Sea Horses: the Last Secret

by Louise Cooper

  jugglers, clowns and the stilt-walkers she had seen earlier. And lastly came the grand parade of floats on their slow, rumbling lorries. Along the roadside people had gathered to see them go by. The closer they drew to the village the bigger the crowd became until, by the time they passed the church, the pavements on both sides were thronged. There was cheering and shouting and whistling; a lot of children had flags, which they waved madly, and the sound of the band now echoed and re-echoed between the buildings. Tamzin started to worry that the ponies would get nervous. But though Lark’s ears were pricked and her head held high, she didn’t jink or falter. Sally-Ann, on the far side, walked on as quietly as ever, and Bramble, in the shafts of the carriage, was perfectly calm.

  Hannah and her attendants were having the time of their lives. They all sat upright in the carriage, giving regal waves to everyone and trying to look dignified. But whenever they saw someone they knew, dignity was hurled aside and they yelled and bounced on the seats.

  ‘Steady!’ said Mrs Richards to them, trying not to laugh. ‘We don’t want anyone falling out!’

  ‘Look!’ Joel called to Tamzin over the noise of the procession. ‘There’s your nan!’

  How Nan had reached the centre of the village ahead of them Tamzin couldn’t imagine, but there she was, smiling and waving.

  ‘Alec too,’ Joel added. ‘I didn’t know he was coming today.’

  ‘Neither did I.’

  Alec had a silly streamer on a stick in one hand and an ice cream in the other, and Tamzin giggled as she waved back. They had passed the church now and were surging on along the village street. Joel leaned over to speak to his mother and Tamzin heard him say, ‘Bramble’s taking it all in his stride, isn’t he? You’d think he did this sort of thing every day!’

  Mrs Richards nodded. ‘He’s marvellous. Almost as good as poor Moonlight used to be.’

  A sharp pang went through Tamzin and her vision blurred suddenly as tears sprang to her eyes. Quickly she blinked them away, biting her lip hard. She still missed Moonlight so much that even to hear someone speak his name brought the sadness back. Mrs Richards didn’t know that, of course. And she would never know the truth about what had become of him. But for a moment Tamzin caught Joel’s eye, and saw that he knew what she was thinking. She blinked again. The hurt would go, in time. Surely it would…

  As that thought went through her mind, she saw a white shape a little way ahead.

  Tamzin’s hands tightened on the reins with a jerk, causing Lark to toss her head in protest. Her eyes were still a bit blurry; quickly she rubbed them until the scene was clear again. The white shape had vanished. She must have imagined it. It wasn’t possible…

  They turned a bend in the street and suddenly the sun was in her eyes. But through the dazzle she saw the shape again. It was there! It was turning to look back at her, and in its whiteness was a sheen of blue!

  Tamzin’s heart seemed to turn over inside her. Then, without any warning, the vision was gone again – but only for a moment, before it reappeared right in front of Bramble’s nose.

  Tamzin’s eyes popped and she cried out in disbelief, ‘Moonlight!’

  chapter eight

  Suddenly there was chaos. Bramble gave a shrill whinny of fear; he shied, then reared and swerved. Mrs Richards was taken completely by surprise and had no time to react. The carriage rocked and tilted, and Hannah and her attendants screamed as they were flung sideways on the seats. The other ponies were rearing too. In a blur of confusion Tamzin glimpsed Joel clinging frantically to Sally-Ann’s mane as he was almost thrown, while Lark danced and careered towards the crowd.

  ‘No, Lark, no!’ Tamzin struggled to get Lark under control.

  Mrs Richards had jumped from the carriage’s driving seat and was at Bramble’s head. Several people ran to help, and for the next few minutes Tamzin had no time for anything but the emergency. At last, though, everything was calm again. Bramble was quiet, his sides heaving as he breathed, and Lark and Sally-Ann stood still with their heads down.

  And the vision of Moonlight had gone again – this time, Tamzin knew, for good.

  ‘Are you All right?’ Mrs Richards breathlessly asked Hannah and the other girls.

  Hannah gulped and nodded. ‘Yes, we’re fine, thanks. Wow! That was scary!’

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ said Mrs Richards. ‘I don’t know what happened – something in the crowd must have frightened them.’

