The Tube Riders

by Chris Ward

  The two children scampered away across the beach, shouting for their mother.

  Here Ends

  The Tube Riders

  by

  Chris Ward

  Notes on the Text

  First of all, to those readers familiar with the locations used in this novel, I’d like to offer an apology. Despite growing up in Cornwall, living in Bristol for six years, and spending long periods in London, I let my imagination run away with me. The landmarks and locations mentioned in the book are real but I have taken massive liberties with town layouts, street names, and virtually every other aspect that you might be familiar with. It is 2075, after all . . .

  To train enthusiasts, now fuming at me for the depiction of their beauties – while I tried my best to portray the trains used in this book as accurately as possible, I have molded them where necessary to make them fit my needs. But that drainage rail where the clawboards land really is there – I looked!

  And to anyone from Cornwall looking for a quick way over to France, on a booze run perhaps, that second Channel Tunnel doesn’t exist. That I know of . . .

  Acknowledgments

  The Tube Riders takes its origins from one drunken night way back in 2002 when I wondered what it would be like to hang off the side of a moving train. To whatever I had been drinking that night, I say thanks . . .

  There are too many awesome people to mention who helped and inspired me to get this done. A big thanks goes out to my first “beta” readers, Isaac and Matt. Your comments helped make this a better book.

  Thanks to Su Halwark at Novel Prevue for the new cover – you did a great job, and to Jenny Twist, who recommended her. Thanks very much.

  To the friends who inspire me and keep me entertained, you guys are great. A particular shout out goes to Sean, Ian and Sam from my band, Steampunk Unicorn, Rob at the Nagano Spec Fiction Society, the boys from cricket and poker, my drinking buddy Clancy, the master of all things karaoke Ian, and all the rest. To my ninja sensei, for being a badass the like of which I can’t imagine, and to the little people, my niece Evelyn, nephew Souki, and god-daughters Sakura and Hotaru. You guys are wonderful. I hope you rule the world one day.

  Thanks to my workplaces, Nagano Commercial High School and Nagano Yoshida High School, for giving me the stress-free existence I needed to concentrate on getting this done.

  Thanks to my high school teacher, John Herbert, who told me I could when others told me I couldn’t. Your kind words on the cricket field inspired my whole life.

  A very special thanks to the girl from school (who will remain nameless) who told me I didn’t count. You were wrong, I did. I know you work for the BBC (thank you, Facebook!) and I hope you have the pleasure of filming this one day.

  A massive thanks to all the magazine editors who have published me over the last six or seven years, including Anne Vandemeer, Karen Newman, Rhonda Parish, Zackary Ricks, Tyree Campbell, Trevor Denyer and more. Your belief in my writing gave me the confidence to take it out into the world.

  And thanks to my family, for your support in everything I choose to do with my life. Sorry for moving to Japan, but when the wind blows you have to go. Perhaps one day it’ll blow me back to England.

  Finally to my cat, Miffy, for getting me up so early each morning, and last but certainly not least, to my wonderful wife, Shoko, for keeping me focused and my feet on the ground. I am always yours.

  C.W.

  March 2012