Boy Who Stole Time

by Mark Bowsher

  But he wasn’t sure if the next place he would be visiting was going to be that full of ‘wonders’. The devil’s words, her description of the new world, echoed in his ears…

  All stars made of gas, yes, but these stars … these stars POWERED by gas! Huge globes of glass, glowing yellow, covered in pipes! Billowin’ gas! Floatin’ around a world of steel! No skies! No clouds! All world in one huge, huge, HUGE metal box! All walls, no skies! Stars float around not far above the ground, watchin’ over all, makin’ everythin’ stink from the fumes! No, boy … these stars different … And this time, the one you seek, the one what knows how you is gettin’ the Myrthali, knows yer comin’ …

  He’d been afraid of leaving again but now he felt different. Krish had never been the confident type but now he knew what he was capable of. He smiled at the idea that nobody would know, as he sat there quietly in class, other kids making fun of him for being rubbish at maths or something, that he had dived into a pitch-black ocean, torn down a palace, had a king bow before him and fought fear itself.

  His Mum’s face kept coming back to him. The way she’d looked at him in the hospital. A warm but small, almost weak smile. She seemed afraid to blink, as if he might not be there any more by the time she opened her eyes again.

  Mulling over his Mum’s face made Krish feel happy and sad all at once. He tried to think of other things and his mind began to unwind and then, at last, he fell into the deepest sleep he’d had in a long time. The last thought to flicker through his brain as consciousness ebbed away from him was that he was ready. Ready to face the world of KnockThrice.

  Acknowledgements

  My Mum Jacqui Knighton for proofreading the very first and the very last draft as well as for support and encouragement throughout. Jake Martin for pulling out all the stops to shoot a great video for the Unbound promo. My brother Jack Bowsher for all his encouragement (he was the one to pledge a second time and get the book over the 100% line) and his wife / my sister-in-law Alex Bowsher, also for encouragement and telling me what the underside of an NHS hospital bed looked like.

  Sam Melling, Sue Pagram and Alison Barron for proofreading the first full draft when the book was still called The Time Thieves. I have to single out Alan Mandel Butler and Samantha Neill-Paton for their in-depth feedback, which really helped me reshape some parts of the story. Hugh David, Sophia Chrisafis and Tim Berry also did a fair bit of proofreading for me early on which I really appreciate.

  Helen McVittie who kept me going throughout the writing process. Much of her fire, her no-nonsense attitude and her determination went into Balthrir, the scene with the feather in chapter 24 in particular.

  Lyall McCarthy for his amazing artwork and Mark Ecob for his adaptation of Lyall’s work for the final cover.

  My structural editor Craig (C M Taylor) whose feedback made me go a little mad and come up with four more chapters (it wasn’t quite what he’d expected but we were both pretty pleased with the results!). Copy editor Helen Pisano, who was a real joy to work with, despite how brief it ended up being! Typesetter Andrew Chapman and proofreader Helen Angove.

  Thanks for support throughout from Unbounders Georgia Odd, Phil Connor and Xander Cansell. But out of everyone at the Unbound camp I really must thank both Mathew Clayton and Kwaku Osei-Afrifa the most, for the simple reason that this book would not have been published without them. I pitched by tweet, Mathew responded and made sure that the book was considered. Kwaku was the man who sent me this email which made a dream come true:

  Mark,

  Been reading Time this afternoon. I’m a fan. Let’s move with it?

