Empty World by John Christopher

Author:John Christopher [Christopher, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Tags: Science Fiction, Tuneyloon, Juvenile Fiction, Friendship, Social Issues
ISBN: 9780140373882
Google: oB69AAAACAAJ
Amazon: 0435122452
Publisher: Puffin Books
Published: 1980-07-13T23:00:00+00:00

He asked about them, and Clive talked at some length. Neil got the impression of a little brother indulged, spoiled in fact, by three adoring elder sisters. The parents were shadowy creatures, who seemed to have had much less importance in his life. He said:

"It got Caroline first, then Paula. I thought maybe it had missed Jenny. Then I watched it happen to her." There was a tremor in his voice. "I saw it all, from beginning to end."

He stopped abruptly, and Neil saw the dark eyes glisten. He said:

"It's over now."

He realized the inadequacy of that, but could think of nothing else to say. Clive did not speak for a moment or

two; then said with exaggerated cheerfulness:

"Say, I knew there was something else I had to show you!"

He brought it from a shelf: an old book, calf-bound, with silver corners and a silver clasp.

"Look at this!"

Neil was getting bored with that cry of triumph. Clive undid the clasp and opened up the book. The pages were of yellowed parchment, lettered and coloured by hand. The text was in Latin, the script not easy to make out, but Neil realized it was religious, perhaps a bible.

"I don't go for books much," Clive said, "but this one's got some great pictures."

He turned the pages and displayed a picture of an odd-looking ship, with even odder animals staring in pairs across the high gunnels: giraffes, elephants, lions, a couple of woolly sheep.

Sea and sky were different blues, both sharp and bright, and the sun was a disk of real gold leaf.

"Noah's Ark," Clive said. "I like that. I really do."

That evening, while they ate together, the talk was wild again. He had not only gone to dinner with the Queen, but stayed with her as a house-guest. It wasn't easy to work out if this had been at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle or Balmoral – perhaps all three. He spoke of the Royal Family as though they were old friends.

"I've been thinking about the Crown Jewels," he said. "Maybe I ought to go to the Tower and get them. For safe keeping. Her Majesty would have wanted me to do that."

At least the food was good. With the pheasant he served potatoes, asparagus and peas, and afterwards produced a tin containing a rich fruit cake. They drank the wine out of silver goblets. It had a slightly sour taste which Neil did not care much for, and he refused a refill, but Clive drank a good deal. One of the best wines from his father's cellar, he proclaimed, ignoring the fragment of label which had carried the wine merchant's price tag. They finished off with

coffee – the Blue Mountain this time – and Clive told a rambling tale about his father taking the family to Switzerland: they had occupied the entire top floor of the biggest hotel, and he and his father had climbed the Matterhorn.

It was dusk and Clive got up to switch on the lights. He had become so amiable that Neil was anticipating.

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