Rob Ryan (1) (1962–)

June, sensing something not right with John's meeting with the Bootman, followed him and saw Von Dronus attempt to capture him; she used her excellent cricket skills to hit John in the back of the head and call for a doctor. John and June are able to escape from the ambulance, but now they're on the run, and Von Dronus - having replaced the king with a double - is intent on finding them. After some time spent in hiding, sheltered by June's friend Brian, John comes up with a plan: he and June sneak back into the palace via the train tracks, and meet with John's double, Terry. John proves he truly is the king (Von Dronus told Terry the king was murdered), and they hatch a plan that ends up ending the monarchy for good. John and June plan to get married, and John's mother (the Queen) and the Bootman find him again.

See also: Griffin & Sabine by Nick Bantock, Journey by Aaron Becker

Quotes

First page:
Sometimes it seems as if everything is going along just fine. We find ourselves settled and contented; things seem to be better than they have ever been before; we feel we are in the place we want to be and, better still, heading in the direction we want to be going.

But then, from out of nowhere, a giant mountain is suddenly placed in our path, and since there is no way to get around it, all we can do it stride forward determinedly.

The journey becomes steeper and more exhausting with every step, yet the summit of the mountain never seems to get any closer. All we can do is keep on climbing.

*

"All this talk about resisting change...does he not realize that our entire universe is ruled by change?
...All around us the world is changing every single second....The laws of nature are governed by change and to go against it is to set yourself against nature itself!" (Brian)… (mer)