Blueboy: Horse from Another Era

By Judy White

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 5, 2005
• ISBN: 9781477162521

Judy White

Judy White spent her childhood years in Western Kentucky where she attended elementary and high schools. After graduating from high school, she attended Murray State College where she majored in music. After a short delay in education, her grandmother sent her to Draughon’s Business College in Paducah, Ky. There in 1964 she took a test that gave her a job with the Civil Service at the Pentagon in Washington, DC. Here she met her husband. After thirty-six years of work, she retired and moved to New Hampshire where she and her husband now resides.

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Blueboy: Horse

from Another Era

__________________________________

Judy White

Copyright © 2005 by Judy White.

Library of Congress Number:                     2004092046

ISBN :         Hardcover                               1-4134-5234-5

                   Softcover                                 1-4134-5233-7

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4771-6252-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or

transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,

including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage

and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the

copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents

either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used

fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or

dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

22935

CONTENTS

Author’s Acknowledgement

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Author’s Acknowledgement

I want to thank my friends at work for convincing me to put one of my dreams into a book for others to enjoy. I also want to thank my son for helping me to give the horses and certain characters different powers and for introducing more characters that will find a more useful life in the next book. I have repeatedly asked him for his opinion in hopes that other children will find this book interesting. I further thank Penny, a former editor, for editing this book for any corrections needed.

All names in this book are fictional and any coincidental reflection on anyone is not intended. This book is meant only as a means of enjoyment for people between (and including) the school grades of 5-10. However, if adults are so inclined to read these types of books, they are also invited to indulge their curiosity. Also, this book is not meant to be in perfect English.

Introduction

Hi, boys and girls (or should I say ladies and gentlemen). Remember the dreams you had when you were younger, be they good or bad? Well, I had dreams just like you did. Have you ever had any of them come true? Well, I have and this is one of them. You see, dreams can come true even though they are on the fantasy level. The goals people set for themselves during their lifetime are dreams of reality. The make-believe world of children are dreams of fantasy that could become reality if put into book form for others to enjoy. I have had many such dreams and I have decided to make one of them a reality.

To set the mood for this book, let’s picture one’s self in the wild mountains with a group of beautiful wild horses. Better yet, picture yourself on the back of one of these wild horses. Now, picture yourself riding effortlessly at a fast pace with the wind blowing through your hair while an eagle flies lazily through the sky. Having fun so far? Good! Now let’s go one step farther and add spaceships, time machines, warps, and dimensions. Got the picture? Good! Good! Now, let’s pick out a character you would like to be and let’s take a trip on a plane from San Diego to Washington, D.C., before we get lost somewhere in the wild regions of the rocky Mountains. Hang on to your mount for this is the start of our wild fantasy dream. Who knows, we just might meet some very unique animals and situations as well as some very strange people.

Chapter 1

San Diego Trip

Beth Martin was an attractive young lady of 20. Her light brown eyes contained a far away haunting look, and her complexion indicated that she would rather be outdoors than inside a building. She was a happy, outgoing girl on the surface but, secretly, as wild as the wind on the inside. She hated being penned up in a building when her heart wanted to be free. Because she lived in a city, she reluctantly conformed to the ways of civilization.

A cold spell had brought an early snowfall to Northern Virginia. On this day, warm weather was returning and the streets were full of puddles from the sudden thaw. This was the day that an excited Beth Martin was taking her first long distance plane trip to San Diego to attend a seminar at the zoo. As a little girl, she had been as far west as St. Louis, Missouri, to visit some relatives. Now she was going farther west, all the way to the coast. As the sun reached the noon apex, she stepped from the taxi to the sidewalk in front of the National Airport.

Let me help you with your bags, Miss, offered the driver as he hurriedly got out. The cab driver gave her bags to the red cap service person to help her to the airline counter to check in.

After a short wait, she boarded the plane, found her seat and got settled. After the plane took off, her thoughts drifted back to her childhood—she was a very young girl standing in the hallway of their home. In her arms was a sad looking, brown and white squirming puppy with floppy ears, quite cute with one of its paws bandaged. The young girl was saying to her mother, I found him in the road with a hurt paw. I couldn’t leave him there so I took him and bandaged his paw. Please, may I keep him? Beth smiled as she remembered her mother asking, Who will care for him? Who will feed him and walk him?

I will, she said.

You will not leave the pup for us to care for? her mother asked.

