Flight

by Vanessa Harbour

  Chapter 4

  ‘I want you to ride Raluca. He’s full of good sense. Trust him.’ Herr Engel stood in the stable, late in the afternoon. Jakob listened as intently as he could. They’d spent all day grooming and feeding the horses, getting them ready. Now he was shattered. He tried to stifle a yawn. Engel raised an eyebrow but continued. He handed him some rope halters and lead reins. ‘You will be leading Flavory, Maestro, Pluto, Largo and Jupiter.’

  Jakob’s mouth dropped open. ‘All of them?’

  ‘Yes. Do you see anyone else?’ His guardian made a dramatic sweep of the stables with his arm.

  ‘But…’

  Herr Engel dismissed his concerns. ‘You can do it. I’ll take the rest. Now tack them all up.’ He strode away. ‘Oh, and make sure the reins aren’t loose and that the stirrups aren’t hanging down.’ He turned back. ‘Put the rope halters over the top. All right?’

  He went into the stable and Jakob was left standing in the yard, turning the ropes over in his hand. Would he really be able to do it? The thought of trying to control all those horses with just these ropes, and while on the back of a horse, was daunting.

  His guardian’s voice broke the silence. ‘Be quick and quiet about it.’

  Walking into the stalls, Jakob hatched a plan. If he acted confident…

  The stallions seemed to be waiting for him. ‘Well, boys, this is it! We’re going on a little trip!’ It almost sounded confident, apart from the slight crack in his voice at the end. Some of the horses nickered back a welcome. Maybe it had worked.

  ‘Maestro, you’re first.’ Picking up a saddle and bridle, he walked into the jet-black stallion’s stall. Jakob placed the saddle on his back. ‘You know you have a huge responsibility, being the only black Lipizzaner in the yard? Jet black equals Sunday’s child, which means good luck, see?’ He gave Maestro’s neck a consolatory pat. Sighing, he gazed up at the mountains. ‘And we’re going to need all the luck in the world.’

  As he tightened the girth, Jakob couldn’t stop his hands shaking. Catching his thumb, he shouted, ‘Ouch!’ and stuck his thumb in his mouth. Maestro whinnied in sympathy. ‘Sorry, boy, that was my fault.’ He shook his head. ‘Jakob, stop being stupid.’

  Working as quickly and quietly as he could, he moved to the steel grey, Flavory, who shone like metal when he was groomed properly. Then he went onto Largo, a flea-bitten grey.

  Jakob laughed as he approached him. ‘I don’t know, next to those other two, who are both so sleek and shiny, you look like a child has flicked you with a black paintbrush, or you’ve been bitten by loads of fleas, of course. That must be why the colour’s called flea-bitten, mustn’t it?’ He knew he was waffling. The boy winked at Largo when he’d finished, and moved on to Jupiter. ‘You, on the other hand, your dapples look like a starlit night, so beautiful.’

  Jakob tacked them all up without injuring himself again and led them out to the yard one by one, where he tied them to the fence. Jupiter’s rope kept slipping through his fingers. ‘My hands are so clammy,’ he moaned. He rubbed them hard against his jodhpurs, trying to dry them. But it was pretty useless.

  The enormity of what they were about to do weighed heavily on him. The air was thick with tension and the horses picked up on it and danced around.

  ‘Just Pluto and Raluca to go,’ he reassured Herr Engel, as he passed his guardian and strode into Pluto’s stall. The stallion was fed up of waiting and snatched at his shirt, catching a bit of skin with it. ‘Now that really hurt,’ Jakob said through gritted teeth. ‘Don’t be like that, not today of all days.’ He scratched at the stallion’s coat, flea-bitten grey like Largo’s, but his tone was brown rather than black. The mix of white and brown made him look a bit pink. Jakob always thought it was a funny colour for a horse. He could be a tricky one and today it seemed was one of those days.

  A clattering echoed around the yard. Jakob’s heart missed a thousand beats and Pluto pranced around, his hoof landing on Jakob’s foot.

  ‘Ow! What was that?’

  Herr Engel shouted back, ‘Sorry, it was me, I tripped over a bucket.’

