Chapter Eleven

Landing on shoed hooves, Elly's legs buckled. Her knees hit the ground. Her belly followed cratering on the asphalt with a loud gasp. I held on as her one and half ton body slid scraping sand and trash over the cracked road surface, my toes pinned underneath. We came to a rest before the stunned looks of the enemy.

The stillness, the eire quiet before a silent crowd, heads swiveled as whispers emerged amongst them. Lips moved, eyes glared with intensity. Moonlight gleamed off the barrels of their Kalashnikovs. Some were skinny, most were stocky, civilian type unfit for military service in any sense, the rejects. Mumbles rose in pitch as I sat up on her back, blinking, moving my limbs.

A husky, middle-age figure broke from the crowd carrying his antique rifle in one hand with his other arm swinging. Mouth opened sucking air, he yelled out.

Two more split from the crowd, trailing him, a third then a fourth came. The stampede of boots followed. The pale moonlight revealed faces underneath helmets as they ran. My heart spiraled into despair. I readied my rifle, turning to face the enemy with legs pinned. Elly's head shot up.

She groaned, lashing out with a foreleg. The other one scraped asphalt. Hoof slammed the ground. She snorted. Her front sprang up with a rush of air. Men closed in. She heaved herself to her knees, eyes flashing wild. Her nostrils blew, raging.

The mare rose, pushing, straining, trembling, every muscle struggling to raise that enormous body. Her legs struggled to get underneath, buckling, hooves grinding as she rose to her feet before the surging crowd. With a huff, she drew one leg forward after another. Forward!

Men surrounded her on all sides. She snapped at the first one in her way. He jumped aside. She went forward, picking up her pace. She spurred into a trot as they came up beside her, reaching out for her mane and tail. She kicked and bucked and lashed out with her teeth creating a path, Forward! She ran. Go!

Her neck lowered, and threw me backwards. I slid back into her spot and clamped down burying my face into her mane. Elly made one final push, breaking into a desperate canter and pulled away from the group of running militiamen. They faded like ghosts into the urban background till there was only darkness and the moon.

***

"Incredible," I gasped, tossing a glance over my shoulder. "That was simply incredible."

Elly settled into a lazy trot, her breathing under stress.

"You're one amazing horse"

"You are suffocating me…" Her voice faded underneath the sound of her own hooves.

Damnnit. I loosened my legs. Again, it keeps happening. My ass bounced from the joustling of her gait. I grunted. Foam pooled at her lips from a lowered head. The uneven pace rattled my bones, pushing my balance off center. I leaned back, trying to find a better posture. Instant regret as her spine contacted in between my sore ass. I winced from the pain, shoulders leaning.

"Banta is close," The mare gasped. "We must- we will reach him. It is only less than a league away by the hairs of my tail," She wheezed. Droplets of drool fell by the passing curb.

"You must hold on until then!"

She stumbled, mane flinging into my face, stinging. I rightened myself, sliding my legs around her sides. Idiot! Watch her mane. Sleeve wiped the moisture off my cheeks. I squinted. Her neck drooped.

Stay calm. She knows what she is doing. That hell of a jump took a lot out of her.

We moved down a wide street, one side covered in shadow, weaving past wind driven trash. An empty paint can stood in our path. Elly kicked it aside. It rolled, hit the sidewalk, bounced off a door and went back the way we came.

A boutique store with colorful artwork displayed in storefront windows came to our right. Across the narrowing street was a barber shop seemingly carved from stone walls itself. An oversized image of scissors hung on the window partly obscuring the inside. The door was boarded up. This must be part of the old city, I thought. The street was becoming narrower the further we went.

A shudder rippled up my legs breaching my spine. Its intensity made me shiver a little inside. Is this what it's like riding an alien horse? The more I rode, the more attuned I felt with her, this amazing alien horse. It was surreal, like in a dream. Yet it is happening now! My hands hold her mane, my legs wrapped around her. She was more real than ever.

A breeze licked at us, ruffling her mane. The fragrance of desert blooms and flowery scent overcame the decaying urban sprawl. I inhaled deeply. It was serene. It reminded me of the Sierra desert, and of Mexico in pictures at least. //make fit

This is becoming like, deja vu, I swallowed. I felt it.

Were we becoming what happened between me and that Arabian mare, two weeks ago? Were we-

Don't get ahead of yourself. I chide myself. You are still in danger until you reach the safety of your platoon, horse or no horse. Then and only then will you be safe. You should not trust her. Do you remember what she-

"She's better than the enemy. Way better," I whispered quickly. Her left ear flipped towards me. My lips clamped, eyes averted. The air tingled with electricity. I winced from the bouncing.

Don't get distracted. I attempted to relax on her back. A tobacco store passed by in a slight blur. The sign showing cigar art hung from the front door. My eyes gazed over for a brief moment. I bet I could trade that shit for extra rations or favors. The platoon would go nuts for them. Nicotine withdrawal was a bitch.

