The Mysterious Horseman

The car engines were roaring, people were cheering, and I sat there in the stands close enough to get buried by the mud. I’ve never been to a show like this before, but I wouldn’t pass up an offer for a free ticket from my buddy Devon. Despite driving a pickup, I’ve never really been an auto guy, let alone monster trucks. But here I was, close enough to flinch when the trucks drove by. It seemed so normal for my friend and the rest of the cheering crowd. Apparently it was customary to wear a white t-shirt with your favourite truck’s logo on it, they were everywhere; even being sold at the venue. I figured out later it was so the mud stains from the flicking tires would create a custom souvenir whenever you were sprayed. I wish I was told that earlier, that way I wouldn't have worn one of my nice shirts. In hindsight I should have known better, but my clothes were already caked so I didn't see a reason in changing into an overpriced shirt. Besides, I was used to dirt ruining my good shirts. I decided I would enjoy the moment, and I did. It was a fun night, and after three hours of mud, the smell of diesel burning my nose, and a pyrotechnics filled climax the show began to let out. People stood around the building, brooding over which merchandise to buy, or taking pictures of new dirt bike models. Devon and I were able to get in early thanks to his premium tickets, so there wasn’t much we hadn’t already seen when it wasn’t so crowded. Besides, he had to work in the morning, so we decided we’d head home. “Hey, I’m just gonna hit the washroom before we go!” Devon yelled to me over the crowd. “Alright, I’ll meet you outside” I replied, followed by his nodding acknowledgement.

I stepped through the doors, it was a lot darker outside than it was when we first walked through them, a lot quieter too. The night was oddly still for an event like this. I lit up a cigarette and looked out onto the road. Then glanced around back to the front of the event hall, doors and windows covered in advertisements and future show dates, letting no light through. I cupped my hands and tried to look through the window, unable to see anything but darkness, unable to hear anything either. “They must have some serious noise suppression” I thought to myself, letting out a draw of smoke. A few minutes and an ashed cigarette later I was wondering where my friend was. A few minutes more and I pulled out my phone to call him. Dead, of course it was. Sighing I went to open the door to get back into the event, but it was locked. That was when I realized that throughout my time standing here, no one has come in or out of those doors. For an event with hundreds of people that was weird. Maybe I went out the wrong doors? These were the doors we came in from. Regardless, with my cell phone dead and my buddy not in sight, I decided I’d walk back to where we parked. At least I knew he had to head that way. I followed the streetlights down the road to the parking lot. It was silent, not a person, not a car. When I turned past the walled entranceway to the parking lot my heart sank to my stomach. There wasn’t a car there, not Devon’s or anybody else’s. I was sure we parked here, but I began to doubt my own mind. Frankly I panicked at this point. I couldn’t find a single person. It was like the world left and I was here alone. I didn’t know how I would get home. I returned to the venue and tried the door desperately but to no avail. Knocking on the door had no effect as well. I sat on the curb and tried to think about everything involved in the situation I found myself in. I was outside of an event hall that should be spilling out with people, my phone is dead, there is not a car nor person in sight, and I have no idea how I am going to get home tonight. To top it all off my friend is missing. “Or was I the one who was missing? Why would Devon leave me here? Did he? Did I lose track of time somehow? What time is it? It’s still night time, that’s for sure.” All these thoughts racing through my head were stopped by a sound. Behind me, slowly appearing from behind a box planter was a growling black dog, its hair was long and unkempt. It looked identical to a wolf, in everything but size. It was smaller, about half the size of a wolf. Even still, with its teeth snarling, it was intimidating enough to make me jump to my feet. I slowly tried backing away as it snarled and crept forward. Slowly it kept walking toward me, head down and yellow eyes piercing into my own. The moment it slid back to make its lunge I ran. It began chasing me, I ran down the road, pushing myself to exhaustion. The dog kept barking and gnashing at me, but I somehow managed to avoid its bites. When I was unable to run any longer I found myself in front of the parking lot. With no other option I turned to face the dog, preparing for the worst. The dog’s front paws pushed me to the ground as it leapt. Its teeth missed my neck by centimeters, instead grabbing onto the collar of my shirt. The dog shook his head frantically, tearing and stretching my shirt collar. In his flailing he dragged a tooth across my chest, barely breaking the skin. In the chaos I heard nothing but the dogs growling until a voice broke out. “Back you beast! Get back! Go! Go!” As I turned to face the road I looked up to see a man riding on top of an enclosed carriage pulled by two horses. The dog ran at the man’s insistent yells, disappearing into the darkness of an alleyway. The man extended his hand toward me “Come on son!” Without hesitation I grabbed his hand as he helped lift me up onto the seat beside him. “Thank you.” I said between gasps for air. “Have you been bit?” he replied with a look of concern on his face. This was the first moment I was really able to see the man. He was older with white hair and mutton chops, wearing gold rimmed circular glasses, a black rimmed hat, and a suit to match. The man was definitely a Mennonite, I thought to myself, but I have no idea why a Mennonite would be this far out of the countryside. “Son, have you been bit?” he asked again. “Uh… no, no I don’t think so” I said, looking around my arms and legs for any marks. “Ah, very good. Let me take you down the road a bit, you wouldn’t want him to come back eh?” “Y-yeah” was all I could reply. The man shook his reins and the horses began to move. “So what brings you around these parts”? the man asked, though I really thought I should be asking him that question. “I came to see a show, my phone died and I can’t seem to find my friend who was supposed to drive me home. You don’t happen to have any way I could contact someone do you?” It felt awkward asking a favour from someone who just fought off a rabid dog for me, and even more so to hint at asking for a phone from a Mennonite. “Well no, I’m afraid I don’t, where were you headed? I could give you a ride if it’s not too far out of my way.” he replied. “Oh, that's alright, I’m headed all the way to Guelph, I just need to find a phone or something.” I said in turn. He smiled when I said Guelph “Well the Lords smiled upon you today, I am headed to Kitchener for a delivery, and my route takes me right through Guelph”. I didn’t really know what to do at this point. I’m not usually one to hitchhike, let alone in a horse drawn carriage. Weighing my options as quickly as I could, I didn't see any other way to get home tonight. At least this would make for a good story when I eventually had to explain to Devon why I went missing. “Well, thank you again then” I said. “Bah! No trouble at all...” the man replied “No trouble”.

