Ragnarok Beckons

Richard Rook

Description

Alex Simpson was an ordinary boy following a simple path in life, but have the yarns of fate spun a different path which will soon be unfolded before him?This story is a must-read for anyone who enjoys Viking sagas or someone looking for a constantly twisting story packed with action and adventure. It throws a new twist on Norse Mythology with easily recognisable characters such as Thor and Loki and an introduction to some lesser-known figures.The tale follows the battle for supremacy between frost giants (depicted as police officers) and Norse gods (depicted as members of a cult-derived compound) in this modern-day telling.Who will triumph when the final battle unfolds and Ragnarök descends?

Sujets

• Thriller

Informations

• Publié par: Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd
• Date de parution: 30 octobre 2019
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781528964784
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

Ragnarok Beckons
Richard Rook
Austin Macauley Publishers
2019-10-30
Ragnarok Beckons About the Author About the Book Copyright © Richard Rook (2019) Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24
About the Author
Richard Rook was born and lives in the West Midlands and loves to write about his passions, highlighted in his first publication, Ragnarok Beckons , which demonstrates his love of mythology and Norse culture.
He has always daydreamed and writes in a hope that he will entertain and delight others with his imagination and ability to blend realistic characters with constantly developing storylines.
About the Book
Alex Simpson was an ordinary boy following a simple path in life, but have the yarns of fate spun a different path which will soon be unfolded before him?
This story is a must-read for anyone who enjoys Viking sagas or someone looking for a constantly twisting story packed with action and adventure. It throws a new twist on Norse Mythology with easily recognisable characters such as Thor and Loki and an introduction to some lesser-known figures.
The tale follows the battle for supremacy between frost giants (depicted as police officers) and Norse gods (depicted as members of a cult-derived compound) in this modern-day telling.
Who will triumph when the final battle unfolds and Ragnarök descends?
Copyright Information ©
Richard Rook (2019)
The right of Richard Rook to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with section 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.
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781528964784 (ePub e-book)
www.austinmacauley.com
First Published (2019)
Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd
25 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5LQ
Chapter 1
On the morning of the 11 th , Alex Simpson made his way towards the mail which had been left for him on the antique, carved fireplace. He was not usually so excited about the letters, which awaited him in their paper housings, but this day he knew that one of them was full of promise. It had been three months since he had applied for a position at the finest of all establishments, and now he awaited conformation of his placement. All of his life, he had been diminished by his lack of wealth and this pressure was upon him yet again, as Midgard University exhorted the highest entrance fees of all of the institutions which would give him the start in life that he so desperately desired. The study of law is a highly saturated profession and in order to excel one must have attended a high level of institution, to provide contacts and a position above all those who would stand in his way. People had forever told him to set his standards lower than that of a judge or barrister and enter a profession more fitting to somebody of his level in life. Alex’s grades had not been the problem as he was the highest performing participant in all classes he attended, and even read up on court cases which interested him in his spare time. This often cast him out from the other members of his school groups, and also the social class of which he was thrust into through the simple misfortune to who and where he was born. This forced grouping was not suited to him as he did not spend his life in parks or street corners, trying to get served in shops or attending house parties; he only read about them. Whilst others were participating in these diversions, he found himself instead sitting in his room and reading about how these actions were portrayed through media representations.
This day, however, he rushed down the stairs and jumped the bottom few steps, slipping slightly on the white fluffy rug placed upon the polished hardwood floor. Managing to support himself on the wall, stopping himself from sliding all the way to the front door, he turned on the rug, and using the wall to propel himself forward, raced into the living room. Racing to the fireplace, he paused for a moment and raised himself onto his toes in order to peer over the bulldog statue behind which the mail was placed. Snatching up the mail, he fell back onto the leather armchair, positioned next to the fireplace, and started to tear open the first of the three envelopes that he found addressed to him. The other mail was already opened and lying at the bottom of the fireplace, where his father had read through it and placed it whilst sipping his morning coffee before rushing off to work. After tearing the top off the first envelope with his thumb, he also cast it onto the floor seeing that it was simply a statement from his bank, his low balance for once not diminishing his mood. He did not need to know how little money he had in the bank and turned the second envelope around to start to tear it open. Pulling out its white insides he also cast it to the floor, seeing that the return address was to a car insurance company which would hold his interest less than his bank statement. The third envelope held promise however, as it had the stamp mark of Midgard which slowed his haste as dread started to cloud his mind. What if he didn’t get in? What if he was not given the place, after all of those people he saw at the application open day, how could they have chosen him. Even at the interview, the people sitting in the waiting room looked much more like the type of person that would fit in at such an institution. Could he ever be taken as a serious candidate? He slid out the carefully folded sheet of paper and opening it out he began to read, his lips creating the words as he read.
Mr Alex Simpson,
I write to you in response to your application for the financed placement within the institution of Midgard University through the “places for exceptional student’s scheme”.
I am happy to confirm your success with this position and would like to congratulate you on your successful application and placement.
You will receive additional information containing course details and dates shortly along with further details and stipulations of the scheme.
‘YES!’ he shouted, jumping up from the leather armchair, not bothering to read the rest of the letter and throwing his arms into the air in celebration. Only having a loose hold on the piece of paper it fell from his hand and floated to the floor, joining the pile of disregarded mail which lay at the base of the fireplace. But then another thought started to cloud his mind. Gone now was the problem arising from the actual procedure of attending the University. The main problem now would be breaking the news to his family and doing so to his father would be, above all, the hardest challenge. It was him that Alex had the most conflict about attending a university at all, especially one with such a pretentiously held reputation. The main tension was that his father wanted to employ him in the family business and being placed under ever growing pressure forced all of the lower duties onto his unwilling son. This problem could wait for now as his father was at work and wouldn’t be home for hours, so Alex at least had time in which to plan how to deal with this argument. His father always saw that university was a waste of money and that as he himself had never gone to such an institution, no one from his family would waste their time going either.
It turned out it wasn’t until 7 pm before his father returned. During this time his mother had also returned home, but he had not yet broken the news to anyone inside or outside the family. Alex was sitting alone in his room, reading today’s local post, when he heard someone ascending the stairs. One step after another, he heard the banging on each stair getting louder and louder catching his attention as they moved closer to his door. Then there was a vicious knock on his door followed by his father’s voice floating under the doorframe.
‘Alex, are you in there? Can you come out here, please?’ he stated roughly.
Alex shuffled off his bed and walked to his door. Placing his hand on the handle, he turned it and peeled it back to reveal his father standing in the hallway. He was a broad shouldered man with rough but chiselled features, as if a stonemason had not quite finished a statue. In his youth, he had been known as a handsome man but years of hard work and long hours had taken their toll upon him and his lightly shaved chin added further to the grisly look of his face. Alex saw that he was holding a sheet of paper in his hand, which he started to raise as he spoke.
‘Could you explain this?’ he questioned sternly, thrusting the paper into Alex’s hand.
‘What is it dad?’ Alex questioned, as he took the paper off his dad and turned it over. His heart immediately sank when he realised what it was. How had he been this stupid? In his haste to reach his room and avoid having to deal with his parents, he had left the confirmation letter lying on the middle of the living room floor.
‘Well?’ his father said, getting even sterner with his questioning.
‘I was going to tell you father, I just…’ Alex started.
‘You better come down stairs so you can explain this to your mother too,’ his dad said turning around and starting to descend the stairs before Alex even had chance to even utter a single word.
Alex pulled the door closed behind him as he left his room and glumly followed his father’s path along the corridor and dow