Equinox

David Towsey

Contents (25)

EQUINOX

DAVID TOWSEY

www.headofzeus.com

First published in the UK in 2022 by Head of Zeus Ltd,
part of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

The moral right of David Towsey to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN (HB): 9781801101646

ISBN (XTPB): 9781801101653

ISBN (E): 9781801101677

Head of Zeus Ltd

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5–8 Hardwick Street
London EC1R 4RG

WWW.HEADOFZEUS.COM

For Ray

Title Page

Dedication

Map

CHRISTOPHOR

13th October 1721

14th October 1721

15th October 1721

16th October 1721

17th October 1721

18th October 1721

19th October 1721

20th October 1721

21st October 1721

22nd October 1721

23rd October 1721

24th October 1721

ALEXSANDER

25th October 1721

26th October 1721

27th October 1721

28th October 1721

29th October 1721

30th October 1721

31st October 1721

1st November 1721

Acknowledgements

About the Author

An Invitation from the Publisher

Map

CHRISTOPHOR

13th October 1721

I have seen the sun, despite what my day-brother might say.

The night of the summons I was watching the sunset. The orange sky turned to red behind the tiled roofs and cracked chimneys of Esteberg. I wondered what the warmth of a midday sun would be like on my face, on the back of my neck, on my hands. Then the stars blinked into existence and, in child-like imitation, so did the street lamps.

When the knock came at my door, I turned and crossed our room. The room I shared with my day-brother.

I opened the door to find a messenger – one in the King’s livery no less. The short boy had one hand against the wall as he caught his breath. The other hand he raised to forestall me. I gave him a moment.

My day-brother, Alexsander, and I rented the top of a boarding house, and in all fairness the steps were steep. Our position also benefitted from the heat and stench and endless noise of those below; all of which would have been lessened if everyone lived alone, as my day-brother and I. But there were many married couples living on the floors beneath us. In those first few minutes of the night, at least, there was quiet as people woke to the familiar disappointment lying next to them.