Sea Horses Read Free Page A

then.’
    Tamzin didn't want to go anywhere but she was too shaken and ashamed of herself to argue. She hadn't seen the beach yet, and maybe some sea air would help to calm her down. Certainly it seemed like a good idea to stay out of Nan's way for a while.
    Nan was still on her knees, searching the floor as if she didn't trust Tamzin to have found all the broken pieces. At the door Tamzin opened her mouth to try to apologize again. But Nan didn't even look up. Unhappily, Tamzin retreated to the hall, took her coat from the peg and went quietly out of the house.

F rom the garden gate a path led down the valley towards the beach. Tamzin tramped along, watching the cliffs rising higher to either side. She smelled the sea before she saw it; a sharp, fresh, tangy smell that tingled in her nostrils and helped to clear her head. Then, a little way on, the valley suddenly opened out and there in front of her was the beach.
    The tide was low and a huge, deserted expanse of smooth, pale sand stretched away in a great sweep to two massive and craggy headlands. Way out past the headlands were the white lines of the surf. Tamzin could hear it roaring, and even from this distance she could feel the strong wind blowing fine spray in her face. It was an awe-inspiring scene and it unnerved her just a little. But she ignored the feeling and walked down the slope of rocks and pebbles to the sand.
    Beyond the headlands the beach stretched away and away in both directions. There were caves and rocks and pools at the foot of the cliffs, and off to the right a ruined stone building with a tall chimney teetered on the clifftop. The ruin looked brooding and unfriendly so Tamzin turned left and walked slowly along near the tideline, scuffing her feet in the sand. She was still badly shaken by what had happened, and Nan's fury made her feel even worse. Why hadn't she listened to Nan's warning? It was as if someone – or something – else had got into her mind and made her disobey. Then when she held the statue, it had seemed to move by itself. As if it had wanted her to break it.
    She shivered and stopped walking, turning to gaze out at the sea. It looked grey and cold, and the waves rolled in ferociously, tumbling and clashing against each other. A long way out, a huge rock crag jutted up from the water. Its shape was vague in the low cloud and spray, but she could see white-topped breakers surging around it. It looked menacing and dangerous, and Tamzin turned away, shoving her cold hands into her jeans pockets.
    Her fingers felt a small, hard object in one of the pockets. Puzzled, she pulled it out and stared at it. At first she couldn't work out what it could be; it simply looked like a piece of stone with rough edges. But then she turned it over and saw the glittering red chip set into the grey. It was a piece of the broken statue; part of the horse's head. She must have found it during the hunt for the last fragments, put it into her pocket, then forgotten all about it.
    The last thing Tamzin wanted was a reminder of the statue, and for a moment she was tempted to fling the piece of stone into the sea. But then she remembered what Nan had said about finding all the pieces. Maybe she wanted to try to mend the statue? Tamzin thought that she ought to take it back before Nan discovered it was missing.
    She slipped the fragment into her pocket again and turned to walk back the way she had come. As she rounded the headland she saw that she was no longer alone on the beach. Four ponies were coming towards her. One was being ridden, while the other three followed behind on leading reins. Nan had said there was a riding stable in the valley. The ponies must have come from there, and Tamzin watched with quickening interest as they came towards her. The rider was a dark-haired boy of about her own age. As they drew level he saw her staring and pulled his mount to a halt.
    ‘Hi,’ he said.
    ‘Hello.’ Tamzin pushed windblown hair out of her face and