  K

  I’d love to name all the Unbound authors who gave me so much advice, social media support and generally cheered me on… so I will. In no particular order: Karen Attwood, Stevyn Colgan, Michael Smith, Jessica Martin, Julie Warren, Maximilian Hawker, Virginia Moffatt, Alice Jolly, Lucy Sullivan, Sarah Marr, Owen Michael Johnson, Elaine Chambers, John Michael, Roman Krznaric, Abda Khan, Sabeena Akhtar, Nasrin Parvaz, Lucy Crehan, Adam Roberts, Gautam Malkani, Amy Kean, Ronnie Le Drew, Sheila Parry, Nii Ayikwei Parkes, Philip Womack, Wayne Garvie, Jillian Edelstein, Keith Tutt, Charles Fernyhough, Jane Hayward, Patrick Kincaid, Raz Shaw, Martin Cohen, Aidan McQuade, Beth McColl, Lev Parikian, Kerensa Jennings, Mary Horlock, Dave Dawson, Tom Cox, Damon Wakes, Tamsen Courtenay, Eli Allison, Ste Sharp, Wallis Eates, Andy Bush, Imola Unger, Patrick Wildgust, Judy Pascoe, Lucien Young, Ben Cameron, Happy BirthTime!, Hannah Wroblewski, Lily Dunn and Sarah Lee.

  And finally, all the friends, family, colleagues, clients, random people I met on trains, in bookshops or on the intersplat who supported and encouraged me in so ways. You kept me going. Thank you!

  If I’ve forgotten anyone it’s because I’m an absent-minded, unappreciative berk.

  Pronunciation

  Ahava

  Ahava-(like ‘have’ with the word ‘a’ at the beginning and end)

  A-have-a

  Althrain

  Al-(like ‘all’)-thrain-(like ‘pain’)

  All-thrain

  Alvaris

  Al-(like ‘pal’)-varis-(like ‘paris’)

  Al-varis

  Argyrhyr

  Ar-(like ‘far’)-gyr-(like ‘gear’)-hyr-(like ‘here’)

  Ar-gear-here

  Baa-la

  Baa-(like ‘bar’)-la

  Bar-la

  Bahrtakrit

  Bahr-(like ‘bar’ but you can make the ‘h’ sound like you’re about to spit it out)-tak-(like ‘tack’)-rit-(like ‘bit’)

  Bahhhr-tack-rit

  Balthrir

  Bal-(like ‘pal’)-thrir-(like the start of ‘through’ with ‘ear’ added at the end)

  Bal-threar

  Benhu’in

  Ben-(like the name)-hu-(like ‘who’)-in

  Ben-who-in

  Betsarhldeth

  Bet-sarhl-(like ‘snarl’)-deth–(like ‘Beth’)

  Bet-sarl-deth

  Calcara

  Cal-(like ‘pal’)-cara-(like ‘para’)

  Cal-cara

  Elwynt

  El-(like ‘smell’)-wynt-(like the end of ‘squint’)

  El-wint

  Eshter

  Eshter-(like the name ‘Ester’ with a ‘sh’ in the middle)

  Esh-ter

  Evia

  Ev-(like the start of ‘ever’)-i-(like ‘bee’)-a

  Ev-ee-a

  Falkesh

  Fal-(like ‘pal’)-kesh-(like ‘mesh’)

  Fal-kesh

  Faltura

  Fal-(like ‘pal’)-tur-(like ‘pure’)-a

  Fal-ture-a

  Gilimed

  Gil-(like a fish’s ‘gills’)-i-(like ‘bee’)-med

  Gil-ee-med

  Goonmallinn

  Goon-(like ‘spoon’)-mall-(like ‘snarl’)-inn

  Goon-marl-in

  Gulwin

  Gul-(like the end of ‘seagull’)-win

  Gull-win

  Hri

  Hri-(like ‘free’)

  Hree

  Ilir

  Il-(like ‘spill’)-ir-(like ‘ear’)

  Ill-ear

  Jarhi

  Jar-(like ‘far’)-hi-(like ‘bee’)

  Jar-hee

  Jashir

  Jash-(like ‘bash’)-ir-(like ‘ear’)

  Jash-ear

  Kalrah

  Kal-(like ‘pal’)-rah-(like a lion’s ‘raa!’)

  Kal-raa

  Kalrika Mavalrh

  Kal-(like ‘pal’)-rik-(like ‘reek’)-a Mav-(like ‘have’)-al-(like ‘full’)-rh-(like a lion’s ‘raa!’)

