The Healing Horse, Ch 7, Scene 02: In the Destroyed Hippodrome

As chapter seven continues, Karen faces a great challenge. Having made a friend and found a spiritual mentor, she fears she may have lost him to the forces of commerce and politics. But do not fear. She will survive the crisis and go on to save him.

Scene 02: In the Destroyed Hippodrome

Ignoring the large Keep Out sign, she entered the hippodrome and scanned it in horror. The beauteous horses lay scattered on the floor, each as inanimate as the wood from which it had been carved. Only Pegasus remained upright on his pole, alone, immobile, unable to move, stationery, a statue, a three-dimensional piece of artwork, tilted forward and strapped down as he had never been before. She knew he must feel trapped, unable to whirl, to rise and fall up and down in his joyous way.

She saw someone in the calliope’s shadow and yelped, “Is that you, Joshua?”

There was no answer. Apprehensively, she moved forward until she could see the person, and it was Joshua. His arms folded over his chest, his feet spread wide, and his head down so that she could not see his face beneath the brim of his western hat, he stood in silence. She walked closer. He raised his head, his face set in a deep frown, his eyes red from crying.

“What’s wrong, Joshua? What’s happened?”

His voice cracked when he spoke. “When I come to work, this mornin’, doll, it was all like this. Looked like a blue norther blew plumb through it all. Horses all catty whompus on the floor, lights on low and nobody here. I was fixin’ ta have me a conniption fit when the boss stepped up and said he wouldn’t be needin’ me no more, since the city council was a fixin’ ta shut down the ride. I was about pole-axed when I heared that. He said I could hang around and say my good-byes to the horses, but his hands were tied and he couldn’t do nothin’ to keep the place agoin’.”

“What will happen to the horses?” Karen asked, tear drops in her eyes.

“I don’t know. I’m in the dark about that. I think they’re a fixin’ ta tear down the whole shebang and sell the stock to the highest bidder.”

Silent tears streamed down her face as she walked to Pegasus.

“They can’t take you away from me! They can’t! We need each other.”

Though Kitten held Pegasus by the mane, she felt as if they were being torn apart even as she stood there. She could not bear it.

“Pegasus has done so much for me. I won’t lose him. I won’t let him leave my life.”

She was not sure what she was going to do, but she had never been more determined to do something. Then, Kitten’s heart sank. Pegasus had not answered.

“Pegasus, answer me, please! Say something to show me that you can hear what I am saying to you. Where will I find you when you are not here? Where will I look?”

Still, Pegasus did not speak.

©2021, Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved.

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