lot that I’m better at something.
“Well, they sure know how to hide.” He casts
a look around. “Come on, let’s just go on foot.”
“What, are you scared?” I tease him.
“Of riding some wild, unpredictable animal
into an irradiated city? Why would I?” he deadpans. Only the slight
tremor in his voice tells me that I’m actually right.
“Just leave it to me.” I point at a patch of
woodland rising up from the moor. “Why don’t you have a seat? I’ll
be right back with our ride.”
“Sure.” Walt demonstratively plunks down on
one of the rocks along the trail.
I walk a bit further downhill and veer off
toward the patch of trees that the horse tracks lead to. I’m sure
at least part of the herd will be there, because the woods probably
contain a source of water.
I tiptoe along, carefully stepping over dry
bushes. The grass mutes my footsteps. When I get to the edge of the
woods, I know I was right – I can even smell the animals. It’s a
slightly different scent than what I’m used to, and when I
stealthily zigzag through the trees to reach the small pool in the
middle, I understand why. They’re ponies. Tony has told us about
these animals. Apparently, there are strings of wild Dartmoor
ponies, but also domesticated ones, and the latter are used as
riding animals within the fence. These animals are definitely not
tame, but so small that I’ll have no problem catching one to jump
on its back. What’s more, their manes are so long that I can easily
hold on.
The animal closest to me looks like a filly.
That’s fortunate, because I want to steer clear of stallions for
now. I crawl toward the animal. It’s a good thing I’m upwind so she
can’t catch my scent.
It’s only when I grab the filly’s mane and
swing myself onto her back in one fluid motion that the rest of her
string becomes aware of my presence. The other three take off,
whinnying and snorting. My filly is bucking to throw me off, but I
don’t let go and press my legs into her sides. Leaning toward her
ear, I softly whisper to her, and when she finally calms down I rub
her head and neck while humming a tune. Of course I didn’t bring
any honey candies, so my sweet singing will have to do in this
case.
When I leave the woods shortly afterwards and
steer my new pony toward Walt sitting on his stone, he gapes at me
as if I suddenly grew three extra heads. “What – how did you do
that?” he marvels.
I smile. “Patience, charm and persistence.
You coming?”
He shoots the filly a suspicious look. “How
am I supposed to get on without stirrups?”
“Just hold on to me and you can’t go
wrong.”
After three fruitless attempts, Walt finally
manages to clamber up and sit behind me – and I’m secretly thanking
my lucky stars I didn’t catch an actual horse. We’d have been here
until sunset.
With a cheeky grin on my lips I turn around.
“So, shall we?”
He moans. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t
you?”
“Just a little.” The filly takes off after I
lightly spur her on. I’ve studied the map of the surrounding area
meticulously, and I’m sure I know which way to go to get to Exeter.
Fortunately, the weather couldn’t be more beautiful, so I can see
where the sun is in the sky. I do get thirsty very soon, but I
don’t think it’s a good idea to stop for water. It could be
polluted, and besides, if we get off, our pony will make a run for
it.
Despite my dry mouth, I genuinely enjoy the
trip. The landscape is less barren and hostile than I expected,
even though the vegetation is sparser than it is in Dartmoor. Here
and there, we hear birdsong. Apparently, some birds survived all
the brutal wars. Or maybe they flew in from the islands off the
coast of Cornwall to come take a look at the new world. Just like
us.
12 – Leia
The sun has passed the highest point in the
sky by the time we can make out a large, scorched area in the
distance.
“There it is,” Walt says breathlessly as we
come closer.
“Well, they sure know how to hide.” He casts
a look around. “Come on, let’s just go on foot.”
“What, are you scared?” I tease him.
“Of riding some wild, unpredictable animal
into an irradiated city? Why would I?” he deadpans. Only the slight
tremor in his voice tells me that I’m actually right.
“Just leave it to me.” I point at a patch of
woodland rising up from the moor. “Why don’t you have a seat? I’ll
be right back with our ride.”
“Sure.” Walt demonstratively plunks down on
one of the rocks along the trail.
I walk a bit further downhill and veer off
toward the patch of trees that the horse tracks lead to. I’m sure
at least part of the herd will be there, because the woods probably
contain a source of water.
I tiptoe along, carefully stepping over dry
bushes. The grass mutes my footsteps. When I get to the edge of the
woods, I know I was right – I can even smell the animals. It’s a
slightly different scent than what I’m used to, and when I
stealthily zigzag through the trees to reach the small pool in the
middle, I understand why. They’re ponies. Tony has told us about
these animals. Apparently, there are strings of wild Dartmoor
ponies, but also domesticated ones, and the latter are used as
riding animals within the fence. These animals are definitely not
tame, but so small that I’ll have no problem catching one to jump
on its back. What’s more, their manes are so long that I can easily
hold on.
The animal closest to me looks like a filly.
That’s fortunate, because I want to steer clear of stallions for
now. I crawl toward the animal. It’s a good thing I’m upwind so she
can’t catch my scent.
It’s only when I grab the filly’s mane and
swing myself onto her back in one fluid motion that the rest of her
string becomes aware of my presence. The other three take off,
whinnying and snorting. My filly is bucking to throw me off, but I
don’t let go and press my legs into her sides. Leaning toward her
ear, I softly whisper to her, and when she finally calms down I rub
her head and neck while humming a tune. Of course I didn’t bring
any honey candies, so my sweet singing will have to do in this
case.
When I leave the woods shortly afterwards and
steer my new pony toward Walt sitting on his stone, he gapes at me
as if I suddenly grew three extra heads. “What – how did you do
that?” he marvels.
I smile. “Patience, charm and persistence.
You coming?”
He shoots the filly a suspicious look. “How
am I supposed to get on without stirrups?”
“Just hold on to me and you can’t go
wrong.”
After three fruitless attempts, Walt finally
manages to clamber up and sit behind me – and I’m secretly thanking
my lucky stars I didn’t catch an actual horse. We’d have been here
until sunset.
With a cheeky grin on my lips I turn around.
“So, shall we?”
He moans. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t
you?”
“Just a little.” The filly takes off after I
lightly spur her on. I’ve studied the map of the surrounding area
meticulously, and I’m sure I know which way to go to get to Exeter.
Fortunately, the weather couldn’t be more beautiful, so I can see
where the sun is in the sky. I do get thirsty very soon, but I
don’t think it’s a good idea to stop for water. It could be
polluted, and besides, if we get off, our pony will make a run for
it.
Despite my dry mouth, I genuinely enjoy the
trip. The landscape is less barren and hostile than I expected,
even though the vegetation is sparser than it is in Dartmoor. Here
and there, we hear birdsong. Apparently, some birds survived all
the brutal wars. Or maybe they flew in from the islands off the
coast of Cornwall to come take a look at the new world. Just like
us.
12 – Leia
The sun has passed the highest point in the
sky by the time we can make out a large, scorched area in the
distance.
“There it is,” Walt says breathlessly as we
come closer.
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