With No Head

Gaiusand Terence make their way back to the campsite.

Squelch squelch!

Something's galloping, says Terence.

He has not given up. 

That's my feet, squelching, says Gaius. My clogs are still wet.

So how come seahorses don't gallop? asks Terence.

A clever question.

The ones we know today don't, says Gaius. But in ancient times they were larger and had an important function.

Woo! says Terence. What did they do?

They protected sailors, says Gaius. And when sailors drowned, the seahorses escorted them to the next world.

Where was it? asks Terence.

Under the sea, says Gaius. The abode of Poseidon, or as we Romans called him, Neptune.

Wait, says Terence. They weren't very good at protecting.

How so? asks Gaius.

If the sailors drowned, says Terence.

Accidents happen, says Gaius.

They have arrived at the campsite.

Denis is tapping away on his phone.

Guess what? asks Terence.

Denis stops tapping. He was stuck anyway. 

What? asks Denis.

I was sinking, says Terence.

I know, says Denis. I was just telling Henriette.

I could have drowned, says Terence. 

That would have been tragic, says Denis.

But I passed on my knowledge, says Terence.

All of it? asks Denis.

No, just about horses, says Terence.

Who did you pass it onto? asks Denis.

A cuttlefish, says Terence. And then Gaius saved me and passed on some more knowledge.

To you? asks Denis.

Yes, says Terence. Want to know what it was?

Yes, says Denis.

Seahorses are rubbish at protecting sailors, says Terence. Because sailors drown.

Lucky you don't want a seahorse for Christmas, says Denis.

This is going well.

Yes! says Terence. A REAL horse would be better.

Well, says Denis. Guess what?

This is cruel. Denis could not have got Terence a horse in the short time that Terence has been away, nearly drowning.

What? asks Terence.

Has Denis got him a horse? Or booked him a lesson? 

Denis reaches behind his backpack and brings out some sticks joined together with plasters.

A long stick with four shorter sticks sticking out from the long stick. A brown seagrass tail.

It hasn't got a head yet, says Denis. 

What is it? asks Terence. 

A model horse, says Denis. Help me find a short bent stick, and two small identical pebbles.

A model horse! With no head! 

Terence can't believe it.