Thunder City by Philip Reeve

Author:Philip Reeve
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic
Published: 2024-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

The next day, with much hooting of harsh klaxons and flashing of red lights, the Haile Maryam slammed shut all its hatches and submerged, staying deep beneath the waves for hours and moving west under full power. Whether something was hunting her, whether it was the corsair town Thomas and Abela had sighted, or another town, or merely a training exercise, the castaways never found out. When she surfaced again and they were allowed out on to the deck it was evening, and in the hazy, golden air Tamzin saw land on the horizon, both north and south.

“The Pillars of Hercules,” said Max, recalling old geography lessons. “It must be – isn’t it, Miss T?”

“It is indeed,” said Miss Torpenhow. “We are in the straits between Africa and Europe. Oh, look! You see that great ruinous structure on the African coast, like a squared-off mountain with the surf breaking at its feet? That must be one of the anchor points for the great pontoon bridge that the Zagwan Empire built in the height of its power. Three hundred years ago, the Zagwans and their allies from Trarza and the Tibesti Caliphate marched across that bridge on their way to try to stop our cities moving. It was a misguided effort, and doomed to failure, but so brave! What a sight it must have made: the banners waving, and the spear-points shimmering, and the Zagwan paladins riding on their war zebras. It was they who gave the bridge its name, of course – the Zebra Crossing. Now all that is left is that crumbling pier, and another like it on the European shore…”

Captain Kardos, looking down from his conning tower, saw what his passengers were pointing at, and lent them his own telescope so they might see it in more detail. He felt it would do them good, these Tractionist barbarians from the north, to see what marvels his forefathers had built here. But by the time Tamzin got her turn with the glass the Haile Maryam was moving quickly northwards, and she could see no more of the ruins than she had with the naked eye.

But it did mean she was the first to sight the submarine’s destination. Ahead, with lights coming on upon its lower slopes as twilight advanced out of the east, something big crouched lion-like just off the shore of Europe.

“I can see a harbour,” she said, trying to hold the telescope steady as the submarine adjusted course. “There are many ships in the sea, and many airships above it…”

“A city!” said Trubshawe. “But which?”

Max took the telescope from Tamzin. “It is not a city,” he said, after a moment. “Just a dirty great rock.”

“Not a rock, Max,” said Miss Torpenhow. “It is the Rock. Djebel Tarik, Gibraltar of the Ancients. The last foothold of the Zagwan Empire in Europe, and an important Anti-Traction League stronghold nowadays. So that is where they are taking us.”

“And will we be able to find airships there to carry us home?” asked Trubshawe.

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