proficient adj. skilled; able; having great facility in doing something
project n. Chapter 1: a task; a plan; a job
v. Chapter 16: to throw one’s voice (or, in Lucy’s case, a thought) so that it can be heard at a distance
prologue n. an introductory section to a story, play, speech, etc.
protrude v. to stick out; to project beyond a surface
pseudo adj. pretended; fake; put on
psittacosaurus n. a small (2-metre) dinosaur with a parrot-like beak. It lived in what is now Asia approximately 100 million years ago
psycho n. (slang) a psychopath – one who commits antisocial and violent acts
pulsate v. to throb; to vibrate; to quiver
punctuate v. to occur or to insert at frequent intervals; to interrupt
punk n. a youth cult of the 1970s, featuring unusual clothes and hairstyles
punster n. one who makes puns – jokes that play on words
pustule n. a small spot containing pus
quandary n. a puzzling situation; a predicament
quarantine n. a period of isolated detention to prevent the spread of disease
quest n. a search; a mission to find something or someone
quicksilver n. an old name for the bright liquid metal mercury, which moves rapidly when touched. In Chapter 3 your mind of quicksilver means that Lucy’s mind can move rapidly from thought to thought
quintessential adj. having the very essence of; possessing the most representative features or elements of something
rabies n. a viral infection of animals and man. Also known as hydrophobia, it can cause affected animals to behave abnormally and unpredictably
radiologist n. a doctor who specializes in images such as X-rays and body scans
random adj. unplanned; haphazard; occurring by chance
ransack v. to plunder and pillage; to take apart
rat (on) v. slang term meaning to betray or reveal secret information
raucous adj. hoarse; loud; harsh
recipe n. the ingredients and directions for making something, usually a meal
recognize v. to know someone or something as being familiar from a previous meeting
reconstructed adj. put back together; rebuilt; restored to a former state
recount v. to tell; to describe; to narrate
refined adj. elegant; polite; not vulgar or coarse
reflect v. to bounce something back (usually light). In Chapter 14 the eyes of the animals were acting like mirrors by reflecting the light of the fire
refracture v. to break again
refuge n. a place of safety; somewhere providing shelter or protection
refurbish v. to restore; to renovate and repair; to redecorate
regurgitate v. to bring food back from the stomach to the mouth
relentless adj. without stopping; sustained; unremitting
relish v. to enjoy; to savour
reminiscent adj. reviving memories of something
remnants n. remaining pieces or parts
remote adj. far away; distant; out-of-the-way
rend v. to tear forcefully; to rip
rent v. the past tense and past participle of the verb ‘to rend.’
replenish v. to put back what has been used up; to replace; to restore to completion
resentful adj. feeling aggrieved or bitter about something; indignant
reservoir n. a store
resound v. to echo; to reverberate; to ring with sound
resourceful adj. capable; ingenious; having the ability to deal with difficult situations
restrain v. to hold back
resume v. to start again
retch v. to heave as if to vomit; to vomit ineffectually
retrieve v. to recover something; to get something back
reunion n. a gathering together again of people after a period of separation
revelation n. something revealed or disclosed, usually in a surprising way
reverie n. a daydream; a state of absent-mindedness
revert v. to go back to a previous state, practice or topic
revulsion n. drawing back in disgust; loathing
rheumatism n. pains in the joints or muscles
rival n. a competitor
role reversal n. the exchange of normal behaviour patterns between individuals. In Chapter 18, Lucy is looking after and instructing her father instead of the other way round
rueful adj. sorrowful; repentant
ruffian n. a rowdy or violent person; a villain
rummage v. to search carelessly or untidily
sabbatical leave n. a special period of leave granted to university staff to do extra research, etc.