Johnston and Richard will want a taste of those cigars. Maybe even the aloof belterson, he'll never ask, just stare at me. Jacky can take a hike. Last I heard he ripped off Huntman for twenty bucks and didn't even thank him. No shit I'll do anything for him.

Unless the LT requisitions them for our beloved CO. Oh that makes me puke up my last. How did our Captain Lickerson even get sent into this war? What was Major Chuck ,his nickname, thinking? He did not ask the enlisted when and why he put Lickerson in charge. The war could be over sooner before our Cap pulls c4 out of his ass.

That isn't the issue, it's her, this mare I'm riding. How the hell am I going to explain to the platoon sergeant. That I found her on the street and took this "horse" under my care and rode her away from my platoon and the front lines in enemy held ground. He'll never- they'll never believe me.

Elly's throat erupted in a squeal. I jumped. My head jerked to the front, catching rays of light piercing the vast grayness. A single beam of yellow light swept across urban sprawl reflecting off windows and street signs. I blinked then squinted. Its intensity grew as she kept pace, her breathing reaching a worrying pitch. My eyes strained to see what lay ahead.

We passed the slight bend in the road and the moonlight touched its metallic surface. It waited with one working headlight and the left front, scraped to shit. It was the red pickup from earlier.

"Oh hell," I said.

They're relentless. Like hunters. They want vengeance. I could not see anyone in the back.

Her ears flattened on her skull. In two strides, they sprang up then her left ear dropped again. I knew immediately. Deep breath in, relax shoulders tighten legs. Eyes forward. Keep calm. The red truck loomed larger, menacing with the half moon overhead. Keep breathing. I began counting.

One…Mississippi

Two…Mississippi

Three..Mississippi

Four!

Her hooves screeched. Her back arched while she spun. I gripped mane as she came out of the spin into a canter heading away from the enemy. My ass sat firmly on her. Surprised, I barely felt the strain. It had to be her doing. She raced away with the headlight flickering over our bodies as we went in and out of its path. She really was something special. The pickup rumbled, rolling forward. Men seen clambering in the back.

My right hand held the m4, the left wrapped mane around my fingers. I peeked over my shoulder, squinting from the brightness. I think…maybe…I could…No. I can do it. I can swing around on her back and take the shot.

I've seen enough cowboy and Indian films to do it. It requires skill and timing, grip with your legs and put all your faith in your horse to not do anything stupid.

It'll be easy. Compensate for the smooth canter of hers with your body. Take the first shot with the iron sights you can get. It won't take much. Maybe a few seconds to get one good shot off. Hit a tire or driver and ditch them in the dark, even the radiator would work. It's a smart move with little risk. Do it before she runs out of steam, she won't last much longer.

I know. I glanced down at my hands. All I have to do is…let go. A shiver went through me. Don't be a coward. You faced worse stuff than this. This is nothing. You'll be saving her instead of you.

I…

It is the right thing to do.

I…

You can do it.

I…I…

My arms trembled.

I can't. My heart sank. I can't do it. I won't let go. I hissed, frustration mixed with shame. Useless. I can't stomach it, riding bareback without holding on. I'm going to regret this.

Elly's hooves quickened. I cursed amongst the jostling. I can do it one handed. Maybe. One hand on the rifle and the other holding mane. Smart thinking, I thought for the moment. Wait, then my aim would be shit.

"Dammit," I snapped, anger boiling under the surface.

I have to think of something. Do it, do it now.

A pair of bright headlights flooded my vision, sending pain down my optical nerves. I shook. Another fuckin truck!

Elly cantered as I raised my rifle one handed. A glint of reflection came from the back of the truck bed. A long metal barrel aimed towards the sky, a damn 20mm cannon. They're serious. We can't fight our way out of this. We've been cornered, like escaped prisoners. They have us by the balls, literally. Truck behind us and this one in front. We're boxed in. The barbershop appeared on our right.

"Elly," I cried.

Speechless, her right ear sank. I lowered the rifle, reaching for mane. She sprang into a gallop sounding like a steam engine. The momentum pushed my shoulders back. I squinted. Fingers dug into her mane as the headlights bore into my retinas. My body veered left, straining my muscles. The barber's window appeared.

"Oh SH-"

Elly smashed through, spraying shards of glass everywhere as she slid on landing. Her shoed hooves made a distinct sound as she charged across the tiled floor, knocking over tables, smashing through shelves of cosmetics, plants, chairs, brooms, buckets, products, and potted plants. Papers scattered , boxes crushed, as she dashed into the hallway ripping the paintings off walls. She bulldozed through a small table sticking out too far. My legs scraped the walls while clinging to her like a scared kid on a runaway.

A dead emergency exit sat above the back door. I made myself small, tucking in limbs. Elly dropped her head and popped the flimsy door revealing the alley beyond. We flew into the shadows to the sound of her loud gasping breaths.

A deafening roar pummeled the building behind us. Black smoke billowed from the rear exit. I lied on her withers, counting my blessings. Hot wetness touched my skin. I glanced down. The moon's rays caught my palm perfectly. It was blood, her blood.