Nova War (41 page)

Thousands of gallons of briny water surged through the sloping streets. Trader’s ship was barely a twinkling in the sky by now, and the air was filled with a sound like thunder as pulse cannons positioned upon the city walls began firing bolts of supercharged plasma skywards to no avail.

She paused, looking upwards, aware of the Librarian’s thoughts as just a dimly sensed presence.

A long time ago, Trader in Faecal Matter of Animals had gone in search of the Maker and – in his own words – been found wanting. And still the dragon lurked unslain deep within its starry lair, waiting and watching to see who else might come creeping up close.

And now it’s my turn,
Dakota thought, with a final glance skyward.

She heard running feet coming closer, and ducked quickly into the lightless subterranean depths beneath the city.

The end of Book Two of the Shoal Sequence

– Taipei, June 2008

Acknowledgements

With thanks to Jim Campbell for comments and suggestions.

And Emma Chou, for all the obvious reasons.