NIGHT RUN TO CHRISTMAS

An excerpt from “Danika and Yatimah from Egypt to the Outback” www.carmelrowley.com.au

By Carmel Rowley

Part 5 – Final – HAPPY ENDING

Like children all over the world, Danika was up early. It was Christmas Day. But her excitement was overshadowed by worry about her father and Yatimah. She dressed quickly and headed out to the windmill. Tiptoeing out of the house, she passed all the gifts under the tree and somehow they didn’t seem important. Everyone at Dalry Station, not just her family but all the workers, the station manager Joe and all the neighbours, were excited about the arrival of Yatimah. But Yatimah hadn’t arrived and it seemed something terrible might have happened to her father and the mare.

Climbing the windmill, Danika sat gazing into the morning sunshine. It was going to be a typical hot Australian summer’s Christmas Day. She leaned back on the windmill’s brace, closed her eyes for a moment and wished…

At first, the galloping drumbeats of hooves in the distance didn’t register in her mind. She thought she was dreaming. But was she dreaming? Danika could hear a voice. ‘Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!’

Uneasy shrill whinnies and neighs made her look down at the horses in the stable yards. They stood staring towards the east, heads up and ears alert. Excitedly, they neighed again and again. Danika turned, her eyes following the same direction.

This was her first sight of Yatimah and she couldn’t believe her eyes. She gazed at a vision she would never forget. Flying at a headlong gallop, her beautiful silver-white horse came into view. Tail thrown high in the air, Danika’s gallant Arabian mare drank in the morning breezes in a final sprint home.

Danika’s heart felt like it was going to burst right out of her chest as she clambered down the windmill, calling out to everyone at the homestead. ‘Wake up, wake up! Come out, Mummy, quickly, quickly!’

Doors crashed open as friends and family streamed out into the stable yards. The dogs ran in circles, barking and jumping over everyone with excitement. The horses had gone crazy, careering around the stable yards, as Danika screamed, ‘Look!’ They all turned as a flash of silver-white streaked into sight, bounding effortlessly onto the front lawn.

The man yelled, ‘Merry Christmas, everyone!’

The mare, in an ultimate effort, pranced as if on springs, her slender legs pausing in the air with each step, tail curled like a corkscrew over her back. Eyes sparkling and muzzle in the air, she rejoiced at their arrival. For a heart-stopping moment, all gazed in silent awe at this exotic Arabian beauty.

Then there was pandemonium, as deliriously happy family and friends descended on the man and the mare. Danika and her mother hurled themselves into his arms as he slid from Yatimah’s back. Everyone shouted with approval. The mare raised her head and blew a huge snort from her nostrils, and the man turned and called to everyone, ‘Three cheers for Arab!’ When the cheering died down, Danika approached the mare and all fell silent. She placed her hand on the mare’s lowered forehead and, in a well-rehearsed voice, said, ‘And the Angel Gabriel caught a handful of the south wind and said to God, “Here is the handful of wind.”’

Danika’s mother and father joined with her to finish the inspiring legend so dutifully practised and learned by heart for many months. ‘And God created an Arab horse and addressed him, saying:

“I have created thee and I have named thee horse.

I have bestowed my blessings upon thee.

Success and happiness are bound to thy forelock,

Bounty reposes on thy back and riches are with thee wherever thou may be.

And I have endowed thee to fly without wings,

Thou art for pursuit and for flight.

And thou shalt carry men, who will glorify me,

And thou shalt glorify me with them thereby.”’

As the hushed spectators listened, Danika finished alone, and in her light piping voice said, ‘Welcome, Yatimah, orphan of Egypt, you are an orphan no longer. Let me introduce you to your new family.’

Everyone wiped a tear from their eyes, while Danika laughed then cried, ‘Merry Christmas!’

With a cheer that echoed across the vast Australian outback, they all shouted, ‘Merry Christmas, Yatimah!

Drawing Carmel Rowley