Johnny Vergette is repairing an old bike in the garage when his mother calls him into the house.
Grist Vergette, his grandfather, passed away a few weeks before, and Johnny’s inheritance has just arrived. It’s a key. The key to Grist’s old garden shed down on the allotments.
Johnny goes outside where he meets Seri, the German neighbour’s daughter, and the two of them set off in the sunshine for the allotments.
They discover the shed is not like other sheds. It’s bigger and better built and immaculately maintained. Inside, they discover a myriad of interesting artefacts dating back to World War II.
Medals, plans, model ships, Morse code equipment, photographs, dusty TOP SECRET plans and files, convoy plotters, old money, vintage engineering magazines, wristwatches, and an old travelling clock that does not work.
Johnny tosses it disdainfully to one side and continues rooting through his newly acquired treasures. Clearly, the main purpose of this shed is not gardening, but what is it?
The alarm on the old clock goes off. Seri jumps. It folds back in on itself and closes with a slick click. It begins to pulse, louder and louder: VUM! VUM! VUM!
Something very strange is happening. The great adventure is about to begin.
David Carter’s “Grist Vergette’s Curious Clock” is out now in paperback and as an Ebook. 175 pages. A compelling read!
Carter, as in all his work, creates solid three-dimensional believable characters and these protagonists are no exception, as with those less attractive characters they meet during their adventure.
One feels an instant empathy with their youthful curiosity yet Carter generates a fear which cleverly puts the reader one step ahead as this story moves from the seemingly benign merging with a gathering plot gaining rapid nail-biting momentum towards the end.
This work has been accurately researched and presents a well documented view of the period giving substance to an unusual, very interesting perspective and makes for an exciting, entertaining tale which nicely rationalises itself back to reality.
David Carter is a gifted writer who can switch genres with ease.
He has the ability to create context, devise sound characters and clever plots which keep the momentum going.
This story reflects all that is excellent about his work and I can highly recommend it.
Margaret Henderson Smith – Author of “Amber” and “The Turn of the Tide”.
