Coast To Coast Unicorn

By Andrew Walker

The day started out like any other for a young horse farmer named Chad. Then a real, live unicorn stepped into his life and turned everything upside down! They had to get from his home on the east coast to somewhere on the west coast, where their destiny waited with danger at its door!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andrew Walker
• Release date: Oct 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310929830

Andrew Walker

 Andrew T. Walker (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is associate professor of Christian ethics and public theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and an associate dean in the School of Theology. He is a fellow with the Ethics and Public Policy Center and managing editor of WORLD Opinions. He resides with his wife and three daughters in Louisville, Kentucky. 

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Coast To Coast Unicorn

By Andrew Walker

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2014 Andrew Walker

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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****

For my mother, for who taught me life is a magical journey

****

The brick wall was an ordinary one. Twice on a Sunday in early summer, part of it became magical. The first time was at a little past eleven in the morning. It began with the sound of a loud crack, which was followed by something not quite intelligible spoken in an angry voice on the other side. There was a pause, and then a second angry statement was made.

Suddenly, a near-perfect square of bricks exploded outward. This revealed what should not have been there. The square extended only half the depth of the bricks into the wall, but there was an opening into a square room devoid of furniture and baby blue in color.

The first visible thing through the opening was what appeared to be, at first glance, a horse’s ass. Although the creature was undeniably equine, when it turned its head to look back at what its rear hooves had done, the spiral horn in the middle of its forehead clearly set it apart its unadorned cousins. Pure white from nose to tail, she was a perfect fit for a fairy tale unicorn. A close observer might have noticed the broad, golden bracer on her left rear ankle.

A few seconds later, the unicorn set itself further above ordinary equines when she spoke in a clear, feminine voice.

That does not look like Harborton, she observed. The area outside the brick opening was a concrete alley, with another brick wall facing it. Harborton favors stucco.

A stocky fellow who wore a mustache curled in an intricate geometric pattern stepped into view of the opening from the behind the unicorn’s front side. He stood barely three feet tall and had a frightened expression on his face. He wore a shimmering green suit and tie, and a bright blue top hat sat at a precarious angle on top of his head.

My dear lady, this is an art, not a science, the man declared. And you did not give me time to properly set the device!

I should have taken a dragon, the unicorn muttered.

That would have taken many hours more and would not have been as inexpensive as I. This may not be Harborton, but I am certain it is within a reasonable proximity of it and your mother’s pasture.

The unicorn turned around and stepped into the alleyway. She turned to make an unpleasant comment to the little man, but with a hiss the opening was gone, replaced by the still-solid wall of the half-bricks which she had not kicked out of the way.

The unicorn snorted, a musical sound which seemed at odds with the mood she wanted to express. She looked toward the near end of the alley. A car sped past, and she shook her head. "This is not Harborton, she stated flatly. There should be more traffic."

There was not much choice in direction. The unicorn stepped forward and looked up and down the street. None of the shops were open, in spite of the late morning hour. She turned right and went to a newspaper stand half a block away. The title answered her biggest concern: It was the Arborton Gazette.

The equine’s ears twitched. Another vehicle was coming up the road, and she could hear the passengers’ conversation.

Dad, look at that!

Yeah, I see it son, the driver answered. And it’s not even Halloween.

The unicorn turned her head and watched the vehicle, a bright red pickup truck, approach. It pulled up to the curb next to her and stopped. The passenger was a young man with shaggy, dirty blonde hair. The equine judged him to be in his late teens. The driver, clearly the boy’s father, scowled at her.

She’s beautiful, the younger man commented, his eyes wide.

Go see if she’s marked, son.

The young man nodded and got out of the truck. He moved to the far side of the unicorn and called, No marks, Dad! He completed a circle around the unicorn and looked to his father for advice.

Kinda odd. I don’t know anybody around here who’d do that to a horse. How well attached is that horn?

The young man looked back at the unicorn and found it glaring in his father’s direction. He shrugged it off and told himself horses don’t glare at things. He stood up on his tiptoes and looked at the base of the horn for a few seconds, and then looked back.

Looks pretty solid, Dad.

Do you see any signs of glue, or did the bastards screw it on?

The young man turned back to the unicorn and reached for her horn. The equine backed away from him, snarling as she lowered her horn, aiming it in his direction.

Dad, did you hear that?

Yeah, I did. Never seen or heard anything like it. Ah, hells. The older man put the car in park and shut off the engine. He got out and went around the front of the truck to the sidewalk, where his son moved from side to side, but the unicorn kept her horn pointed at him.

I think she’s been trained to use it.

That’s pretty clear. Can’t imagine someone would be this cruel to a horse and—

Call me a horse one more time, human, and I will take my chances in court for the pain I will cause you.

The two men’s jaws dropped. After a moment, the younger one chuckled. This is one of those hidden camera things, isn’t it? he asked.

I don’t think so, son, the older one said.

It’s gotta be. This is a robot unicorn or something.

I am no robot! the unicorn declared with a musical snort. My name is Amelia, and I am a flesh and blood unicorn! What the hell is wrong with you people?

The younger man shook his head, no longer sure about the hidden camera. You…you seem real enough. I mean, I see them do things in movies but…

Those are all done by computers these days, Chad. They don’t do robots or animatronics or whatever it’s called.

That’d be a big expense for a hidden camera trick anyway, wouldn’t it?

The older man nodded in agreement. Huge. And she has more emotion on her face than either a robot or a regular horse can display.

Horses get plenty emotional, Chad said, but he seemed unsure.

