Authors: David Alric
The Promised One (30 page)
toerag
n
. (slang) an unpleasant, despicable or contemptible person
tolerant
adj
. able to accept the behaviour of another; uncritical; indulgent; forbearing; easygoing
toodle-oo
interjection
(old-fashioned slang) goodbye
torrent
n
. a large and rapid flow of water, words, etc.
trance
n
. a dreamlike or hypnotic state
tranquil
adj
. peaceful; calm
tranquillizer
n
. a calming drug
transmit
v
. to pass on; to transfer; to impart
trauma
n
. physical or emotional injury
traverse
v
. to cross; go over
treasure trove
n
. a hidden store of valuables
trek
v
. to make a journey, often a long and difficult one
tributary
n
. a river or stream that joins a larger one
trip
n
. (slang) an abnormal state of mind caused by an hallucinogenic drug
trivial
adj
. unimportant; petty
troupe
n
. a company of travelling players or actors
truculent
adj
. aggressive
tuber
n
. a fleshy underground stem or root
turbulence
n
. gusty air currents
twig
v
. (slang) to understand suddenly; to work out what is going on; to catch on
twinge
n
. Chapter 1: a sudden, brief stab of pain
Chapter 19: a sudden pang of emotion
ultimatum
n
. a final demand
umpteenth
adj
. (slang) one of very many
unanimous
adj
. in complete agreement (of a group of people)
uncanny
adj
. having a supernatural quality; eerie
understatement
n
. a description of something that represents it as being less than it really is
unerring
adj
. consistently accurate; without any mistakes
unfathomable
adj
. immeasurably deep
ungainly
adj
. awkward; ungraceful
unison
n
. complete harmony; complete co-ordination
unkempt
adj
. untidy; ungroomed; dishevelled
unmolested
adj
. left alone; not attacked; not interfered with
unravel
v
. to untangle or undo
unsavoury
adj
. unpleasant; distasteful; disagreeable
unscalable
adj
. not possible to climb; insurmountable
unwieldy
adj
. too awkwardly shaped to be handled easily
vanguard
n
. the leading group in a party; those at the front
vantage point
n
. a position giving a favourable view of a scene or situation
vegetate
v
. to pass time monotonously and inactively
venomous
adj
. poisonous
venture
v
. to set out on a possibly hazardous undertaking; to set forth with caution or trepidation
vestige
n
. a very small amount; a trace of something larger that was there before; a remnant
veterinary
adj
. to do with the health of animals
veto
v
. to forbid; to refuse to give consent to
vile
adj
. particularly unpleasant; abominable; wicked; hateful
villa
n
. a large and often luxurious residence
villain
n
. a wicked person
vivid
adj
. bright; brilliant
vulnerable
adj
. capable of being hurt or wounded; weak
waft
n
. something carried on the air, especially a smell
warrant
n
. an official document that authorizes a course of action such as an arrest
wax and wane
both verbs
to get bigger and smaller
well
v
. to flow upwards or outwards. In Chapter 15 it means that the water comes up out of the ground like a spring
whence
adv
. (poetic) from; ‘from what place’
white lie
n
. a fib; a minor untruth
whither
adv
. (poetic) ‘to what place’
wide berth
n
. in Chapter 14 the machrauchenia give Richard a
wide berth
(originally a nautical expression) meaning they avoided him by staying well clear of him
wimp
n
. (slang) a feeble, ineffectual individual
wince
v
. to move or grimace suddenly because of a pain or injury; to flinch
wistful
adj
. sad; pensive
WPC
n
. abbreviation for
woman police constable
wrath
n
. extreme anger; rage leading to retribution or vengeance
wreak
v
. to cause; to inflict (havoc, chaos, etc.)
wrinklies
pl. n
. (slang) old people
yonder
adv
. (poetic) ‘over there’ – often far away
zillion
n
. (slang) an unimaginably large number (based upon a million, billion, trillion … etc.)
zoom
v
. to move rapidly with a buzzing sound
1 inch = 2.54 centimetres
1 foot = 12 inches = 0.3 metres
1 yard = 3 feet = 0.91 metres
1 mile = 1760 yards = 1.61 kilometres
1 league = 3 miles (archaic)
1 ton = 2240 pounds (1016 kilograms)
1 centimetre = 0.39 inches
1 metre = 3.28 feet = 1.09 yards
1 kilometre = 0.62 miles
David Alric has had a highly distinguished career as a medical professor in which his publications, research and teaching established him as an eminent medical writer and an international leader in his field. He was a pioneer in the development of methods of investigation and treatment that are now routinely used in medical practice and he played a major role in the introduction of computer technology into medicine.
David’s writing experience and scientific knowledge have now been brought to bear on writing for a very different readership. In
The Valley of the Ancients
and his first novel,
The Promised One
, he combines his storytelling skills – honed by years of reading to his children and grandchildren – with his deep and wide-ranging understanding of natural history, science and general knowledge to create a fascinating mixture of adventure, fantasy and factual knowledge.
David is married with three children and six grandchildren. They see him most days and are his severest critics.
First published in 2004
by Bladon Publishing
12 New Street, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire OX7 5LJ
This edition first published by
by Faber and Faber Ltd
Bloomsbury House
74–77 Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3DA
This ebook edition first published in 2012
All rights reserved
© David Alric, 2004
Artwork © David Dean 2007
The right of David Alric to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
Disclaimer: With the exception of the historical characters, any resemblance between the people and animals in this book and any real person, living or dead, is entirely accidental
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly
ISBN 978–0–571–29714–6