Safe, page 13
Again they passed the sleeping children to Strom, who placed them carefully into the cart. He tucked the blankets around them. ‘Done!’ He put a thumbs up.
‘That wasn’t as easy as I thought,’ said Jakob. ‘Small girls can be surprisingly heavy when asleep.’
Kizzy thumped his shoulder.
‘Time to go, everyone? Are we ready?’ she asked.
Strom, Jakob, Anna and Damek all nodded. Everyone moved over to their horses. Kizzy glanced over at the fire, but she needn’t have worried. Someone, Jakob, she assumed, had covered it with dirt, so it was well and truly out.
Strom got Xandra ready to lead the cart again. Jakob held Eda, all tacked up and ready to go.
Kizzy bustled over to Eda and mounted the horse. Slipping her feet into the irons, she gathered up the reins. She said, ‘Thank you, Jakob. Same as yesterday, Anna and I are at the front, and you, Damek and Strom, with the cart at the back. Is that all right?’
‘Works for me,’ said Damek, turning Honza round and round, as the dark bay seemed unsettled. ‘I’d like to get going, though. Honza feels the need to move.’
Kizzy got the hint. She nodded at Anna, who had, at last, a slight pink blush to her very pale cheeks, much to Kizzy’s relief. ‘Wagons ho, everybody!’ She waved her hand in the air as if she had a cowboy hat.
All the horses headed out of the clearing, the sound echoing around the mountain, a cacophony of hooves and a cloud of dust once again.
Kizzy felt the fur under Eda’s mane, warm and soft. Her skin twitched. The saddle creaked as she moved. ‘Here we go again, Eda. We can do this, can’t we?’
The mare’s ears twitched to and fro.
‘Thank you for looking after me yesterday.’
The horse snorted and bobbed her head.
Kizzy smiled. ‘You’re also the most incredible colour. If you were clipped, I bet you’d shine like gold. Come on, let’s go.’ She squeezed her legs, and the mare responded easily.
They were off.
Chapter 29
The track wasn’t quite as wide as it wound through the trees towards the next mountain. She could smell pine and damp moss. Some of the riderless horses drifted among the trees but they all stayed close enough, following Anna and Kizzy as they moved forward.
Up above, through the leaves, Kizzy could see the sky’s deep azure blue.
‘Let’s hope we get no rain today. Are you really feeling better?’ she asked Anna, moving alongside her friend’s dapple-grey horse. ‘Does the cut feel all right? I haven’t checked it.’
Anna touched her head. ‘I’m fine!’ she answered, not looking at Kizzy.
‘And now for the honest answer, please.’ Kizzy laughed.
Anna glanced at her, looking slightly embarrassed, ‘I feel very tired and what my mama used to call “washed out”. I always thought it was such a strange phrase, but it’s so true. I feel like someone has taken hold of me and wrung me out like an old dishcloth.’ She sat up straight as if trying to prove something to Kizzy. ‘I’m all right though, really I am.’
‘I know you are. Just take it slowly today.’ Kizzy added, ‘If we can!’ Feeling restless, she said, ‘Are you up for getting this lot moving faster? Could you trot?’
Anna nodded. They pushed their horses on.
The wind blew through the trees, and it felt to Kizzy as if they were singing a song. For a moment, the war, the soldiers, and all the atrocities they’d seen seemed so far away.
This wasn’t the first time Kizzy had felt like this. She looked back at Jakob. If only she could talk to him about their last rescue attempt, but she knew they needed to keep looking forwards. Time was short. Kizzy felt the pressure to get these horses around this mountain as quickly as possible.
After a while, the trees thinned and the slopes got steeper, leading them away from the wood. The path didn’t go directly up the mountain; it went across and up the side. The herd drifted back onto the path, following Anna and Kizzy.
If Kizzy stood in her stirrups and turned back, she could see Strom with the cart, Jakob and Damek now behind them. She could see that Zuzu was sitting beside Strom again. They appeared to be concentrating hard. All the other children were awake too, watching carefully what was happening.
But then Kizzy looked forward and gulped. Up ahead she could see how narrow the path was. It twisted around the side.
‘Eda, this could be tricky,’ she whispered. ‘Let’s slow right down so everyone has to do the same.’ She decided not to tell the others why. They didn’t need to be frightened. She could worry for everyone.