  Kal-reek-a Mav-ull-raa

  Lal’Fryaill

  Lal’-Fryaill-(like ‘frail’)

  Lal-frail

  Maiylyr

  Maiyl-(like ‘male’)-yr-(like ‘ear’)

  Male-ear

  Malshrael

  Mal-(like ‘pal’)-shrael-(like ‘pale’)

  Mal-shrale

  Marraghir

&nb
sp; Marra-(like ‘para’)-ghir-(like ‘gear’)

  Marra-gear

  Mersha

  Mer-(like ‘fear’)-sha

  Mear-sha

  Meslahir

  Mes-(like ‘mess’)-la-hir-(like ‘here’)

  Mess-la-here

  Mikan

  Mik-(like ‘Mike’)-an

  Mike-an

  Myrthali

  Myr-(like ‘fear’)-thal-(like ‘snarl’)-i-(like ‘bee’)

  Mear-tharl-ee

  Nahbrin

  Nah-(like ‘bar’)-brin

  Nar-brin

  Nboosa

  N-(like the French number ‘un’ said from the back of the mouth, almost through closed lips)-boo-(like ‘boo’)-sa

  Un-boo-sa

  Obsendei

  Ob-send-ei-(like ‘eye’)

  Ob-send-eye

  Oorarka

  Oo-(like ‘boo’)-rark-(like ‘dark’)-a

  Oo-rark-a

  Palseferous

  Pal-(like ‘pull’)-sef-(like ‘deaf’)-er-ous

  Pull-seaf-er-ous

  R’ghir

  R’gh-(like ‘rug’ – roll the ‘R’)-ir-(like ‘ear’)

  Rug-ear

  Salvean

  Sal-(like the start of ‘Sally’)-ve-(like ‘bee’)-an

  Sal-vee-an

  Sia

  Si-(like ‘sea’)-a

  Sea-a

  Tyraah

  Tyr-(like a ‘tear’ that you cry)-aah-(like relaxing in a nice warm bath)

  Tear-aah

  Ugethrid

  U-(like ‘you’)-geth-(like ‘Beth’)-rid

  You-geth-rid

  Ullwihr

  Ull-(like ‘dull’)-wihr-(like ‘wire’)

  Ull-wire

  Viona

  Viona-(like the musical instrument ‘viola’ with an ‘N’ instead of an ‘L’)

  Viona

  Vira

  Vi-(like the start of ‘virus’)-ra

  Vi-ra

  Vra’hool

  Vra-(like ‘spa’)-hool-(like ‘fool’)

  Vra-hool

  Vulrein

  Vul-(like ‘dull’)-rein-(like ‘rain’)

  Vul-rain

  Patrons

  Jane & Roger Adams

  Sarah Agha

  Sabeena Akhtar

  Wendy Aldiss

  Lucy Anderson Jones

  Tamsin Andrews

  Karen Attwood

  Florence Ayisi

  James Aylett

  Alexander Baines

  Paul Bains

  Janet Baldwin

  Anthony Barnett

  Alison Barron

  James Benmore

  Chloë Berry

  Tim Berry

  Sarah Bikhit

  Mart Bira

  Happy Birthtime!

