Sea Horses Read Online Free PDF Page A

spirits that haunted this coast long, long ago. They were known as the Blue Horse and the Grey Horse, and it was said that they came from the sea. The Blue Horse was a benevolent spirit. He brought fair winds and calm water, and protected the sailors and fishermen when they were at sea. But the Grey Horse was cruel. He brought storms and treacherous tides; he hated all humans, and took delight in wrecking ships and drowning the sailors on board.’
    Nan paused, gazing into the fire. ‘My grandmother was very old when she told me this story, and she couldn't remember all of it. But a time came when the Grey Horse tried to overcome the Blue Horse and destroy him. The two spirits fought a terrible battle. There were storms and gales and huge, raging tides, and the people of the coast were terrified, for it seemed that the Grey Horse would win and destroy them all. But one fisherman's family were determined to help the Blue Horse. I don't know how they did it: the tale is so old that that part of it's long lost. But somehow that family joined forces with the Blue Horse, and between them they overcame the Grey Horse and defeated him.’
    Nan turned to the table again. ‘When the battle was over and the people were safe, the eldest woman of the fisherman's family - she was very wise and people believed she had second sight – carved a stone statue. The legend says that the evil power of the Grey Horse was imprisoned in the statue, and the family pledged to keep it for always.’ She turned a piercing, searching gaze on Tamzin. ‘You've guessed who they were, haven't you?’ Tamzin's expression gave everything away, and Nan nodded. ‘That's right. They were our ancestors. And the legend also says that if the statue should ever be broken, the dark spirit will be released again.’
    Silence fell. Even the sounds of the storm seemed to have paused for a few moments, and Tamzin felt a tight, choking sensation in her chest. At last, in a tiny, quavering voice, she whispered, ‘And I broke it.’
    Nan looked away. ‘How were you to know? Maybe I should have told you before. Maybe I should have explained from the start.’ She sighed. ‘I inherited the statue from my grandmother. She told me to take great care of it and never let it out of my keeping. It was our duty, she said, to keep faith with the Blue Horse, and keep the Grey Horse's evil power at bay. And in time, I was to pass that duty on to my eldest granddaughter, as our ancestors have done for centuries.’
    ‘Your eldest granddaughter is me…’ Tamzin whispered.
    ‘Yes. You're so young, though. I didn't want to tell you until you were older. I hoped you wouldn't visit me, so you wouldn't see the statue. But then your parents had to go to Canada, and there was no one else to look after you.’
    Tamzin stared at the rhyme in the old Bible again. Guard this stone that prisons me, For if it should be cast away … The meaning was all too clear, and she began to shiver.
    Nan took hold of her hand. ‘Don't be frightened, Tamzin. It's only a tale. In the old days people used to believe all kinds of foolish things, but we're more sensible now, aren't we? Maybe it isn't true. Maybe there's no such thing as the Grey Horse.’
    ‘But if there is,’ said Tamzin, ‘what will it do? What can it do?’
    Nan sighed. ‘I don't know, love. We'll just have to wait and see.’
    Tamzin desperately wanted to believe that the Grey Horse was just a legend. But she had felt the angry power in the statue. If that power had now been set free, what would it mean for her and Nan?
    ‘Nan,’ she asked, ‘what happened to the Blue Horse after the battle was over?’
    ‘The legend doesn't say,’ Nan replied. ‘He seems simply to have vanished.’ She smiled an odd little smile. ‘I know what you're thinking. Years ago I started painting blue horses because I hoped they might somehow call up the good spirit, to help me guard the statue. But I don't think they ever did. Even if the Blue