Read Online The Cydonian Pyramid by Pete Hautman - Free Book Online Page B

erupted at the edge of the field nearest the cart, peeling up from the earth, a rising blanket of feathers and noise. More birds than she had seen in her lifetime. The sound of their gurgles and chuckles hit her with the force of a gale — Lia gasped and gripped the armrest. Birds continued to rise from the field, an area larger than the central zocalo of Romelas, larger than a hand of zocalos. The avian sheet twisted and wrapped around itself to become a gyrating, sky-darkening cyclone.
    More birds, she thought, than could possibly exist.
    Another chuckling sound came from beside her. Artur was laughing.
    The last birds lifted from the farthest corner of the field; the flock reorganized itself to become a vast flying carpet and moved off at tree height. They watched until it merged with the horizon.
    “They gobble our crops, yet I love them still,” Artur said. “They were once extinct, you know.”
    “Those were Pigeons of the Prophet?”
    “So say the Lambs. I call them by their old name: passenger pigeons.”
    “They were returned to life by Father September.”
    “So say the Lambs. But the Lambs did not build the diskos.” He grasped the reins and shook them. The cart moved forward. “And now, Harmony,” he said.
    “Is that where the other Pure Girls are?”
    “Yes.” They proceeded past the pigeon-gleaned millet fields and up over a long, low rise. “Do you see him?”
    Lia looked where Artur was pointing and saw a dark shape standing out against a bright green slope.
    A horse.
    Artur put a pair of fingers to his lips and whistled. The horse raised its head, then trotted toward them. As it drew closer, Lia saw that it was a twin to the not-horse in front of the cart. The horse slowed as it approached, walking the last few steps slowly and nervously, all its attention on its illusory twin. As they were about to touch noses, Artur did something with the reins and the not-horse vanished. The real horse danced back and snorted.
    Artur climbed down off the cart, reached into his coat pocket, and came out with a crab apple. The horse eyed the apple, sneezed, and took a few tentative steps toward him.
    “Come, child. Gort says he would like to meet you.”
    Lia climbed down. She had never seen a real horse close-up before, but she could tell even from several paces that
this
horse was no illusion. She felt the heat coming off his body. She smelled his horsey smell.
    Gort stretched his neck toward Artur and took the crab apple delicately between his enormous teeth.
    “I think he is more interested in meeting the apple,” Lia said as Gort crunched and swallowed the walnut-size fruit.
    Artur winked at her, pulled another apple from his pocket, and tossed it to her. Gort swung his head in her direction. Lia offered him the apple.
    “Let it rest in the flat of your palm, child. Unless you wish to feed Gort a finger as well.”
    Lia did as Artur said, holding her arm out rigidly. Gort stepped toward her and lowered his huge head to her hand. His soft, bristly lips brushed her palm. The apple was gone.
    Gort sneezed again, causing Lia to jump back. Artur laughed. “Best count your fingers, little one.”
    “I do not
count,
” said Lia.
    “Then how will you know if you are missing a finger?”
    Lia examined her hand. She showed him her hand, spreading her fingers wide. “I am missing no fingers.”
    Artur laughed again, even harder. Lia made a fist and scowled. Still chuckling, Artur set about coaxing Gort into a harness he had unpacked from a concealed compartment at the front of the cart. Lia marveled at the way Artur used softly spoken yet confident words and gentle but firm hands to control the beast. Within minutes, Gort and the cart were one. Artur climbed back into the driver’s seat and helped Lia up. Taking the reins in his hands, he made a loud kissing sound with his lips. Gort started forward; the cart jerked into motion.
    The experience of being
pulled
by a horse was completely different from riding