“May I ask your name?” The man looked toward me. “My name’s Eric, what about you?” “Ezekiel” he said, removing his left hand from the reins to shake mine “Kind to meet you.” “You as well.” I replied. The first few minutes afterward were silent. Frankly I didn’t know what to say to a man who came from such a different world than mine. I suppose the question burning on my mind was why this man was so far out of the countryside and in the city. “So, do you often come to the city for deliveries?”. “Oh yes, I go everywhere, you’d hardly find a place I haven’t been”. He replied, eyes fixed on the road. In front of us the hair of the horses shining coats gleaned in the streetlights, one pale and one auburn. The streetlights went on for what seemed like miles, yet even in the distance I could not see one car; parked or moving. “Have- have you seen anyone else out tonight?” I asked, though part of me was afraid of an answer. “No not tonight, but I have made many deliveries out here and it’s always this quiet, frankly it is nice to have company”. I’m not sure if this answer made the night feel more or less eerie, but I smiled and nodded my head in agreement. I think it was at this point I truly realized I was alone with a complete stranger. Though I was uncomfortable, I looked out into the vast emptiness ahead of me and decided that this was the preferable option. “So where are you from?” I asked. “A little town called Bellehaven, though I have not been there in many years.” his eyes again stayed fixed on the road. “Oh, why is that”? He let out a small chuckle, “In truth I have not been able to find the damn place. So I make deliveries and hope that one day I will pass through it”. I suppose I rationalized that his town was so small that it couldn’t be found on any maps. As well, I didn’t want to insult his intelligence by asking him that question; regardless of how much I wanted to. “And what of you, were you born in Guelph?” He asked. “Oh, no I was born and raised near Barrie, I just go to school in Guelph. I major in Horticulture”. When I said this he perked up slightly “Ah, a man of the earth!” I laughed slightly, “Yes I suppose so”. “You know my father was a farmer, his land stretched on as far as the eyes could see. I used to love running and hiding within the corn fields.” He waved his hand in the air and stared out into the distance. “It was hard work, but by God the view alone would have made it worth the effort. Let alone the corn, finest in the country.” he chuckled and nodded at me. “I can imagine.” I replied.