  Jakob blew his cheeks out and said to the fretting stallion. ‘It’s all right, lad. Let’s get you ready to go.’

  The stallion tried to nip him again.

  ‘Watch it! That really isn’t very nice, you know.’ Pulling his shirt out of the stallion’s mouth, he tried to slip the snaffle bit in there instead, but the horse clamped his mouth shut. Jakob sighed. ‘Not now, Pluto, do come on.’

  Pluto threw his head back and shook it.

  They didn’t have time to play games. He had an inspiration. ‘I know what I’ll get you.’ He turned on his heels and walked out, returning with a small lump of precious sugar in his open hand. He placed it carefully next to the snaffle bit. ‘What do you think?’

  Pluto was too greedy to resist taking both sugar and bit into his mouth at once.

  ‘Good boy!’ Relieved, Jakob slipped the rest of the bridle on. With his clumsy fingers he tried to do up the bridle buckles, but Pluto continued to prance around the stall. The stallion was in a mood now.

  ‘Will you please stand still?’ His irritation sliced through the air.

  Pluto stared at him, almost daring him to move.

  Jakob looked away. He knew better than to play Pluto’s game. He’d been there too many times before. He closed his eyes, just long enough for Pluto to get bored. The horse came up and snuffled at Jakob’s hand. He didn’t respond, making the stallion wait before rubbing his neck.

  ‘Was I not paying you any attention? Well, if you stop messing about, I will! All right, let’s get your saddle on.’

  Pluto blew air out of his nostrils and dropped his head.

  ‘I know, I know, you really want to play, but today’s not the day.’ He placed Pluto’s saddle on and the stallion eventually allowed him to tighten his girth. Then he led him out to the front, tying him to the fence. ‘Wait here, I’m going to get Raluca.’

  The stallion almost nodded, before starting to gnaw on his rope.

  ‘Don’t do that either!’ Jakob laughed.

  Getting the horses ready when they were determined to play the fool was exhausting work, and he still had one more to go. Jakob ran his hand through his hair. He took Raluca’s saddle and bridle and pushed into the stallion’s stall.

  ‘Come on Raluca, just you to go. I know it’s late.’

  The horse nickered softly, nuzzling at him. The stallion behaved perfectly as the boy slipped the snaffle bit in and did up his bridle with still trembling fingers.

  ‘You seem almost white in this light. Could you have a word with your mate Pluto about how to behave, please? You know exactly what to do. You are so patient,’ he chattered as he struggled to do up the girth.

  Lastly he needed to put the halter on. He knew he’d hung it up on the side of the stall with the hay nets, so he reached out for it. But his hands found no ropes or halter. He looked. There was nothing there. Where was it? He couldn’t see it anywhere. This was mad. Jakob knew he’d brought it in

  with him.

  Raluca snorted.

  Jakob turned.

  The stallion had the halter hanging from his mouth and a twinkle in his eye.

  ‘What the…? You’re wicked!’ All the tension melted away as he roared with laughter.

  Taking the halter from the stallion, he placed it on the horse’s head. Raluca pushed his muzzle into Jakob and snuffled at his hand.

  ‘It will be all right, won’t it?’

  The stallion nickered.

  ‘I wish I could be as confident as you.’

  He led the stallion outside to join the others. The sun had started to set and there were hints of mauve on the horizon. Herr Engel had all his stallions lined up and waiting too.

  During the day, Herr Engel had packed everything that they and the horses might need into saddlebags. He had strapped the bags and blankets to several of the horses. Now he was tying his rolled-up blanket and the shotgun t
o the stallion he was going to ride: Monte, a grey with powerful hindquarters and stubby little legs but a big heart.

  ‘I never thought I’d see the day when Lipizzaners were loaded up like pack horses,’ said Herr Engel, shaking his head.

  Jakob nodded. The elegant animals did look very strange indeed. ‘Will they be all right?’ They were a wonderful collection of different shades of grey, from almost white to Maestro’s jet black. They were getting quite agitated, all holding their heads high, with arched necks. Many were dancing on their toes. ‘They know something is up.’

