The Emperor's Necklace

By Becky Allred

It is the year 1925 and an important artifact belonging to the emperor of Japan has gone missing. Our hero, Jack Bell, is reluctantly recruited to hunt out the missing object. Along the way, he makes new enemies and new friends. Finding the relic is only a fraction of the story as Jack Bell struggles to ensure its safe return. The story is inspired by real history and has several impacting moments intertwined with the plot. It features real people who were alive in 1925 along with real events which occurred in that year. The references are melted subtly into the book, and the reader is never bombarded with dry facts. The historical elements are also so numerous that it's best to use them as a point of reference for your own personal research as the history utilized in the story moves quickly. While history is a big component, it doesn't overwhelm the reader. Anyone can read this book without any prior knowledge and without any attention span for facts. A fresh bit of action and a touch of imagination keeps things engaging and lively. Several action scenes will keep readers on their toes as the characters fight, run, throw, and ride. Even more captivating is the reserved but clearly displayed fantasy elements. Have you ever heard of the Vucari? You will now!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 24, 2017
• ISBN: 9781635256673

Book preview

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Jack Bell

and the Emperor’s Necklace

Becky Allred

ISBN 978-1-63525-666-6 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63525-667-3 (digital)

Copyright © 2017 by Becky Allred

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Chapter 1

At the College

A tall thin man stands at the front of the room. His suit is brown, his shoes are brown, and his hair is brown. On his face is an expression that seems motionless and dull. Before him, a flock of college-aged students fidget in their seats, twirl their hair strands, blow bubblegum bubbles, and above all do anything other than be good, respectable students. Not that the tall man at the front of the room ever was.

Up on the chalkboard the tall man swivels a stick of crusty chalk on the smooth green board. Professor Bell, he writes then under it, Modern History.

He turns his back to the board to stare at the class. Not a completely unruly bunch. No one’s stolen his chalk or placed tacks on his seat, not yet anyway.

Today’s lesson, Professor Bell begins, is about history.

A snicker rises up from the class. Well, what should they expect in a history class? However, that moment at least shows Professor Bell they are paying attention. For a first lesson, things are going as well as could be expected…save for Professor Bell’s nerves.

Settle down, everyone. Bell tries to sound serious, his first ever serious role. The pressure forces little beads of stress-induced sweat to form delicate moist bubbles across his forehead and neck area. Feeling the several eyes in the room peeling him apart, he can no longer handle the strain and before his knees buckle, he swiftly swirls on his heels and turns his back on his room full of students. His back to the class, the cool malevolent chalkboard stands sturdily in place, bracing Professor Bell’s ego.

April 1918 War, he scrawls out, painfully aware of how illegible his handwriting can be. In 1920, Allied Evacuation, he begins a bullet list. He exhales and turns to face the class once again, leaving opportunity for more rest via the chalkboard as he goes along.

During the war, he begins, absently dabbing a sweat bead on his left temple, Allied Forces held positions in various strategic locations. In 1920, when the Allied Forces started their evacuations, the process was slow as each of those locations became gradually returned to a normal condition. Bell takes a breath and dares to look around. His palms are sweaty, and the faces of the students are bored.

Bell is built for a world of more excitement, a world far different than ones of suits and lectures. He is a man of action, and simply standing in front of a crowd gives him more apprehension than anything he’s ever known.

Can anyone tell me, Bell’s voice cracks, but he corrects himself, clumsily if so. C…c…c…can any…anyone t…t…tell me … Bell pauses to wipe the sweat out of his eyes, about Russia’s relationship with Japan?

A man he doesn’t see enter the room when the sweat enters his eyes answers, They share a relatively close space for one. Bell spins about with a jump to face the new intruder leaning in the archway of the door. Bit jumpy, aren’t you?

Principal Cove! Bell nearly jumps out of his skin. Here he is, a fish out of water, a bird out of its element, already a sack of potatoes from nerves, and then the principal comes to spy on him!

Right well, that is my name! Principal Cove chuckles. It’s almost as though he enjoys watching Bell cower in front of a handful of uninterested students. Worse, he’s cowering before his boss too!

When did you get here? Bell quivers.

Well—Principal Cove chuckles—I’ve been a professor here for about twelve years or so now. Bell swallows dryly and nods his head.

Try to calm down a little. Cove pats Bell’s shoulder for moral support. You’ll get used to teaching here in no time flat. Bell swallows dryly and nods his head again. It’s not quite like gallivanting around the slopes of Northern France, or prancing around the great pyramids of Egypt. But with all your experience a gig like this should be a piece of cake for an old wanderer like yourself! Cove chuckles and shakes his head. I’ve had an idea of what you’ve been up to with your father for all these years.

Well, he always thought the best studying I could do was of the world, through the world itself.

Self-made man, eh, Bell? That about sums it up. Principal Cove chuckles as he slowly backs out of the room. Well, I don’t want to keep you from your class too long. I just want you to stop by my office before you leave the campus today.

Yes, I will. Bell shakes Principal Cove’s hand exuberantly. And thank you for the job.

Yes, you’re quite welcome. Principal Cove slips out of vision. Once again Bell is struck stupid by the dull-eyed stares of his pupils.

Where was I? Bell mutters under his breath. Russia and Japan share a relatively close space. His brain sluggishly begins to gear up. All right, students—he breaths aloud—the relationship between Russia and Japan. In 1855 Russia signed the treaty of Shimoda. This treaty— Bell stops short once he sees a thin boy in the back raising his hand.

Well! Bell announces excitedly. The first question of the day, and it’s not even ten o’clock! The students continue their dull exercises such as hair twirling and seat fidgeting and never acknowledge the excitement. Well, go on then, what’s your question?

Excuse me, sir, The student has a terribly nasally voice. But I believe 1855 is not modern history, as this class is supposed to be about.

Yes, I’m aware the year is nineteen hundred and twenty-five, my young fellow, Professor Bell corrects him, But this tidbit of knowledge pertains to our most recent endeavors in history, I assure you. During the war, Russia had territories and cities that were occupied. Some of them by none other than Japan, which takes us back to when Russia signed the Treaty of Shimoda with Japan.

Slowly, as the day progresses, Professor Bell begins to become more acquainted with his position. However, you can’t steam a kettle in the blink