By now we were reaching the more residential area of the city, with small three floored apartments and even some houses dotted here and there. This was definitely the older part of the city, the facades of the building shaking their brutalism for a more decorative approach. Chipped paint on the side of some buildings still spelt ‘Bank’ or ‘Grocer’. Many of these buildings seem to have been repurposed into living spaces, complete with balconies and individual ground floor doors. Yet as I looked at every window, no presence of light could be found within. Whether it was from the measly two beers I had at the show or if the lack of any other Humans finally hit me, I was overcome with a sobering feeling. I closed my eyes and tilted my head up, inhaling deeply. My body began to shake slightly as a wave of nausea overtook me. I looked down and wiped my nose, looking from side to side. “Do you mind if I have a smoke?” I asked Ezekiel. He looked at me and smiled “As long as you don’t mind if I do”. I took the cigarettes from my pocket, offering it to the old man. He waved his hand in front of them with a “bah” before taking a pipe from inside his jacket. I lit the cigarette as he put three pinches of tobacco into his pipe, stuffing his thumb inside each time before finally twisting his pipe in a circle; continuing to pack the tobacco in. “May I?” he said, holding his hand out. I handed him my lighter. Digging in his pocket he produced a small twig which was burnt at one end. He lit the twig on fire, staring at it for five seconds before finally lighting his pipe. I would have laughed at this if my nerves weren’t getting the better of me. “Thank you.” he said as he passed his lighter back to me. “No problem.” was all I could say, though I felt that I should be the one thanking him. What I did say was “Are you normally this kind to strangers?” He took one long draw of his pipe before letting the smoke drift from his mouth “I have seen many travelers while working this job, some are kind, some are not. Regardless, I let anyone who needs a helping hand take mine freely. Not everyone is deserving, but all of them may become deserving.” “That’s a good way of looking at things.” I said as I tossed my cigarette onto the road. I continued nervously looking at the windows. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a woman peering from behind a curtain. My head snapped in the direction to see a curtain wave. While I wasn’t sure if I truly saw a woman, I know I saw the curtain move. It was then that Ezekiel looked over at me “Eyes away, son. You’ll never know what you’ll see”. I wasn’t sure what he meant by that sentence, but I was glad that I had at least seen another person. I was content as I could be at that moment, trying to tell myself that the lack of people and traffic was just a chance occurrence.

As the trip went on the apartments disappeared behind us, leaving only houses until a crossroads separated them from farms on both sides. Despite the flatness of the land, I could not see far. The further we traveled the more fog encompassed us, and unlike the city we no longer had street lights to guide us. Ezekiel tried to solve this by lighting a lantern and hanging it on a hook on the roof of the carriage, but it did nothing to help light the way in front of us. At this point I was glad that there weren’t any cars on the road tonight, as a slow moving carriage trudging along the road in a thick fog would have been a disaster waiting to happen. Ezekiel silently brought the horses to a stop. “Why are we…” “Silence.” Ezekiel put his finger up to his mouth and looked around before stepping down from the carriage, taking the lantern with him. I watched as he walked to the back, his left hand touching the carriage at every moment. He returned with rope and lifted himself up into the driver’s seat. “Best we do this before the fog gets too harsh.” He said, passing me a length of rope. “Tie yourself to that ring, best do it quickly”. I looked to the right and saw a small metal ring attached to the back of the seat. After making ourselves makeshift seatbelts Ezekiel asked me “How’s your knotwork?” I replied by giving my rope two strong pulls. “Good good, If you fell out of the carriage in this fog there would be no finding you”. Ezekiel made a clicking noise with his mouth, and the horses continued to trot. The fog didn’t ease for a moment, becoming thicker and thicker until I couldn’t even see the manes of the horses. I looked over at Ezekiel to ask him if we should stop and wait out the fog but again he shushed me. This time he looked over to me and said in a hushed voice “Stay silent son, you wouldn’t want to be taken.” At this moment his face disappeared into the fog and I was left in an empty gray abyss. I wanted so badly to ask what he meant, but I was just as afraid of what it would mean if I did talk. I sat there still, enveloped by the fog, all noise dwindled into a familiar ringing. The fog was choking, it felt like I was breathing in more water than air. I let out a cough. In the fog the first noise I heard was so quiet I am surprised I heard it at all. A woman laughed, but then it was silent again. It was then that I felt an arm slide onto my left shoulder. I looked over expecting Ezekiel, but what I saw was a pale white slender arm, long nails at the end of each finger. I screamed in absolute and utter terror. My voice cracked as I continued to wail and choke on the fog. More arms covered my body, sliding across my torso almost sensually before tightening their grip and pulling me towards the right. I felt a tug at my waist, the rope tightening around me. The clanking of the metal ring continued as my voice became more and more hoarse.

