When I’m certain I’m alone, I whistle softly. The sound is quickly swallowed by the dense cloud of trees and undergrowth. I bend down, checking the ground. I’m no forest ranger but, from the broken twigs and slightly displaced leaves, I reckon I’ve been here before. I search around for a sharp stone while I continue to whistle and call out for Pegasus. As soon as I find one that’s suitable, I use it to make marks on several of the surrounding trees. I go for a sweeping Z. It makes me look more like Zorro than Zoe but at least the letter will stand out when I search for it in the future.
I’m just completing my fifth mark when I hear the familiar thunder of hooves. I turn around slowly, aware that Pegasus is not the only mare in this forest and that I need to be damn careful if I don’t want to end up inexplicably dead in my own bed. The second the mare appears, however, I know it’s her. She’s being as cautious as I am, edging up to me and snickering. I delve into my pocket and pull out the first of the sugar cubes. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
I’m sure there’s a sudden light in her eyes. She blinks at me slowly and leans her head down towards my outstretched hand. I see the flash of her lethally sharp teeth as her mouth opens slightly and she takes a tentative sniff. Almost immediately she pulls back again, shaking her mane in surprise. Then she tries again. I know I should be afraid. From what Dante told me – and from what I saw with my own eyes – these mares are not to be underestimated. But I’m convinced that Pegasus and I have an understanding.
I keep my palm flat while her tongue darts forward and skilfully laps up the sugar. As soon as she has it in her mouth she moves away from me, chomping with what I could swear is equine delight. Without taking my eyes from her, I reach into my pocket and take out another cube.
This time she’s more daring. She prances forward girlishly although the way she grabs the sugar is anything but ladylike. I grin as she slaps her lips together and edges forward for more.
‘Last one,’ I tell her sternly. ‘Otherwise you’ll rot your teeth.’
She whinnies in response. From the way she takes her time over this third sugar cube, I’m sure she understands. She savours it, closing her eyes briefly as she enjoys the sweetness. She still gives me a wide-eyed pleading look when she’s finished, however, as she begs for another one.
I shake my head firmly. Pegasus harrumphs, her breath clouding the still night air. Then she gives a very loud hiccup, which I think startles her as much as it does me. I stretch my fingers out towards her mane, wondering if she’ll allow me to stroke her. I’ve obviously not quite done enough though because she leaps up, spins round and vanishes.
I watch her go, still smiling. Maybe next time.
When I’m sure she’s not coming back, I try to get my bearings. The forest is still disorientating but I think I know in which direction the town lies. I start weaving in and out of the trees. It’s possible Ashley has long since given up on me as a lost cause – after all, it is a few nights since she said she’d meet me down by the river – but I’m hoping I can seek her out.
It takes time, partly because I keep stopping to mark trees with my little Zs, and I’m sure I’ve wandered off in the wrong direction, when suddenly I stumble out of the trees into the same sudden bright sunlight as I experienced before. I turn round and gaze at the forest behind me. It’s like standing on a wall between shadow and light. At one side it’s pitch black, like a midnight grave in a long-forgotten cemetery. At the other side, where I am now, it’s a warm sunny day. I shake my head at the difference between the two. Then, wary that the time before I wake up again is probably limited, I get going.
Rather than heading down the street Bron took me along, I cross the cobbled square. Like last time, there are a lot of people around. I don’t want to appear unfriendly but I don’t want to get distracted so I keep my head down and stride forward, stopping only when I hear the burble of running water. It’s not the river, it’s a pretty fountain. I gaze at it in surprise. The water dances with colour, first orange, then green, then translucent blue. I can’t see any lights which might account for the rainbow effect.
I glance upwards at the statue set into the centre, jerking backwards in surprise as I register what it is. The stern visage of a man frowns down at me. His stone head is bald but a bold moustache covers his upper lip. Springing out from his back are two vast wings which stretch across the waters below. My mouth goes dry. I recognise that he’s been sculpted as an angel, but if I were a lot younger I might have thought he was the birdman. The very birdman about whom my mother said I used to have night terrors.
I stare at the statue. Have I been here before and I don’t remember? I thought it was the old man’s electric shock that enabled me to enter all these dreams – but maybe I was wrong. I remain where I am for some time, forgetting about Ashley as I think of potential scenarios.