Blood Red Road

the burnin town through the Gate. They’re all headed south. Nobody’s comin this way, nobody’s followin us. The sky’s filled with great clouds of gray smoke.
    The Hawks break into cheers an pound each other on the back.
    We did it, I says. I reach over an grab Maev’s hand. You got us all out. I gotta tell you, I didn’t think you could do it.
    I know you didn’t, she says. But yer gittin out alive warn’t nuthin to do with me in the end. She tilts her head back an looks above us. You need to thank that crow of yers, she says.
    Nero swoops down over our heads, cawin an callin out in his hoarse voice.
    I will, I says. I wave a arm at him.
    He does one last swoop down then soars up high. He likes a good view.
    I ain’t never seen a creature like that before, she says. He’s so smart, he’s—
    More like a person than a bird? I says.
    Yeah, she says. That’s it.
    Whatever you do, I says, don’t tell him that. I’ll never hear the end of it.

    We head due north, in the direction of the mountains that cut across the plain. They look to be a good five or six leagues off.
    Is that the Black Mountains? I says to Maev.
    That’s jest the beginnin of ’em, she says. Foothills, I guess you’d call ’em.
    My brother’s in a place called Freedom Fields, I says. Deep in the Black Mountains. D’you know it?
    She shakes her head. Never heard of it, she says.
    My heart sinks.
    Come with us, she says. To our summer camp at Darktrees. It’s half a day’s ride from here. Once we git there, you can rest up. We’ll git you kitted out, help you make plans to find yer brother.
    I ain’t got time to rest, I says. I gotta git there before midsummer.
    She looks at me. That’s less than two weeks from now, she says.
    I know, I says. I’d be glad of some clothes an food if you got any to spare.
    I think we can help with that, says Maev.
    An I’d like to leave Emmi with yuz, I says. Emmi looks up at me. She’s bin ridin in front of me the whole time, not sayin a word. She looks away quick.
    Jest till I git back with Lugh, I says. I got no idea what’s at Freedom Fields or what I’m gonna hafta do to git there. I need Emmi to be safe.
    We’ll take care of her, says Maev. Whaddya say, Emmi?
    Okay, she says.
    Ash gallops past. Hey Maev! she shouts, jerkin her head back towards Hopetown. We got company! She rides on ahead to catch up with th’other Free Hawks.
    Maev an me turn to look over our shoulders.
    Holy hell on earth, says Maev. What’s that?

    A cloud of dust’s comin at us from Hopetown way. It’s movin fast.
    That ain’t no horse, says Maev. Not travelin that fast. Let’s git the lead out.
    In the pit of my stummick, I know what’s inside that cloud of dust. The wind’s picked up. Perfect conditions fer a landboat.
    Hang on, Em! Heeya! I yell. Heeya! I dig my heels into Hermes’ sides. A quiver of excitement ripples through him. It’s like he’s jest bin waitin fer me to give the word. He stretches his neck out. Then he shoots off like a arrow from a bow, his hooves thunderin on the dry ground.
    I look behind. The dust cloud’s gainin on us.
    Whatever it is, it’s movin too fast! shouts Maev. We got no chance of outrunnin it!
    Up ahead, Ash has catched up with th’other Free Hawks. Told ’em what’s goin on. They all turn in a wide arc an start racin back to join us.
    I look back agin. The dustcloud’s even closer. Now I can see what’s makin it. An it’s jest like I thought. It’s the Desert Swan. With this fierce wind behind it, the sails is billowin.
    Maev whistles. Friends of yers? she says.
    No, I says. Not friends. Not at all.
    Emmi looks up at me with big eyes. It’s the Pinches, she says.
    They’re after me, I says to Maev.
    Right, she says.
    The Hawks thunder up.
    Keep Saba an Emmi in the middle! yells Maev. They move to surround us, takin up positions to the front, the sides an the rear. Nero flies jest overhead. We’re still headin fer the mountains, with the horses at full stretch. Epona’s ridin right beside us.
    Don’t be frightened, Em, I says. I ain’t gonna let ’em hurt you.
    I ain’t afeared of them! she says. From her quavery little voice, I can tell she’s terrified. I give her a squeeze.
    They’ll hafta git through me first, Epona calls over, with a smile. I don’t take kindly to people who try to do that.
    Jest then, the Free Hawks at the back of the pack start yellin. We look back. The landboat’s comin at us, full speed.
    They’re gonna run us down! I