when he closed the factory doors behind him, he was filled with a feeling of peace. He listened to the gentle sound of the horses eating. Gary's mare stopped when she heard Nails, and her ears went back.
What's the matter, beautiful?' Nails said. "Don't be afraid You're all right, you know. You're not on your way to the knackers now.
He sat down quietly beside her. Her life was a little like his, he thought. And while he sat there, the mare seemed to grow calmer. She pushed her head forward to look at him, but when he moved, she jumped back, afraid. Then, slowly, she put her face near his again, and he felt a wet tongue on his hand. Nails was pleased. "You like me, don't you?' he said, and he could see that she did. Well, she was lucky. They were going to kill her, but now here she was warm and comfortable. They should call her Lucky. Lucky Something. He lay back comfortably while he thought about it. The other horses moved about quietly, and it was like being in a family, by the fireside. What about lucky fireside no, Firelight? lucky Firelight? lucky lady, firelight That was it! It was a good name! He wished he could ride her-well, perhaps he could. He could learn to ride, couldn't he But the others mustn't know.
The next morning, Hoomey went up to the factory early to feed old Bones and he found Nails asleep next to the brown mare. l'll kill you if you tell anyone!' Nails said. Hoomey didn't tell, but he thought it was very strange. And Nutty was very interested to find that when they went to the riding school for their first lesson, Nails, unsmiling and silent, went along with them.