Hero Read Online Free Page B

counted. A little one came to the gate and Aunt Anna let it suck on her fingers. “This one was born yesterday,” she said. “They love sucking
    my fingers, because they have to learn to drink from a bucket as soon as they’re born. They miss suckling their mother. Here, climb up.” She pulled her hand free and helped him up to the top of the gate. “Now, you’re the king of the farm.” Her laugh bubbled around him.
    From behind the next door, Izaak heard voices and the clanging of metal.
    â€œCome.” Aunt Anna reached for his hand and Izaak jumped down. “The men are cleaning out the manure and fixing up the straw underneath the cows.” She opened the door. A wave of warmth touched Izaak’s face and a much stronger smell of manure engulfed him.
    His mouth opened as he stood in the doorway. Black and white bodies lined both sides of the stable. A wide path covered with yellow straw ran down the middle. Uncle Piet and Albert were using pitchforks to straighten and fluff the straw underneath each cow. Gabe was scooping manure into a wheelbarrow that was filled almost to the top.
    â€œGabe!” Uncle Piet called. “Leave the manure for Albert. Take Jan to Hero. The sooner he gets to know him, the better.”
    Gabe looked up. He left the wheelbarrow, wiped his hands on his coveralls and motioned for Izaak to follow.
    Izaak held back, but a nod from Aunt Anna encouraged him.
    Gabe was silent as Izaak walked behind him through a wooden door.
    As soon as the door opened, Izaak heard the horses. Three enclosures housed gleaming, black animals. They were not at all like Bessie from the milk wagon. These horses’ coats were a deep black. Long manes covered their eyes. The muscles in their bodies bulged.
    One at the time, Gabe patted the horses’ flanks.
    Now that he had come close, Izaak noticed their strong bodies. All three turned their heads to watch him. While Gabe checked their feed in a long troughmade of metal bars that ran the full length of the wall, the horses watched Izaak from beneath their black manes. Their eyes shone dark and proud. The one closest to him was the tallest and most muscular.
    Gabe moved his hand down the tall horse’s back and, for the first time that day, looked at Izaak. Izaak shivered when he looked at Gabe’s purple face. It reminded him of a picture of a two-headed monster he’d seen in a book a long time ago. The monster’s heads had been swollen and purple too.
    â€œCome,” Gabe reached for his hand. “Stroke his side so he knows you’re here.”
    Izaak touched the horse’s coat. It felt warm and coarse and smooth all at the same time.
    Strong arms lifted Izaak close to the animal’s head.
    â€œThis is Hero,” Gabe said. Izaak heard pride in his voice. “He is a famous stallion. You and Hero have something in common, Jan. You are both wanted by the Germans.”

    Izaak gasped.
    â€œDon’t worry. They are never going to get either of you. Trust me. That’s why I want you to make friends with Hero.”
    Izaak didn’t understand.
    â€œMove your hands through his mane.” Gabe still held him up and, with his hand covering Izaak’s, they stroked the horse’s mane and head.
    A sudden calm came over Izaak. The feel of the warm body and Gabe’s arm comforted him.
    â€œWhenever the Germans come and search the farm, you have to climb into the trough without startling the horses. Always talk to them and stroke their bodies before you walk into the enclosure beside them. Climb into the trough, cover yourself with hay, and lie as still as possible.” Gabe set Izaak down. Now he stood beside the tall stallion. He looked at the legs that werecovered with long hair as well, as if Hero were wearing fur-covered boots.
    â€œThis is Marijke,” Gabe stroked the nose and ruffled the mane of the horse beside Hero.
    â€œShe’s our best mare. In the spring