'What the hell did he mean by that?' puzzled Sean, but Dirk cut into
his thoughts.
'Why did you have to do that, Pa? ' he demanded.
'What?' Sean looked at him uncomprehendingly.
'Give him luck. Why did you have to give him luck? I'm riding for
you-not him. I'm your son-not him!'
The two riders moved together towards the start, and buzzing with
excitement the crowd went with them.
Sean walked beside Sun Dancer, with Dirk leaning attentively from the
saddle to listen to him.
''rake it gently to the swamp, don't push her for she'll need all her
steam in the mud. Michael will gain there, that colt is strong in the
leg, but heavy. Follow him and let him break a path for you. Out of
the swat rip you can catch up and pass him on the slope, push hard
there. You must lead him to the top and hold your lead along the crest
to the dip-tank.
'All right, Pa.'
'Now, when you start down again keep well out beyond the Van Essen
plantation on to hard ground.-that way you can cut the edge of the
swamp. My guess is that Mike will come straight down and plough
through the middle-but you must take the longer route-and use Sun
Dancees speed against Grey Weather's strength. ' They had reached the
starting-posts and the crowd scattered and spread away to line the
ropes. An open funnel of humanity faced the two horsemen, then the
swamp with its deceptively lush papyrus grass concealing the glutinous
mud holes Beyond it the great soar of the escarpment. A long course. A
hard course.
'Are both of you ready?' called Ronny Pye from the sidelines.
'Clear the field, please, Sean.'
Sean put his hand on Dirk's knee.
'Let's see what you can do, boy. ' Then he ducked under the ropes into
the crowd.
Sun Dancer was skittering nervously, coming up on her back legs and
throwing her head so that the mane flew red-gold in the sunlight.
She was sweating in dark patches on her shoulders.
Michael was circling Grey Weather, keeping him moving gently, leaning
forward and patting his neck, talking to him so that he switched his
ears, cocking them half back to listen.
'Quiet, please, everybody! ' Dennis was using a megaphone, and the
buzz of voices descended into an expectant rusding.
'You're under starter's orders now,' he shouted at the riders.
'Turn wide, and walk up together.'
They swung away from the posts, and came together. Dirk touched Sun
Dancer with the spur and she jumped back thrusting her quarters into
Michael's leg.
'Keep your bloody animal under control,' he snarled at Michael.
'Don't crowd me!'
'Are you nervous, Dirkie? ' Obediently Michael wheeled his mount
aside.
'Damn you! -I'll show you whos nervous,' and Sun Dancer threw her head