sadist n. one who enjoys inflicting physical or mental pain on others
sagacious adj. wise
salvageable adj. saveable; capable of being retrieved
sarcasm n. a contemptuous or mocking remark, often ironically worded; a taunt
saunter v. to stroll at a leisurely pace
saurian n. a lizard-like reptile
savannah n. open grassland, studded with trees and bushes
scale v. to climb to the top of a height
scam n. (slang) a swindle; a method of cheating
Scotland Yard n. the world-famous police headquarters in London
sedation n. a state of drowsiness or calm induced by a hypnotic or sleep-inducing drug
see red v. to get very angry about something
seething adj. moving in an agitated state, as though boiling or foaming
self-made adj. to have achieved success through one’s own efforts
semi-coherent adj. not making complete sense; illogical; inconsistent
serpentine adj. snake-like
serrated adj. having sharp teeth like a saw
shackles pl. n. fastenings, usually metal, used to secure the ankles or wrists
shamefaced adj. looking ashamed
shard n. a broken piece or fragment of pottery, glass or similar substance
shrewd adj. clever; astute; perceptive; penetrating
silhouette n. the outline of a solid object
sinister adj. threatening; suggestive of evil; ominous
sinuous adj. winding; twisting
slang n. a word or phrase that is not standard language but is used informally; jargon
smoulder v. to burn slowly and smokily without a flame
so-and-so n. an unpleasant person. The term is often used to avoid using a swearword to describe someone
sonorous adj. deep and resonant (sound)
sophisticated adj. refined; complex; classy; state-of-the-art
sparse adj. scanty; scattered; small in number
specimen n. an object of interest, collected and kept for future study or display
spectacular adj. dramatically impressive
spontaneous adj. occurring naturally, without prompting or preparation; unpremeditated
spooky adj. eerie; ghostly; supernaturally frightening
static n. unwanted hissing and crackling sounds on a radio
statistics n. facts and figures; quantitative data on a subject
status n. position or rank in a group or hierarchy; relative importance or standing
stifle v. to cover up or suppress a sound
stipulation n. a condition
stock exchange n. a financial market in which stocks, shares and securities are bought and sold in a regulated manner
stoop v. to swoop down
strewn adj. spread or scattered
strident adj. loud; harsh; insistent; clamorous
stupefaction n. bewildered amazement; astonishment stupefy v. to astound; to astonish
subconsciousness n. part of the mind that operates below the level of awareness
subtle adj. not very obvious; difficult to detect
suburb n. a district on the outskirts of a town or city, usually residential (where people live)
suffix n. something added to the en
d of a word
summary n. a short account giving the main points of something; a precis
supervise v. to oversee; to watch over
supple adj. bendy; flexible
suppress v. to hold back; to keep in check; to restrain
surmount v. to rise above
surreal adj. having an unreal or dreamlike quality
surveillance n. watching; observation; scrutiny
suss (out) v. (slang) to assess a situation
sustainable adj. capable of being maintained at a steady level
swarm n. Chapters 18, 21: a large group of small animals, especially bees and other insects
v. Chapter 16: to move about in large numbers; to climb
swat v. to strike or hit something, especially an insect
swivel v. to turn or twist
symbol n. a sign, logo or character
sympathy n. emotional feelings for others (compassion, anguish, etc.)
systematically adv. in a methodical fashion
tabloid n. a newspaper written in a sensational style designed to appeal to a mass readership
taken aback adj. surprised; disconcerted; startled
tantalizing adj. frustrating; teasing; offering the hope of something desirable
tawny adj. having a browny-orange colour
taxi v. (of an aircraft) to move along the ground
teeming adj. full of; abounding with
tend v. to look after; to care for; to treat, as in tend a wound
tentative adj. hesitant; cautious; uncertain
tentatively adv. uncertainly; cautiously; hesitantly
tenuous adj. insecure; flimsy; insignificant; of little substance
termite n. an ant-like tropical insect. Colonies can build large strong hills which may be attacked by anteaters
terse adj. short; curt; abrupt
testy adj. touchy; irritable
theoretical adj. not actually tried in practice; possible in theory or thought
thermal n. a column of rising air produced by uneven heating of the ground and local area. May be used by birds or gliders to gain height with minimum effort
thrash v. to beat hard
throng n. a large crowd gathered closely together
tidings n. news; information
timorous adj. timid; fearful
titanic adj. possessing or involving colossal strength
toerag n. (slang) an unpleasant, despicable or contemptible person
tolerant adj. able to accept the behaviour of another; uncritical; indulgent; forbearing; easygoing
toodle-oo interjection (old-fashioned slang) goodbye
torrent n. a large and rapid flow of water, words, etc.