I awoke with a scream and looked around frantically. Ezekiel did not react. We were in the middle of a forest, following a dirt road. I took four heavy breaths before I began to slow my breathing down to its normal pace. “Sorry.” I said “How long was I asleep?” “Not long,” said Ezekiel as he focused on a curve in the road. I looked down and found I was no longer tied to the carriage. I thought that even that may have been a dream, but the burning around my waist said otherwise. I was a rational man, and thought that I must have been thrashing and screaming in my sleep. This would certainly explain the rope burn and the soreness of my throat. Truthfully I think I needed to tell myself that. I lit another cigarette as we continued down the road. The forest was dead silent, no crickets, frogs, or snapping twigs. I decided I needed to break the silence or else I might have to confront the unnaturality of the night. “How far do you think Guelph is from here?” I asked Ezekiel. “Don’t worry son, we’re close. Naught but an hour or two”. I wasn’t sure if that answer made things better or worse. Regardless, I think we had a different definition of the word ‘close’. Even still, there was an empathy in his voice at that point. I think he understood the fear I was experiencing, especially after I woke up like I did. “Could I ask you a personal question?” I said. “Of course, I am as open as a book”. “Why do you live the lifestyle you live?” Ezekiel looked at me with a smile that showed both hints of happiness and sadness. “Mine is one of duty and work which some would find unbearable, I am aware. Yet, it is not that which is easy, but that which is right that drives me. Some men may shy away from that which is right in favour of that which is right for themselves. Sometimes these are very different from one another, sometimes they are not. In my case they are not, sometimes you must save one soul to save many.” “I see”. Though I couldn’t relate to his religious reasoning, I respected it nonetheless. There was something about Ezekiel that I realize now could have only come from many years spent alone with his thoughts. I looked around the forest, trying to enjoy the scenery.

The light from the lantern did surprisingly well at illuminating the forest but its flame did nothing to warm me. The vapour from my breath showed me it had become colder outside quite rapidly. As I continued to stare out into the forest I saw what I thought was a man. Though I couldn’t be sure as we passed by too quickly for me to get a good look. I figured it had just been a tree. Out of all the places I could have seen a person that night, it was unlikely that it would be in the middle of a forest. Unlikely as it was, again I saw someone; this time I was sure. I looked over at Ezekiel and behind him was another person, deep into the forest. I looked around rapidly and more and more people were appearing. The blood ran from my face as I saw them now in the light. They all stood there, unmoving, heads tilted upward with open mouths. I looked around more and saw that many of them were covered in plant-life. Fungus and Lichen stuck to the skin that showed between their tattered and rotten clothing. I started to shake uncontrollably, the feeling of nausea welling up inside of me. With tears running from my eyes I looked at Ezekiel “What is this?” I said in a broken voice. “These are those who were once bitten. Bitten by that same mongrel that came after you. All of them find their way here, and here they remain”. I attempted to jump from the carriage, Ezekiel grabbed my left shoulder and slammed me down into my seat. “Do not be a fool!” he yelled sternly “You will do no good for yourself by running into those woods”. I sunk back into my seat, eyes staring into the passing scene of terror. “Am I dead?” I asked “Everything that has happened to me tonight, not being able to find my friend, the emptiness, the hands in the fog, am I dead?” I yelled at Ezekiel. “That is not for me to say. I have brought many a man on these journeys, some of them alive, and some of them dead. I am not the decider in that fact, God is.” I leant over the side of the carriage and vomited onto the ground below.

