Penthesilea's Wish [Vol.2]

Chapter Thirty

Driving back up the mountain from the sea toward Stenies, Daniela felt completely emancipated. Perhaps it was the wine which helped, but it was, she finally realized, being away from Nicasio and left on her own which now inspired a true feeling of freedom. In addition, the professor had made her feel even more at ease in the Jeep, asking if she liked to swim in the ocean back in California and if she enjoyed the outdoors. A discussion of her horseback riding came up and the professor remarked how lucky Daniela was to have made this connection to such a wonderful creature.

"When I was a girl, since the age of six or seven, I spent each summer here, on Andros," she related. The professor said this while taking the gradual curves in her Jeep routinely and confidently. "My father knew a man up that valley, in Mesathouri." She pointed in the direction of another village, higher up the mountain. "Besides the mule which his workers used, he had two beautiful horses. His only daughter, Eleni, would love for me to come visit her during those glorious months we were out of school."

"Wow. So you spent quality time with a horse as well."

"Exactly! Like many Greek island children in the summer, Eleni and I were a bit isolated from our neighborhoods back on the mainland. Our families would spend the time reuniting in their respective villages with relatives and friends. This gave us children a lot of time together. Eleni was an excellent rider. A bit older but a patient teacher."

"Great."

"This family had a very large corral for us to ride in. It was on a wide, green plateau of their land . . . the sea far below. I'll never forget how she taught me how to become one with that horse. Whether just walking . . . or at a full gallop. I loved the freedom of it all . . . year after year."

Daniela suddenly felt like she was talking to an older manifestation of herself. She had experienced those same sensations and perceptions about riding as a young girl.

"And what a challenge that horse was! Such strong and spirited creatures they are. But so willing to communicate, and work with you in harmony. I believe that's part of our feminine mystique, you see. This non-verbal communication we have with natural things."

"Yeah exactly!"

Daniela found herself smiling as she spoke.

"Since I was young, the first horses I rode gave me scary feelings, but I eventually overcame them. I've had Baylor now for about five years. God, I am so close to him. . . He's actually the only thing I really miss about not being home right now."

The professor smiled back.

"See? All the more you will love him when you return."

"Oh so much!"

She now felt completely liberated. Free to be herself and say what she felt in the presence of this charismatic woman.

"I was riding Baylor a lot . . . just before I came here. To escape mostly, I suppose." She suddenly felt the opportunity to share for the first time her experience with the mountain lion.

The professor was silent for a few moments, giving her the time to relate and express such heartfelt and personal feelings.

"So you are at a fortunate point in your life, Daniela." she continued. "It's now when you can honestly see the advantages and disadvantages of things. Like with horses and men."

She looked over at her inquisitively, while smiling. She could see her guest was hovering on the moment to perhaps share something profound.

"Yeah." Daniela smiled back.

But for some reason she was mute about the incident with the large cat. It was a promise she had made to herself.

The professor sensitively stepped into the silence.