  Then she hadn’t seen Moonlight… Quickly Tamzin looked at Joel and her eyes asked a question. But Joel only looked back blankly. He didn’t understand. He hadn’t seen either.

  But the ponies had…

  The parade was halted while the stewards discussed whether or not they should continue. It was decided that they should, but Mrs Richards said she would walk beside Bramble and lead him, just to be on the safe side. So the procession set off again.

  Within a few minutes everyone had settled down, and there were no more incidents – and no more visions. They completed their circuit of the village and at last arrived back at the sports field.

  The fˇCte was already getting under way, but Tamzin and the Richardses were more concerned with the ponies. The Carnival Queen was to tour the fête in her carriage later on, so saddles and bridles and harness were taken off and Bramble, Lark and Sally-Ann were tethered in the shade of the horsebox with a helping of hay and a bucket of water each.

  Tamzin was certain now that Joel hadn’t seen Moonlight, and as she helped him settle the ponies she asked herself over and over again why the vision had appeared to her. The Blue Horse was definitely trying to tell her something.

  Joel’s voice broke in. ‘I’m going to get something to eat, Tam. You coming?’

  ‘No,’ said Tamzin. ‘I’m not hungry. I’ll hang on here.’

  She watched him walk away, then sighed and sat down on the grass near Lark, who had finished drinking and was nibbling at her hay. Lark pushed her muzzle against Tamzin’s shoulder, and Tamzin stroked her nose absent-mindedly as she tried to work out the puzzle of the Blue Horse’s message.

  Then, behind her, someone said, ‘Hi, Tam.’

  It was Hannah, still in her Carnival Queen costume but without the cloak and crown.

  Tamzin smiled. ‘Hi. Are you OK now?’

  ‘Oh, yeah, no problem.’ Hannah paused.

  ‘Look, Tam, there’s something I want to ask you.’ She took a deep breath, then went on in a rush. ‘When the ponies got upset and we nearly overturned, you shouted something that sounded like “Moonlight”.’

  Tamzin’s expression froze. ‘Did I?’ she said uneasily.

  ‘You know you did! What did you mean?’ Hannah paused again. ‘Tam, what did you see?’ She peered hard into Tamzin’s face and added challengingly, ‘It was a white horse, wasn’t it?’

  Shock hit Tamzin like a cold wave. They stared at each other, then Hannah said, ‘I’m right, aren’t I? Don’t try and pretend. I saw it too. But nobody else did – just us, and the ponies.’ She sat back on her heels. ‘What was it, Tam?’

  Tamzin didn’t know what to say. Half of her wanted to confide in Hannah, but the other half said, No, don’t. You mustn’t. She wouldn’t believe it anyway.

  She dithered, and Hannah shook her head. ‘It’s no good. I’m not going anywhere till you tell me everything.’

  If Hannah had seen Moonlight, then maybe the Blue Horse had a reason. Tamzin had to trust that. And she badly needed someone to help her.

  She took a deep breath and said, ‘All right. I’ll tell you. But I don’t know if you’ll ever be able to believe it…’

  To Tamzin’s surprise, Hannah did believe it. Maybe that was simply because she wanted to – Hannah had a vivid imagination and loved the thought of any kind of mystery or adventure. But whatever the reason, she took in the story with wide eyes and an eager face.

  Tamzin did not tell her everything. Some details were too strange for even Hannah to accept. But what she did say was more than enough.


  ‘You mean, what we saw was like the – the ghost of this pony Moonlight, who’s really the Blue Horse?’ Hannah breathed. ‘Wow! That is just wild! And the whole Blue Horse and Grey Horse thing has got something to do with Lion Rock?’

  Tamzin nodded. ‘I think so,’ she said. ‘I dreamed about it, and I felt it that day when your dad took us out in his boat.’

  ‘Of course – you wanted to go round to the far side, didn’t you? But there wasn’t enough time.’ Hannah whistled between her teeth. ‘Sheesh! I wish we had! What d’you think we’d have found?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Tamzin helplessly. ‘That’s what’s so frustrating. I’m sure the Blue Horse wants me to go there, but I don’t see how I can.’

  ‘Dad’d take you again… but then of course you’d have to tell him why, and he’d think you were nuts. Yeah, I see the problem.’ Hannah thought for a few moments. ‘Unless…’

  ‘Unless what?’

