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It was a dark night. The stars were absent. The faded moon was hidden behind the dark monsters, at times showing itself partially as the clouds drifted. The prairie below was wet as heavy rain continued, at times turning to heavier downpour. Through the heart of the grassland a marshy road proceeded, vanishing somewhere in the horizon.
The whispers of the wind, hitting of raindrops on the earth, and the thunders - all mixed to create an orchestration. To this, added the distant thuds of horses' running. As every second passed, the sound got louder. Speeding through the wet track, two horses and a carriage advanced. A stout man sat in charge of the horses, grasping the rein firmly. His square face wore a strange look - a mixture of irritation, determination, and impatience. The rainwater drenched him completely, but he seemed not to care. The horses galloped ahead, spraying mud around every time the feet touched the soil. Thunders roared and lightning filled the sky, hindering the horses' speed. The frightened animals neighed and tried to stop, making the carriage skid hard on the mud. But as the driver struck them with the whip, the horses neighed sharper, raised their front feet and set once again, galloping their way across the prairie.
Inside the carriage sat two young people, a lad of nineteen and a girl of sixteen. The dim light from the lantern that hung from the wooden carriage's ceiling reflected on their faces. Shook by fright, the girl wore a pale face. Her lips had turned white and her palms that rested on her thighs, trembled.
"It is all going to be fine," the boy spoke, sitting still like a statue.
In answer, the girl held his arms tightly and laid her head on his right shoulder. The boy moved neither his head nor did he turn. His stony eyes were blunt and green, unlike the sharpness of his mind and senses. Under his motionless eyelids, the eyes were projected in front.
But he looked nowhere. He did not have to look in order to see, neither could he. He had given up the hope of sight a long time back.
He could feel the tears that rolled down the girl's cheeks and dropped onto his hands.
"Don't cry my dear, we will be there in time."
"There in time? Where were we all this time? We even didn't know she was alive." The girl was sobbing. "Oh brother! I wish I were dead. I feel so guilty-"
"Don't say that dear! Never say that again!"
The girl burst out into tears and instantly her brother put his left palm on her head and patted softly. He kept patting but neither did she calm down nor did her heart. Neither did his own heart.
Outside, the heavy rain continued, now along with powerful gusts of wind. The man in driving the carriage sat tightly at the control of the horses.
The wind blew off his hat to reveal his grey curly hair and a flash of lightning highlighted the fresh cut mark on his frowning forehead, running down from his receding hairline all the way down across the wrinkles over his eyebrows. But he didn't turn back a bit. He was trying to see as far as his eyes supported him, while the rain slapped his face. The only thing in his mind was the destination, where they all were struggling to reach.
Through terrible weather, as storms raged in the sky over the prairie, and in the hearts of the three human beings, the horses galloped ahead with the carriage, and vanished into the horizon.
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(zoheb_anam@yahoo.com)
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