Track for this chapter:

For the asking, by John R. Burr, on the album Sundown

When a white horse's head peeked around the door to Gingka's bedroom, he was certainly not expecting it.

Tenba had walked right through the front door which his father had so irresponsibly left agape, and was now exploring her new-found playground.

Just a quiet little town

Breathing in and out when the sun went down

She pawed at the carpet curiously and Gingka sat bolt upright in bed. She seemed docile enough, but she was supposed to be gone by now.

I was beside you on the hill

I wish I was there still

She was a breathtakingly beautiful horse, he realised, as the sunlight shafted down in slanted lines across her shoulders and tousled mane. Those braids were still not taken out.

Gingka rose tentatively and approached slowly, silently begging her not to buck and send the doorframe collapsing, as his father would not be pleased.

But from the little town you went away

Little town lonely without you now

Corn sway beneath me row after row

I wish you'd've stayed.

She bucked.

Little town cobblestones

Hooves and silver linings

Gingka yelled as her hooves hit the top of the doorframe and she whinnied in panic. He grabbed her by the head and took hold of her jewelled and crooked bridle, tugging her out of the house before she could do any more damage. Luckily, Tenba did not resist further.

Horseshoes and metalsmiths

Little town

She was limping in her front hoof. He led her through the streets of Koma village towards the stable and livery.

Little town hiding our flaws and fears

Little town in the mountains I rest, my dear

Little town with a horse

Little town with a thought

Little town, my little town

Zadie was waiting at the door, looking around anxiously. She gasped when she saw Gingka with Tenba.

"Gingka! Kid, next time you take a horse of mine, you better tell me."

"No, Zadie, she stuck her head around my bedroom door this morning. Dad left the front door agape again."

Wherefore art thou my little town?

"Your father is the craziest man alive", Zadie said firmly, taking Tenba's halter. "What happened to her hoof?"

"I think it got knocked when she bucked the doorframe down."

"That's unfortunate. I hope the horse is okay, too." Zadie led her around the stables and the horse bared her teeth at the poor equine veterinarian, trying to nip her shoulder.

"Bad Tenba. Her owners should've been back two days ago. The council is sending your father and a few others to find her owners."

"What if they can't find him?"

"Then he's outta luck. Everyone knows this mountain's dangerous, and that's just a chance you have to make the choice to take on your own."

Once was a little town

Now bowed down

Gingka followed her, staying in the horse's sight zone. Hoikuto nipped at her heels when she slowed; he was a good dog and accustomed to the stables.

Tenba snorted as Zadie clipped her lead to the hook at the opposite end of the treating room, a wide area at the end of the stable complex that held rows of equipment and veterinary helpers.

Ivy Rose craned her long brown neck around her stable, reaching her lips out to Tenba's flank, curious. The two female horses whinnied back and forth, Ivy Rose indignant and Tenba just plain mad. Zadie shoved Ivy Rose's head back around into her own stable and had Gingka hold Tenba's head while she took a look at her hoof.

"Yup, she's clipped it on something, all right. All she needs is a little rest for the day and she'll be fine."

Hoikuto barked from the other side of the wall, and Gingka and Zadie followed him to find Tenba's stable door bashed in and splintered. Zadie winced.

"Lucky she didn't cut herself on those splinters. She'll have to stay in the pasture all day with the rentals. Tell your dad to come fix this for me."

Gone was the little town

Sun shining down

Met no cobblestones anymore

Gingka raced across town with Hoikuto in tow, looking for his father. He found the tall man standing behind the house, looking out at the forest.

"Oh, hi, son. What are you in such a hurry for?"

"Zadie wants you to fix something."

"Again?"

"Yes. The horse got in the house."

"Okay, son. I'll be over at Zadie's if you need me." Ryo turned and started to go the other way. Gingka sank down against the wall of the house while Hoikuto chewed on wheat heads in the field before him.

His notebook rested in his lap and he began to write.

How big is the world to a dog or a cat?

Grass is their forest and trees are their giants.

Flowers their playground and logs their hurdles.

Think how much bigger the world must be

if you were smaller in it, where would you be?

He thought how it would be to shrink down to cat-size and prowl through the long grass, while it reached only to his knees as of now.

Even an ant makes a bite-size snack.

On the next page he started fresh, imagining a conversation between Hoikuto and Tenba.

"You are a very much crazy horse. You can't go in houses, you know."

"Why not? The humans get to go in them, and so do you."

"That's because humans like me better. You're not allowed in there because you will kick everything you see."

At this part, Hoikuto would lie down in the hay in front of Tenba, and she would lean down and put her nose in the hay in front of him so she could see him.

"I only kick things because I'm afraid. I don't like people. They are too loud and they try to put saddles on me. I don't want to be ridden, but they just can't understand that."

"Maybe you should try to be more agreeable; they don't mean to hurt you. Zadie gives you sugar. Aren't horses supposed to like sugar?"

"That, my friend, is a stereotype. I would much prefer some peanut butter than sugar."

Gingka shut the book. Perhaps he should try peanut butter for Tenba. His writing down things had worked to help tame Leon, who would be staying here because Zadie had bought him. Gingka had come to the Shire horse with a carrot rather than an apple, and Leon had loved him right away.

He whistled to Hoikuto and went inside for a jar of peanut butter, and then he headed to the stables.