Worldshaker Extract 1
EXTRACT 1: Worldshaker Chapter 1 pp. 1–5
A sound brought Col out of a deep sleep. Something was happening out in the corridor. Urgent footsteps, orders and questions, the clangs of many doors opening and closing. Cabin by cabin, the disturbance came closer.
His own cabin remained in darkness – until suddenly the door was flung open. Two menacing shapes stood silhouetted against the dim blue light of the corridor.
‘Room light on!’ came the order.
The figures sprang forward into the room, flourishing their weapons. Col switched on his bedside lamp.
In the warm yellow-pink glow, the figures diminished to a pair of ordinary warrant officers. The pounding of Col’s heart eased. Warrant officers were responsible for security and their heavy wooden batons were for his protection. But what were they doing in this part of the ship?
'Ah, Master Porpentine, isn’t it?' The senior officer fingered his grey walrus moustache. ‘Sorry to disturb you, sir. We have to search your room.’
‘What for?’
Ignoring the question, the officer went on. ‘How long have you been awake, sir? Have you seen or heard anything unusual in the last few minutes?’
Col raised himself higher on his pillow. ‘Doors clanging, and you clumping along the corridor.’
‘She must have run on,’ the junior officer whispered to the senior. ‘We’re wasting our time on this deck.
’Who’s she?’ Col demanded.
‘A Filthy,’ the junior blurted – then clapped his hand over this mouth. ‘I mean…’
‘Hold your tongue, Jull!’ The senior officer swung his baton and gave Jull a cracking blow on the wrist. Col was shocked.
The senior officer turned to him again. ‘You didn’t hear what he said, did you, sir?’
‘Yes I did. What’s a Filthy doing on the Upper Decks?’
'You wouldn’t want to know. My colleague got carried away.’
‘I’ll forget about it if you answer my question.’
‘She…’ The senior officer’s cheeks were red and he was visibly sweating. ‘Well, she escaped. That’s all I
A sound brought Col out of a deep sleep. Something was happening out in the corridor. Urgent footsteps, orders and questions, the clangs of many doors opening and closing. Cabin by cabin, the disturbance came closer.
His own cabin remained in darkness – until suddenly the door was flung open. Two menacing shapes stood silhouetted against the dim blue light of the corridor.
‘Room light on!’ came the order.
The figures sprang forward into the room, flourishing their weapons. Col switched on his bedside lamp.
In the warm yellow-pink glow, the figures diminished to a pair of ordinary warrant officers. The pounding of Col’s heart eased. Warrant officers were responsible for security and their heavy wooden batons were for his protection. But what were they doing in this part of the ship?
'Ah, Master Porpentine, isn’t it?' The senior officer fingered his grey walrus moustache. ‘Sorry to disturb you, sir. We have to search your room.’
‘What for?’
Ignoring the question, the officer went on. ‘How long have you been awake, sir? Have you seen or heard anything unusual in the last few minutes?’
Col raised himself higher on his pillow. ‘Doors clanging, and you clumping along the corridor.’
‘She must have run on,’ the junior officer whispered to the senior. ‘We’re wasting our time on this deck.
’Who’s she?’ Col demanded.
‘A Filthy,’ the junior blurted – then clapped his hand over this mouth. ‘I mean…’
‘Hold your tongue, Jull!’ The senior officer swung his baton and gave Jull a cracking blow on the wrist. Col was shocked.
The senior officer turned to him again. ‘You didn’t hear what he said, did you, sir?’
‘Yes I did. What’s a Filthy doing on the Upper Decks?’
'You wouldn’t want to know. My colleague got carried away.’
‘I’ll forget about it if you answer my question.’
‘She…’ The senior officer’s cheeks were red and he was visibly sweating. ‘Well, she escaped. That’s all I