  Hannah’s expression changed and her eyes glinted eagerly. ‘Unless I take you?’

  ‘That’s crazy! How can –’

  ‘Shut up and listen, will you? Dad’s boat’s still at the beach – he left it there because he’s been doing some night fishing. I know how to handle it, so all we need is someone to help get it into the sea, and –’

  ‘No way!’ said Tamzin. ‘For one thing, your dad would be sure to find out, and for another, I don’t want to get you involved in something that might be dangerous!’

  ‘Well, tough luck, because I am involved!’ Hannah retorted, then grinned. ‘Think about it. Joel and Mrs Richards didn’t see the Blue Horse, but I did. He must have shown himself to me for a reason, right? So, what could that reason be? Answer – because I’m the person he wants to help you!’

  She folded her arms, her face triumphant, and Tamzin stared at her with dawning realization. Hannah was right – she must be. Why else would Moonlight have appeared to the two of them and to no one else? Crazy though Hannah’s idea might seem, it was the one chance she had of getting to Lion Rock. And the Blue Horse knew it.

  As if from a long way off, she heard herself whisper, ‘Do you really think we could?’

  ‘Sure I do. And you know what? I think we should go right now!’

  ‘Now? But what about the Carnival?’

  ‘Nuts to the Carnival,’ said Hannah.

  ‘What’s more important?’

  ‘Well…’

  ‘Look, the weather’s perfect and the tide’s just right, and we won’t be seen by anyone we know because they’re all here.’

  ‘But we’ll be missed.’

  ‘Not if we don’t hang around. If we go right now, we can be back well before the fête finishes, and no one’ll be any the wiser. What do you think?’

  A small inner voice was warning Tamzin to say no. But she squashed it down, together with the thought that she might be making a terrible mistake. The temptation was just too strong.

  ‘All right,’ she agreed breathlessly.

  ‘Great! Let’s get moving. Best way to the beach from here is over the cliff paths. I can bike it. What about you?’

  ‘I haven’t got a bike.’ For a moment Tamzin was dismayed, then her eyes lit up. ‘But I could take Lark. Then, if anyone looks for me, they’ll think I’ve gone for a ride.’

  ‘Brill! Come on. I’ll change out of this gear and meet you behind the clubhouse.’

  Five minutes later they set off. No one saw them go, and they took a little-used track that led towards the cliffs. Hannah knew all the paths and short cuts, and she cycled at precarious speed over the bumpy ground while Tamzin trotted after her on Lark.

  The sounds of the fête had faded away behind them, and now all Tamzin could hear were the thud-thud of Lark’s hooves and the occasional cry of a gull. Her stomach was churning with nervous excitement, just as it had done this morning, but now it had a very different cause. Every so often the small inner voice came back, telling her she should not, not be doing this. It was completely mad. It was completely wrong. They should have told someone – Joel at least –

  But Joel would have argued, and tried to stop them from going. And she wanted to go. She wanted it more than anything in the world.

  Ferociously she pushed the voice away, and her nerves with it. Hannah was far ahead of her now, and beyond the rushing purple bike she could see the cove and the beach.

  Tamzin pressed her heels to Lark’s flanks and urged her on faster.

  chapter nine

  My Maid was where Mr Roskear had left her, with several other boats in a corner of the car park near the top of the rock slope.

  ‘Go and ask if you can tie Lark up by the cafe,’ said Hannah, ‘and I’ll find someone to help us get the boat on to the beach.’

  Because of Carnival the beach was less crowded than usual, but there were still enough people around for Hannah to recruit the help she wanted. The tide was going out and there was hardly any surf. By the time Tamzin came back from settling Lark, Hannah and three strong young holidaymakers had got the boat to the foot of the slope and were hauling her on her trailer towards the sea’s edge.

  A few curious onlookers gathered to watch the launch, but they were all strangers. As Hannah climbed over the boat’s side, Tamzin had another surge of doubt. But it faded, as the others had done, and she too scrambled in. The outboard engine started with a roar, then they were bouncing through the shallow surf and heading out to sea.

  ‘Hope there’s enough fuel to get us there and back,’ Hannah said cheerfully.

  ‘What?’ Tamzin’s face paled.

  ‘Only joking!’ Hannah grinned. ‘Don’t worry. I checked. I do know what I’m doing.’

