Category: Serialised

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The two of them have been in Mr Rafone’s tutor group for a year now and that’s continuing into the new school year. It’s mid September 2450AD, KristalClear has just turned sixteen, and within a few weeks NutJob will be sixteen too. In Wolfland, and everywhere else, there is no mainstream system of further education. Once people become adult, they finish school on the 30^th of June following their sixteenth birthday.

“What I want to know is,” says NutJob, “are graceful cantilever springs, springs for graceful cantilevers, or cantilevers for graceful springs?”

NutJob is the sort of person who typically over analyses anything mechanical, and he often has a new exciting side project to talk about. His latest one involves electricity, and that’s why CandiCrush and KristalClear have suggested that he and BarmyWaffle should meet.

Wednesday afternoons in Lancaster are special.

In the market place on this particular Wednesday afternoon, NutJob, KristalClear and CandiCrush are all at the Find Thyme Café, seated around a wooden table on the terrace. Lancaster’s Market Square is now a tranquil place, and it’s perfect for watching the world go by. On this side of the square, and on the other side in front of Magnum Opus, many of the tables are occupied by small groups of people, all drinking Manx tea, and all discussing their side projects.

Trying carefully to navigate a path to maturity, NutJob is more focussed on job hunting than he is on connecting with girls. However, KristalClear is undeniably attractive. Her charming, dark chestnut brown eyes, complement her long, straight, deep brown hair with its stunning, silky shine.

Occasionally when he looks at her, he thinks there’s a captivating stillness about her beauty. Her character is thoughtful, her outlook compassionate, and her advice is always sincere. He tries not to stare, but sometimes each of them has caught the other doing exactly the same thing. A failed attempt at a nonchalant glance. As far as NutJob is concerned she’s not trying to be radiant, she simply is radiant. She’s confident, yet composed and she is picture perfect.

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“When BarmyWaffle first mentioned Graceful Cantilever Springs,” says CandiCrush, “I thought he was talking about an idyllic oasis in the countryside. It turns out that graceful cantilever springs are some type of mechanical device that the boffins get excited about. It’s not some kind of yoga retreat at all!”

With a restrained smile, KristalClear is keeping her emotions firmly under control. She looks up to check the expression on NutJob’s face, nods reassuringly, and says, “I’m sure you’ll like him.”

Guiding her gorgeous, long, dark brown hair over her right ear, she continues, “BarmyWaffle sounds like a bigger geek than you!”

NutJob is a little cautious when making new friends for the first time. He’s known KristalClear for a while, and he’s met Commander Crush a few times, but he’s never met a scientist from the Garrison. Although he’s just heard a lot about him. BarmyWaffle should be retired by now, he’s four times older than the youngsters, and he’s twice the age of his boss, Commander Crush!

While waiting, NutJob is understandably nervous, and that’s allowed KristalClear and her friend CandiCrush, to dominate all the chat.

KristalClear and NutJob both attend Broadland Park High School. She likes him, but she’s not sure how much. She likes to say that once he’s had time to get to know you, and you’ve had time to get to know him, he’s fine.

Even if he is a bit shy and geeky, he’s generally a bright and cheerful young man, and his eyes are a delight. They are deep blue, happy eyes. Complemented by short, dark hair, a cute button nose and his soft, unblemished complexion, he has a slight baby face, which makes everybody think that he’s younger than he really is.

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Intentionally blank

 

 

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Conning likes to think that she’s the smart one in The Space Girls, the one with a head for business. In Manx Conning is pronounced KonYing.

She works part time at her parents’ shipbrokers and that keeps her directly in touch with various Manx speakers, both back home and in Lancaster.

Conning likes to write poignant, thoughtful songs, whereas Kayt is more into “boy meets girl”. Which is a bit paradoxical really, because neither of them has ever found a steady boyfriend.

When they collaborate on songs, they can come up with some of the most ingenious lyrics.

However, unlike Kayt, Conning is not sure that a life as a singer is sustainable. Life in 2450AD is tough, and it’s wise to have a plan B.

FunFacts

Favourite school subject:	Music
Hobby:	Karate
If you were an animal what animal would you be and why?	A bunny! Translate Conning from Manx into English!
Is most likely to say:	Don’t invade my personal space!
Is least likely to say:	Max is so clever.
Outlook on life:	I’m going to be a big success. Whether I’m a pop star or not!

Profiles of the Supporting Characters can be found on page 375.

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Kayt and her best friend Conning are both descended from Manx families. That aside, they are not directly related. In Manx Kayt is pronounced Cat.

Like all Manx people Kayt and Conning are particularly attractive, and that sometimes brings them unwanted attention from the boys at school. But the boys had better keep their distance! Kayt and Conning are both karate experts!

The taller of the two, Kayt is the lead singer in their duet The Space Girls, a name which is derived from their catch phrase “don’t invade my personal space!” Kayt is more into the choreography of their dance routines than Conning, and there is clearly a karate influence in the dance moves.

They are aged sixteen, in the same year group as NutJob and KristalClear,  and they particularly like Mr Rafone. That ensures that they regularly feature in the line up for Saturday Night Fun Night at The Noble Coliseum.

Fun Facts

Favourite school subject:	Music
Hobby:	Karate
If you were an animal what animal would you be and why?	A kitty! Translate Kayt from Manx into English!
Is most likely to say:	Don’t invade my personal space!
Is least likely to say:	Max is so handsome.
Outlook on life:	We’re going to be a big success. We’re going to be pop stars!

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An itinerant but loveable rogue, Benet wanders the land, sleeping in the woods at night, and earning a trivial income from story telling during the day. He looks scary. A big hairy giant of a man. But once they get to know him and know his patterns the locals look forward to his visits and his almost true true stories. No matter the town, nor the real name of the market place, it is always renamed “Jackanory Square” when Benet calls. And his seat “The Stump” is always ready for him.

