Blood Red Road

wrists to the pole. Ike heaves Lugh over his shoulder.
    Go! I says.
    Then it all happens in a flash.
    DeMalo an th’other Tonton’s still standin beside Pinch. They suddenly notice what we’re up to. As Ike sprints across the platform with Lugh, the hood of my robe falls back.
    DeMalo clocks me. Our eyes meet. Then he turns away.
    He turns away.
    At the same time, Pinch points at me an screams, Seize her! Seize her!
    Th’other Tonton guard leaps from the platform. Comes at me.
    As I grab a lit torch from the sandpit an throw it at him.
    He ducks.
    The torch lands on the edge of Pinch’s golden robe. Flames race up the material. He screams an beats at the flames.
    I don’t stop to see what happens next. I leap down the stairs an into the middle of the crowd. The slaves is too chaaled up to do anythin. Most of them’s still dancin an chantin. Others sit on the ground or stand there, lookin confused, with foolish smiles on their faces.
    Then I’m away. I race through the chaal fields. Stayin low, keepin unner cover. I head towards the Palace an the stables.

    When I reach the stables, Ash’s got all the horses ready an waitin. They’re dancin with nerves from the shoutin an sirens an the smell from the flooded fields. Jack’s already there, on the back of a fine white stallion that’s nervy with excitement.
    Ike’s liftin Lugh up to sit in front of Jack. His head lolls forwards onto his chest. I run over an grab his hand.
    Lugh! I cry.
    No time fer that, says Jack.
    Saba! Here! Ash tosses me the reins of a black mare an I swing myself onto her back. We did it! You got him!
    Her an Ike mount up. Ike holds the reins of a spare horse fer Lugh to ride on once he comes to.
    Let’s go! I says.
    As we wheel the horses around, Ash yells, Wait! Where’s Epona?
    She was right behind me! Jack says. Leave her a horse! She’ll catch us up!
    We cain’t leave without Epona! I says.
    Saba! he shouts it at me. We cain’t wait! C’mon!
    We all gallop outta the stableyard an up the hill behind the Palace.
    I bring up the rear. At the top of the hill, I look back, expec-tin to see Epona hard on my tail.
    She ain’t there.
    But down below, a mob of Tonton’s runnin along the path from the fields towards the Palace. They’re in the orchard, in the gardens, racin around the fountain. An they’re chasin somebody.
    It’s Epona.

    I pull up my horse. Wait! I yell at th’others. They got Epona!
    They wheel around an come back. We got a full view from here on top of the hill but there’s good tree cover so we cain’t be seen.
    Epona reaches the Palace.
    I’m goin back fer her, says Ike.
    Jack grabs his reins. Stops him. It’s too late, he says.
    I watch, my heart in my throat.
    Epona makes a leap at a drainpipe an grabs hold. She starts to shin up it, real fast. Two Tonton start to climb behind her. They’re heavier, not so nimble. Epona ain’t armed. She must of lost her bow somewhere.
    We gotta do somethin! Ash says. We cain’t jest leave her, they’ll tear her apart!
    We all look at each other. I can see in Ike an Jack’s eyes what needs to be done. I swing my bow around, take it off.
    Go on, I says. I’ll catch you up.
    No, says Ash. No. Oh please, no.
    There ain’t no other way, Ash, says Ike.
    Jack says, Saba, why don’t you let me—
    I said I’ll catch you up, I says.
    They hesitate, lookin at each other.
    Saba, says Ash.
    Go! I says.
    They turn their horses an leave. I pull a arrow from my quiver an fit it to the bowstring. My hands is shakin.
    Epona’s on the flat roof. She runs around, lookin every which way fer escape, but she’s trapped. The two Tonton’s at the top of the drainpipe now. They pull theirselves onto the roof. They reach fer their shooters. Start to move slowly towards her. There’s more Tonton arrivin below. They move out to surround the Palace. Epona looks over her shoulder. Sees the two Tonton comin towards her.
    Epona looks over her shoulder, like she sees somethin behind her. She turns back agin. She sees me .
    Suddenly Epona spots me at the edge of the trees. The world slams to a stop. There ain’t nuthin an nobody else. Jest Epona an me an the sound of my heart.
    Beat, beat, beat .
    She nods .
    An it all happens slowly. So slow, I can see the blink of her eyelids. I can see her lips move as she takes in a breath .
    She starts to run towards me. She throws her arms wide open an lifts her face up. She leaps .
    Tears blur my sight. I wipe ’em away. I lift my bow. I take