trance n. a dreamlike or hypnotic state
tranquil adj. peaceful; calm
tranquillizer n. a calming drug
transmit v. to pass on; to transfer; to impart
trauma n. physical or emotional injury
traverse v. to cross; go over
treasure trove n. a hidden store of valuables
trek v. to make a journey, often a long and difficult one
tributary n. a river or stream that joins a larger one
trip n. (slang) an abnormal state of mind caused by an hallucinogenic drug
trivial adj. unimportant; petty
troupe n. a company of travelling players or actors
truculent adj. aggressive
tuber n. a fleshy underground stem or root
turbulence n. gusty air currents
twig v. (slang) to understand suddenly; to work out what is going on; to catch on
twinge n. Chapter 1: a sudden, brief stab of pain
Chapter 19: a sudden pang of emotion
ultimatum n. a final demand
umpteenth adj. (slang) one of very many
unanimous adj. in complete agreement (of a group of people)
uncanny adj. having a supernatural quality; eerie
understatement n. a description of something that represents it as being less than it really is
unerring adj. consistently accurate; without any mistakes
unfathomable adj. immeasurably deep
ungainly adj. awkward; ungraceful
unison n. complete harmony; complete co-ordination
unkempt adj. untidy; ungroomed; dishevelled
unmolested adj. left alone; not attacked; not interfered with
unravel v. to untangle or undo
unsavoury adj. unpleasant; distasteful; disagreeable
unscalable adj. not possible to climb; insurmountable
unwieldy adj. too awkwardly shaped to be handled easily
vanguard n. the leading group in a party; those at the front
vantage point n. a position giving a favourable view of a scene or situation
vegetate v. to pass time monotonously and inactively
venomous adj. poisonous
vestige n. a very small amount; a trace of something larger that was there before; a remnant
veterinary adj. to do with the health of animals
veto v. to forbid; to refuse to give consent to
vile adj. particularly unpleasant; abominable; wicked; hateful
villa n. a large and often luxurious residence
villain n. a wicked person
vivid adj. bright; brilliant
vulnerable adj. capable of being hurt or wounded; weak
waft n. something carried on the air, especially a smell
warrant n. an official document that authorizes a course of action such as an arrest
wax and wane both verbs to get bigger and smaller
well v. to flow upwards or outwards. In Chapter 15 it means that the water comes up out of the ground like a spring
whence adv. (poetic) from; ‘from what place’
white lie n. a fib; a minor untruth
whither adv. (poetic) ‘to what place’
wide berth n. in Chapter 14 the machrauchenia give Richard a wide berth (originally a nautical expression) meaning they avoided him by staying well clear of him
wimp n. (slang) a feeble, ineffectual individual
wince v. to move or grimace suddenly because of a pain or injury; to flinch
wistful adj. sad; pensive
WPC n. abbreviation for woman police constable
wrath n. extreme anger; rage leading to retribution or vengeance
wreak v. to cause; to inflict (havoc, chaos, etc.)
wrinklies pl. n. (slang) old people
yonder adv. (poetic) ‘over there’ – often far away
zillion n. (slang) an unimaginably large number (based upon a million, billion, trillion … etc.)
zoom v. to move rapidly with a buzzing sound
Unit conversion table
1 inch = 2.54 centimetres
1 foot = 12 inches = 0.3 metres
1 yard = 3 feet = 0.91 metres
1 mile = 1760 yards = 1.61 kilometres
1 league = 3 miles (archaic)
1 ton = 2240 pounds (1016 kilograms)
1 centimetre = 0.39 inches
1 metre = 3.28 feet = 1.09 yards
1 kilometre = 0.62 miles
About the Author
David Alric has had a highly distinguished career as a medical professor in which his publications, research and teaching established him as an eminent medical writer and an international leader in his field. He was a pioneer in the development of methods of investigation and treatment that are now routinely used in medical practice and he played a major role in the introduction of computer technology into medicine.
David’s writing experience and scientific knowledge have now been brought to bear on writing for a very different readership. In The Valley of the Ancients and his first novel, The Promised One, he combines his storytelling skills – honed by years of reading to his children and grandchildren – with his deep and wide-ranging u
nderstanding of natural history, science and general knowledge to create a fascinating mixture of adventure, fantasy and factual knowledge.
David is married with three children and six grandchildren. They see him most days and are his severest critics.
Copyright
First published in 2004
by Bladon Publishing
12 New Street, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire OX7 5LJ
This edition first published by
by Faber and Faber Ltd
Bloomsbury House
74–77 Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3DA
This ebook edition first published in 2012
All rights reserved
© David Alric, 2004
Artwork © David Dean 2007
The right of David Alric to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
Disclaimer: With the exception of the historical characters, any resemblance between the people and animals in this book and any real person, living or dead, is entirely accidental
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly
ISBN 978–0–571–29714–6