by Lian Tanner
She thought of her parents, too, and wished they were here to witness such an amazing day.
Except if they were here, I’d never have been Nothing Girl. Which means I might never have met Mister Smoke and Missus Slink, or saved Fin from the ice, or woken the Sleeping Cap’n. Everything would’ve turned out differently.
Something grabbed at her ankle as she skipped past, and there were her two beloved rats, jumping backwards and forwards to avoid being stepped on. Petrel scooped them up and sat them on her shoulder.
‘Crops to be sown,’ said Missus Slink in a querulous voice. ‘Boxes to be dragged up from the bottom of the ocean, books to be written. And what do they do? They dance.’ But one of her paws was tapping out the rhythm on Petrel’s ear, and she joined in the Huzzah! at the end of the next verse.
‘Full speed ahead, shipmate,’ cried Mister Smoke. ‘There’ll be time later for boxes and crops. Full speed ahead!’
And Petrel leapt back into the dance.
‘I am the spark that will not go out,
I am the life
I am the song.
(Huzzah for the song!)
Loud is my voice and my heart is stout
And I’ll travel the land
My whole life long.
(Huzzah for life! Huzzah for the land! Huzzah huzzah huzzah!)’
All across the fields, up and down the Grand Monument, folk cheered. The ground shook with their dancing; the sky rang with their singing. The sun shone.
The long darkness was over at last.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This has been such a great series to work on, and I’ve been helped by many people. My Australian publishers Allen & Unwin were – as always – a delight to work with. Kate Whitfield did the editorial work on Fetcher’s Song, and like all good editors, she helped me make the book a lot better than it would otherwise have been. Also at Allen & Unwin, my heartfelt thanks go to Eva Mills, Claire Keighery, Jyy-Wei Ip, Julia Imogen, Liz Bray, Angela Namoi and all the other people who have worked so hard to get the series out into the world.
Right from the beginning I’ve been a big fan of the Australian covers of my books, and this one’s no exception. It’s a combination of Seb Ciaffaglione’s gorgeous artwork and the design of Design by Committee, and I love it.
Thanks to the very insightful Peter Matheson, for being such a critical (in a good way) first reader, and to my excellent agent Margaret Connolly, who continues to look after my interests so well. And last but not least, thanks to my niece Gwyn for kindly letting me use a slightly different version of her name for the heroine of this story.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lian Tanner has been dynamited while scuba diving and arrested while busking. She once spent a week in the jungles of Papua New Guinea, hunting for a Japanese soldier left over from the Second World War. She likes secrets, old bones, and animals that are not what they seem. Nowadays she lives by the beach in southern Tasmania with a large fluffy tomcat called Harry-le-beau.
THE HIDDEN SERIES: BOOK ONE
From the author of the wonderful Keepers series comes a vividly exciting fantasy-adventure.
THE HIDDEN SERIES: BOOK TWO
The crew of the Oyster aren’t the only hold-outs from the time before the Anti-Machinists – the Sunkers have survived the centuries beneath the ocean in a fleet of submersibles.
THE KEEPERS SERIES: BOOK ONE
In the city of Jewel, impatience is a sin and boldness is a crime. Goldie Roth is both impatient and bold. When she escapes the clutches of the Blessed Guardians to find haven at the Museum of Dunt, an unforgettable adventure begins.
THE KEEPERS SERIES: BOOK TWO
When Toadspit’s sister Bonnie is abducted by a mysterious criminal called Harrow, Goldie must leave home in a bold attempt to rescue her friends.
THE KEEPERS SERIES: BOOK THREE
The final heart-stopping adventure in the Keepers series. When all is nearly lost, Goldie must walk the secret and perilous Beast Road.
PRAISE FOR THE HIDDEN SERIES
‘This new trilogy will bait readers with its intriguing premise, hook them with its starkly beautiful setting, and reel them in with its fascinating characters. An artfully crafted adventure that’s equal parts thought-provoking and thrilling.’
Kirkus
‘A carefully structured plot foreshadows the dramatic climax and reveals secrets at just the right time. Tanner’s evocative prose allows readers to feel every dark, noisy crevice of the ship as well as the chill of the frozen wasteland that surrounds it. Tanner . . . will have readers eagerly awaiting the next installment.’
School Library Journal
‘The world of Ice Breaker is wonderfully realised: the clanking engines, rusted walkways and icy upper decks of the ship make for vivid settings. Ice Breaker should appeal to middle- and upper-primary readers who love adventure, suspense and strange worlds. Four and a half stars.’
Australian Bookseller and Publisher
‘A fast-paced adventure featuring talking rats, a rusting mazelike setting, and growing tension.’
Publishers Weekly (USA)
‘Lian Tanner is a master storyteller. She weaves complex, high action tales that are easy to read and always fast moving and her fantasy worlds are so detailed, they are completely believable. Like all of Lian Tanner’s stories, I just couldn’t put Sunker’s Deep down.’
Kids’ Book Review