Dragon (Page 29)

Once he was confident going forward, Long decided to work on turning the horse. Cang and NgGung were already out of sight, and he needed to turn the horse 180 degrees to the right, because the fence was still close on his left. He slid the reins across the horse’s neck to his right, and the horse began to turn in a large arc.

Things were going well until there came a point when the horse’s changing angle caused his silk pants to slip again. He pressed his right leg against the horse’s right side in order to maintain his balance, and the horse suddenly turned hard in that direction, nearly throwing Long from the saddle. He instinctively squeezed both legs hard to keep himself atop the horse, and the horse bolted again, this time breaking into a full gallop.

Long threw himself forward and wrapped his arms around the horse’s neck, hanging on for dear life. The horse whinnied loudly and snorted, running like mad along the fence line toward the river. In less time than Long thought possible, he saw Cang and NgGung straight ahead. Both men were gesturing frantically, motioning for him to pull back on the reins.

Long reluctantly released his grip on the horse’s neck and gripped the reins as best he could. He jerked them backward, perhaps a bit too hard, and the horse stopped dead in its tracks, dropping its head.

Between Long’s forward momentum and his slippery pants, he shot forward over the horse’s lowered head like a New Year’s firework. He tucked into a roll that would have made an acrobat proud, bounced across the soft pasture grass three times, then popped onto his feet. He rubbed the old wounds on his sore right leg and left shoulder, and looked at Cang.

Cang began to laugh so hard tears ran down his leathery face. “I have been watching people ride for more years than I can count, and that had to be the worst dismount I have ever seen. Congratulations.”

Long frowned and looked at NgGung. NgGung was laughing almost as hard as Cang.

Long kicked the dirt and walked over to the horse. It stared back at him as though nothing had happened.

“What is wrong with this crazy animal?” Long asked.

“Why do you think something is wrong?” Cang said, wiping away tears. “He is one of the best horses I have ever worked with. You do not even need to hold the reins with this one. You can control his speed and steer simply by using your legs. It is a trick the Mongolians use out on the plains so that they can ride their horses and shoot their bows at the same time.”

Long thought for a moment and realized what had happened. “So if I press one leg into the horse’s side, it will turn in that direction, and if I squeeze both legs at the same time, it will go faster?”

Cang’s eyes sparkled. “That is correct. You are a fast learner. The way you handled those falls was impressive, too. I think you will be fine, even with those silly pants.”

Long looked down at his legs. The fine silk was now as dirty as anything NgGung had pulled out of his tent, and the clothes no longer smelled much better than NgGung’s, either. He was beginning to reek of horse.

Cang waved something in his hands, and Long saw that he was holding the map NgGung had given him.

“NgGung pulled this from your saddlebag while you were out proving yourself,” Cang said. “There are many routes to Tunhuang, but I believe this is indeed the best one for you to take, as it is the shortest. However, it is also the most desolate. There are no cities or villages along the way, only a small outpost on the edge of the great Gobi Desert. If I give you one of my horses, you must agree to stop there. The outpost is little more than an inn with a small blacksmith shop, and the owner is my friend. His name is DingXiang, and he has a great knowledge of horses’ hooves. Tell him that I sent you, and ask him to inspect the horse. I never shoe my horses, but where you are going the terrain is much different. Show him your map, and he will determine what course of action should be taken, if any. Ask him to sell you a pair of riding pants, too. You do have money, don’t you?”

“I have a little,” Long replied.

“A little will be all you need. DingXiang will not charge you for attending to GuangZe.”

“GuangZe?” Long asked. “Sheen? Luster? What does that mean?”

“That is the name of the horse you just rode. I had a different one picked out for you, but I think you should take him. He is afraid of loud noises, but otherwise is a very reliable mount. Best of all, I believe he likes you. I can walk back to my stables.”

“Likes me?” Long asked, looking over at the horse. It still had that intense gleam in its eye. “How do you know?”

“He has not tried to bite you.”

“Horses bite?”