Archie and I used to rent a house in Cornwall during the summer holidays. The Butter Mouse money allowed for a decent sized cottage with views of rolling fields, a garden, and ivy up the sides. These were days of fish and chips by the beach, and the cash to splurge on plastic buckets without concern.
Exercise and sun meant that Archie collapsed in the box room bunk bed by half seven. This allowed me time to sip a glass of wine on the veranda out back. No book or newspaper accompanied the drink. The fading sunshine and darkening countryside was good enough. Peaceful, happy moments locked in time.
Except for the giant horse.
The giant horse always confused me.
This horse appeared out of proportion on the hill, looking like a magnified image about to fall off the landscape. An optical illusion of course. But I never figured why the horse appeared so out of place. Sometimes I held up my thumb and forefinger to measure scale against the fence. Once I almost drove up to the field to see if there was a twenty foot horse clomping around with hooves the size of steering wheels. No answers. The horse must be gone by now, a forever mystery.
I had a similar feeling drinking my thermos, and watching the shape on the hill. From this distance it was a black smear, impossible to confirm of what kind except mammalian. There was every chance it was another horse.
The shape moved in swift circles, like a flock of starlings with no obvious patterns. No obvious arms or legs. A great inky splodge, large as a crater on the moon, swirling around with endless energy.
I decided to pour away the dregs of my coffee, and get on my way.
Gleódreám is an amazing walk, and the first one I recommend as a family Sunday afternoon out. Perhaps you know what sort of creature was out there. At the very least you might want to bring your binoculars!
::Is the exclamation mark too much at the end here Barbara? I am not sure if I am being too flippant, but I still cannot work out what the animal was. I don't want to say it was a cow when it wasn't a cow. I guess it could have been an agitated deer? A herd of them, clothed in shadows? But would they run around in such mad circles?
I’ve highlighted some paw prints on the photo from the way back. Too big for a dog?
My hands are shaking. Worried I am spending too much time on my own. Perhaps it is time to give Archie a call. I don’t know if I can mention the shadow.
Which way do starlings turn that ends is bad luck?::
