The Raven's Trophy

By Nicholas Sheffield

Rhys is very familiar with the capabilities of synthetic eyes. When he sees a distressed aircraft heading for disaster he has a golden opportunity to make use of them.

It's a chance in a million. But is it a helpful use of technology or just a case of wanton opportunism?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nicholas Sheffield
• Release date: Jun 10, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458192547

Nicholas Sheffield

Nicholas Sheffield grew up in Hamilton, New Zealand. He obtained a Bachelor of Management Studies from the University of Waikato, and has a long history of work in the Information Systems sector. He and his wife Simone have six children. Double Dragon published his first work, Overlanders, in 2004. The novel revolves around a group of friends whose utopian existence is put at risk when they’re thrust into the archaic and dangerous cities of the overlands. Sheffield’s writings are generally set in, or around, the Earth, and employ a plausible use of technology. Therefore many of the popular science fiction themes, such as time travel and alternative dimensions, never appear in his works. The concepts that form the spine of each story are often as important as the main narrative. They’re not always held up to the spotlight, but tend to be woven quietly into the background.

Book preview

The Raven’s Trophy

Published by Nicholas Sheffield at Smashwords

Copyright 2011 Nicholas Sheffield

Cover photo public domain

Rhys Bernhardt looked out across the valley. From his vantage point on the upper slopes of a rocky hillside he had a superb view of the state forest. It stretched out in all directions for as far as the eye could see - an endless rolling mantle of tall straight trunks and lush evergreen tops.

His focus quickly dropped to the stony-bottom river that rolled around at the base of the hill range, its banks twisting sharply around the craggy terrain. There, near the shore, was a simple campsite. It was perched very close to the bank. There was a two-person tent, a chillybin, a camp chair, and also a well-settled campfire from which a faint tendril of smoke was rising.

At more than a kilometre away the human eye couldn’t be expected to make out the figure that was crouching next to the chillybin, warming his hands on the fire. But Rhys’ eyes could. He didn’t have human eyes. He had synthetic reproductions.

Both of his eyes had been replaced many years ago. Now whenever he observed the world he did so through artificial lenses. The images were captured on