Steel City
by Hasko Starrenburg
Copyright ©2004
ISBN: 0-87714-872-4 eBook edition
ISBN: 0-87714-334-X PB edition
All rights reserved by Denlinger's Publishers, including the right to reproduce this electronic book, or portions thereof, in any form, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.
This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
DEDICATION
XXXX
THE AUTHOR
Born during the Second World War, close to Arnhem while the fighting there was in progress, but took no part in it.
After a somewhat shaky time at school, became a marine engineer, sailing on a variety of ships. As such visited many parts of the world and specially the Far East.
Went to live in New Zealand in 1974, returned to study and obtained a degree in Theology.
Presently living in New Plymouth, married with two teenage sons, and working in the local power station.
Writing was always an ambition and a hobby, but never the main ambition. However as other options disappeared, writing came more to the fore, especially as, with the introduction of computers. the problem of dyslexia was largely eliminated.
At present enjoying writing as a hobby, but one day, hopefully, as a vocation.
THE BOOK
The adventures of a smart girl and her dealings with the hard headed men of steel and how to survive in a world without being trampled on.
Sample
Just how much steel men like to imitate humans became clear to Patricia later that same day. The Steelmaster called her into the conference room, and showed her a little, round, sort of an item made of steel (of course).
"Do you know what this is?" He asked Patricia.
"No, I don't, looks a bit like a mouse perhaps."
"It is a mouse human, a steel mouse, only it hasn't got a tail. We're having a spot of bother with the tail, so we'll put it on later."
He handed the steel 'mouse' to Patricia. It felt cold and hard.
"Hi," said the steel mouse in the same metallic voice that all living implements seem to have.
"Hi," answered Patricia, rather unsure what to say.
"You see," the Steelmaster continued, "in the past we always sent living implements to the human world to spy for us. They would always give us technical information. We knew about dogs off course, but now the Steel Talker has been our spy, and he has talked to us about cats and cows, about hamsters and parrots, about rabbits and horses. We have decided that we can have all those too. We'll be making our own, except dogs because they pee against the lamp posts, and lamp posts look much like the legs of steel men. Already we have this steel mouse, and the steel cat to go with it. This afternoon our first steel rabbit will be ready, and your little dog will then have a play mate."
While the Steelmaster was talking, the Steel Asker had come into the room. In his arm he carried something that could perhaps be taken for a cat, made of steel. He was stroking it. Patricia noted that, just like the steel mouse the steel cat had no tail.
"Ah," she said," a steel Manx cat."
"A what?" The Steelmaster asked
"It looks like a Manx cat Sir."
"Oh, of course, a Manx cat, yes yes of course," the Steelmaster agreed, while making a mental note to get the Steel Talker to find out what a Manx cat was.
"Well," he continued, "there you've got it, a steel cat and a steel mouse, the set is complete."
"But Sir," Patricia answered, "we humans don't like to have a cat just for chasing mice. We keep a cat because we like to cuddle it, it should be warm, and furry, and soft."
"Is that so? Well for us steel men nothing feels nicer, and furrier, and softer, than steel. Now put the steel mouse in that hole over there, and we'll have a look and see how it works."
The steel men had drilled a special hole in the side of the room for the mouse to get into, and come out off.
Patricia couldn't help but feel sorry for the steel mouse. The only reason why it existed was for it to be chased by a steel cat.
"Are you all right?" She asked it, as she walked to the hole in the wall.
"I'm fine thank you," the steel mouse answered. "Don't worry about me, that steel cat is not going to destroy me. It is only a game really, a game of cat and mouse you could say."
Patricia nodded, she thought the steel mouse was very clever, considering that, in a way, it was only born yesterday.
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