His background is a bit murky, but he claims to be from a long line of story tellers with a peculiar family tradition. The youngest boy is named Ben. The older man Benet, then Benedict, and finally Benedictine. When Benet’s grandfather Benedictine dies, the names all transition. For now he is Benet and his name will change to Benedict when he’s older. That means that when Benet visits town this time, people are never quite sure if it’s the same Benet as last time! All that facial hair, and all that shabby clothing, mean that they all look exactly the same.

Fun Facts

Favourite school subject:	Cooking
Hobby:	Eating
If you were an animal what animal would you be and why?	A woolly mammoth. You want me to explain? Seriously? Why even ask? Just look at me!
Is most likely to say:	This one is completely true!
Is least likely to say:	I can retire now.
Outlook on life:	One of these days I really am going to ride a horse into Jackanory Square!

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A senior officer in the Garrison, Commander Crush is 33 years old and shares her time between naval duties on fully rigged sailing ships, and army duties at Lancaster HQ.

Charming and courteous, and somewhat attractive she’s lovely, but she will not tolerate disorder.

Incredibly efficient, she runs a tight ship, with a place for everything and everything in its place.

A skilled horse rider, CandiCrush joined the Garrison rather than the Constabulary, because the Garrison has more horses! As a youngster all she wanted to do was ride. Now she wants to rule by diplomacy not might. She’s a firm believer in using wise words, and technology, to maintain peace, and law and order.

As a result, CandiCrush is well respected, and her opinion is highly valued. She’s open minded yet also highly focussed, and that means that some people delight in her friendship whilst others find her a little bit distant.

FunFacts

Favourite school subject:	Welsh
Hobby:	Horse riding
If you were an animal what animal would you be and why?	A dove. Free to fly wherever I please, bringing out the best in the people around me.
Is most likely to say:	When would now be a good time?
Is least likely to say:	We’ve always done it this way.
Outlook on life:	The best way to win a war is not to have a war.

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An apprentice watchmaker. Eighteen year old HayWire would really like to come up with a new sort of viable battery technology, and explore using batteries to power watches again. If that can’t be done, then he is convinced that clockwork mechanisms can be made even more efficient by using different, or better materials.

At school he was brilliant at maths and science, and he was a complete disaster with nearly everything else. He left school two years ago and is now really happy to be working one on one with a master watchmaker, and not have to deal with big groups of people.

He chooses his friends carefully, and prefers small close knit communities of like minded people. Everyday life, being a bit of a melting pot, full of people with different ideas, is something he’s not yet ready for. He’s not sure he ever will be.

It takes HayWire time to get to know people. When he does, he is exceptionally sincere, honest, and loyal. His best friend is MaxChaos.

Fun Facts

Favourite school subject:	Maths
Hobby:	Sub atomic particle physics
If you were an animal what animal would you be and why?	An eagle. In control of my own space, and I can focus on one thing.
Is most likely to say:	I don’t have enough spoons.
Is least likely to say:	More sugar please.
Outlook on life:	Never be defined by your past. It was just a lesson, not a life sentence.

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MaxChaos is a likeable misfit. Not wicked, just a bit of an oddball with a unique ability to make the predictable unpredictable! He claims to have a trace of Viking heritage! He left school before he was allowed to, and started work as a labourer. Now aged twenty he’s still rough around the edges though he’s friendly, and he’s especially popular down at the docks. Just don’t ask him to handle fishing nets unless the intention is to have all the fish back in the sea! Fascinated by weaponry, MaxChaos is one of Wolfland’s best hunters, but stalking deer does not excite him. He wants to stop the pirates!

Fortunately, MaxChaos is extremely conscientious when handling weapons. That’s when he’s most focussed and at his best. The local Constabulary actually like him because he’s big, brave and strong, and his heart is in the right place. He knows who’s side he’s on, and he’s very supportive of the Wolfland community. They think he’d make a good constable if he could only follow instructions and wasn’t quite so unpredictable. However, without qualifications, his best prospect right now is some sort of future in shipping or farming. Whatever he does, people want to have MaxChaos on their side.

Fun Facts

Favourite school subject:	Archery
Hobby:	Booby traps
If you were an animal what animal would you be and why?	Animal, from The Muppet Show. Because he’s kinda weird like me, yet eminently loveable, like me!
Is most likely to say:	Where can I get some gunpowder?
Is least likely to say:	Personal hygiene is important.
Outlook on life:	You’re only supposed to blow the ruddy doors off!

 

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A sixteen year old who is leaving school this year. She’s fond of animals and has a unique affinity with them. Almost a sixth sense, knowing what they think and how they feel. Animals of all types seem to reciprocate. She’s compassionate, and she’s interested in everyone’s wellbeing. Her passion for animal welfare makes her very popular, and she has a part time job already, down at the stables in the Garrison.

KristalClear’s family are Wolfland born and bred, though they have some French Heritage. Sometimes her parents still call her Mademoiselle!

Monsieur & Madame Troyes have retained a quaint, yet weird family tradition of styling their names the French way in spite of their distinct Lancashire accents. The story goes back 300 years to the original Monsieur Troyes who settled in London after leaving France during The Great Famine.

FunFacts

Favourite school subject:	Civics
Hobby:	Horse riding
If you were an animal what animal would you be and why?	A wolf, caring, loyal and disciplined. An expert in subtle ways of communication.
Is most likely to say:	And how does that make you feel?
Is least likely to say:	We should put a man in charge!
Outlook on life:	The dots will join up. We don’t know how or when but it will all fall into place.

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