As she led the way along the path, scree slipped down at Eda’s hooves. Kizzy held her breath, watching rocks tumbling and rolling down the side of the mountain. Luckily, the path stayed stable. The herd nipped and jostled each other behind her.
Anna rode closer. ‘Are we going to be able to do this?’
Kizzy turned in her saddle. She knew she couldn’t lie to Anna. ‘I’m hoping so, but it’s going to be tough. Keep them tight and we’ll take it very slowly.’
Anna’s face looked strained, her lips thin. She nodded before focusing on riding Bilko.
Guided by Kizzy, Eda took it steadily, placing each hoof carefully as they moved forward at a slow walk.
Relief swept over Kizzy as she went around the corner and saw that the path headed downhill on the other side. She signalled to Anna that it was safer there.
The herd behind her started to get nervous as they pushed and shoved each other, snorting, impatient to be down the mountain and on solid ground. They could clearly feel the danger, the momentum of the slope pulling them downwards. Kizzy kept the pace slow, trying not to look at the drop to one side. One glance at the rocks tumbling and smashing their way to the bottom had been enough.
Suddenly, Eda trod on a loose rock and stumbled, shooting Kizzy forward out of the saddle onto Eda’s neck. Kizzy gasped. ‘Woah, Eda!’ she said, gripping the reins and the horse’s mane as hard as she could as she struggled not to fall.
Horse and girl stared down the precipice.
Kizzy slowly shifted her weight backwards, as far as she could, not daring to breathe. Eda inched back with her, using all her strength to right herself. Finally she had her balance again, snorting and shaking her head. Kizzy sank back into the saddle, feeling very shaken.
Kizzy didn’t want to think about what would happen to them if they fell. Memories of Heinz and Monte flashed through her mind again. Shaking her head, she tried to push the images away. They made her feel sick.
‘Focus,’ she said to herself, patting Eda’s neck. ‘You need to concentrate on now, not the past.’ Giving herself a good talking to, she stared ahead along the path.
The horses clattered behind her as they headed down the mountain. Suddenly, she heard Strom shout. Kizzy turned around to see Zuzu slipping off the side of the cart as it struggled to get around the corner. The small girl emitted a high-pitched scream, unlike anything Kizzy had heard before, as she toppled over the side. Strom dived towards to the side and grabbed hold of her falling body with one arm.
Kizzy screamed, ‘Zuzu!’
The tiny girl dangled over the edge of the cart, clinging on to Strom’s arm. He had his right arm wrapped around her, while he gripped the reins and tried to manoeuvre the cart around the corner using his left hand. Kizzy could see the strain and fear etched across his face.
Xandra struggled to pull the cart forward. Wood grated against rock. The black mare’s ears were flat back. The horse was beginning to panic. Kizzy could see Jakob and Damek stuck behind them, fear imprinted on their faces.
She jumped down and threw the reins at Anna. ‘Take Eda’s reins. I need to get back. I can push my way through the herd.’
‘Shall I stop them?’ Anna sounded confused.
‘No, whatever you do, don’t stop them. Keep them going down the path. The last thing we want is a stampede.’
Kizzy looked her in the eye, trying to stay as calm as possible. ‘Anna, this is important. You need to take them slowly down the path. Trust me and don’t look back. We’ll meet you at the bottom.’
‘Are you mad?’
‘Anna, I don’t have time to discuss this.’ Kizzy knew she was being hard. She gently slapped Bilko on his rump. ‘I’ll see you in a bit.’
Chapter 30
Not waiting for Anna’s response, Kizzy set off against the tide of horses jostling for space as they walked down the path. She kept clicking her tongue and saying, ‘It’s all right, let me through,’ as she patted them, trying to get back up the hill as fast as she could. The horses nudged her, pushing their muzzles or butts into her face. Kizzy soon realised they had nowhere to move to. She couldn’t get through.
Thinking quickly, she pulled herself onto the back of one of the horses, a small chestnut mare. The herd still drifted down the path.
Carefully, Kizzy stood up, putting her arms out to balance. She allowed her feet and legs to move with the horse. She knew there could be no hesitation here. If she fell, she’d be trampled.
Kizzy gulped. ‘Here we go!’
