Flame the Desert Pony

by Poppy Shire

  Magic Pony Carousel

  Book 5

  Flame the Desert Pony

  Poppy Shire

  Illustrations by Ron Berg

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  The fairground looked lovely in the misty morning light. It…

  Chapter 2

  “All aboard!” cried Mr. Barker. “Step up, step up for the…

  Chapter 3

  Chloe untied the reins and led Flame over to the…

  Chapter 4

  “What’s happened?” Chloe asked. She peered over Mina’s shoulder. A…

  Chapter 5

  “You’re sitting much better now!” said Flame, as they clattered…

  Chapter 6

  “Whoever is doing these things, we’ll find him,” Chloe promised.

  Chapter 7

  The girls trotted back across the dunes with Abdou and…

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Credits

  Copyright

  About the Publisher

  Chapter 1

  The fairground looked lovely in the misty morning light. It was in Chloe’s local park, at the bottom of a hill. She gazed down on the colorful rides in delight as she and her dad made their way to the entrance.

  “Come on—let’s find an exciting ride!” she cried as soon as they were inside the gates.

  “Don’t you want to get a hot dog first?” her dad asked.

  Chloe loved hot dogs. She was about to say yes, but one of the rides suddenly caught her eye. She gasped.

  “‘Barker’s Magic Pony Carousel,’” she read out loud.

  The carousel was painted in red, gold, and silver swirls, and the beautiful wooden ponies moved gracefully up and down under rows of twinkling lights. Chloe couldn’t tear her eyes away!

  “Is that a no?” teased her dad.

  “Do you think I could have a hot dog after trying the carousel?” Chloe said.

  “Oh, I think so,” her dad said. “Why don’t you go and get on board? We can find a hot dog stand after you’ve had your ride.”

  “Thanks, Dad,” Chloe said happily. She didn’t have any brothers or sisters to play with, but her dad made sure that she never felt lonely. He was always taking her to do fun things, and at home they liked reading detective stories together.

  She skipped over to the carousel to choose a pony. The ride had just slowed to a halt, and one pony seemed to be gazing right at her. It was a stunning golden palomino with a creamy mane and tail and beautiful big brown eyes. From its pretty face with its slightly upturned nose, Chloe knew it must be an Arabian pony, and by the look of the saddle and bridle it could have come straight out of the desert!

  She ran forward for a closer look. The pony’s saddle was covered in deep ruby-red velvet with a golden fringe all the way around the edge. The matching ruby saddlecloth was embroidered with palm trees and birds in shiny gold thread. Red and gold tassels dangled from the edge, and there were matching tassels on the breastplate and bridle.

  “Wow!” Chloe exclaimed. At her local riding school, she loved helping to get ponies ready for shows. She wasn’t a very confident rider yet, but she was really good at braiding manes and weaving pretty ribbons into the hair. She looked closely at the gorgeous saddlecloth. Whoever had made this must love decorating ponies as much as she did!

  “Hello there!” said a deep, friendly voice.

  Chloe whirled around and saw a tall man stepping down from the carousel. He was wearing a red velvet suit lined with green silk and a stripy red and green top hat.

  “Hello,” said Chloe. “Are you Mr. Barker?”

  “I am indeed!” said Mr. Barker, his eyes sparkling. “Would you like to ride on my splendid carousel?”

  Chloe nodded. “Yes, please. I’d like to ride the palomino, if that’s okay.”

  Mr. Barker stroked his chin. “Well, that’s fine by me,” he said, “but we’ll have to see what the carousel thinks.”

  “The carousel?” Chloe was puzzled.

  Mr. Barker tapped his nose and leaned toward her. “It’s a magic carousel, remember!” he whispered. Then he reached out and took a bright orange balloon from a passing balloon seller. With a flourish, he pulled a little pony-shaped badge out of his lapel. “Now, Chloe, let’s see if your wish can come true!”

  Before Chloe had time to wonder how Mr. Barker could possibly know her name, he burst the balloon with the badge pin. POP! Chloe stared in amazement as a little pink ticket fluttered to the ground.

