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Praise for the Morganville Vampires series
‘A first-class storyteller’
Charlaine Harris, author of the True Blood series
‘Thrilling, sexy, and fu
One of my very favourite vampire series’ Richelle Mead, author of the Vampire Academy series
‘We’d suggest dumping Stephenie Meyer’s vapid Twilight books and replacing them with these’
SFX Magazine
‘Ms Caine uses her dazzling storytelling skills to share the darkest chapter yet … An engrossing read that once begun is impossible to set down’
Darque Reviews
‘A fast-paced, page-turning read packed with wonderful characters and surprising plot twists. Rachel Caine is an engaging writer; readers will be completely absorbed in this chilling story, unable to put it down until the last page’
Flamingnet
‘If you love to read about characters with whom you can get deeply involved, Rachel Caine is so far a one hundred per cent sure bet to satisfy that need’
The Eternal Night
‘A rousing horror thriller that adds a new dimension to the vampire mythos … An electrifying, enthralling coming-of-age supernatural tale’
Midwest Book Review
‘A solid paranormal mystery and action plot line that will entertain adults as well as teenagers. The story line has several twists and turns that will keep readers of any age turning the pages’
LoveVampires
Praise for Rachel Caine’s Weather Warden series
‘Murder, mayhem, magic, meteorology – and a fun read. You’ll never watch the Weather Cha
Jim Butcher
‘The Weather Warden series is fun reading … more engaging than most TV’
Booklist
‘A fast-paced thrill ride [that] brings new meaning to stormy weather’
Locus
‘An appealing heroine, with a wry sense of humour that enlivens even the darkest encounters’
SF Site
‘Fans of fun, fast-paced urban fantasy will enjoy the ride’
SFRevu
‘Caine has cleverly combined the wisecracks, sexiness, and fashion savvy of chick lit with gritty action-movie violence and the cutting-edge magic of urban fantasy’
Romantic Times
‘A neat, stylish, and very witty addition to the genre, all wrapped up in a narrative voice to die for. Hugely entertaining’
SFcrowsnest
‘Caine’s prose crackles with energy, as does her fierce and loveable heroine’
Publishers Weekly
‘As swift, sassy and sexy as Laurell K. Hamilton! … With chick lit dialogue and rocket-propelled pacing, Rachel Caine takes the Weather Wardens to places the Weather Cha
Mary Jo Putney
INK AND BONE
VOLUME ONE OF THE GREAT LIBRARY
RACHEL CAINE
To Carrie Ryan and Kami Garcia.
This one’s for you, my friends.
Contents
Title Page
Dedication
EPHEMERA
PROLOGUE
EPHEMERA
CHAPTER ONE
EPHEMERA
CHAPTER TWO
EPHEMERA
CHAPTER THREE
EPHEMERA
CHAPTER FOUR
EPHEMERA
CHAPTER FIVE
EPHEMERA
CHAPTER SIX
EPHEMERA
CHAPTER SEVEN
EPHEMERA
CHAPTER EIGHT
EPHEMERA
CHAPTER NINE
EPHEMERA
CHAPTER TEN
EPHEMERA
CHAPTER ELEVEN
EPHEMERA
CHAPTER TWELVE
EPHEMERA
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
EPHEMERA
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
EPHEMERA
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
EPHEMERA
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
SOUNDTRACK
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
About the Author
Available from ALLISON & BUSBY
Copyright
EPHEMERA
Text of a historical letter, the original of which is kept under glass in the Great Library of Alexandria, and Codexed under the Core Collection.
From the scribe of Pharaoh Ptolemy II, to his most excellent servant Callimachus, Archivist of the Great Library, in the third year of his glorious reign:
Great King Ptolemy, Light of Egypt, has considered your counsel to make copies of the most important works of the Library to be housed in daughter libraries, hereinafter to be called Serapeum, for the access and enrichment of all men. Pharaoh, who is as wide as the Nile in his divine wisdom, agrees to this proposal.
You shall therefore survey the contents of the Great Library and create for him a listing of all works housed therein, which shall serve ever after as the accounting of this great storehouse of the knowledge of the world.
You shall then consult with the Library’s Editor to make exact copies of items suitable for the use of the Serapeum, being mindful of the need to provide works that elevate and educate.
By these means shall we further preserve the knowledge we have gathered and hold in trust from ancient times, to be preserved for the future of all who come after.
Pharaoh has also heard your words regarding the unaccompanied admission of females to this sacred space of the Serapeum, and in his divine wisdom refuses this argument, for women must be instructed by the more developed minds of men to ensure they do not wrongly interpret the riches that the Library offers. For a perversion of knowledge is surely worse than a lack of it.
Pharaoh and the gods will grant eternal favour and protection to this great work.
A handwritten a
His divine wisdom can kiss my common arse. We blind and hobble half of the world through such ignorance, and I will not have it. Women shall study at the Serapeum as they might be inclined. Let him execute me if he wishes, but I have seen enough of minds wasted in this world. I have a daughter.
My daughter will learn.
PROLOGUE
Six years ago
‘Hold still and stop fighting me,’ his father said, and slapped him hard enough to leave a mark. Jess went quiet. He hadn’t meant to fidget, but the pouch strapped to his bare chest felt hot and dangerous, like some animal that might turn on him and bite.
He looked up at his father as the man snugged the harness bindings closer. When it was suffocatingly tight, he tossed Jess a filthy old shirt.
He’d done this often enough that while it was still frightening, it was no longer strange … but there was a sense that this time the run was different. Why, Jess didn’t know, except that his father seemed more tense than usual.
So he asked, hesitantly, ‘Da … anything I should know?’
‘Doesn’t matter a damn what you know. Lose that book to the Garda and you’ll hang, if you’re lucky. If I don’t get you first. You know the route. Run it flat and fair, and you’d best damn well die before you give it to any but the one that’s paid for it.’