She uttered raucous neighs, eyes sparkling with fire, implying that he should be well aware of the incredible honor that had befallen him by her attentions.
The Black tossed his head, sniffing the scent of his new harem. Within his great body was a wild, fierce, almost intolerable longing for a mate. He became more excited and gave a sudden, shrill neigh.Gathering himself, he rocked back on his hindquarters; then he plunged forward, running around the band at a powerful gallop that brought him back to the waterhole, scattering the mares and foals. He wheeled sideways to avoid the black mare, as though to tease her, then he sped off again without slowing his pace. The muffled and thunderous beat of his strides seemed to echo his exaltation, his renewal of life.
Alec watched him, knowing that this vast land with its wild horses made the Black act as he did because it was
his
way of life as well as theirs. His memory was fixed to what he had known long ago and now had found again. No longer did the Black have to dream of freedom; it was his for the taking.
The black mare had not scattered with the others. She stood alone, unafraid and waiting for the tall stallion to stop his vigorous display of leadership. Her eyes were bright and searching as her gaze followed him—and, for whatever reason, Alec saw his Pam in those wild eyes, so intense and curious, questioning and, above all else,
unafraid
. The mare snorted occasionally, but the sound of it was almost musical—and Alec thought of Pam’s laughter, which meant to one and all the love and joy of life itself.
Alec lowered his head and wept for the girl he had lost.
The black stallion returned to stand beside the expectant black mare and continued his courtship of her. He was ardent but without brutality as he nibbled at her sides and neck, infecting her with his own maddened excitement. He rose to his full height, a gigantic figure on his hind legs, striking the air with his forelegsto maintain his balance, his long black mane waving from his efforts. He was the picture of superb power, his head stretched over the mare’s neck, his nostrils dilated, his eyes darting fire.
It was many moments later when Alec washed away the tears that had racked his body. He went to the Black and told him, “Go where you will. You have done all you can for me.”
Alec gave the Black a soft clap on his wet neck, and it was the only signal the giant horse needed. He trotted off to gather his small band together; then with a mighty snort he wheeled and led them across the desert.
In a state of shock over what he had done, Alec watched them go, wild and free. The black mare raced close beside his horse and Alec thought that it, too, was the way it should be. The Black had found a mate, but Alec had lost his. What was a man born for? To find a mate, wasn’t it? To have Pam, to make a home for her, to have children with her, was what Alec had wanted most of all. It didn’t matter what happened to him now.
T HE W ILD O NE
9
In the distance Alec saw the Black turn the small band and drive it back toward the waterhole. He tried to focus his mind on what he had done in setting the Black free. To what end? he asked himself. Nothing made sense to him. He no longer knew what he was doing and was acting on impulse only.
The black stallion drove the band across the desert, tolerating the two young stallions for a while by allowing them to race alongside. He punished any mare that lagged behind by ramming his head into her ribs or nipping her ear. Neither did he allow the foals to lag behind, prodding them to stay close to their dams. He turned them just before reaching the waterhole and sent them in the direction he wanted them to go, westward toward the high mountains.
Alec watched them leave, dazed, his mind drugged by the desert and the solitude of his own making. He was desperate and alone. He knew no yesterdays or tomorrows. He had relinquished all desire tojudge or act. His thoughts
The Black tossed his head, sniffing the scent of his new harem. Within his great body was a wild, fierce, almost intolerable longing for a mate. He became more excited and gave a sudden, shrill neigh.Gathering himself, he rocked back on his hindquarters; then he plunged forward, running around the band at a powerful gallop that brought him back to the waterhole, scattering the mares and foals. He wheeled sideways to avoid the black mare, as though to tease her, then he sped off again without slowing his pace. The muffled and thunderous beat of his strides seemed to echo his exaltation, his renewal of life.
Alec watched him, knowing that this vast land with its wild horses made the Black act as he did because it was
his
way of life as well as theirs. His memory was fixed to what he had known long ago and now had found again. No longer did the Black have to dream of freedom; it was his for the taking.
The black mare had not scattered with the others. She stood alone, unafraid and waiting for the tall stallion to stop his vigorous display of leadership. Her eyes were bright and searching as her gaze followed him—and, for whatever reason, Alec saw his Pam in those wild eyes, so intense and curious, questioning and, above all else,
unafraid
. The mare snorted occasionally, but the sound of it was almost musical—and Alec thought of Pam’s laughter, which meant to one and all the love and joy of life itself.
Alec lowered his head and wept for the girl he had lost.
The black stallion returned to stand beside the expectant black mare and continued his courtship of her. He was ardent but without brutality as he nibbled at her sides and neck, infecting her with his own maddened excitement. He rose to his full height, a gigantic figure on his hind legs, striking the air with his forelegsto maintain his balance, his long black mane waving from his efforts. He was the picture of superb power, his head stretched over the mare’s neck, his nostrils dilated, his eyes darting fire.
It was many moments later when Alec washed away the tears that had racked his body. He went to the Black and told him, “Go where you will. You have done all you can for me.”
Alec gave the Black a soft clap on his wet neck, and it was the only signal the giant horse needed. He trotted off to gather his small band together; then with a mighty snort he wheeled and led them across the desert.
In a state of shock over what he had done, Alec watched them go, wild and free. The black mare raced close beside his horse and Alec thought that it, too, was the way it should be. The Black had found a mate, but Alec had lost his. What was a man born for? To find a mate, wasn’t it? To have Pam, to make a home for her, to have children with her, was what Alec had wanted most of all. It didn’t matter what happened to him now.
T HE W ILD O NE
9
In the distance Alec saw the Black turn the small band and drive it back toward the waterhole. He tried to focus his mind on what he had done in setting the Black free. To what end? he asked himself. Nothing made sense to him. He no longer knew what he was doing and was acting on impulse only.
The black stallion drove the band across the desert, tolerating the two young stallions for a while by allowing them to race alongside. He punished any mare that lagged behind by ramming his head into her ribs or nipping her ear. Neither did he allow the foals to lag behind, prodding them to stay close to their dams. He turned them just before reaching the waterhole and sent them in the direction he wanted them to go, westward toward the high mountains.
Alec watched them leave, dazed, his mind drugged by the desert and the solitude of his own making. He was desperate and alone. He knew no yesterdays or tomorrows. He had relinquished all desire tojudge or act. His thoughts
Similar Books