  Mr. Barker beamed at her. “I think you’ll find there’s something written on it,” he said.

  Chloe could just see some swirly silver writing on one side of the ticket. She bent down to pick it up. “‘Flame,’” she read, then looked up at Mr. Barker.

  “What a coincidence!” he said with a wink.

  Chloe ran over to the palomino. There was a name written on the pretty red headband. She stood on tiptoe to read it.

  “‘Flame’!” she exclaimed.

  Chapter 2

  “All aboard!” cried Mr. Barker. “Step up, step up for the most exciting ride of your lives! The Magic Pony Carousel is about to start!”

  Quickly Chloe scrambled up onto Flame’s back. She had read books about different kinds of ponies, and she knew Arabians came from the desert, where they had to be strong and fast to race long distances over the sand.

  She patted Flame’s shiny wooden neck, then held on tight to the twisty golden pole. The carousel began to turn, moving her gently up and down. Chloe thought about what it would be like to ride across the desert with the sun beating down. She could almost feel the warm rays on her skin…but then the air began to shimmer, and Chloe saw swirls of pink glitter falling around her. She rubbed her eyes. She must be imagining things! But no—the glitter was still falling softly.

  “Ow!” she exclaimed, as specks flew into her face. “What’s that?”

  She looked down and saw grains of sand dusting the pommel of the saddle. “Sand?” she muttered, brushing it away with her hand. “I can’t be imagining that!”

  The glitter began to clear, and she tried to grab the twisty golden pole again—but it had disappeared! Instead, her hands landed on a soft, silky mane. Chloe nearly fell out of the saddle in surprise. Hastily she steadied herself on the saddle’s high pommel and picked up the red leather reins. What was going on? She wasn’t sitting on a carousel at all now. Flame was a real, live pony!

  The fairground had vanished. Instead, there was golden, shimmering sand as far as she could see. She and Flame were galloping between the rolling dunes of a desert.

  “Steady!” cried Chloe. She had never ridden this fast before! She gave a little tug on the reins and Flame slowed down to a canter. But the sand was still flying into her face, so Chloe pulled on the reins again, slowing the pony to a trot. She groped for the pocket of her fleecy pink cardigan, looking for a tissue to hold over her nose. To her astonishment, the pocket wasn’t there. She glanced down. She wasn’t wearing her cardigan at all!

  Chloe was wearing a pale blue cotton gown embroidered with pretty yellow cross stitches. There was a little kerchief around her neck in rich sky blue, decorated with a fringe of tiny red and blue beads. Chloe quickly lifted it up to cover her nose and mouth. It would keep the sand out perfectly. Then she reached up and patted her hair. Phew! She was still wearing her favorite barrette decorated with rainbow-colored butterflies. This was all very mysterious but exciting, too!

  As Flame’s hooves thudded across the golden sand, Chloe saw that they were approaching a little town. All the houses were whitewashed, and many of them had domed roofs that stood out against the blue sky. In the brilliant sunshine, they were almost too bright to look at. Chloe
shaded her eyes with one hand as Flame reached the edge of the town.

  They trotted down a narrow street, and Chloe spotted a man leading a donkey laden with baskets of vegetables. She reined Flame to a walk and followed the donkey over the smooth cobbles. The street opened into a square with palm trees in the middle, surrounding a stone well. All around the edge of the square were colorful, busy market stalls.

  “Wow!” said Chloe. “What a great place!”

  “Yes, isn’t it?” agreed a soft voice.

  Chloe looked around, wondering who had spoken. There wasn’t anyone nearby. With a shrug, she nudged Flame forward, looking at the different market stalls. There were richly woven rugs and hangings, mounds of scented spices, wonderful fabrics, and clothes.

  “Figs! Lovely plump figs!” called one stall owner. He smiled at Chloe and held one out to her.

  She laughed and shook her head. The fig looked delicious, but she didn’t have any money.

  A woman wearing a bright red shawl walked past with a pail of water balanced on her head. The sight of the crystal-clear water made Chloe realize how thirsty she was.

