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“Arjath?” I said. “I don’t know what that is!”
Farmyard animals wandered to and fro across the fields, taking their chance to bolt and make a run for it now they were free.
“Arjath,” a sweet voice said behind me.
It was the little green kid from the farmhouse window. He held a harness in his tiny hand and handed it to me. Attached to the other end was a big fluffy creature with hair that hung over its eyes. It was grey with age and its hair was matted. It might have been a handsome creature in its day but it looked worn-out and tired now. It had tall front legs and shorter back ones. It reminded me of a horse, but no horse had such a docile look about it.
“Thank you,” I said to the little green boy. “I need to get him into the saddle. How do I do that?”
The little boy just stared at me.
“Olun!”
His father came running from the farmhouse. He crouched before the little boy.
“Don’t you ever run from me!” he said. “Do you understand? Never!”
But he couldn’t stay mad at the cute little boy for long. He embraced him. Then he stood up to lead him away.
“Wait!” I said. “Please. My friend. He’s going to die unless I get him on the back of this… arjath.”
I still struggled with the foreign name of this beast.
The farmer considered helping. He shook his head and turned to leave.
“Please!” I said. “I’m begging you. He’s the only friend I have. If I don’t save him, we’re both dead.”
The farmer appraised us with his yellow eyes and looked over at the horned creature still struggling to his feet.
“Poppa…” Olun said. “We have to help them.”
Again, the farmer looked concerned. No doubt he would be taking a big risk by helping us. Not only with Iron Hoof nearby but the Changelings in charge of this TV show. They would be watching us.
“Get to the house,” he said to his son. “Now.”
As Olun took off, the farmer bent down to help me lift Chax onto the back of the arjath. Then he got some rope from the barn and lashed him to it.
“I’ll get the arjath back to you,” I said. “I promise.”
“No, you won’t,” the farmer said. “We won’t be here when you return.”
“Where will you go?” I said.
He lowered his voice.
“I must join the resistance,” he said. “I thought I could survive outside, even with the Changelings and their cruel games. But now I see it is impossible. I’ve rebuilt many times already. I can’t bring myself to do it again. I wish you well but I can help you no more.”
He turned and ran back to the farmhouse.
“Grrrr!” Iron Hoof growled as he forced himself up onto his hooved feet.
He wiped a hairy arm across his brow to dispel the sweat. His leg wobbled and threatened to give way beneath him again.
“You’re going to pay for that, little girl,” he said.
“You’ll have to catch me first,” I said, finding a thin tendril of confidence buried deep inside.
“Oh, I intend to,” Iron Hoof said.
