Read Online Reflections in a Golden Eye by Carson Mccullers - Free Book Online Page B

only said: 'That I have not yet decided.'
    'I wonder,' Anacleto said meditatively, 'what the Pendertons will do about it.'
    'You needn't wonder because that is not our affair.'
    Anacleto's little face was dark and thoughtful. He stood with his hands resting on the
     footpiece of the bed. She felt that he had some further question to put to her, and she
     looked up at him and waited. Finally he asked hopefully, 'Do you think we might live in a
     hotel?'
    In the afternoon Captain Penderton went down to the stables for his usual ride. Private
     Williams was still on duty, although he was to be free that day at four o'clock. When the
     Captain spoke, he did not look at the young soldier and his voice was high pitched and
     arrogant.
    'Saddle Mrs. Penderton's horse, Firebird.'
    Private Williams stood motionless, staring into the Captain's white, strained face, 'The
     Captain said?'
    'Firebird,' the Captain repeated. 'Mrs. Penderton's horse.'
    This order was unusual; Captain Penderton had ridden Firebird only three times before,
     and on each of these occasions his wife had been with him. The Captain himself did not own
     a horse, and used the mounts belonging to the stable. As he waited out in the open court,
     the Captain nervously jerked the fingertips of his glove. Then, when Firebird was led out,
     he was not satisfied; Private Williams had put on Mrs. Penderton's flat, English type
     saddle, while the Captain preferred an army McClellan. As this change was being made, the
     Captain looked into the horse's round, purple eyes and saw there a liquid image of his own
     frightened face. Private Williams held the bridle as he mounted. The Captain sat tense,
     his jaws hard, and his knees gripping the saddle desperately. The soldier still stood
     impassive with his hand on the bridle.
    After a moment the Captain said:
    'Well, Private, you can see that I am seated. Let go!'
    Private Williams stepped back a few paces. The Captain held tight to the reins and
     hardened his thighs. Nothing happened. The horse did not plunge and strain at the bit as
     he did each morning with Mrs. Penderton, but waited quietly for the signal to start. When
     the Captain realized this, he quickened with a sudden vicious joy. 'Ah,' he thought. 'She
     has broken his spirit as I knew she would.' The Captain dug in his heels and struck the
     horse with his short, plaited crop. They started on the bridle path at a gallop.
    The afternoon was fine and sunny. The air was bracing, bitter sweet with the odor of
     pines and rotting leaves. Not a cloud could be seen in all the wide blue sky. The horse,
     which had not been exercised that day, seemed to go a little mad from the pleasure of
     galloping with unchecked freedom. Firebird, like most horses, was apt to be hard to manage
     if given free rein immediately after being led out from the pasture. The Captain knew
     this; therefore his next action was a very curious one. They had galloped rhythmically for
     perhaps three quarters of a mile when suddenly, with no preliminary tightening of the
     reins, the Captain jerked the horse up short. He pulled the reins with such unexpected
     sharpness that Firebird lost his balance, sidestepped awkwardly and reared. Then he stood
     quite still, surprised but tractable. The Captain was exceedingly satisfied.
    This procedure was repeated twice. The Captain gave Firebird his head just long enough
     for the joy of freedom to be aroused and then checked him without warning. This sort of
     behavior was not new to the Captain. Often in his life he had exacted many strange and
     secret little penances on himself which he would have found difficult to explain to others.
    The third time the horse stopped as usual, but at this point something happened which
     disturbed the Captain so that all of his satisfaction instantly vanished. As they were
     standing still, alone on the path, the horse slowly turned his head and looked into the
     Captain's face.