In the kitchen, Mama Jack waited. Even though she was dressed in clothing like his, she looked like a being from another world, or an astronaut. Maybe it was just the memory of her picture in the book that made him think that.
“Here. Carry this.” She handed him a bucket. “There’s grain in it. Maybe Misty will forgive us for dawdling.”
In the yard other animals greeted them. A big red rooster strutted in front of them. A black and white rabbit jumped across their path. With a twitch of long ears, it disappeared into the brush.
Among the trees, an amazing sight waited. A shed covered with license plates from all over the world, not just from the United States, stood out from its surroundings. Finny spotted one from Germany and two from France. He studied them. Another one, about his eye level, in the wall closest to him drew his attention most. It wasn’t marked by state or country. At first it was black. In comparison, the others should have been brighter because of their colored or white surfaces. The more he looked at it, the more he saw black volcanic rocks with heat just below the surface. Around the edges liquid fire bubbled.
“We better hurry.” Mama Jack pulled him inside the shed. She pulled both halves of the door shut. Mist swirled around the edges. “I didn’t realize a storm was brewing.” Her frown betrayed there was more to it than that.
A creeping chill tugged at Finny. Before he could get really scared, a sharp whinny pulled him forward.
“Misty’s waiting for us,” said Mama Jack.
A presence, soft as Raskee’s fur coat, brushed against Finny’s cheek. “Who are you?”
At first there was no answer. Then with a familiar throaty snicker, the voice Finny had heard in the school hallway answered. “Franklin George Joidean, we meet at last.”
Finny backed away.
“Why don’t you come closer and see?” Mama Jack’s laugh added to her amused response.
He obeyed, and stuck out his arm. The soft muzzle of a very large animal nudged his outstretched hand. Finny jumped when a chill wind grabbed the lower half of the shed door with a sharp cracking sound.
“We don’t have much time.” Mama Jack stepped forward. “It’s on its way.” Her voice quivered. “Can’t you feel it?”
“Yes.” Misty pawed the ground with her right hoof. “Zeus won’t be here until next light. Nothing more we can do until then.”
“Zeus?” Finny backed up. He’d studied Greek mythology in school. He knew the power behind that name during ancient times.
The top of the door flew open with the wind. When he tried to close it, a familiar face startled him. It was the man from the school yard. What’s he doing here? Finny grabbed for the door, but only succeeded in scraping against the frame. When he held up his hand, a sliver of wood was stuck in it. “Ouch.” He backed against the wall and lifted his arm. “Mama Jack?” He squealed. The door slammed shut. The latch caught, preventing it from reopening.
“Oh dear.” Mama Jack tore off a piece of the plaid shirt she wore, and pressed it against his hand, careful not to put any pressure on the sliver.