The Midnight Moropus

By Joan Aiken and Gavin Rowe

Can Jon find a ghostly horse that’s been extinct for centuries?

Jon is a lonely orphan who lives on a farm with his adopted parents. When they ask what he’d like for his birthday, Jon knows immediately: to see the Moropus, a prehistoric horse that’s big and furry, with claws on its feet instead of hooves. According to legend, it haunts the lonely moors at a waterfall that is known as Horse Force because its gushing cascade sound just like a mare’s whinny.
 
But there’s 1 problem: If Jon wants to see the ghost of the legendary creature, he has to visit Horse Force at the stroke of midnight—alone. Can he get up the courage to go there all by himself in the dead of night? Luckily there is 1 friend who can help Jon—his faithful pony Whiskers!
 
This ebook features illustrations by Gavin Rowe and a personal history of Joan Aiken including rare images from the author’s estate.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Media
• Release date: Dec 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504020961

Joan Aiken

Joan Aiken, daughter of the American writer Conrad Aiken, was born in Rye, Sussex, England, and has written more than sixty books for children, including The Wolves of Willoughby Chase.

Book preview

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

A Biography of Joan Aiken

Chapter One

WHAT DOES ‘EXTINCT’ MEAN? ASKED Mr. Watkins.

Something that isn’t there any more, said Polly Turf.

Like what? Give an example. You, Fred.

A puffin, said Fred, after thought, chewing his ballpoint.

Dope! cried Polly. There’s lots of puffins.

A dodo?

Good, Annie! Stewart, can you name something else that’s extinct?

A whale?

"Not yet, we hope. Amanda?"

A bear?

Not quite. Try again.

A dinosaur.

Good. You—Jon Witnes—bring your mind back from outside the window, if you please, and tell us something that’s extinct.

A buzz of laughter ran round the classroom. Jon Witnes had his chin propped on his fist, and his gaze lay far away, through the open window, on the slope of moorland and the crags at the head of the valley.