left and whirl the sling once above the shoulders. Release high over the right shoulder, above your head. The arc of motion before release is high right to low left.

  3. The windmill. The entire sling (with projectile) is whirled around three times horizontally above the head before release. The first two revolutions are just to get the feel of the weight of the stone and to visualize the release. You must swing the sling as hard as you can on the final rotation. This style is best for long-range shots.

  THE RELEASE

  A perfect slingshot release is all about feeling. The connection between sling and slinger is an intimate one. It’s a partnership. The sling must become an extension of one’s own body.

  Your task is to focus. You must zero in on the target.

  Shut out everything else. Listen to your breathing. Listen to your heart thump in your chest.

  Close your eyes and feel the hard abrasion of the sling in your fingers.

  Now begin to swing your arm. Slowly. Then with gathering momentum.

  It’s all about rythmn, heartbeat and feel.

  The sling, if wielded correctly, will become an extension of your arm, without you having to force the feeling. It will happen naturally. In the same way you feel the bond with your byke. This is the mysterious power and potency of Voddenite. It creates a force that can connect humans with elements, forging them into one entity, bonded in common purpose.

  But partnerships are difficult. To partner with something (or someone) requires a sixth sense. It’s like having a dance partner. You can learn the steps and rehearse until you’re blue in the face, but if you have no feeling for your partner – no connection – the dance will falter.

  It can be useful to imagine you are the stone – silent, waiting, endowed with kinetic force – ready to explode outward, at exactly the right moment. Use your intuition. Your instinct.

  Now open your eyes. Focus on the target.

  See nothing else. And sling!

  If you have considered all factors and followed directions carefully, the stone will fly out at over five hundred klicks per hour. Your expectation should be a direct hit. Anything else is failure. And, in the Badland, failure can be fatal.

  Slung stones can bring down a moving byke. They can rip through armour. And they can crush a man’s skull. One direct hit and it’s game over.

  GOOD LUCK, AND MAY YOU LIVE TO SEE THE SKY!

  IN CONVERSATION WITH DAVID HOFMEYR

  Tell us about the inspiration behind Stone Rider.

  Stone Rider was born in a workshop with the world’s greatest writing coach, Steve Voake. I submitted a piece that turned out to be the opening scene. Crossing an alien desert came a group of riders, like horsemen of the apocalypse. Only here, instead of horses, they were riding otherworldly bykes. I knew I wanted fear and adrenaline, dust and blood and vengeance. A primal story. I suppose it sprang from the Westerns I loved as a kid. The Dollars Trilogy. Pale Rider. Once Upon a Time in the West. But also something futuristic. Mad Max. Blade Runner. Star Wars.

  What was your favorite book as a teenager?

  Stephen King was a favorite in my early teens. In particular, The Bachman Books. I loved the darkness and the cool originality of his worlds. The short story “The Long Walk” has definite parallels with Stone Rider. I remember the feeling of the story. It stayed with me.

  Where and when do you do your writing?

  I’d like to be one of those writers who wake up at six every morning, write for a fluid four-hour stretch, break for casual meandering and bullfighting, then spend another two hours writing in the afternoon and a further two editing in the evening. I read somewhere that this is the optimal way to write. Clearly I am suboptimal. I work four days a week in advertising, so I tend to write when I can, in the evenings and late at night. But I dream about my stories all the time and jot down scenes on the Tube, the train or even at work during mindless conference calls. Don’t tell my boss.

  If you could meet one character from a novel, who would it be and why?

  Harry Flashman. Okay, not a YA character, but I challenge you to find a more original creation. His behavior is riotous and ribald and never PC. Totally refreshi
ng. I learned a fair deal from his creator, George MacDonald Fraser. I’m sure I’d learn a lot more from Harry.

  Can you give us a clue as to what will happen next for Adam, Sadie and Kane?

  A winter freeze descends and the desert turns to riven ice fields, snow-covered plains, and creaking glaciers. Adam and Sadie endure and make it to Sky-Base. Only, when they get there, it’s not what they imagined. Their relationship is put to the test. Kane cuts a lethal and mysterious figure, as always. And Levi Blood and the Colonel prowl. Adam and Sadie will need all their skills as Riders of semisentient machines to survive their new ordeal in the sky.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Huge thanks to my English teachers. Mike Stalley and Keith Savage (who was anything but).

  The wonderful people over at Bath Spa MA Writing for Young People. All of them legends. Lucy Christopher. Nicola Davies. John McLay. Janine Amos. My fearless mentor, Mimi Thebo, who encouraged me to ramp up the word count. The lovely Steve Voake. If you ever experience a crisis of writing confidence, have Steve read your work out loud. He’s a master at making the mundane sound magnificent (not that your work is mundane…it’s fabulous). The inspirational Julia Green. She epitomizes the heart and joy of writing and has a remarkable ability to recognize and hone talent. I guess I slipped the net. My writing group—Alex Hart, Blondie Camps, Clare Furniss, Helen Herdman, Lu Hersey and Sasha Busbridge—who voraciously guard against adverbs.

  My agent, Stephanie Thwaites, and the team at Curtis Brown, especially Claire and Emma. Finding Stephanie was a goose-bump moment. I agree with everything she says.