No. I will care for him, myself, the girl answered.

Very well then, you may keep the pup as long as someone does not claim him as being lost, her mother said.

Beth had only been six years old when the incident happened on her way home from school one afternoon. The puppy and Beth became inseparable as this pup grew. All through the years, the dog had a full and rewarding life that ended when he died peacefully in his sleep one night at the ripe old age of fourteen. Beth smiled sadly to herself as she thought of her dog, Bruce. She had thoroughly enjoyed her pet and was saddened by his departure only this past September. However, she knew deep down inside that there would be other animals to occupy the empty space. She referred to it as an empty space for nothing could take the place of Bruce, who was so close and loving. All other animals would have to make their own place.

Beth’s thoughts continued as she realized that her knack of healing animals started as a very young child. As she grew, so did her interest in animal medicine. Now that she was a college student, she was finally able to fulfill her first love of caring for her four footed friends by learning how to cure their illnesses and injuries. A month earlier, one of her professors had asked if she would like to attend a weeklong seminar to be held at the San Diego Zoo. Now that she was on her way to that seminar, she found herself once again thinking about her conversation with her teacher.

Miss Martin would you like to attend a seminar in San Diego? asked the professor.

Me? Gee, I’d love to! she had replied. Then sadly, she added, But I guess you should ask someone else because I can’t afford such a trip.

Miss Martin, this will not cost you anything. The college sends the most promising students to enrich their interest and to represent the school, explained the professor.

As the plane touched down, Beth’s thoughts came back to the present. After leaving the plane, she hurriedly rushed to the baggage claim area in search of her luggage. She had to find a cab for the trip to the hotel. She found her luggage and hailed a Red Cap who was happy to help her out of the airport to the taxi stand. After tipping the Red Cap, she got into the taxi.

Where to, Miss? asked the driver. After giving the driver the name and address of the hotel, she sat back to enjoy the trip. The scenery on the way to the hotel was beautiful; but otherwise, the trip was uneventful. After she registered at the desk and received her key, the bellhop took her bags and led the way to her room. After leaving the elevator, the bellhop dropped a bag and its contents fell onto the floor. She and the bellhop started gathering up her things when she became aware of someone else in the hallway. She had not heard any noise or words being spoken, but her sixth sense caused her to glance over her shoulder. She saw a tall naval officer in a khaki uniform.

Something about him struck her as being familiar. Since she couldn’t place it, she shrugged it off. He had black wavy hair and dark brown sultry eyes. He knelt and in a deep but soft voice, he said, Here, let me help you, Miss.

Thanks very much. This is really embarrassing, Beth said.

Nothing to be embarrassed about, he said glancing at the bellhop. Are you here for one of the zoo seminars? he asked.

Yes. How did you know? asked Beth.

You dropped this, he replied as he handed her a small notebook. On the front was the words Zoo Seminar. And schools often send students here to study animals.

Thanks again, Beth said.

Have you been to San Diego before? the officer asked.

No. This is my first, Beth answered.

Since you don’t know the area, would you permit me to take you to dinner? the officer asked. At least I can show you where you can get good food besides this hotel.

Being a city girl, she started to refuse but the strange feeling came over her again. So instead she replied, Thanks. Today has been very hectic and dinner does sound nice. I will meet you in the lobby around six.

Beth continued to follow the bellhop to her room and tipped him as he left. She proceeded to unpack her things, eagerly drew her bath, and was looking forward to an evening with the handsome, young naval officer. As she sank into the water, her body started to relax and she thoroughly enjoyed the soft rose smelling bubbles that surrounded her. She wondered where they would be going and what would be appropriate to wear that night. Suddenly, she realized that she did not know the gentleman’s name nor had she told him hers. Still, she felt that she would see him again and again even though he lived here in San Diego and she lived in Virginia. It seemed as though they had known each other all their lives. But that couldn’t be, because they had just met there in the hallway of the hotel. She wondered how long it would be before he realized that he did not know her name. She smiled to herself when she realized the comical atmosphere about their meeting and not getting each other’s names.

She thought about her father who used to take long business trips and wondered what he would be doing on his first day in a new city. She thought about how, as a little girl, she used to hang on her father’s arm begging to go on any trip he took. Please, Dad, may I go just this once? she would ask.

