Operation Three Wise Men E-Book

Stefan Mohamed

• Herausgeber: Salt
• Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

In this one-off short story set in the Bitter Sixteen universe, everyone's favourite wise-cracking beagle Daryl gets a slightly more violent Christmas than he bargained for…

Leseprobe

OPERATION THREE WISE MEN

In this one-off short story set in the Bitter Sixteen universe, everyone’s favourite wise-cracking beagle Daryl gets a slightly more violent Christmas than he bargained for...

Praise for Stefan Mohamed

‘I raced through it like I was reading a comic book.’ —CERYS MATTHEWS

‘Stefan Mohamed really stands out from the crowd – a delightfully funny, surreal and original new voice with a great storytelling gift.’

ANDREW DAVIES, Multi-BAFTA and Emmy award-winning screenwriter

‘Thoroughly enjoyable, very funny and touching, with a really great central character in Stanly.’

JUSTIN KERRIGAN, Director of Human Traffic

‘Into what seems to be a very real and familiar world, Stefan Mohamed introduces a 16-year-old superhero and his even more remarkable dog. All kinds of crazy, amorous and criminal adventures ensue, but our author’s vivid imagination, story-telling power, humour and mastery of punchy dialogue ensure that we eagerly hang on throughout this refreshingly original novel.’

—PROFESSOR PETER STEAD

Operation Three Wise Men

Stefan Mohamed is an author, poet and sometime journalist. He graduated from Kingston University in 2010 with a first class degree in creative writing and film studies, and later that year won the inaugural Sony Reader Award, a category of the Dylan Thomas Prize, for his novel Bitter Sixteen. He lives in Bristol, where he works as an editorial assistant, writing stories and performing poetry in his spare time.

Published by Salt Publishing Ltd

12 Norwich Road, Cromer, Norfolk NR27 0AX

All rights reserved

Copyright © Stefan Mohamed,2015

The right ofStefan Mohamedto be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

This book is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Salt Publishing.

Salt Publishing 2015

Created by Salt Publishing Ltd

This book is sold subject to the conditions that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out,or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

ISBN 978-1-78463-080-5 electronic

Inhalt

OPERATION THREE WISE MEN

The Bitter Sixteen Trilogy

OPERATION THREE WISE MEN

‘WELL,’ SAID THE beagle. ‘This is one hell of a way to spend Christmas.’

The man in the grey suit lowered his newspaper a fraction and fixed the dog with an opaque stare. ‘Am I to glean from that remark that you’re not enjoying yourself?’

‘I can think of at least one thing I’d rather be doing.’ The beagle shifted uncomfortably on the metal airport bench and twitched his tail. The man in the grey suit smiled indulgently, folded his newspaper and placed it on the bench beside him.

‘Do share,’ he said.

‘Well,’ said the beagle. ‘How about… um… let’s see… literally anything?’

‘I don’t know if that necessarily counts as one thing.’

‘Christ on a bike,’ said the beagle, with a shake of his head. ‘If you’re really that desperate for me to sponsor you for Pedantics Anonymous, you just have to ask. I know it’s embarrassing to admit you have a problem, but without self-acceptance you might as well be setting out on the road to recovery with four flat tyres.’

‘It’s in my job description to be scrupulously accurate at all times.’

‘Job description, my furry festive arse. Apart from the fact that neither of us has a job description, I’m pretty sure you proof read for fun.’

‘You have uncovered my deepest, darkest secret,’ said the man, with acid in his tone. ‘I’m afraid I’ll have to kill you now.’

‘Be my guest,’ said the beagle. He stared out of the window at the snowy airfield for a moment before speaking again. ‘What would you be doing? If we hadn’t flown out here?’

‘How would I be spending Christmas, you mean?’ The man looked surprised, which wasn’t an expression that sat comfortably on his face. ‘Why, Daryl. I thought that you liked to avoid personal enquiries at all costs.’

‘Most of the time, yeah,’ said Daryl. ‘I figure it’s not really fair to ask a question I wouldn’t answer myself. But sometimes, on special occasions, I make exceptions. And being so bored that I’m tempted to start reading that abandoned Icelandic financial paper over there counts as an exceptional occasion.’

‘I usually spend Christmas alone,’ said the man. ‘Although last year I decided that a bit of a change was in order, and took lunch with a few friends.’

‘Friends? You have friends?’