The carriage continued in silence as I sat staring blankly at the road ahead. My mind was racing yet somehow so still. A tear made its path down my cheek as I thought of the connections I had made in my lifetime. If I was dead I would be leaving behind my friends, my family, and every future possibility that I could pursue. I never walked on stage to receive my diploma, I never achieved my goal of becoming a Pomologist, I never bought a house, I never got married, and I never had children. My brooding was interrupted by Ezekiel “When I sat where you sit now, I thought of my wife, Ruth. She was as loving a woman as could be. The horror that she would be left without me was the only thought I could have. I spent many years dwelling on this, so long in fact that I had forgotten much of the times of happiness that accompanied her. Do not dwell on thoughts of regrets, dwell on the thoughts of achievement, lest you lose them to the former.” It was no help, a tear streamed from my eye as my face leaned against the side carriage, staining its wood a darker colour. I laid there in a catatonic state for God knows how long. My mind strayed between thoughts of my own mortality and nothing at all. The pit in my stomach grew, it felt like I had been stabbed in the gut, but somehow I didn't care. The feeling eventually subsided, along with my other dampening senses. I slowly drifted off to sleep.

I woke up, head screaming, and eyes blurred. The carriage had stopped, and I was laid beside it. My shirt was unbuttoned and open, and I felt the cold run along my chest everywhere but the burning scratch made by the black dog's tooth. My breath was laboured, and I felt as though my lungs were filled with dirt; heavy and scratching at every movement. Ezekiel appeared in my vision standing over me. As my eyes adjusted I saw he held a knife. I told myself that I should be panicking, but in truth I had no feeling. If this was or was not the end, so be it. Ezekiel looked at me and touched the knife to my chest. “You said you were not bit.” was all he said. I looked down at the point of the knife, the small scratch was infected, covered with lichen, and a single twig sprouted outward with a solitary pomegranate clutching onto the end. It was not yet mature, still very young in fact. Ezekiel flipped the knife around and placed it in my hand. “I’m sorry there is not more I can do for you, what you do next is for you to decide, son. You can walk into those woods, and join those many who have succumbed to the black dog, otherwise…” Ezekiel clenched my fingers around the knife and lifted my hand up to my chest.

I thought of everyone I had ever met, every Christmas, every Thanksgiving, every trip, and every show. I saw the faces of my father, my mother, and my grandparents. My first love, my first kiss, my first heartbreak, my first friendship. My thoughts swirled into every feeling I had ever felt. I saw my life from above, and I saw it from below. I would love to say that I overcame some form of hubris and burst forward in a moment of catharsis, but that would be a lie. In truth it was instinctual, I did what I did because I felt in the moment that it was the right thing to do. I took the knife to my chest and sliced under the lichen, separating it from my body along with the skin beneath it. I kept inching forward and forward until the knife snagged along the twig. I closed my eyes, tears streaming down the side of my face as I slid the knife up and quickly drew downward as I gasped in both pain and release, finally able to breath again. The pomegranate rolled along the ground next to me with the twig still attached at the top. I kept slicing until I reached the end of the lichen with that too becoming detached from my body. I breathed a sigh of relief that everything was done, and just laid there for a moment as all mental feeling returned to me. In silence, Ezekiel picked up the knife and tucked it back into his waistband. Then he took my hand and lifted me from the ground. He swayed my arm over his shoulder and walked me to the carriage as I hobbled forward and climbed on. As Ezekiel walked to the other side of the carriage I looked back at the ground where I was just lying. There on the ground the pomegranate sat, melting into mold and debris. Ezekiel made his way up into the carriage, and with the snapping of reigns we carried along.

My body was exerted from the pain, I sat on that carriage in silence as we carried on through the thinning trees. Ahead of us was a clearing, long rolling fields came forth now lit by the moonlight. Further across the fields I saw the facades of buildings outlined by their own black shadows. Dim lights dotted through what appeared to be a town ahead. The town was on the far side of the field next to the continuation of the forest. “Well I’ll be.” Ezekiel said, not taking his eyes off the town. He shook the reins and the horses moved faster. As we approached, the dirt road we were on slowly formed into cobblestone streets. The houses around us were old, like something I had only ever seen in movies. The streets were dark but lit to a pale blue by the lanterns which hung on many of the buildings.