  “Oh! I’d love a drink,” she exclaimed out loud.

  “So would I!”

  It was the mysterious voice again! Chloe peered around, but no one seemed to be taking any notice of her. Shaking her head, she slipped down from Flame’s back and led the pony over to the palm trees beside the well. She tied Flame’s reins to a wooden post.

  “I won’t be a minute, Flame,” she said, patting the pony’s neck. Then she headed toward the well. A group of girls was waiting with stone jars for their turn to draw water.

  “Hey!” called the voice again.

  Chloe spun around. There was no one behind her, just Flame tied to the post.

  “Please could I have a drink, too?” begged the voice. “It was very hot galloping across the desert!”

  Chloe stared hard. Could it be…? She stepped forward. “Flame,” she whispered. “Was that you?”

  The palomino blinked her big brown eyes. “Of course it was!” she said.

  Chloe flung her arms around her neck. “You can talk!” she cried. “This is the best carousel ride ever!”

  Flame nuzzled Chloe’s cheek. “I can talk, but the ticket you picked with my name on it means that only you will be able to understand me,” she said. “The carousel has sent us here to help someone and solve a problem. I’m not sure what it is, though. We’ll have to find that out for ourselves.”

  Chloe had a worrying thought. “What about my dad? He won’t know where I’ve gone!”

  Flame shook her long silky mane. “Don’t worry,” she said. “When we get back, it will be as if we’ve never been away.”

  “Wow!” breathed Chloe. “My very own magical adventure with my very own Arabian pony!”

  “That’s right,” agreed Flame. “A very thirsty Arabian pony!”

  Chapter 3

  Chloe untied the reins and led Flame over to the well. She smiled shyly at the girls. Three of them were chatting together, and they smiled back. But the fourth girl didn’t look up from filling her water jar. They all wore colorful gowns like the one Chloe was wearing. She loved the bright orange gown worn by the girl closest to her.

  An elderly woman finished filling her jar and offered Chloe a chance to use the bucket that had to be lowered into the well. Chloe pushed it over the edge of the stone wall and listened to it splash into the water below. Then she pulled on the rope. Slowly the bucket came up, full of sparkling water. She began to pull the bucket over the side of the well, but it was heavier than she expected. The bucket slipped from her fingers, and sloshed cold water all over the girl in the beautiful orange gown!

  “Oh!” gasped the girl.

  “I’m so sorry!” Chloe exclaimed.

  But the girl was laughing. She had warm brown eyes and long dark hair with coppery highlights that gleamed in the sun. “Don’t worry.” she said. “It’s nice and cool!”

  She helped Chloe put the bucket on the ground. As she bent down, the girl dipped the tips of her fingers into the bucket and flicked water over Chloe’s hair.

  Chloe shook her head and felt drops of cool water trickle down her neck. Then she reached into the bucket and splashed the girl back! The girl yelped and began to run around the well. Laughing, Chloe chased after her new friend until she dived behind two of the other girls.

  “Come on, you two, protect me!” she begged, peeping out from between them as Chloe approached.

  “You’re joking, Mina!” they exclaimed. One of them reached into her own bucket and flicked more water over Mina’s orange gown. Mina squealed and ran off again. The other girls helped Chloe chase her. They were soon gasping with laughter.

  “Come on, Hanna, help me!” Mina called to the fourth girl.

  Hanna smiled but shook her head and stayed next to the well.

  Mina tried to hide behind Flame.

  The pony stuck her nose into the bucket of water. “Watch this,” she said to Chloe.

  As Mina crept forward to peep under Flame’s neck, the pony suddenly lifted her head out of the bucket, splashing all the girls, even Chloe.

  “Flame!” Chloe squealed. “You weren’t supposed to get me, too. I’m soaked!”

  Flame snorted and looked around with wide, innocent eyes.

  Mina laughed. “She meant to do it—I’m sure she did!”

  Chloe put her arm around Flame’s neck and smiled at her new friends. “This is Flame,” she said. “And I’m Chloe. Do you have ponies, too?”