  She was handling the boat with a confidence that Tamzin envied. They nosed cautiously between swimmers and past a lifeguard, floating on his big rescue surfboard, who recognized Hannah and waved.

  ‘Do you know him?’ Tamzin asked anxiously.

  ‘Yeah. But don’t worry. He’ll think Dad said it was OK for us to go out.’

  Hannah swung the tiller as a wave humped across their path, and spray flurried in Tamzin’s face as they were lifted and dropped down on the other side.

  ‘The swell’s bigger than it was at the swimming race,’ Hannah commented.

  Tamzin’s heart was pounding nervously. ‘It’s not too big, is it?’ she asked. ‘I mean, could it be dangerous?’

  ‘No, it’s fine. Might be a bit of a bumpier ride than last time, that’s all.’

  Tamzin thought that ‘a bit bumpier’ was putting it mildly. Though she didn’t want to admit it, she was afraid. All right, Hannah knew what she was doing. But the sea was unpredictable.

  And so was the Grey Horse…

  She looked back at the beach and was dismayed to see how far away it already looked. They had left the splashing and swimming holidaymakers far behind, and the lifeguard on his board wasn’t watching them. With an effort she made herself turn again and gaze at Lion Rock… and suddenly her fear was eclipsed by another, far stronger feeling. It was as if the rock – or something in it – was calling to her. Her pulse wasn’t racing with fright any more, but with a kind of eager longing. She was close to the heart of the mystery, she knew it as surely as she had ever known anything. She wouldn’t and couldn’t turn back now. Whatever might be waiting, she had to see this through.

  Her fingers closed over the glass talisman on her bracelet. It felt warm, familiar and comforting. The Blue Horse wasn’t far away. And it would help her, as it had done so often before.

  ‘Everything OK?’ Hannah asked above the noise of the engine.

  Tamzin smiled back. ‘Yes,’ she said, and meant it. ‘Everything’s fine!’

  Joel was watching a local rock band that was playing at one side of the sports field when a Carnival steward whom he knew came up to him.

  ‘Joel, you haven’t seen Hannah Roskear, have you?’

  ‘No,’ said Joel.

  ‘Oh. Well, she’s disappeared, and so has her bike, and th
e organizers are very annoyed. She’s supposed to be Carnival Queen for the whole day, not just until it suits her to sneak off somewhere.’ The steward sighed. ‘I wondered if you or your friend Tamzin might know where she is.’

  Joel shook his head. ‘Not me. Tamzin might, though. She’s with the ponies, I expect, by the horsebox. Shall I go and find her?’

  ‘Yes, please. Tell her that we need Hannah in the marquee, and soon!’

  The steward hurried away and Joel crossed the field to the horsebox. The ponies were on the far side of the box. He went round the back of the ramp. Tamzin wasn’t there. Neither was Lark.

  Joel frowned. All right, Tamzin might be off enjoying the fête. But she wouldn’t have taken Lark with her. He checked the tack and saw that Lark’s saddle and bridle were also missing. Odd… He’d surely have seen Tamzin if she was riding around the field; anyway, she knew that the ponies were supposed to rest until later. The steward said Hannah’s bike had gone too. What were they up to?

  Though he couldn’t say why, Joel suddenly had an instinct that something was going on, and he didn’t like the feeling. He started towards the sports clubhouse, his eyes sharply alert for any sign of Tamzin or Hannah. Then, as he was passing a gap in the field’s surrounding hedge, he paused.

  An earth path led from the gap, away towards the cliffs. There had been no rain lately, so the surface was loose and dusty. In the dust, Joel saw two sets of marks. Hoof prints and the tyre tracks of a bicycle.

  He stared at them while a dozen different thoughts ran through his mind. Then, quickly, he scanned the field again. In the distance was a familiar figure.

  Joel started to run towards her.

  ‘Mrs Weston!’

  Nan turned at the sound of Joel’s shout, and smiled as he came hurrying up to her.

  ‘Hello, Joel.’

  ‘Mrs Weston, do you know where Tamzin is?’ Joel asked breathlessly.

  ‘I haven’t seen her.’ Then Nan saw the worry on his face. ‘Is something wrong?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Joel. ‘But I think it might be.’ He told her about Hannah and Lark, and the tracks he had seen in the dust. As she listened, Nan’s expression became serious.