We present an excerpt from Molly Malone & Bram Stoker in the Riddle of the Disappearing Dickens, the new book for young readers by Alan Nolan, with illustrations from Shane Cluskey.
Best friends Molly Malone and Bram Stoker are headed to London to collect his brother Thornley from boarding school. When they arrive, they discover that Charles Dickens has been kidnapped. Our heroes resolve to find the great author.
Dublin and London, 1859 – a tale of two cities
PROLOGUE: AND, FOR AN ENCORE …
The renowned author bowed low, the bobble on his long nightcap sweeping across the polished wooden boards of the stage as he allowed the rapturous applause of the adoring audience to wash over him. The red curtains swished closed, ruffling the soft, greying hair that stood out comically from either side of the cap, and the great man, drained from yet another dramatic reading from his most famous book, slumped into the chair beside his reading-table.
He pulled the blue-and-white striped cap from his head, slung it onto the velvet-topped lectern beside the battered copy of A Christmas Carol that he always brought along but seldom referred to, and sighed a long, tired sigh.
The distinguished author closed his eyes and fondly imaged the rambling route he was about to take through the moonlit London streets to his lodgings in Doughty Street, when he was aroused from his reverie by a less-than-polite A-HEM.
'Mr Dickens?’ asked a gruff voice. The great man looked up, his bushy eyebrows rising and a half-smile playing on his lips.
Standing before him were two tall silhouettes that cast huge, hulking shadows against the back of the closed stage curtain. ‘Mr Charles Dickens?’
The celebrated author nodded and wearily began to rise from his chair. Autograph hunters, he thought, they most likely have a copy of Oliver Twist or The Old Curiosity Shop that they would like me to sign. He sighed once again. Well, no matter; I am always happy to sign the odd book for a loyal admirer of my work.
He was reaching for his quill that lay beside an inkpot on the lectern when, to his astonishment, his wrist has grabbed quite roughly by one of the massive men. ‘You’re coming with us, Dickens,’ said the first man, a snarl in his voice. Charles Dickens’ grey, bushy eyebrows rose and he tried to pull his arm back from the thug’s vice-like grip. ‘Heh heh,’ giggled the second man with a nasal laugh, ‘Old Charlie’s being kitten-and-cat-flapped, Mr Grimble, ain’t he?’
‘Kitten-and-cat-flapped, Mr Bleat?’ said Mr Grimble, with a raised bushy eyebrow. ‘Kidnapped, Mr Grimble,’ replied Mr Bleat.
Molly Malone & Bram Stoker in the Riddle of the Disappearing Dickens is published by The O'Brien Press