Focusing on Xandra, she stepped from back to back, landing gently, rebalancing. She could feel each horse move beneath her. She startled the horses, but luckily none bucked or reared. Kizzy held her breath each time she stepped forward. All that messing about with Jakob balancing on the horses’ backs at the Schloss seemed to pay off. She felt like she was dancing. In her head, it seemed to take forever, but she soon got to Xandra.
Jakob shouted, ‘Go Kizzy!’ when she finally landed in front of the cart.
The cart was tilted to one side, its wheels half off the track and half on. Strom still had hold of Zuzu in one hand, the reins in the other, but he was right at the edge of the seat of the cart. Zuzu was dangling over the drop. The small girl’s face, pale and tear-stained, eyes wide with fear, stared up at her brother. The other children stood behind him in the cart, holding on to each other, crying.
At the back of the cart, she could see Jakob was using his full weight to keep the cart on the track by leaning against it and pulling on the side with all his might. Damek had hold of his horse, Krasava. Both horses were dancing around.
Strom didn’t look like he could hold on for much longer.
‘Zu, stay calm. I won’t let go, I promise,’ she heard Strom say.
Taking hold of Xandra’s bridle, Kizzy shouted, ‘Strom, I’ve got hold of Xandra.’ The mare tossed her head in the air at the sound of Kizzy’s voice. ‘Sssh, girl, I know that was loud. I didn’t mean it.’
Strom let go of the reins, reached down and grabbed his sister with both hands, dragging her small body up onto the cart.
Kizzy watched, her heart in her mouth. Xandra’s eyes rolled in fear. She snatched at her bit, froth forming at the side of her mouth.
Strom and Zuzu both fell back into the cart with a thud. All the children in the cart cheered and cried, scaring the mare further.
Kizzy held on to the bridle tightly and looked straight at the mare. Speaking carefully and gently, she said, ‘Xandra, you’re all right. I know it’s frightening, but I’m going to keep you safe. Trust me.’
The horse stared back at her, panting. Kizzy didn’t move. She focused completely on keeping eye contact.
Slowly Xandra settled. She pawed at the ground. Kizzy scratched the horse’s neck. The girl talked rubbish at the mare in a low, calm voice. Streaks of sweat left white marks on the horse’s black coat. The panic in her eyes eased.
Finally, Kizzy broke eye contact with Xandra and looked beyond to Strom and Jakob.
‘Are you all right? Are we ready to get this cart moving?’
Strom’s white face nodded at her. She could see red marks and bruises forming on his arms where the cart had dug into him as he held onto Zuzu.
Jakob’s strained voice said, ‘Yes, let’s get this done.’
She stroked Xandra’s face gently before taking hold of the bridle again. ‘Now Xandra…’ She focused on the mare’s eyes once more, maintaining eye contact. ‘We’re going to get this cart going. You can do this.’ She clicked her tongue and gently pulled on the bridle.
Strom took his seat on the cart and took up the reins. Xandra appeared startled, and Kizzy wasn’t sure if she’d move. She could feel sweat trickling down her back. Pulling slightly harder on the bridle, she said, ‘Come on, Xandra. You’re a good girl. Let’s get these children down to safety.’
The final sentence seemed to be the magic one. Xandra lowered her head slightly, in a bob, before slowly straining to take the weight of the cart and stepping forward one hoof at a time. Kizzy guided her carefully. ‘That’s it, girl.’
She could hear Jakob groaning as he pushed. Yet again the crunching sound of wood against rock reverberated around the mountains, but Kizzy was relieved it wasn’t splintering.
Very carefully, the horse moved forward, bringing the cart with her. Her ears were still pinned back, but her eyes never left Kizzy’s face. Kizzy kept her features soft, with a slight smile, suggesting a confidence she didn’t feel. She kept talking, reassuring the horse. Her eyes flicked between the mare’s and checking back on Strom and Jakob.
Her friend kept all his weight pushed against the cart, grunting and groaning as he pushed against the wood. She could just see the top of Jakob’s head poking above the cart. The children sitting inside were pale-faced and silent now, holding tight on to each other.
A tumble of rocks startled both Kizzy and Xandra. Jakob’s head disappeared.
‘Jakob!’ she shouted, terrified she’d lost her best friend.
Relief swept over her as a hand appeared above the cart, waving. ‘I’m here, I slipped. It’s all right.’