  ‘Of course they do. But they’re tough, don’t worry. Now put this extra sweater on and tie this round your waist.’ He handed him a sweater and a belt with a knife sheath on it.

  Jakob pulled the knife out of the sheath. It was a double blade and seemed very sharp as it glinted in the setting sun.

  ‘You may need to cut yourself free if the horses play up. Leading this many horses is never going to be easy and certainly not when they’re on edge like this.’

  It sounded terrifying. Jakob pulled on his sweater. ‘Hopefully they’ll calm down soon.’

  Herr Engel fiddled with Monte’s girth. ‘Now, if you go first and lead them to the woods, I’ll follow on and meet you there. We can take the bridle path to the river and then we can follow that. Sound reasonable?’

  Jakob had no idea, but he had no alternative and it got them away from Bauer. He nodded.

  ‘Up you get then.’

  Jakob untied Raluca and jumped up on his back, slipping his feet into the stirrups.

  ‘Have you got the knife?’ Herr Engel double-checked.

  Lifting his sweater, he showed his guardian. The stallion danced. Jakob swung him round to face Engel.

  ‘Good. You’re not going to be able to hold all five ropes and the reins in each hand, you need to tie some to the others. Let me show you.’ He grabbed the ropes with his gnarled hands, which were trembling, Jakob noticed, and twisted them round one another, tying them together. Maybe he was worried too.

  Herr Engel touched his hand briefly. ‘You will be able to do it, you know.’

  Before long all five horses were attached to Jakob. They snatched at their bits and pulled at the ropes.

  ‘You ready?’

  He nodded.

  ‘Don’t worry, they’ll settle down soon. Now off you go.’

  Jakob took a deep breath, squeezed his legs lightly against Raluca and clicked his tongue. The horse looked behind briefly before moving forward.

  Allegra had been his favourite but Raluca had always ridden well too, luckily. The stallions behind didn’t follow immediately. Only when the ropes tightened did they get the message. Plus Herr Engel slapped Pluto on the rump.

  ‘Go on, boy!’

  That woke him up. He jumped forward, dragging the others.

  They trotted out of the yard. The hooves, clattering on the road, sounded like thunder to Jakob. It was only a short trip to the field, but it felt like an eternity. He kept looking around. Were the Germans waiting to swoop on them?

  Herr Engel was right; the horses began to settle and not snatch at the ropes quite so much. ‘Come on, boys,’ he whispered, ‘time to take you home.’

  Chapter 5

  Jakob tried to stretch the ache out of his arms and legs. Not easy with so many ropes and reins to keep hold of. He’d never ridden for this long before and his body was screaming. He dropped his feet out of the stirrups, allowing his legs to dangle down. The reins slipped through his hands and Raluca’s head drooped.

  ‘There you go, does that feel better?’

  The stallions had settled and were following behind, only pulling occasionally. With his relatively free hand, Jakob tried to massage his forehead to ease his pounding head.

  ‘What else?’ he laughed to himself. ‘Got to keep going though.’ He shifted slightly in his saddle. If only he knew how long it was until the clearing. He was beginning to wish he’d looked at the map with Herr Engel. At least then he’d be able to visualise the distance.

  ‘What did you say?’ asked his guardian, turning briefly in his saddle.

  ‘Oh, nothing.’

  Around him still bare trees, with the slightest nubs of buds on their twigs, stood stark against the blackness. Branches grabbed at them as they passed. Jakob snatched his head away from their clutches.

  Something moved in the corner of his eye. He stared into the woods. Was he imagining it? Questions and doubts going round and round made his head pound more. Who would want to follow them? Before he could say anything, Herr Engel slowed up and twisted in his saddle.

  He whispered,‘We’re coming up to the SS Schloss.’

  Jakob felt like his head would explode. ‘What?’

  ‘We need to move as quickly and quietly as we can.’

  Jakob looked at the twelve grey stallions. How exactly were they going to do that? ‘They’ll kill us,’ he said. ‘What if Bauer sees us?’

  ‘We’ve no choice. We can’t go by the roads.’ Herr Engel’s eyes were sad yet defiant.

