Death is a Dialogue Between the Spirit and the Dust

"It's ok boy, we're almost there now."

Chance was squealing and groaning from under my constant flogging as we raced faster and farther towards the great wall now in the distance. His hooves were splitting; his gait lessening and I knew it would only be a matter of time before he joined the other souls in the forest. Drawing my eyebrows closer together I concentrated on forgetting all that I had seen and keeping my mind on reaching the monstrosity of stone that lay ahead.

Dust ran in short clouds behind us and I ignored the farmers who stopped to stare at us as we rode onwards. I could only pray that the guards at the gate would allow us to enter. Shouts went up as we neared the main gate.

An elderly traveler had directed my dazed and terrified form to the road that would lead me to the main gate. I had not had time to question him and for some reason I didn't want to. I still remembered the concern in his eyes and I merely nodded and scrambled onto Chance's back. I gave the man no second thought nor wondered why he had been there. All I remembered of him were his eyes… cold and sad.

I had tied my wrists to Chance's bridle sometime in the night in order to stay on his back. I could no longer find the strength or will to hold on. The leather chaffed and tore at the soft flesh of my wrists. I closed my eyes and listened to the calls of the guards go up. Every time I opened my eyes I still saw them. Maggots... Shuddering, I willed it away. It wouldn't be until later that I would notice that they had never ordered the gate to be closed as I neared the main courtyard of the Wall. I passed through the first gate with ease I knew this because the light changed behind my closed eyes.

I knew I must open my eyes, I must find out if Arthur did live here.. I must tell someone the things that I had seen. It was so hard. Chance was buckling. A gate creaked and was pulled open I could hear people… people, a crowd maybe. Squinting, I slid further to Chance's side, unable to keep myself completely upright and through the haze and heat I could make out faces. People, many people, a crowd, children, men, women, brown, stone, hands… cheers... They were cheering!

In an instance that felt like an eternity Chance's body finally gave way and we drifted downwards. Like a dam breaking we washed ashore into the court of Arthur. The ground was firm and burned as my side ran along its surface until crashing into a warm furry body and stopping short. My wrists were in pieces as well as Chance's body.

With what little energy I had left I lifted my fingers and ran them up and down the stallion's bloodied torso.

"Go dte tu slan dluthchara."

Hands on my body pulled and tugged, voices called up in the air strange things that I did not understand. Closing my eyes once more I let unpaid rest claim my body as its own. The roar of the crowd dying on my ears…