Geoff's Unicorn stories
"To Follow a Unicorn"

This short story was originally written in April 1996 after being inspired by a story (even better than this) from another unicorn admirer, Chamiel. I've finally decided to finish it and let it see the 'light of day'

"You honestly expect me to believe you've just seen a unicorn !"
screamed Mary as she paced up and down the caravan.
"For Christ's sake Jack when are you going to get a grip on yourself, what next I wonder ?"
Jack sat quietly, considering his reply, he knew what he'd seen for sure. He was about to reply; Mary jumped in before he could put his thoughts in order.
"You pack up your job, buy a wreck of a house in the middle of nowhere to keep your darned horses and expect me to live cramped up in here for.."
Jack shut his ears, he'd heard all this before too many times. He got up, put on the kettle and made two cups of coffee.

He had been travelling home down the valley road when he saw what he thought was a small horse or pony in the distance near the waterfall. He stopped the car to look thinking that it may have been one of his that had escaped again ! As the creature turned round as if to look at him, he saw the long spiralled horn ! He watched it in awe as it came down towards the river valley the trotted along the river bank, then at a gallop disappeared rapidly across the open landscape into the cover the woods.

The evening wore into night, the argument simmered on. They went to bed but alone, Jack couldn't sleep. He got up before dawn, pulled on his boots put on his coat and after grabbing his torch he quietly closed the door. He knew what he'd seen, and he believed in unicorns !

He decided to walk to the spot where he'd seen it instead of using the car so as not to wake his wife. It was dark, cold and misty as he started towards the valley. It would take him an hour to get there. Time wheeled by and the mist closed in more. His legs tired as he stumbled on the rough ground. His torch could no longer penetrate the murky air more than a few feet in front of him. He saw something in the dull light, ran towards it then felt himself slipping downwards. He tried to turn round again and grabbed onto something to regain his balance. It was warm. Surprised he let go, lost his footing then fell into water.

Jack woke up slowly, lay for a while then tried to comprehend what had happened. He was beside a river, just away from the water below a steep grassy bank. Shivering with cold he felt his arms and legs, his clothes were soaked and muddy. He looked up, the sun was shining but appeared to be setting. He looked for his watch, but he obviously hadn't put it on when he left the caravan. A distance away he saw the waterfall. He must have fallen into the river in the mist.
"You stupid twit" he muttered to himself. He looked down at his legs and arms again. He was shocked to see that his clothes were torn as if they had been pulled. There were teeth marks in his left sleeve that had gone through the thick waxed material. He recognised the pattern of marks, he'd had a pony in his yard that nipped like that if you weren't paying him enough attention. He rolled it up expecting his flesh to be torn, but there were no marks ! He sat for a while longer, wondering. Something must have pulled him out of the river !

Jack got to his feet and started to scramble up the steep sides of the bank. He had to get back home, he had his horses to see to and his wife would be going frantic. As he got to the top and looked up he nearly fell back again ashe saw the unicorn. Startled the unicorn tensed as if to bolt, its eyes wide and ears pricked it stared at Jack, squealed in fright then started to turn.
"Don't go" said Jack quietly. The unicorn dropped it head, snorted and turned back then warily moved towards him. Jack heaved himself slowly onto the level ground and sat down in disbelief. It's soft white coat shone in the sunlight with it's silky mane and tail playing in the light breeze. It's large dark eyes watched him intently. It was more beautiful than anything he'd ever seen or imagined. He must have sat for hours watching the exquisite creature and wondering about what had happened to him and why. Eventually the unicorn had walked over to him and stood by his side.
"So you pulled me out of the river" Jack murmured to the unicorn. He heard nothing but sensed it's reply. The unicorn stretched forward, and nuzzle'd softly against his cheeks. He felt it's warm breath against his face and a strange feeling he couldn't understand, he felt calm but alive !

As dusk approached the unicorn slowly began to walk down the valley, then broke into a gallop with an urgency as if it had heard something. Jack got up and started to walk then run in the direction it had gone. He knew the terrain but the familiar landmarks of farms and outbuildings weren't there. He stopped for breath and looked back down the valley, he could see where the village should have been. He hadn't got time to wonder any more as he was losing sight of the unicorn. As he went on he could make out a pool in the distance and as he approached it he could see to his joy and amazement a herd of unicorns ! He realised then that there was no way home.

Police inspector Williams sat upright as the WPC gave Jacks wife a cup of tea. He'd seen it before, walkers going out unprepared, getting lost in the mist then dying of cold, a pointless waste. He hated the task. He had to enquire but it never seemed appropriate in such circumstances. He wished he was in the station canteen having a cigarette.
"Mrs Edge" he said quietly, "I'm sorry but I must ask",
he paused for a while, observed the silence then continued,
"Did your husband take one of your horses with him when he left yesterday morning or had one of them gone missing ?"
Mary sobbed into her cup and did not reply. Inspector Williams waited then continued,
"It's just that we found a clump of grey hairs in his hand when we found him".

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