Monday 29 April 2013

Talon, as he flies over the great Anden mountains


Extract from the first novel in the Talon series: TALON, COME FLY WITH ME

Extract from the first novel in the Talon series: TALON, COME FLY WITH ME:

All of them nodded. ‘Yes, yes!’ came from all di-rections, even from Miguel.
‘We may have to take you up on your offer of help if the poachers come back,’ Crayn said, ‘but we hope not.’
All settled down again and after a request for more information, Crayn used Pajaro as an inter-preter to teach them more about the condo...rs. Crayn also said that poachers had put the condors in jeop-ardy, so they would soon become extinct. There were only a few left on earth and they had to protect them.
‘Left a few only?!’ a voice called out. ‘They dy-ing out, they do? Why?’
‘Mito, is that you?’ asked Crayn.
Mito stood up. Everybody looked at him. ‘Yes, me it is. Love the condors, I do. Told me about some of the condors, Pito did. Enough, it was not. Hearing more, I like.’
‘Yes, yes!’ came from all directions.
Crayn told them what he had told Matica about the condors. At the end, he added, ‘We have Tamo and Tima here – one pair of condors. It is our duty to protect them and their young, to watch over them and to keep them alive and well. Matica is helping to do that.’
Once school was over, Crayn said to Matica, ‘Did you like all the fuss? You’re a worthy member of the community now.

Sunday 21 April 2013

Extract from the first novel in the Talon series: TALON, COME FLY WITH ME

Extract from the first novel in the Talon series: TALON, COME FLY WITH ME

Matica looked at the high cliff and the landing where she knew the condors had their nest, which had one small tree growing on one side and a bush on the other. It didn’t look big, but right there beside the bush, she saw Tima sitting on the ridge, looking down.
Tamo was screeching and circling continuously above Tima.

Mat...ica couldn’t see the poachers. ‘They must be close by,’ she murmured, ‘because Tamo is too upset. And that means as well, they don’t have their egg as yet... if they have one.’

Observing the scene for a while, she finally made out two climbing, dark figures. She growled, ‘Long, black hair and black overalls. Yes, they’re the same ones, but I can’t see the beige bag they had last year in which to carry the egg. That would mean – yes!’ she shouted. ‘I was right! They have only come for a look. In that case, we have time to help my birds.’ She gritted her teeth angrily. ‘So, they were shooting at other animals before. Which animals? I guess we will never find out.’

She watched the poachers climbing higher and higher. They had nearly reached Tima.

‘Tima, do something!’ Matica said in a harsh whisper.