Ezekiel took care to bring the carriage to a smooth stop. While I focused on the houses Ezekiel spoke up “Telemachus? Is that you?” My head snapped toward the left as I saw two young boys, dressed similarly to Ezekiel, wearing tucked in white shirts and buckled trousers. There’s no doubt they were dressed less fine than Ezekiel, yet still they appeared well dressed for kids their age. They came running up to the carriage. “Yes sir! It has been too long sir!” The older of the boys replied. “Far too long boys!” Ezekiel said happily with a laugh. “Would you like to come inside? Ma has supper ready and I am sure she would not mind.” Telemachus said. Ezekiel looked down at the boy and said “I would love t0, but I can not for this night. I still have deliveries to do, as well, my friend here should be getting home.” I looked at the boys and said a small “Hello” to no response. “Tell you what…” Said Ezekiel “I will finish my deliveries, and be home as quick as I can. I need a long rest and a good supper”. “Yes sir.” said Telemachus “Would you like for me to take your horses to the barn? I can bring out Sam and Louis”. “Yes, son, I would love nothing more”.

I stayed in my seat as the boys and Ezekiel detached the horses from the cart. I doubted I would be much help with both my current state and lack of knowledge. Within minutes the eldest boy guided the Horses down the road and returned with two large black stallions. Ezekiel greeted them like family. “These are my two prized horses you see, It has been all too long since we have been united”. Ezekiel looked toward these horses with a face that looked somewhere between sadness and pride, and continued to attach them to the carriage. Ezekiel climbed back onto the driver's seat of the carriage. “Take care boys, I will be back soon, there can be no doubt Sam and Louis will bring me home”. Ezekiel chuckled again. He cracked the reins and the carriage carried on forward toward the forest. I looked back to see Telemachus and the younger boy stare blankly, with their arms at their sides, utterly unmoving.

As we continued through the forest the horses sped along. The horses almost immediately began to run faster than I felt comfortable with, and judging by the look of Ezekiel, he felt the same. He tried with all his effort to slow the horses, yelling and pulling tightly on the reins. The horses didn’t heed any direction given to them by Ezekiel, they carried on and on running as if being chased by some great monster. The horses breath picked up, steam shooting from their nostrils in the cold wind. Ezekiel had utterly lost control at this point. I gripped on to the carriage as tightly as I could. Ezekiel gripped the reins, his knuckles white with the pressure. With a sudden shake the carriage hit a rock and threw Ezekiel out of his seat. Higher now the carriage jumped as Ezekiel disappeared under the back wheel with the sound of an echoing crack. I felt the blood drain from my face and at the same moment took the reins in my hands and pushed myself to where Ezekiel once sat. The Horses rushed forward with nothing I did calming their run. Sparks flew from their hooves and shot out beneath them as they quickly enveloped in a bright blue flame. The flame burned the flesh from their bodies, leaving nothing but bright white bones. The reins too trailed upward with blue fire as it reached my hands. In the corner of my eye I saw another blue spectre flying next to where I once sat. It was Ezekiel, and he looked at me and slowly lowered his head once toward me, his look I could only describe as grateful. Ezekiel flew forward and untied the horses as they ran off in separate directions. The carriage flew by Ezekiel, and still moved with ferocity. By now the reins were fully engulfed, and spread to the seat. Within moments the whole carriage burned, yet I felt nothing but cold. The carriage slowly disappeared and as it burned away, the pickup truck I was familiar with took its place, my hands now clutched around the steering wheel. Ahead of me I was no longer in a forest, but on a busy freeway. I swerved to avoid the cars ahead of me, and as quickly as they appeared they were gone again. Now on an empty road, I continued down the road a bit further before finally pulling off to the side. I took a moment before looking around me to get my bearings. I sat parked parallel to the open gates of a cemetery and as I looked in the rearview mirror I saw a white casket laying in the bed of my truck.

I stepped out of the truck and opened the tailgate. After hesitating for a minute, I lifted myself into the bed and sat next to the casket. Opening the top portion expecting to view myself, I instead saw my friend Devon laying there motionless. Truly, no shock could surprise me now. Instead I was just saddened and disappointed that he was dead. After closing the lid of the casket, I jumped down from the bed. I reached forward and grabbed the handle at the end of the casket, pulling it down off my truck with a loud thud as it hit the ground. Again I pulled, dragging the casket through the gates of the cemetery. I kept dragging the casket through the grass until I eventually reached an open grave bearing Devon’s name. After positioning the casket in front of the hole a hard push dropped it within. I looked over to the side of the grave at the pile of dirt that sat beside it, then made my way to the nearby shed. I glanced at the padlock on the door before using a nearby rock to break the window and unlock the door, taking a shovel from within.