No, Beth. I will be too busy with meetings all day and won’t have any time to show you around town. Besides, you are too young to stay in a hotel room all day by yourself. When you get older, you can go on your own trips, her father had replied. Just wait until I grow up, then I’ll go away on some trips, too, the young girl had sassed back as she left the room. Little did she realize at such a young age that was just what she would do.

Today was her first big day away from home, all the way across the country to the shore of the Pacific Ocean. Already, she had met a very mysterious but charming naval officer. He reminded her of an Indian she had seen in a dream but decided that it was just her imagination. Her thoughts returned to her father, Bob Martin. Her father was a very patient and quiet man. He worked for the Department of the Navy in a civilian position. After many years of hard work and night school, Mr. Martin eventually became a manager in his department. He didn’t necessarily like his work, but the job paid the bills and provided medical benefits. Helen, Beth’s mother, had been very sick for the past year, but she was getting better now and was up and around again.

Bob and Helen had two children. Beth was eight years older than her little brother, Josh. Bob had always teased his children by saying that they had given him his gray hairs.

After stepping from her bath, Beth dried herself with a towel and put on some deodorant and bath powder before putting on her robe. Then, she reached for the curlers to curl her hair before getting dressed. After she curled her hair, she dressed in a blue blouse and a pair of black pleated slacks. She added a pair of black heels and purse to finish the outfit. Then she left for the lobby to wait for her dinner date to arrive. Just as she stepped from the elevator, she saw the young naval officer at the desk talking to the manager. When he saw her, he left the desk and approached Beth.

Hi, he said. You know, through the excitement this afternoon, I forgot ask for your name.

I know, replied Beth smiling. I’m Beth Martin, she said, offering her hand in greeting.

Roger Williams, he replied holding her gaze with his dark brown eyes. I am stationed at the North Island Naval Air Station here in San Diego. Beth started noticing that he was wearing an emerald green shirt, brown trousers, cowboy boots and an emerald green scarf tied around the neck and hung over his left shoulder. The emerald green shirt and scarf made his brown eyes seem even darker. She noticed how strong his shoulders were which were wide and very muscular. He reminded her of a football player—very strong and athletic. Again her eyes went back to the shirt. What was it that was so significant about the shirt? Was it the style or color that kept drawing her toward it? Was it because it was open at the neck? She decided it was just her imagination running away with her again and she dismissed it from her mind.

Roger was saying, We have some Army people here on a special project to study the different Indian tribal folklore. Since I have been assigned to assist them, I found that one of the tribes is having one of their rituals tonight. I thought it would be fun to watch. I also thought you would enjoy their costumes and jewelry. He paused a moment and looked at Beth smiling when he came to her shoes. I don’t believe you will be very comfortable in heels, though. You should put on some flat shoes or boots so you won’t fall and break a bone since the terrain is very rough.

Smiling, Beth said, Wait here a minute and I will be right back. As she left to change shoes, she decided she liked the manner in which Roger took charge. With him, she felt an excitement and adventure that was lacking in the other young men she had dated. Although she had enjoyed the dating, they were all the same—first dinner somewhere and a movie afterwards. Here was a man with more imagination. She knew she would not be disappointed in this evening’s outing. After returning with tennis shoes, they left the hotel and got into Roger’s car for the drive to the reservation.

They carried on a light conversation during their trip. Roger told Beth how he grew up in a small Wyoming town and why he left to join the Navy. Beth told Roger about her childhood in Fairfax County in northern Virginia, and how she wanted to care for animals. Each told stories about the various animals they had come in contact with during their childhood. They each knew how the other felt about losing their animal friends. Both were enjoying each other’s stories and the drive when Roger pulled into a small country diner.

The walls inside the diner were covered with tapestries that depicted Indian life during various centuries. A tapestry on one wall showed the reservation in the 1800’s with tepees dotting the landscape and Indians dressed in buckskin clothing and turquoise jewelry. Some Indians had feathers in their hair while others did not. Off to one side was a corral of horses.

Another tapestry showed various stages of catching mustangs, the wild horses descended from the Arabian horses brought over by the Spanish Conquistadors and turned loose to breed with the farm stock. In one corner of this tapestry, the Indians had built a wooden corral and camouflaged it with bushes and trees. Over a period of several days, the Indians would stay around the mustangs so the horses would get use to them by sight and smell. Each day the Indians would get closer until they had formed a funnel formation leading to the corral. Then the braves behind the horses would start yelling and waving blankets that frightened the horses and made them run blindly between the Indians into the hidden corral.

