A BURIED LEGEND. A CURE FOR THE AGES. THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.
1980 Petra: A dangerous man steals a pair of precious relics. Determined to exploit their legendary power, his theft sets in motion devastating events.
2015 London: Professor Daniel Fairlight is fighting for his life. Now he must confront his own demons before he can defeat his deadliest adversary yet.
1630 Alexandria: Emir still bears the burden and blessing of his ring, one that he knows his enemies still hunt him for. His final battle may come at a price he cannot bear to pay.
Both Daniel and Emir face impossible sacrifices. Will they prove themselves worthy of the legend’s legacy, or will they die defending the rings and their secrets . . .?
Join Daniel and Emir on their final journey in the thrilling conclusion to the Red Scarf Trilogy.
Extract from The Ancient Secret by Simon Wright
May 25, 1980
Petra, Jordan
Life was precious to the man—precious enough to kill for. And he had. Many times. This would just be one more. Make that, two, to be precise.
Wellness had always been important to him, central to his life in many ways, but it wasn’t until his fortieth year, as a landmark birthday loomed, that it became a defining pursuit. A fervent interest in all things health and fitness had evolved into something altogether more obsessive. With a startling clarity that he would subsequently refer to as an epiphany, the Turk recognised that, in the end, only one commodity counted. Time.
Once, three score years and ten had been an aspiration. Then it had become an expectation. Now, seventy was considered a young death. For this man, that wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough.
He had spent the first half of his life accumulating everything: wealth, power, possessions, and experiences. But now those things had lost their lustre. What use were they if he was going to depart so soon? He wanted more years. And not decrepit years, but full, purposeful, rewarding years. This craving had become a lifetime’s preoccupation. It haunted him, plagued him.There must be a way to buy more time. And not just a handful of frail twilight years, but decades in the
sun. Maybe not cheat death but certainly stay the execution.
His work in medicine became more focused, and more urgent. His company had given him wealth that only a stratospheric few could dream of, and now he ploughed millions of dollars into research and development in the field of anti-aging treatments and medicines. And yes, he had seen some breakthroughs. Advances that many would have characterised as miraculous. But as the sand continued to pour through his hourglass, so did his patience also diminish. Marginal gains
were of no use to him. Where was the game-changer?
As he methodically ran the blade of his ballistic knife across the sharpening block, he reflected on the circumstances that had delivered that game-changer and brought him to this ancient city. To Jordan, and to the catacombs of Petra.
Of course he had heard the rumours like everyone else, and dismissed them as fanciful conjecture, like everyone else. The legend of the Twin Rings would surface from time to time, prompted by a spurious sighting of the fabled bands, or an overzealous report of an abnormally aged resident in some lost corner of the world. A few years earlier, the fiftieth anniversary of Tutankhamun’s tomb being unearthed had reignited interest in some of the more salacious aspects of that discovery. The chambers of gold, the infant sarcophagi, the ensuing curse, and yes, the
rumoured provenance of the mythical Twin Rings.
The legend, preposterous as it was, had always held some intrigue for the Turk. Two rings, supposedly commissioned by King Tutankhamun to celebrate the much-anticipated arrival of his twin daughters but cursed when his babies were stillborn. The Vizier Penthu was blamed and outcast, but not before he hid the charmed amulets in Tut’s tomb. Reputed to bestow bearers with myriad powers, and carry the secret to a great treasure, the rings were sought across the centuries
… and the legend began.
London, England.
He has forged a career as a leadership and brand consultant, advising and coaching business leaders internationally.
When challenged on his credentials as a writer he cites a school commendation for creative writing and winning the Jane Austen Award for Achievements in English at his sixth form college.
He acknowledges that other writers have more prestigious credentials.
Simon’s first book, The Colossus, garnered some surprisingly favourable reviews, which encouraged Simon to continue pursuing his dream with the sequel, The Twin Rings, and now The Ancient Secret, completing the trilogy.
Simon admits that response to the Red Scarf series has led to some alarming delusions of literary grandeur, although the Oxford comma and the dangling modifier continue to keep him awake at night.
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment