African Pursuit (24 page)
Authors: David Alric
truculently
adv.
aggressively; obstreperously
trudge
v.
to plod wearily and heavily
trumps
pl.n.
the cards that outrank all others
turmoil
n.
confusion; tumult
tussock
n.
a dense tuft of grass, reeds or other vegetation
twig
v. (slang)
to understand suddenly; to work out what is going on; to catch on
ultrasound
n.
high-frequency sound waves used in medical diagnosis
unaccosted
adj.
unchallenged; not confronted or stopped
unassailable
adj.
irrefutable; undeniable
unblemished
adj.
without any flaw or imperfection
undergrowth
n.
the vegetation growing beneath tall trees, consisting of small trees, bushes, shrubs, brambles, etc.
unique
adj.
without equal; sole; singular; only
unison
n.
complete harmony; complete coordination
unprecedented
adj.
unparalleled; not having occurred or been observed previously
unpredictable
adj.
changeable; capable of behaving in a surprising way
unscathed
adj.
unharmed
unsurpassed
adj.
not exceeded in achievement or excellence
upshot
n.
outcome; result; conclusion
uranium
n.
a radioactive, metallic element used as a source of nuclear energy
UN
abbrev.
United Nations. An international organization set up in 1945 to bring about cooperation in international law. international security, economic development, social progress, human rights and the establishment of world peace.
UNESCO
acronym (qv)
The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization. One of 18 specialized agencies within the UN
USB
abbrev.
Universal Serial Bus. A USB memory stick is an electronic device for the storage and easy transport of large data sets
usher
v.
to show in or out; to escort
vacate
v.
to leave empty; to quit
valid
adj.
true; having foundation
vantage point
n.
a position giving a favourable view of a scene or situation
vaporize
v.
to cause to evaporate or disappear; to destroy by turning into gas
Velcro
n. (trademark)
a fastening made out of two strips of adherent nylon fabric
velociraptor
n. a
turkey-sized, bipedal, theropod dinosaur. Scientific name:
Velociraptor mongoliensis,
meaning:
swift thief.
Velociraptors achieved popular awareness through the 1990 novel
Jurassic Park
by Michael Crichton, and the 1993 film of the same name.
vendor
n.
one who sells something
venomous
adj.
poisonous
verandah
n.
a porch or balcony on the outside of a building
verge
n.
a grassy border along the roadside
vernacular
n.
the commonly spoken language or dialect of a particular country or region
vertical
adj.
perpendicular; upright
vibrate
v.
to shake; to quiver; to oscillate
vice-chancellor
n.
a senior official in a university
vigorously
adv.
energetically; robustly
villa
n.
a large and often luxurious residence
villain
n.
a wicked person
visa
n.
a document, or an endorsement in a passport, permitting the owner to enter or travel through a particular country
void
n.
an empty space
vulnerable
adj.
capable of being hurt or wounded; weak
waste
v. (slang)
to murder someone
whence
adv. (poetic)
from; from what place
whereabouts
adv.
approximate position; location
white lie
n.
a fib; a minor untruth
whither
adv. (poetic)
to what place; where
wily
adj.
crafty; sly; cunning
wimp
n. (slang)
a feeble, ineffectual individual
wisp
n.
a thin, insubstantial streak
withhold
v.
to keep back
wrath
n.
extreme anger; rage leading to retribution or vengeance
wry
adj.
twisted; contorted (facial expression) as an indication of quiet amusement
WW 2
abbrev.
World War Two. The second world war (1939–45).
ye
pronoun (archaic)
form of address to two or more people
yonder
adv. (poetic)
over there – often far away
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 pound = 16 ounces = 0.45 kilograms
1 ton = 2240 pounds (1016 kilograms)
1 centimetre = 0.39 inches
1 metre = 3.28 feet = 1.09 yards
1 kilometre = 0.62 miles
1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds
1 tonne (metric ton) = 1000 kilograms (2204.6 pounds)
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 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
African Pursuit
and his previous two novels,
The Valley of the Ancients
and
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 2011
by Acme Press Ltd
PO Box 65725, London N21 9AY
This ebook edition published
by Faber and Faber Ltd
Bloomsbury House
74–77 Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3DA
All rights reserved
© David Alric, 2011, 2012
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
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 978–0–571–29504–3