William and the Pirates of Fruxiclay

By Nina Pearce

William had only done a tiny bit of magic. Nothing to write home about. The ball was going into his unmarked goal, in a local football match and he had just made the ball swerve away, into the waiting spectators. Of course, Esmeralda had seen what had happened and to say she was annoyed was an understatement. He didn’t dare try to use any more magic during that game and in spite of his heroic efforts he was unable to stop the opponents scoring two more goals, making the score 4-3 to the opposition. Ah well, it could have been worse, at least his team had scored and from what he could see from his end of the pitch, they were very good goals.

William soon finds himself heading back to Clyeophos, where he would be learning how to use his magic properly. The spaceship Superiority is attacked by some pirates from Fruxiclay, who take the crew hostage. How will they escape and continue their journey?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Jun 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9781398444836

Nina Pearce

Nina Pearce was a teacher for about 34 years, mainly in primary schools, which she enjoyed a great deal. She now has secondary progressive MS, which has affected her balance, so she can no longer cycle, but an adult tricycle has been her lifeline as, with the help of her husband Jonathan, she aims to do 100 miles each month. She has always enjoyed science fiction as she finds it hard to believe that we are the only inhabited planet. She has had five children. Though sadly, two died shortly after birth due to a genetic condition that at the time made their survival impossible. She has four grandchildren with another expected in June. They are all a delight.

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About the Author

Nina Pearce was a teacher for about 34 years, mainly in primary schools, which she enjoyed a great deal. She now has secondary progressive MS, which has affected her balance, so she can no longer cycle, but an adult tricycle has been her lifeline as, with the help of her husband Jonathan, she aims to do 100 miles each month.

She has always enjoyed science fiction as she finds it hard to believe that we are the only inhabited planet.

She has had five children. Though sadly, two died shortly after birth due to a genetic condition that at the time made their survival impossible.

She has four grandchildren with another expected in June. They are all a delight.

Dedication

To my wonderful husband Jonathan, my children Matthew, Naomi and Bekki. Also their spouses, Elzbieta, Christian and Nick and my grandchildren Zack, Amelia, Sebastian and Tamsin, not forgetting Katie and Luke, who are forever in my heart.

Copyright Information ©

Nina Pearce 2023

The right of Nina Pearce to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398444829 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398444836 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2023

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

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Chapter 1

As Silent as the Grave

William glared round at the unfamiliar surroundings. Where was he? The last thing he remembered was falling asleep on his bed, with the sound of his grandpa’s angry shouts booming upstairs after him. He didn’t even know where he was now, or even how he had come to be there. He was lying on the floor of an unfamiliar room. It was quite dusty and he sneezed loudly. It was very dark, so William thought it was either late evening or early morning. How had he come here? He missed his unique bed at home, and his space raiders’ duvet cover.

A noise at the door startled him so he looked around to where it had come from. William tried not to move and waited for it to happen again. This time he heard a sinister rumble, like a large animal growling and pawing at the ground outside, or was it much nearer than that?

William gave himself a little shake. Was he dreaming? If so, it was a nightmare. He thought back to what he last remembered. That awful row he had had with his grandparents. He said, or rather shouted some very unpleasant things at them. He couldn’t even remember what this particular row was about, except it got heated very quickly.

He remembered that he had been playing in a football match again. He had only done a tiny bit of magic. Nothing to write home about. The ball was going into his unmarked goal, and he had just made the ball swerve away and into the waiting spectators. Of course Esmeralda had seen what had happened, and to say she was annoyed was an understatement. William didn’t dare try to use any more magic in that game, and in spite of his heroic efforts he was unable to stop the opponents scoring 2 more goals, making the score 4-3 to the opposition.

Ah well, it could have been worse, at least his team had scored. From what he could see from his end of the pitch, they were very impressive goals.

After the match, Esmeralda had taken him to task about using magic in that selfish way. Of course, William had become very defensive and tried to justify what he had done, but it was no good. Esmeralda had seen right through him. She muttered dark things after him as he stropped off back home, only to be greeted by his worried grandparents, who didn’t know where he had been.

He grabbed a jacket and stormed off into the dark. He hated the dark, and being on his own, so why was he now wandering around aimlessly in the gloom? There were scary shapes about, which seemed to be coming towards him. William decided he had better go back home, only to be greeted at the front door by his angry grandparents.

Esmeralda has just been on the phone, she is extremely cross with you. What did you say to her?

Nothing, muttered William, and it’s none of your business anyway.

I think it is definitely our business young man, especially whilst you’re living with us – and we’re your family, snarled his grandpa.

William stormed up to his bedroom and sank onto his bed. He could still hear his grandfather shouting at him, but he was able to zone it out. So he didn’t take in what was being yelled at him, other than the dire punishments which were being promised, should he ever speak to them like that again.

In spite of himself, William fell asleep quickly and when he awoke sometime later, he wasn’t in his bed, or even in his own home. The growling noise, and the scratching was louder now. William tried to conjure some light. Nothing happened. William tried again, zilch. No matter what he tried, he couldn’t do any magic. He tried talking to the capsule, he could still feel it in his chest, but the capsule remained: ‘As silent as the grave.’ That Christmas Carol quote seemed quite apt, but still, nothing happened. William would even have given anything for the capsule to give him some pain, but nothing.

Oh— pooh! He shouted.

Well, he wanted to shout something much coarser, but surprisingly ‘pooh!’ was the worst thing he could think of at the time.

Whatever was growling and scraping at the door, didn’t appear to be giving up and wasn’t put off by William’s shout.

Oh well, he thought, I’m about to be ripped to pieces by whatever is on the other side of this door. Goodbye cruel world. It