5. THE RESCUE

Again, I felt a prickling under my skin. Instinct was warning me about something, but what? It was vague and unclear. I moved restlessly, and waited. The wind was whipping around my ears, carrying sound away. Wait, what was that? I pricked my ears carefully, and heard the boy whistling loud and long. He sounded quite urgent, and I answered him wildly. Was he in danger? I galloped to him where he stood on the bank. Now I saw strange men on the beach! I screamed at them in alarm and fury. The boy wrapped his arms around my neck and seemed very happy. He talked calmly and quietly to me, and I calmed slightly. He went down to the beach, and I followed him, although I was very suspicious. Who were these men? Would they hurt me? As we got closer, I planted my feet and rose in the air. The boy murmured to me, and I reluctantly followed, spooking at every move the men made. They finally scrambled into that silly little boat they had. I looked at the horizon, and saw a very large ship. Aha, that's where these men came from. Are we leaving the island? I was torn. I did not want to leave my safe new home, although I realized that it could not support me and the boy much longer.

The boy and the big man talked in their strange language. I pricked my ears to listen, and stood still. The boy got into the boat and the men started rowing! No! He can't leave me! I reared, and pranced on the beach. The boy called to me. I half stepped into the water, then backed out again. I bolted down the beach. He's leaving me! I ran back to where the boat left and screamed. The boy continued to call me. I hesitated...I could swim well, but the memories of the last one made me not want to do it again. The boat drew further and further away from me, and I realized I had a decision to make. Stay here or go? Suddenly I knew one thing, and one thing only: I loved the boy. I could not bear to be apart from him. I reared high, then plunged into the salty water. Soon enough the water was too deep and I was forced to swim. I could hear the boy calling encouragements to me.

After a little while, we were next to the large ship. Now what? I remembered being pulled onto the ship the first time, but now I was in the water. I looked to the boy to tell me what to do. Most of the men sprang easily to the boat, leaving the boy and one man behind in the little boat. Suddenly something on the ship swung over the side, and I looked up at it. I didn't know what it was, but it terrified me. I started to swim away from the ship, thinking perhaps I should go back to the island. The boy called me back and I swung around to face him. He grabbed onto the long wide ropes that hung down from the scary thing. The boy jumped into the water with a splash, startling me. I treaded water as he swam to my side. I wasn't sure what he was doing so I tried not to swim around. My hooves pistoned through the water, holding my head above it. The boy suddenly disappeared into the water! Where did he go? I looked around for him, but he popped up on my other side. There, he's okay. Now he swam closer to me and I felt something go around my belly. I was nervous about this, and my legs kicked harder. I hit something soft, and saw the boy wince in pain. Had I hit him? I did not dwell on it long as the belly bands drew tighter and tighter. The boy swam away from me back to the small boat and raised his arms. Now what?

I found out in a minute. The bands pulled me upward in a way I did not like. They were killing me! I pinned my ears and bared my teeth and pawed frantically, but I found myself going upwards whether I liked it or not. Soon, my body was pulled out of the water, and I continued to thrash. Let go of me! I'm to going to kill whoever is doing this to me! I kicked mightily but the bands did not loosen. I was swung over the boat's side and saw all the men gawking at me. I was filled with fury, and wanted to attack every one of them. At last I was lowered enough for my hooves to touch the deck. Alright! Time to fight! I lunged at the closest man, but the bands drew tight again and I was lifted off my feet. I was furious at the thwarted opportunity and screamed at them. Again they lowered me, and I tried again to attack. I was yanked upwards again, and I neighed fiercely, baring my teeth. I jumped around as best I could. I couldn't see the boy, so they must have done something to him! A man stepped forward, apparently to brace himself better. Unfortunately for him, he was in reach of my hooves. I struck at him, and felt satisfied when he was knocked down. The men looked shocked. Hah! Take that! I saw one wheel a lasso and throw it around my neck. Then another did the same. Anger coursing through me, I fought them as best I could, suspended in the air. But my air was being choked off. I couldn't breathe. I fought wildly, trying to get air in, but they were killing me. Things were fading to black, and I felt my feet hit the deck, but I couldn't' fight. The men loosed the noose just enough so I could take a breath again, and then moved me down another deck, where it was dimly lit. They shoved me in a stall, and put a halter on me and shut me up. I was too weak to fight them, but made a not that I should do it sooner or later, especially if the boy did not show up again.

A while later, I finally recovered my wits and my breath. I looked around me. From the motion of the floor under me, I understood that I was on a boat, but in a much more airy stall than the last one. I was also not alone. There were other horses, and cattle as well in stalls too. I whinneyed at them, but they only eyed me warily. A man came to look at me, and I pinned my ears back at him. He wasn't the boy, and the boy was what I wanted. The man watched me for a while, making me feel uncomfortable. He finally walked away when I double barrel kicked the stall. He came back, bringing me me hay. I bared my teeth at him, and he tossed it as best he could to me. I wasn't hungry yet, though, as my throat was still sore from the choking they had done. I whinnied loudly, hoping to bring the boy to me. The other horses spooked at my voice and were quite restless. The cattle lowed and stomped about. I looked at them curiously. They were a different kind than the cows I had seen. They sensed me watching them, and bumped each other harder so I nibbled on my hay.

I was furious at being kept in a stall again, and made my anger known by kicking the stall, and pinning my ears back at anyone who came. What had they done with the boy?