As Beth turned to follow Roger to the table, another tapestry in the back of the room caught her eye. It was one that had two scenes. The first one contained a blue-black horse with long silver-white mane and tail that curled around his hind feet. He was standing on his hind feet and fighting the Indians who tried holding him fast with ropes. On his face was a wide white diamond blaze and eyes that seemed to shoot fire. The second scene showed the horse as he jumped the high fence to escape from the braves who were trying to hold him. They were lying on the ground broken and bleeding and some may even have been dead. Again a premonition that something was going to happen overcame her and she shivered with fear of the unknown as goose bumps covered her.

As she came out of the trance, she heard Roger say, Are you ready to sit down and order?

Yes, she said smiling as she took his arm to be escorted to the table.

Are you ready to order? came a voice behind them. It was the waitress who was clad in a traditional Indian dress made from finely tanned leather. Since Roger could see that Beth was caught-up in the scenery around her, he ordered for the both of them.

Beth noticed the peace pipes hanging on the wall, adorned with colorful feathers and leather strands with beads placed in various positions.

Roger, what is the reason for the different colored beads on the peace pipes and why are they in different places on the leather strips? Beth asked.

The length of the beads from the pipe represents the length of the disagreement or war while the color represents the amount of blood spilled during that disagreement. Some tribes prided themselves with the amount of strips on the pipe while others were just the opposite. They didn’t want any strips hung on the pipes; and if there were, the closer the beads to the pipe the better, he answered.

I wouldn’t want to run into the first type, she said.

You don’t know how right you are, replied Roger.

What do you mean? she asked.

Haven’t you heard of scalping? he asked.

Yes, hasn’t everybody? she answered.

Do you know the way in which it was done? he asked.

No. I never really thought about it, she answered.

After they would take a sharp knife and cut a semicircle across the forehead, they would then grab the loose skin and rip it back to the bottom of the neck, he explained demonstrating with his hands.

Yuck! Beth gasped. That’s horrible.

After the scalping, they would ensure that their victim was dead. They would then go back to their chief who would carve three rings around the brave’s coup.

What’s a coup? she asked.

It is a long staff-like stick that kept track of things like touching, scalping, and killing one’s enemy. Each is worth one ring, he continued. A scalp earned the brave a tail feather of an eagle which was to be worn at the end of a braid. During the evening festivities, all the braves would celebrate their achievements by doing the scalp dance and sitting around the fires and boasting of their feats, he finished.

How could they brag about killing people? Beth asked, clearly angry at this injustice.

Wait a minute. You have to consider all the things the whites were doing to them. We invaded their territories designated for hunting, burial ground and homelands. It was the whites that stormed and killed them, starved and cheated them out of their rich land, crowded them onto reservations of desert land, and tried to change their traditions. The Indians were fighting a losing battle everywhere they turned. The few times they had a chance to feel they were winning, they rejoiced! You tell me what’s the difference between Indians dancing around a fire boasting and the whites in the local saloon drinking and boasting about how many Indians they killed? he asked.

I guess you have a point there, Beth conceded.

Excuse me, said the waitress as she brought their food to the table. I’m sorry but I couldn’t help over hearing your conversation. At the risk of being rude, I would like to say something to you, she said to Beth. Just look around you. She paused as Beth looked around the room. What do you see? You see the tapestries, baskets, beads and the traditional items of Indians. When I was growing up, my mother and I spent many, many hours making these items to sell to any drifter, trucker or occasional tourist who happened by. This was the only way we could make money since we were not allowed to work off the reservation. If we did, we would be ridiculed into quitting. I didn’t have pretty dresses with lace and ruffles or shiny black patent leather shoes like the white girls. One of my friends did; and when she wore it off the reservation, she was met be a crowd of white girls who claimed she was trying to be white and ripped the dress right off her and then took her shoes. She has hated the whites ever since. Before you judge other people, you should look at all sides to see the problem.

I wasn’t trying to judge anyone, but I must admit I didn’t realize the situation, Beth said. The waitress nodded and went back to her duties. Beth enjoyed her dinner since the food was exceptionally good after such a long drive. After they finished their meal, they were back on the road again.

How come you seem to know so much about Indians? Beth asked.

Back where I lived, there were a lot of Indians around, he replied.

That explains why you may have such an interest in Indians, she said.

What do you mean by ‘may have’? asked Roger.