Yeah, but when they get angry like this, they don’t just stand there. They start kicking and biting.

Haven’t you two ever met a unicorn before? Amelia asked.

The older man shook his head. I’ve been around…equines all my life, and I’ve never seen anything like you.

Cautiously, Amelia raised her head. Wild thoughts crossed her mind, and a new concern came to the front. You had no idea calling me a horse would offend me? she asked.

None whatsoever, the older man assured her.

Where am I?

Arborton, California! Chad replied with enthusiasm. Home of the famous Arborton Groves! Although, you see, we’re actually more horse farmers than grove-men. Oh, and some chickens, for the eggs. But we do have a few trees.

California? Amelia questioned.

Yeah. You’ve not heard of California?

Have you heard of New Stork? Amelia asked in response.

You mean New York?

Amelia sighed. This sound was also musical, but sadder in tone. That damned gnome put me even further from where I wanted to go than I imagined. I am not even on the right world."

You’re an alien? Chad asked.

I don’t think that’s quite what she means, son, the older man said.

I know a few nerds who might know. Um…what was his name…Frankie! Frankie would know. He was always readin’ books about unicorns and dragons in school.

I don’t recall you mentioning that name before. Who is Frankie?

Chad shrugged. He was a big nerd. I didn’t really know him, to be honest. Hell, I’m can’t even remember his last name right now.

Is this Frankie a wizard of any sort? Amelia asked.

Chad shook his head and answered, Not that I know of. We don’t have wizards here. Until today, I would have said magic isn’t real.

The older man’s gaze shifted to a point beyond Amelia. Shit, he swore. Here comes trouble.

Trouble? Amelia asked, looking back. A car was coming up the street. It was a Cadillac, painted deep purple with a pair of Texas-style longhorns attached to the hood.

That’s a fellow named Malcom, but everybody calls him Tex, even though he was born and raised here.

Amelia turned her attention forward again. Techs?

Nevermind for now. Just…look, people are getting out of church and you are about to attract a lot of attention. Tex will give you the wrong kind of attention if you don’t play dumb.

Play dumb? Amelia asked, unhappily certain what the man meant.

Yes, dumb. Like a horse, I am afraid. Please don’t take offense but this isn’t going to go well no matter what we do, but please play along as long as you can stand it.

The Cadillac rolled to a stop and the doors opened up. The driver was a man who went out of his way to fit the image of someone nicknamed Tex. He wore an off-white ten gallon hat on his head, a white shirt with a bolo tie, and a dark blue suit jacket. He was a large fellow, with more than a few extra inches around his waist. He had a cigar in his right hand.

The man’s wife was his match. She wore a yellow dress with white lace trim, and her brown hair was in a loose bun on her head. The two children, one boy and one girl, who climbed out of the back seat were dressed similar to their parents.

Hoo-wee! What do we have here? Tex inquired with a broad grin which would give many the impression he was a used car or snake oil salesman. He took a draw on his cigar and blew out a large puff of smoke.

The finest equine you have ever seen, Tex, Chad’s father answered. She is my newest, and I guess she got loose.

Tex came alongside Amelia and raised his hand to pat her. Chad cried, Don’t! Tex paused and the boy quickly explained, She’s very touchy still.

She’s a unicorn! Tex’s daughter shouted.

Naw, girl, she just looks like that. Unicorns ain’t real. Go ahead, Randy, show her, Tex said.

Horn can’t be removed. She came to us like this, and we were told it’s a permanent attachment, Chad’s father said.

"Come now, Randy! Even you are a better horseman than that! Can’t leave a thing like that on her!"

Oh, my goodness, a unicorn!

This last cry came from across the street, where another car pulled up to the opposite curb. Amelia rolled her eyes and gave Randy a stern look.

Here we go, Randy sighed.

Another car passed pulled up to the opposite curb in front of the last one and a girl got out of the backseat on the opposite side. The motion drew Amelia’s attention. The girl cried out, Unicorn! Unicorn! Unicorn! as she ran around the backside of the car, ignoring her mother’s cries to wait. At the same time, a car came up the street from the opposite direction.

Amelia leapt forward. In the next instant, she landed in the middle of the street and grabbed the back of the girl’s Sunday dress in her mouth before she leapt clear of the street. The car narrowly missed her rear hooves, its tires squealing as it tried to stop.

The girl’s mother shrieked, a sound only matched for volume by the girl’s own scream. Amelia landed on the sidewalk and set her down gently. Are you hurt? she asked.

No, you just scared me, the girl answered. She was a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl of about seven, by Amelia’s estimation. Her hair was in pigtails.

It was barely a heartbeat later that the girl’s mother, with blonde hair and blue eyes like her daughter, was there, scooping her child up in her arms. Oh, my god, Cindy, are you all right?

I am fine, Mommy. The unicorn just startled me.

The unicorn saved your life! Didn’t you see the car?

The girl looked over to where the car was now stopped. She lowered her head in shame and answered, No. I didn’t look both ways.

Across the street, Tex looked at Randy. What just happened here? he asked.

My new…unicorn…saved that girl’s life.

"That part I saw. What I did not see was the part where the…unicorn… went from here to the street. It was here one moment, and there the next."

Neat trick huh? Randy asked. He and his son turned and headed for the crowd which had begun to form around Amelia, many taking pictures or video with cell phones.

Cindy’s mother looked at the two men as they approached. Which of you trained this horse to save people like that? she asked.

Amelia snarled, startling everyone in the area.

She’s a unicorn, ma’am, Chad explained. She doesn’t like to be called a horse.

The woman looked at