The Moon of Gomrath by Alan Garner Page B

empty—
    It was a black horse, and its rider was cloaked and wore a wide-brimmed hat.
    â€œAlbanac!”
    Colin staggered forward, laughing. A touch of reality – even such reality – and the scene had changed. Colin saw himself in perspective. It was a fine night of full moon among peaceful hills, and Susan was waiting for him to bring the Mothan. From the time he had left the Beacon till now he had been on another plane of existence: it had been too much for his imagination.
    â€œAlbanac!”
    â€œColin! I thought you would be somewhere on the road. Have you the Mothan?”
    â€œYes!”
    â€œCome, then. We’ll be away to Susan.”
    Albanac reached down and lifted Colin into the saddle before him, and turned the horse towards Macclesfield.
    â€œWhy, Colin, you are wet and trembling. Is anything amiss?”
    â€œNo. It’s just that it’s all been a bit unsettling. I’ve had quite a time!”
    â€œAy, so I see.”
    As he said this, the horse turned its head and looked back along the road. It snorted, and its ears flattened to its skull.
    Albanac twisted in the saddle. Colin, half enfolded in the cloak, could not see the road behind, but he felt Albanac’s body stiffen, and heard the breath hiss through his teeth. Then the reins slapped the high neck, and the horse leapt away with all the tempest of its fairy blood, and the speed of its going drove questions back into Colin’s throat, and the night filled his ears, and the cloak cracked in the wind.
    Nor did Albanac stop until they came to the Riddings, and they looked down upon Highmost Redmanhey, timber and plaster magpied by the moon, and the lamp in the window of the room where Susan lay.
    â€œWhy is there a light?” said Colin.
    â€œAll is well,” said Albanac. “Cadellin waits for us.”
    The little room was crowded. When Colin opened the door Bess cried, “Oh, wheer have you been? You shouldner have—”
    â€œThat’ll do, lass,” said Gowther gently. “Did you get what you went for, Colin?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAnd are you all reet?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWell, that’s all as matters. Let’s see what’s to be done, then.”
    Colin took the flower and leaves from his pouch.
    â€œYou have run well,” said Uthecar. “It is the Mothan. Give it to your sister.”
    â€œHere you are,” said Colin, and handed the Mothan to Cadellin. But the wizard shook his head.
    â€œNo, Colin. This is the Old Magic: it will not bend to my mind. Let Uthecar take it: he is better skilled in this lore.”
    â€œNay, Cadellin Silverbrow,” said the dwarf. “It will not hear me. Mine is not the need. It is through Colin that it moves. Do you fold the flower within the leaves and put them in her mouth.”
    Colin went to the bed. He folded the Mothan tightly and opened Susan’s jaws with his finger just enough to work the pellet past her teeth. Then he stood back, and for everyone the silence was like a band of steel about the head. Three minutes went by: nothing happened.
    â€œThis is daft,” said Bess.
    â€œQuiet!” said Uthecar hoarsely.
    Another long silence. Colin thought he was going to collapse. His legs were trembling with the effort ofconcentration.
    â€œListen!” said Albanac.
    Far away, and, if anywhere, above them, they heard a faint baying, and the deep winding of a horn. The baying grew nearer, and now there was the jingling of harness. The horn sounded again: it was just outside the window. And Susan opened her eyes.
    She stared wildly about her, as though she had been woken in the middle of a dream. Then she sat up, and pulled a face, and put her hand to her mouth. But Uthecar sprang across the room and hit Susan hard between the shoulder blades with the flat of his hand.
    â€œSwallow it!”
    Susan could not help herself. She hiccupped under the blow, and the Mothan was gone. Then