I don’t believe that is the only reason why you know so much about Indians, Beth replied. There is just something that I can’t put my finger on, but you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want too. Maybe it was the atmosphere in the restaurant that made me feel that way. I’m sorry for my outburst.

Roger remained quiet wondering about the young woman sitting beside him in the car. He felt at ease with her but he didn’t want to tell her the real reason he knew about Indians—not yet at least. He wanted to wait to see her reaction to the Indian ceremonies.

Shortly after leaving the restaurant, they arrived at the reservation entrance. In all directions, she saw how flat and dry the land was. In one direction, she saw the mountain peaks rising above the sandy-colored soil. How majestic those peaks looked! Looking in another direction, she saw the adobe houses where the Indians lived. Roger drove up to one of these houses and got out. It had animal skins tied to a square frame. Beth became fascinated with the designs on the pottery lining the path to the front door. As they walked down the path, she saw the designs were of birds, animals, and Indians mixed with symbols of sun, lightening, and tepees. The pottery was in assorted colors that brought out the color of the flowers they contained.

Who lives here? asked Beth.

Chief Red Eagle. Just call him ‘Red’ for short like everyone else does, Roger said as he knocked on the door.

Hello, Ensign Williams, Red said in greeting them. Welcome. Please come in for a few minutes before we leave for the ceremony. He led them to a beautiful wooden sofa with big billowy cushions that were attached to the wooden frame. The cushions made the sofa very comfortable. A tapestry on the living room wall caught her eye. It showed a wild stallion that stood like a sentinel on guard on a cliff with mountain peaks behind him. What were so striking about the horse were his color and the markings. It was the same horse as in the restaurant—black-coat, white mane and tail, white blaze, white stockings, and fire in his eyes with the mane and tail waving in the breeze. Again a shiver went through her. There was something about that horse that made her feel uneasy and she couldn’t shake it. To make herself feel more at ease, she looked at the rest of the room. Along with this tapestry, were some pictures of old Indians and animals that were framed in fur. On one wall was a set of crossed tomahawks that were finely polished. On the opposite wall was a set of finely polished crossed coups.

Who do we have here? Why, it’s Ensign Williams, laughed a voice from the doorway to the dining room. I see you brought a friend along with you this time. Where have you been hiding her? You didn’t mention anything about her last week when you were here.

That is because I didn’t know her last week, Roger replied. In fact, I met her for the first time today. This is Beth Martin and she comes from Virginia. Beth, this is Red and his wife, Mourning Dove. We just call her ‘Doe’.

As Doe extended her hand, she asked Beth, Are you as interested in Indians as Roger is?

No. Not yet anyway, Beth replied. Tonight is my first exposure to the real way Indians live. I must say, though, my curiosity has been aroused by Roger’s quick history lesson and I am excited about tonight’s festivities.

That’s good! That’s good! Doe replied, as she looked Beth directly in the eyes. Smiling, she added, Come, let me show you some of our crafts while the men folk talk. She took Beth through the dining room and kitchen to another room located in the back of the house. This room was divided into two sections by a cloth room divider. One side contained rugs, blankets, and baskets made on the large weaving loom and the second contained a pottery wheel. On the loom was a blanket that had been weaved about two feet and contained colors of browns and turquoise. On the pottery wheel was a piece of clay that had recently taken shape as a flowerpot. Beth went over and touched the piece of pottery and wondered if she would ever be able to do something like that. Then she walked over to the loom and took a closer look at the blanket. Doe put a piece of thread in Beth’s hand and showed her how to weave. She was beginning to get the hang of weaving when Roger came into the room.

It’s time to go, he said.

Go! We just got here, replied Beth.

Remember the celebrations tonight? Roger asked.

You’re right. I forgot all about the celebration. Maybe I can come back again sometime to try some more of the weaving and maybe the pottery too? Beth suggested as she turned to Doe.

I’d be delighted to have you back anytime you want to come, Doe replied, smiling.

Roger said to Beth, I’m glad to see you are enjoying yourself. Maybe you will also enjoy the rest of the evening by the campfire. Come, Red has the horses ready for us.

Horses! We get to ride horses? asked Beth a little too enthusiastically.

You must also like horses, smiled Doe as she saw the light in Beth’s eyes.

Yes. Even as a small child, I always wanted a horse; but we could not afford one, responded Beth. Every chance I get, I try to ride them.