Kizzy rested her head against Xandra’s forehead and let out a deep sigh.
‘Remind me, Xandra, if anyone ever asks me to rescue horses again, to say no! I’m not sure my heart can take the strain. I can’t lose Jakob … but don’t tell him.’ She checked everyone was back in their positions, and started again. ‘Here we go, last bit and we’ll be around the corner. You can do it.’
The mare put everything into the last pull, heaving the cart round the twist of the corner. They landed firmly on a straight section of the path, but the downward slope made the cart speed up, taking everyone by surprise. Jakob fell to the floor with a thud. Kizzy threw herself against the mountain wall as Xandra and the cart flew past her.
‘Woah, that was close!’
Strom pulled the mare to a halt. It wasn’t easy, but he did it. ‘Is everyone all right?’
Jakob stood up, brushing himself down. Clouds of dust came off his clothes. ‘Just my ego is a little bruised, otherwise all good. You could’ve told me you didn’t need me any longer!’
He looked around. ‘Kizzy, Kizzy, where are you?’ There was an edge of panic in his voice.
This time it was her turn to put her hand up and wave. Her body was pinned between the cart and the mountain. ‘I’m all right,’ she called.
Wriggling, she eventually managed to crawl out from underneath the cart. ‘Here I am!’ She jumped to her feet, smiling at Jakob and the others. ‘Hadn’t we better get everybody down the hill? Anna’ll be wondering where we are. Zuzu, are you all right now?’
The tiny girl nodded, still very pale.
‘It might be an idea for this bit of the journey, if you sit in the back with the other children.’ Kizzy looked up at Strom for approval.
‘Yes, I think that’s a wonderful idea,’ he said. ‘Zuzu, you could sit with Helenka and Matylda. They’ll look after you, won’t you?’
The girls smiled. Matylda put up her arms to Zuzu. ‘Come and sit with us. There’s plenty of room. You can sit with Zivan and Helenka. We can keep each other warm and see what birds we can spot.’
Kizzy nodded briefly at Matylda, thankful for her cooperation. Turning back to Strom, she said, ‘You’re going to have to lead us down the mountain. There’s not enough space for me to get a horse in front. You know the way anyway. Do you feel well enough to do that after your shock with Zuzu or do you want me to take your place?’
Strom looked shaken. ‘No. Thank you, but I’m fine. I can lead us down.’
Kizzy grinned at him. She knew he could. ‘Excellent. I’m going to ride Margita.’ But when she walked back, she realised the mare was no longer tied to the back of the cart. ‘Where’s Margita?’
‘I’ve got her!’ shouted Damek. She saw he was holding on to the three horses. He looked very small on the huge bay, Honza, but he was clearly strong.
Jakob retrieved Krasava. He mounted his pale golden Kinsky and patted her neck. ‘Let’s hope for no more dramas.’ He explained to Kizzy, ‘I untied them because the sound of the screeching wood was frightening them.’
‘That makes sense. Here, Damek, I’ll take Ferda and tie him back up.’ She tied the bay up quickly before collecting Margita and jumping onto the dapple grey’s back.
Jakob said, ‘Impressive acrobatics!’ He grinned at her.
Gathering up the reins, she smiled at both Damek and Jakob. ‘Thank you, I’d rather not have to do it again, though. It’s more than a little scary!’
Looking ahead, she shouted at Strom, ‘We’re ready. Let’s go!’
Kizzy watched the boy twitch the reins and heard him click his tongue. Xandra’s ears pricked, and she moved forward slowly. She seemed a lot more settled.
Margita was a very different ride to Eda, so Kizzy had to focus. Though she appeared more solid, she tended to snatch at her bit. ‘Come on, Margita. Let’s find Anna!’
She moved close to Damek. ‘So you were right about the corner, but we might not mention it,’ said Kizzy quietly.
Damek looked across at her and nodded. ‘I think that’s a very good decision.’ He winked at her. This made her smile. For someone so young he had quite a cheeky side.
They all headed down the path. The journey from then on felt quite uneventful. Kizzy and Jakob chatted with Damek, who told them about his past.
With his tufty blond hair and round wired glasses, he looked so small, perched up on Honza’s back, but he was in total control of his horse. To Kizzy, he looked as if he should be surrounded by books in school, not running free with orphaned children.