  Jakob felt sick to the pit of his stomach. Swallowing, he gripped the reins. Raluca tensed underneath him, his head coming up and his ears flicking to and fro. Jakob took a deep breath. ‘Where is it?’

  ‘We’ve got a bit to go. Round the next bend in the river, I think. But when we get there we should go by separately. Quieter that way. I’ll go first then you move on my signal.’

  Jakob strained to keep the stallions together.

  Herr Engel whispered, ‘You need to trust me.’

  That was easy for him to say. Jakob glared at his stallions dancing around him, being anything but quiet.

  ‘Oi, boys, stop pulling,’ he whispered, gulping down the panic welling up inside him.

  ‘They’ll be fine. Stop worrying.’

  ‘We could go back? I’m sure I could hide for a bit longer.’ Jakob muttered, ‘You said yourself the war won’t go on forever.’

  Herr Engel gave him a sharp stare. ‘Don’t be ridiculous, boy. It’s not about you. Think of the horses.’

  The stallions all shifted around, some pulling to snatch shoots of spring grass. Herr Engel was right, he couldn’t risk them being shot. He sighed.

  They moved through the wood until Herr Engel turned again.

  ‘Right, we’re here. Can you see the castle beyond the trees?’

  Jakob peered through the gloom and could just make out a huge white building with long lines of windows on four floors. There were hexagonal turrets at each corner. It should have been beautiful, almost straight out of a fairytale, but he was too aware of what went on inside.

  ‘Wait here until I give two flashes with my torch. Right?’

  ‘All right,’ said Jakob, sounding a lot more certain than he felt.

  His heart slipped into his boots as Herr Engel and Monte walked off, followed by half the stallions, leaving Jakob waiting in the trees. Alone. Peering round, the wood suddenly seemed full of suspicious noises. Every crack and creak made him jump. Convinced the Germans were about to find them, his nerves transferred to the horses. Their ears were twitching, tails swishing. An owl hooted in the distance.

  ‘Ssh,’ said Jakob to no one in particular.

  He watched closely for Herr Engel’s signal, staring into the darkness. After what seemed like an eternity, the two flashes shone out. It was Jakob’s turn.

  He squeezed his legs and asked Raluca to move along the bridle path. The stallion stepped forward easily, but the ropes round his wrists tightened, yanking him backwards and almost out of his saddle. The stallions behind weren’t so willing.

  ‘Ow!’ He wanted to scream, but he sat firmly down in the saddle and pulled hard at the ropes. ‘Get a move on!’

  Finally they started to walk, dancing forward.

  ‘Come on, boys!’

  Hooves crunching on twigs and leaves sounded like drums announcing their arrival.

  ‘Can’t you walk quietly?’

  Ahead in the darkness he
could see swastika flags hanging from the windows of the Schloss, flapping in the wind. Close now, he held his breath and pushed Raluca forward, silent prayers running through his mind. Bile was rising in his throat, but he swallowed it down. He had to keep calm or the horses would panic.

  They walked slowly along the bottom of the garden. In the moonlight he could see immaculate lawns were laid out in tiers above them, edged with large pots. Jakob had never seen a garden like it before. It seemed to go on forever. He just wanted to get away.

  Their black-out windows weren’t working; he could see shadows moving around inside. All they had to do was look out and they’d see him. His stomach crunched. This time he couldn’t swallow the bile down, he spat the burning acid on the ground.

  Looking up, he could vaguely see Herr Engel in the shadows. He must be about half way there.

  The ropes tightened round his wrist and he gasped. He looked back. It was Pluto. Something had spooked him.

  ‘It’s all right, lad,’ whispered Jakob as quietly as he could.

  But the young horse wouldn’t be calmed. Pluto’s eyes rolled and his ears were flat. He half reared in panic. Jakob clicked his tongue, trying to soothe him … and failing.

  ‘Come on.’ He couldn’t help his voice sounding high pitched, etched with fear.

  Pluto sensed it. The rose-grey stallion bucked and reared again. Jacob couldn’t settle him. Sweat was pouring down Jakob’s back. Pluto’s terror infected the other stallions, who pulled too.

  ‘I can’t do this,’ gulped Jakob.