  Tim Blanchard

  Darren Bloxham

  Mark Bolsover

  Julia Booth

  Jeannie Borsch

  Michael Botten

  Sabrina Bowsher

  Henry Bowsher

  Jenson Bowsher

  Hannah Brackstone-Brown

  Sarah-Beth Bradley

  Stuart Brian Mather

  Lauren Brown

  Alex Buckingham

  Sophie Bulcraig

  Ali Burns

  Helen Busby

  Marta Cabot Codina

  John Carr

  Benita Carter

  Elaine Chambers

  Jane Chappell

  Georgia Clark

  Jenny Clarke

  Martin Cohen

  James Cook

  Heather Coombs

  Ben Coombs

  Gareth Corcoran

  John Crawford

  Lucy Crehan

  Oriana Curls

  Ella Daley

  Edward Davey

  Carl Davidson

  Mitch Davison

  Dave Dawson

  Shakella Dedi

  Victoria Denard

  Emma Dickman

  Philip Doyle

  James Duffy

  Wallis Eates

  Jillian Edelstein

  Georgina Edwards

  Carolyn Edwins

  Angela Ekaette Michaels

  Amy Elizabeth

  Sara Escriva

  Gayle Evans

  Gillie Fairbrother

  Charles Fernyhough

  Alice Field

  James Flint

  Bryony Forde

  Adam Fransella

  Stein Fussel

  Megan Gragg

  Elliot Grove

  Mandi Harkett

  Phil Harvey

  Jane Harvey

  Maximilian Hawker

  Jane Hayward

  Daniel Hitch

  Callum Holmes

  Sian Hoolahan

  Mary Horlock

  Marigold Hughes

  Jacinta Hunter

  Theo Ip

  Jodie Jackson

  Andrew James

  Lisa Jenkins

  Annie Jones

  Amy Kean

  Jamie Kennerley

  Rory Kenny

  Grace Ker

  Abda Khan

  Patrick Kincaid

  Mark Kinsella

  William Klarenbeek

  Maik Kleinschmidt

  Elysse Knighton-Holland

  Roman Krznaric

  Mit Lahiri

  Emma Lane

  Ronnie Le Drew

  Marc Lebailly

  Sarah Lebrecht

  Sarah Lee

  Darren Lee Sherry

  Kit Leonard

  Kim Lewis

  Suyi Liangga

  Filip Lipiecki

  Elena Lopez-Brea Sanchez

  Anya Lukover

  Dan Mackey

  Olivia Maiden

  Alan Mandel Butler

  Sarah K. Marr

  Sheelagh Marshall

  Eleanor May Clarke

  Priscilla McBean

  Lisa McGeoch

  Kristina Micakova

  Kaz Mills

  Christopher Mills

  Virginia Moffatt

  Kyle Monk

  Helen Mullane

  Marc Munro Scott

  Sandy Nairne

  Manuel Nashi

  Carlo Navato

  Victoria Nixon

  Xander Nolan

  Joe Nutt

  Rosie Owen

  Amy Page

  Gemma Paget

  Sue Pagram

  Nii Ayikwei Parkes

  Isobel Payne

  Jonathan Petherbridge

  Johanna Pettersson

  Théo Pierre Buchaillard-Davies

  Hannah Plant

  Iris Pokorny

  Mary-Anne Pontikis

  Louise Reid

  Judy Reith

  Laura, Rich & Rosie Rhee

  Glenn Rice

  Claire Richardson

  Ian Ridley

  Liam Riley

  Adam Roberts

  Kate Roberts

  Jennifer Robins

  Brandon Robshaw

  Carina Roots

  Rachel Rourke

  Marta Rubio

  Jo Sally

  Jenny Schwarz

  Yvonne Servante

  Seema Shah

  Mike Shanahan

  Raz Shaw

  Chris Sheryn

  Burak Simsek

  Rosemary Smith

  Shaun Smith

  Matt Smith

  Shayna Soong

  Anne Southgate

  Sophie Sparham

  Kirsty Stanley

  Jean Stanton

  Peter Stark

  Sarah Steel

  Andrew Stern

  Nigel Strickland

  Lucy Sullivan

  Leila Talmadge

  Lauren Tansey

  Sarah Tattersall

  Melanie Tebb

  Andrew Tees

  Laura Thompson

  Helen Thompson

  Annie Tremlett

  Jackie Tu
rley

  Luca Uggias

  Imola Unger

  Cara Usher

  Emma Walker

  Thomas Walton

  Katherine Ward

  Hayley Whitehouse

  Wolfgang Wild

  Patrick Wildgust

  James Wilkins

  Jan Willem Dees

  Derek Wilson

  Philip Womack

  Justin Woolhouse

  Hannah Wroblewski

  Catherine Wycherley

  Lucien Young

  Mathew Young

  Victoria Zeißler