“Back mighty soon. Hardly ’nough time to get your money’s worth.”
“Turned and ran is what I did and forgot to retrieve the coin.”
I told him the money bought me humiliation rather than pleasure. Brother stomped away. The next time he spoke he made clear he planned to get the coin back—and more.
* * *
We departed the saloon and headed for the roadhouse when a ruckus in the stable caught our attention. Our horses bucked in their stalls, possessed by some equine fear, as if ghost riders attempted to mount them.
“Don’t know what got ’em spooked,” said the smithy. “Me and my hostler never saw such carryin’ on in geldin’s.”
“Check for snakes and such?” I asked.
“A’course. Hope they don’t bust up my barn.”
“There, there,” said Little Brother in a deep and soothing voice. He stroked their foreheads. “S’all right. Let pass your affliction.”
The horses snorted then curled their lips and lowered their heads.
“That’s right.”
Brother turned toward the smithy. “Animals dream, just like us.”
The smithy folded his arms and clicked his tongue. “But would they dream the same dream at the same time?”
“Mayhaps one dreams and the other turns troubled, as well,” said Brother.
Not likely, I thought. Those horses bucked from fright, as if they heard Augur’s story.
That night I dreamt about the desert women dressed in veils and long gowns, with knives hanging from sashes tied around their hips. Black scorpions with faces of the dead I’d known scurried across the starlit sand. The women drew their blades and skewered the creatures, then held each by their deadly tail and swallowed them, licking their ruby red lips as they beckoned me with knives shining in the moonlight. I awoke with a start. Little Brother slept soundly, unaware of my terror. I sat at the edge of the bed, trembling until the crowing of dawn.
The smithy prepared a breakfast of flapjacks, bacon, and strong coffee. Brother scarfed down his vittles and ate most of mine, for I had lost my appetite thinking about the dream. We thanked our host and mounted up. I rode close to Little Brother as we headed toward the desert.
Well written fable. Thoughtful ideas about man search for things of lesser value that hide more important issues. Do we suffer little deaths while searching for the unattainable? What should we be doing instead? What is living all about? Thoroughly enjoyable and thoughtful read.
Beautifully written