  Mina nodded. “Yes, but she’s at home in her stable. Her name’s Flicker, and I’m Mina.”

  “I’m Amira, and this is my sister Nadia,” said another of the girls. She picked up her water jar. “We’d better get going, Nadia.”

  “Okay,” said Nadia. “Nice to meet you, Chloe.”

  Mina waved as they walked out of the square, then turned to the fourth girl, who was still standing beside the well. “This is my best friend, Hanna,” she told Chloe.

  Chloe watched as Hanna balanced her water jar on top of her head and walked gracefully toward them. “I’m going home,” Hanna said. “Are you coming?”

  “I just wanted you to meet my new friend Chloe,” said Mina.

  Hanna glanced at Chloe and Flame but looked away again without smiling. “Another new friend, Mina? I have to go. My mom’s waiting for me,” she said coolly. “Are you coming or not?”

  Mina hesitated. Chloe hoped she would stay by the well. She liked Mina a lot, and she didn’t know anyone else here.

  Mina picked up her water jar. “I haven’t filled my jar yet,” she said. “I’ll catch up with you at your house.”

  Hanna gave a shrug and walked off. Chloe thought she was acting very oddly. Mina was so friendly, but Hanna didn’t seem friendly at all!

  “Maybe she was feeling left out,” Flame whispered in Chloe’s ear.

  Chloe stroked her neck and nodded. That might make sense.

  “Bye, Hanna!” called Mina, but her friend didn’t turn around.

  Mina’s face fell, and Chloe felt sorry for her. But then Mina grinned. “I think Hanna needs her ears tested,” she joked. “Never mind. I’ll see her later. Let’s take this water home and you can meet Flicker.”

  Chloe watched as Mina filled her water jar, then balanced it on top of her head. “How do you do that?” she asked.

  Mina looked puzzled. “I don’t know. I’ve always done it—all the girls here carry things on their heads. Why, don’t you?”

  Chloe felt her cheeks grow hot. How could she explain that she’d arrived by magic? “Um…” she began.

  “Tell her we’re from a different village,” suggested Flame.

  “We don’t do that in my village,” Chloe said quickly, patting Flame’s neck. It was wonderful having a secret friend to help her out!

  “Really?” said Mina, leading the way across the square. “Have you come for the pageant?”

  “The pageant? Oh—y
es,” Chloe stuttered. Whatever the pageant was, it sounded fun. And it obviously gave her a good reason to be visiting the town!

  “I thought you must have,” said Mina. “Flame has such a gorgeous saddlecloth. Did you make it yourself?”

  “No. I wish I had, though,” Chloe answered truthfully. She was beginning to wonder how long she’d be able to answer all Mina’s questions without admitting where she’d come from!

  “Try changing the subject,” whispered Flame, coming to her rescue again.

  But then, to Chloe’s relief, Mina was distracted by one of the stall owners. She seemed to know everyone! All the people were very friendly. They patted Flame’s neck as Chloe led her behind Mina. Chloe thought Flame looked pleased to be getting so much attention.

  Mina turned down another street and then another. There were chickens pecking in the dirt, and sometimes a goat stood tethered to a ring in the wall. People left their doors wide open, and Chloe peeked in as they passed. Inside the shadowy houses, chatting women sat cross-legged on colorful mats. The men seemed to prefer sitting outside, gathering at street corners to drink little glasses of black tea.

  “It’s not far now,” said Mina. “I can’t wait to show you my saddlecloth. I’ve been working on it for days!”

  “You’ve made your own?” exclaimed Chloe. “What color is it?”

  “Bright blue silk,” said Mina proudly, “with lots of gold and silver stitching.”

  “That sounds lovely,” said Chloe.

  Mina flashed her a smile. “It’s almost finished—I’ve just got a tiny bit of stitching left to do. I don’t have any brothers or sisters, so Hanna’s been helping me to finish it.”

  Chloe knew exactly what it felt like, being an only child. “I don’t have any brothers or sisters either,” she admitted. “But friends are just as good!”