Horse Number One

by w.j.debi

Background
Chapter 1: Ava Revel frees herself from debris.
Chapter 2: Ava searches the ship. She finds herself alone except for neighing in the cargo hold.
Chapter 3: Ava finds 4 horses and a goat.

I looked at my watch and groaned. Preparations to get the animals out of the cargo hold were taking longer than I anticipated. At least I was nearly ready. Hay was distributed in half a dozen piles on the beach at the bottom of the ramp. One bale of hay sat next to the elevator on the main deck. The path between the animals’ compartment and the elevator was as clear as I could make it. Blankets were strategically placed to cover areas where the horses might see an opening for escape. I didn’t want them bolting and getting lost among the cargo if they saw or heard something that spooked them. Barriers didn’t need to be solid, they just needed to appear solid to the horses. As a final precaution, I propped the elevator doors open with a block of wood that I could easily kick out of the way.

I said a little prayer as I headed for the horses and the goat. Hopefully, they were used to being transported so the movement and hollow sound of their hooves in the elevator wouldn’t be a problem.

Again, I was greeted by a chorus of neighing and bleating when I entered their compartment.

“Thank you, boys. You certainly know how to make a girl feel welcome."

The horses’ stalls were situated with two on each side so the horses could look across the aisle and see each other. I petted each of them again and used my best soothing voice. Horses took their lead from their handler. If I was calm and confident, they would be too.

I grabbed a halter and stepped into the stall with the largest and oldest of the horses. I estimated he was five years old.

“Easy, boy,” I said as I reached up to stroke his neck. I looped the lead rope over his neck and pulled his head toward me so I could put the halter on him. My touch seemed to comfort him, so I kept petting and speaking to him. “We’ll get you out of here. It won’t be long now. A beauty like you is certainly worth saving.”

I slid the stall door to the side and stepped into the aisle. The horses all nickered at each other as the first horse stepped out beside me. It was tempting to pause and let them reassure each other, but it was best to keep moving.

“Okay, boys, behave yourselves. I’ll be back for you in a few minutes.”

With that, I led the first horse into the corridor with him prancing beside me, his eyes wide and nostrils flaring. I kept up a steady chatter for the horse’s sake, heading for the elevator with the first smile I’d felt all day.

We moved forward at a brisk walk, almost a trot, and what a strut he put into his gait. Power lurked beneath those rippling muscles next to me, but the horse kept to my side on a light lead. I grinned.

“Someone has trained you well. I wish I knew your name. Horses, like people, respond better if you use their names. Good boy. We’re almost there. You’ll see the sky soon.”

With one eye busy admiring my companion and the other watching for potential obstacles, we arrived at the elevator sooner than I had anticipated. The horse hesitated to cross the threshold so I gave him his head to allow him to investigate his surroundings. He satisfied his curiosity, looked me in the eye as if to say, “Okay, I trust you,” and we stepped in. The sound of his hooves echoed in the small enclosure.

I immediately kicked the block of wood I’d used to prop the door open out of the way and the doors closed.

He snorted.

“Steady, boy.” I drew nearer to pat his neck as the elevator rose. One of my fears was being trapped in an elevator. Being trapped in an elevator with a panicked horse would be a nightmare.

When the elevator doors opened, we stepped out in unison.

The horse took in the view, tilted his head back, and trumpeted a loud sustained neigh. Was he celebrating his readmittance into the world, or letting the others know there was hope? Could he hear an answer from his companions below? Horses have much better hearing than humans so it was possible.

He took a couple of nervous bites from the bale of hay I’d left next to the elevator, but he was anxious to move and so was I. We headed down the deck at a brisk pace. Without hesitating, we proceeded down the ramp. Once we reached the ground below, I looped the lead rope over his neck, pulled his head toward me, and removed the halter.

“You’re free, boy.”

He pranced up and down the beach for a minute or so, tossing his head and neighing. Finally, he settled down and began munching hay. I turned and started up the ramp; he followed me a few steps.

“No, boy. Stay here. You must be hungry; eat some hay. I’ll be back with your friends as quickly as I can.”

He seemed to understand, grabbed another mouthful of hay, and trotted around a bit.

When I reached the top of the ramp, I paused to check how he was doing. His white coat glistened in the sun, giving him a surreal glow. He was so majestic. For some reason, I thought of the god Apollo. That worked. I called down, “Apollo, be good. I’ll hurry.”

He looked up as if I had called his actual name and let out a loud neigh. Goosebumps rose on my arms. Unless I could find some record with his name on it, Apollo it would be.

With that thought, I turned and ran for the elevator. Horse number two, please be as well-behaved.

~~~~~~~~~~

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#11
August
2023

Ava Revel--young woman stranded on a ship with 4 horses and a goat.

To give a horse its head is to loosen your grip on the rope or reins so the horse has a bit of freedom to investigate its surroundings.

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