Centaur Rising Read Online Free PDF Page A

reexamined the pony boy with his stethoscope, then cocked his head.
    â€œSomething else?” Mom asked.
    He made a face, pursed his lips, took a deep breath. “He’s got two hearts.”
    â€œ Two hearts?” Martha dismissed this with a snort.
    â€œOne in his boy chest,” Dr. Herks said, “and one down in the horse chest, where it ought to be.”
    â€œWhat does that mean?” I asked.
    â€œIt means he’s got twice as much love to give,” Robbie said and opened his short arms as wide as they would go, which startled the pony boy, who giggled and hid behind Agora before turning to nurse again.
    We waited breathlessly for Dr. Herks’ answer.
    â€œDarned if I know,” he said, adding quickly, “Maybe Robbie’s right and it’s a good thing.”
    â€œSee?” Robbie crowed. “I’m right!”
    We chewed on what Dr. Herks had said for a while, thinking about what might happen later, when the owners came to comb and curry their horses and the kids arrived for riding lessons. When George, who delivers the feed, came by in his old pickup.
    And the mailman.
    And the paper girl.
    Our farm’s surrounded by a small town on three sides and National Forest on the fourth. Everyone knows everything that happens here. As Martha often says, “Sneeze at this end of town, and when you reach the other end, someone’s bound to say ‘Gesundheit!’”
    So, I thought, what do we do about that? But before I could say any such thing, the foal let out a strange sound, part whinny, part laugh, and I sighed quietly, thinking, Magic! It has to be.
    Agora nuzzled him, making small contented noises. She, at least, had no questions and—I was sure—no fears about the future.

 
    4
    Settling In
    â€œW E BETTER START BY MAKING A QUARANTINE STALL and moving the other horses to stalls in the front barn,” Dr. Herks said to Mom, all business now. “Hang blankets on the bars over this stall’s windows and door, so no one can see in. I’ll arrange for some extra lighting so it’s not too dark in here. You get out the word that the foal has…” He thought a minute, then shook himself like a dog after a bath. “He has Puericentaurcephalitis. Tell them we don’t want it spreading. But that there’s absolutely no danger as long as he and Agora are left alone. Oh—and also tell them you and Martha and Arianne will be in full quarantine outfits whenever attending them.”
    â€œWhat’s that?” I asked.
    â€œ Puericentaurcephalitis . I just made it up. Dog Latin for boy-centaur disease. It won’t fool any actual vets, or any Latin teachers for that matter, but it’ll do for now. I’ll think of something better later. You know, we vets are always changing our diagnoses anyway. Should I write it down?”
    â€œNo, I meant quarantine outfits.”
    â€œOh, that .” He smiled. “Green jumpsuits, latex gloves, white masks over your nose and mouth.”
    â€œCan I have an outfit, too?” asked Robbie.
    â€œNope, because if someone sees you, and wants to help push you, how can we explain that away?” Mom said.
    â€œHe can have my outfit,” Martha said. “I’m not going to dress in that. It’ll scare the horses. It’ll scare Old Aggie for sure.”
    â€œMom…” Robbie’s face was full of hope.
    â€œNope,” she said in the way that was final.
    â€œIt will only be for show,” Dr. Herks said. “Take the kit off when you’re in the stall, behind the curtains. And, Robbie—you can go in the evenings, after everyone is gone. That way no one will know.”
    Robbie’s face lit up again.
    â€œAnd where do I get that … um … kit?” Mom asked, her voice softening.
    â€œI’ve got plenty for when I do operations back at the clinic,” he said. “I’ll bring a bunch over later this