Dragon in Exclusion

About this book

Sybil Robinson and her cousin John Lewis are living in England in 1948, but their lives are far from ordinary. Both possess magical bloodlines, and John is a descendant of Arthur Pendragon and Merlin. Sybil is also connected to the Shipton coven and works with the code breakers at Bletchley Park. When Sybil suggests another journey through the magical standing stones, the cousins travel from Thornton into the year 2948. Beelzebub, Dragon Master, is excluded.The future Model Village of Thornton looks almost perfect, but something is wrong. It is silent, has no birds or animals, and even the ancient buildings look brand new. There, they meet their future cousin Serena Shipton, who explains that she created the village using nanobots. Serena is fascinated by the visitors from 1948 and takes them to her futuristic home, a replica of Baddesley Clinton.As John and Sybil learn about the future, they discover computers, nanobots, avatars and a vast Computer Centre controlling much of the surviving world. They also discover that a dangerous enemy, Moriarty, has taken control of the computer network. His actions have paralysed people throughout the world. John and Sybil become involved in the struggle to defeat him, using their magic alongside Serena and the technology of 2948.After Moriarty is defeated, the children learn the terrible history behind the future world. The Robot Wars destroyed almost all humans, animals and plants. Survivors had hidden in Underwater City settlements, some beneath Arctic ice. Eventually, the atmosphere was restored enough for humans to return to the surface, but the world still lacks fertile soil, natural plants and food.The children realise that their knowledge of the past may help rebuild the future. During their adventures, they visit and discuss many historical places and events. A model of King's Hall from Cambridge is even planned as part of a ceremony designed to influence the world's leaders.John eventually proposes a way to preserve seeds for thousands of years. Looking at maps, he chooses Spitzenberg, an Arctic island with glaciers. He leaves a message in a bottle giving coordinates and instructing Serena to "dig here." After John and Sybil return to their own time, Serena, the Minister and the Twins follow the clue. Beneath a glacier, they discover a hidden underground vault containing millions of preserved seeds.John's simple idea could provide the future with the seeds and soil resources needed to restore agriculture and rebuild the natural world. The adventure ends with the realisation that actions taken by John and Sybil in the past may already have shaped the future they have just visited.