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Authors: Johnny O'Brien

Day of Deliverance

BOOK: Day of Deliverance
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“Sword fights, acting, guns, and time travel all make for an intriguing and interesting read. This fast-paced story with the unusual concept of travelling through time to purposely change the course of history will appeal to readers.” Library Media Connection

 

“A challenging and exciting read for those who appreciate a blend of history and science fiction.” School Library Journal

 


Day of Deliverance
is a suspenseful and entertaining journey back to an important time in the history of England and of the world. Jack Christie is a very relatable hero – a regular schoolboy caught in, and coping with, circumstances beyond his control… His latest adventure delivers on all counts!” Teenreads.com

For Sally, Tom, Peter and Anna – J. O’B.

Cast of Characters

Day of Deliverance

A J
ACK
C
HRISTIE
A
DVENTURE

 

C
AST OF 
M
AIN
C
HARACTERS

 

Jack Christie – Our hero

Angus Jud – Jack’s loyal friend

Carole Christie – Jack’s mother

Professor Tom Christie – Jack’s father

Dr Pendelshape – The slightly unhinged history teacher

Counsellor Inchquin – Leader of VIGIL

The Rector – Headmaster of Soonhope High and VIGIL second-
in-command

 

Secondary Characters

 

Edward Alleyn – An actor

Miss Beattie – English and Drama teacher and nuclear physicist

Belstaff – Games teacher and VIGIL security

Elizabeth I – Queen of England

The Fanshawe Players – Harry Fanshawe’s failed group of travelling actors

Harry Fanshawe – An actor

Philip Henslowe – A businessman & theatrical impresario

The Henslowe Players – Philip Henslowe’s professional acting troupe

Theo Joplin – VIGIL historian

Thomas Kyd – A playwright

Mary, Queen of Scots – Queen of Scotland

Christopher Marlowe – A playwright

Monk – An actor

Jim de Raillar – Bike shop owner and VIGIL analyst

William Shakespeare – A playwright

Tony and Gordon – School janitors and VIGIL minders

Trinculo – An actor

Professor Gino Turinelli – Italian bistro owner and Professor

Sir Francis Walsingham – Principal Secretary of State and Privy

Councillor

Whitsun and Gift – Revisionist agents

It has been six months since Jack and Angus made the
mind-boggling
discovery that their school, Soonhope High, is a front for a team of scientists who control the most powerful technology ever conceived by man: the technology of time travel. At the heart of this technology is a machine called the Taurus, and Jack's dad, Professor Christie, was part of the team that originally designed it. Jack hasn't seen his father since he was six, when the scientists who formed the Taurus had a serious disagreement and Christie was forced into exile, leaving Jack and his wife, Carole, behind.

Christie's plan was to use the technology to make changes to the past – stopping major wars, for example – that would make today's world a better place. He attracted some passionate and brilliant supporters, including Dr Pendelshape who, until last year, was Jack's History teacher. Pendelshape and Christie, together with their small band of followers, who call themselves the ‘Revisionists', developed sophisticated computer simulations to model interventions in the past that could benefit mankind. Their former colleagues, on the other hand, continue to believe that changing events in the past, however well meant, would be dangerous and have unforeseen consequences. Once Professor Christie was out of the way, they formed a group called ‘VIGIL' to ensure that the Taurus was kept secret – but in working order
should it ever be needed.

Jack and Angus had become embroiled when, unknown to VIGIL, Christie created a
second
Taurus and proceeded to try to stop the event that triggered the First World War – the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand, in Sarajevo, June, 1914. Pendelshape acted as Christie's partner, continuing to teach at Soonhope High and leading VIGIL to believe that he was loyal to them. Meanwhile, Jack and Angus were used as pawns in a battle between the two camps. Jack's loyalties had been torn. In the end, having witnessed first hand the dangers of time travel and intervening in the past, Jack decided that the right course of action was to side with VIGIL.

Since then, there has been a stalemate, with neither side able to make a move against the other. Not knowing the whereabouts of Christie's base, VIGIL can do nothing about the second Taurus. Christie, on the other hand, will not use his Taurus while Jack is under the guard of VIGIL. The members of VIGIL know that Christie will do nothing while there might be a threat to his son, in retribution for any action the Revisionists take. But Christie does not know that Jack's loyalties are now with VIGIL, and Carole Christie is also firmly inside the VIGIL camp. The atmosphere at VIGIL is tense. Although their security is highly sophisticated, they wonder what the Revisionists' next move will be…

Jack thrust the rapier forward. Angus jumped back, but this time he was not quick enough. The blade pierced his flesh and an ominous red patch appeared on his white shirt. Angus glanced down at the wound and looked back at his opponent with an expression of rage on his face. A frisson of excitement rippled through the crowd. The contest was proving far better than they had imagined. Jack was exhilarated – one final blow and it would all be over.

His confidence was short-lived. The strike had found its mark but he’d also momentarily lost his balance and Angus came back with a violent counter-thrust. His blade flashed through the air and caught Jack in the ribs. There was a gasp from the crowd. The foil was so sharp that Jack scarcely felt it. But in only a few seconds his own blade grew heavy in his hand and his breathing quickened. Sensing his chance, Angus darted forward once more, his sword aimed at Jack’s chest again. This time Jack spotted the move and swayed to one side. Angus’s forward momentum presented Jack with an opportunity. He grabbed his opponent by the arm and heaved him onwards, while simultaneously thrusting out his leg. Angus tripped and spun through the air landing with a crunching thud, his sword spinning from his hand. Jack pounced onto him and they became locked in a deadly struggle. But he should have known better than to take on Angus in a wrestling match. Angus was much too strong and soon he had Jack pinned
on his back beneath him. He grasped Jack’s sword hand and banged it hard on the ground until Jack relinquished his grip. Angus lowered his face towards Jack’s and sneered.

“You will die.”

Jack was nailed to the ground. He was wounded and he had no weapon. Angus’s massive bulk was pressing down on him. But it wasn’t over yet. He gritted his teeth, and with a
super-human
effort jerked his knee upwards into Angus’s crotch. Angus wailed in pain and Jack seized the moment to wriggle free. Snatching up a sword, he wheeled round. The sword felt different – heavier and unbalanced – but it didn’t matter now. Angus jumped back to his feet and grabbed the other sword and the two of them circled round and round, panting at each other like wounded animals. The crowd jeered. Jack’s remaining energy was melting away – he knew he only had seconds left. There was blood all over the floor and Angus slipped. He was only distracted for a split second but it was enough. Jack leaped forward to land a second, fatal blow. Angus screamed as blood from a second wound spurted from his chest. He dropped to one knee, and looked up at Jack. It was an unexpected expression – almost apologetic,

“The poison… I am killed with my own treachery…” He stammered.

Jack glanced down at the sword that dangled loosely from his hand – and suddenly he understood. He had snatched up his opponent’s sword, which Angus must have dipped in poison before the contest. Jack had already been injured with the same sword, which meant that, in less than a minute, both of them would be dead.

But there was still time to see to unfinished business. Jack knew what he had to do.

Clutching his chest to stem the bleeding, he staggered across to where his uncle sat cowering behind the long banqueting table. The food and drink was laid out – still untouched. Jack mounted the table and fixed his eyes menacingly on his uncle who
sank back into his chair, shaking. There was to be no mercy and Jack did not hesitate. He thrust the sword into his uncle’s heart.

BOOK: Day of Deliverance
11.26Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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