A ROUSING VOICE

Way Bon Adventure concentrates on the girl of his dreams. Somehow she has managed to be in charge of their wild ride together. The young lass has also captured his attention in a most spellbinding way.

He sits behind her so close that he feels each lively shift of the female hips between his inner thighs. Black ringlets of her lengthy hair bounce up and down with every movement of her head. She whispers softly over her shoulder as her dark locks dip and bob. She gestures slightly with one hand; her curls sway back and forth magically.

These movements begin to unsettle him. Something is not right, he thinks.

He leans to his left to meet a blast of fierce wintry wind that strikes his face with incredible force. His eyes sting and begin to water from the frigid air. He tightens his grip around her curved waist and lays his head forward to rest among her tousled tresses.

The motions of the stallion rock him peacefully. The gait of the animal feels both comfortable and reassuring.

Then out to his left he notices people walking across the landscape. All seem to be heading in the same direction as the horse, the girl and he. They tread ghost-like and with purpose, intent on a task unclear to Bon Adventure. Not a single person regards the galloping pair.

Easy Lee comes gliding by. The teen stands comfortably on a long hand-fashioned skateboard, and he waves to the pair once. He half-smiles from beneath Eli’s black bowler hat before dissolving into the crowd. Off to one side a lone individual carries a dog cradled in his arms. The animal seems to be either asleep or dead; its coat drips foam from a recent bath.

Far beyond the foot traffic Bon Adventure catches sight of trees. A number of the oaks form a straight line, but each of the ancients appears stubby and unnaturally pruned.

The walkers leisurely approach a ridge of low-lying hills up ahead. Above in the sky, bright pin-points of light appear without warning . Within seconds hundreds dot the heavens. The crowd becomes agitated, and then in unison they begin trotting toward the hills as the lights float toward the earth.

From high overhead the lights drift close and closer. As they descend the shapes grow larger, becoming recognizable as elongated sections of petrified wood.

One in particular comes near enough to identify its unmistakable features. The object throws off sparks from its entire surface. It crackles and pops noisily as it sails by overhead.

In the distance one abruptly collides with the ground where it explodes. A staggering sound reverberates over the scene. The crowd panics and runs, leaving both riders and their steed far behind.

Trixie’s voice cuts through the mad dash, which startles Way.

“Coffee’s ready if you want a cup. I have to leave for work soon.”