After mounting the horses, they rode the two-mile distance to the counsel fire in the special tepee village, which was only used for the purpose of ceremonies. As they neared the village, Beth saw the huge bonfire and the totem poles in front of each tepee.

Roger, why are all the totem poles different? Beth asked.

That may be difficult to explain to someone who doesn’t know anything about Indians, but I’ll try, Roger said. Each family of Indians is said to have an animal sense. For instance, if your family animal sense were that of a fox, then the members of your family would show the same cunning and mannerisms as the fox. That family animal is usually at the bottom. As the boys reach adulthood, they go through a series of rituals—one of which is called ‘crying for a vision’. The boy would build a special hut with a circle of hot rocks over which water was slowly poured to make steam. Only then would the body and soul of the boy be purified. He would then go to the ‘sacred place’ and cry to the gods to provide him with an animal protector. He would go as long as a week without food or drink to keep from polluting his body. If the gods granted his request, the boy would fall into a deep sleep where the spirit would instruct him what prayers to say, what rituals to follow, and what objects to use in medicines and protectors. These objects were put into a skin and used as needed, and the spirit would often be carried into the totem pole. The different carvings on the pole explained each family’s standing in their society. It shows good achievements as well as bad things such as telling lies and cheating.

As Beth listened to Roger, the drums started beating and the Indians started chanting in their native tongue. In the middle of the circle was a man dressed in a bear’s head and fur. He danced around and shook what resembled a maraca with holes in it, which was filled with herbs, and spices that he sprinkled over all the tribal members.

Do you know what he is doing? Roger asked Beth.

Not really, she replied.

He is the medicine man, or shaman, of the tribe and he’s demonstrating the sun’s calling of all the other elements of the earth to give blessings on the tribal members. The rattle is made from a buffalo’s bladder. Dried out and tanned, the bladder hardens and is filled with the herbs and spices that come from each brave’s sacred skins that were collected after his vision. These herbs and spices are sprinkled on the entire tribe for good luck in hunting, harvesting, fertility to make the tribe grow, and health, he explained. In turn, each member of the tribe will go in the circle and dance to his spirit animal.

After the ritual, they mounted the horses again for the trip back to Red’s house and Roger’s car. The movement and thrill of riding the horse kept Beth’s adrenaline flowing which kept her from feeling tired. After getting into the car for the trip back to the hotel, the tiredness slowly crept over her until she could hardly keep her eyes open. Still, she felt great in the knowledge that she had learned a lot about the first Americans—the Indians.

Gee, it feels like I have been studying all night for a test of some sort, Beth replied after a time. I sure feel tired for a change.

It’s been an eventful evening, and it is late, Roger said. I’ll understand if you don’t want to go out with me again.

That’s not my problem; I had a wonderful time, she said. I really get tired of doing the same thing every time I go out with a man. We always had dinner in a stuffy, closed in restaurant and a usually boring movie afterwards. I like your style better—free and open outdoors with warm, caring people, she proclaimed. The tiredness showed in her face, but Roger noticed a glow about her. He was already feeling a special bonding between them—a certain oneness of mind since they seemed to enjoy the same things.

The rest of the ride was silent because each was absorbed in his daytime worlds. When they arrived at the hotel, Roger walked her to her room. Before leaving, he found out that Beth would be in town for the week. Then he left her to wonder if she would ever see him again, especially since he hadn’t asked her out again before he left. She started going back through her mind trying to think of any reason why he wouldn’t want to spend more time with her. Since she was very tired, she washed up, dressed for bed, and turned in for the night.

As Beth fell into a deep sleep, she started dreaming that she was in the middle of a beautiful grassy meadow, watching the most magnificent, brilliantly colored horses playing and running about in the grass. The feelings she had were those of peacefulness and tender innocence, but in the background she could hear motors growling and glass bursting. A far away group of voices were chanting a poem of some kind, but because of the other sounds, she couldn’t understand the words. She could see the face of an Indian appearing; overshadowing the horses, and it became increasingly difficult to see the horses in the background. She kept blinking her eyes, trying to clear her sight. It seemed as if water were pouring down her face. She could see the horses one minute and then men standing where the horses had been the next minute.

Beth woke up laughing because none of it made any sense to her. I guess I’ve had my vision she chuckled to herself. Since it was early morning, she started getting ready for class. She stopped only for a bite of breakfast before she went to the zoo.

The instructor, guiding the students through the zoo, stopped at the first 15 cages (or sceneries as he put