On Eagle Wings, Sophie Matthews [book club suggestions txt] 📗

The sun scorches the sky. Waves slither in the oven beneath the red torch. A black cord lifts its head valiantly. An angry hiss. The Sun God isn’t moved. Rocky columns rise towards the sky. Winged dots give away their peak. White stones hide in the shadow of the giants. A marble trembles. It shatters. A black tiny clew. A faint chirp. The nest is up. He is down.

***
Maiak was tired, but happy. He had cleaned stables the whole day. When he was about to leave, the mistress brought him a freshly baked bread. The gift made him happy. His brothers and sisters had never had such a treat.

A neigh stopped his daydreaming. He first thought a horse had escaped. His eyes looked for the animal. It wasn’t a horse. There were thousands. A red flag with a black circle in the middle rose in the sunset. The sound of thundering hoofs quickly got closer.

Maiak ran towards his home. The riders were already behind him. He looked back. An arm clothed in black stabbed him. The man pulled out a red sword. “My blood?” wondered Maiak. He fell, dropped the bread. He watched frozen as the bread got crushed under the horses’ feet. The pain in his chest got sharp. The shirt and the black earth were covered in a red, warm liquid.

The wall of dust came down. Red flames in the distance. The wind carried hopeless cries. His eyes got blurry. “I wish I could have given them the bread.” thought Maiak. He looked up to the sky. Red.

Text: nikyangelg
Images: Ivonne Vetjens(cover)
Editing: nikyangelg
Publication Date: 09-21-2012

All Rights Reserved