Free The Coming of the Unicorn by Duncan Williamson Page A

used to jump on the bull’s back and the bull would walk with her on his back. No bridle, no saddle, nothing. This was Mary’s pet from the world. And the people in the village always said when she came, “Here comes Mary Rushiecoats and her black bull.” Everyone knew Mary Rushiecoats.
    But life with old Granny became very hard, because she had no money and her hens didn’t lay. Her ducks didn’t lay and the geese didn’t lay. Things began to get worse and worse for old Granny. And she wanted to take care of Mary… It came market day once more. One night Granny called her, “Mary, I want to talk to ye.”
    “What is it, Granny? What’s the trouble?” Now, by this time Mary had grown into a beautiful young woman and the bull had grown into a beautiful young bull.
    She says, “Mary, tomorrow’s market day and I have very little to sell. My geese have not grown. I have no hens to sell. I’ve nothing. And, Mary, I’m very sad to say this to you, but we need money very badly.”
    “Well, Grandmother,” she says, “what can I do?”
    “Mary, I’m sorry, to ask you. But I was wondering if we could sell the bull in the market and get some money for me and you?”
    “Oh, no, Granny, Granny, Granny!” she says. “No way in the world. Suppose we starve to death, Granny, I cannae sell my bull.”
    She said, “Mary, look, he’s getting too big now and I canna see that we need him any more. You’ve had him for—”
    “I’ve had him now, Granny, for two years and he’s my pet and my love. I love him and we have great times together – Granny, I could never part with him in my life!”
    “But, Mary, I’m your grandmother and I’m getting old. I cannae supply food and clothes for ye any more. I had to make you a coat from rushes and we need the money. Wouldn’t it be nice if we sold the bull and we got some money, because someone will take—”
    Mary says, “Someone will take him! They’ll kill him and use him for food. They’ll kill him. No way I’m going to sell my bull!”
    And Grandmother said, “Look, Mary, tomorrow we must sell the bull, there’s no other way!”
    Mary was very upset at this. She just walked upstairs and went to bed, never even said goodnight to her grandmother. Went to bed, but she couldn’t sleep. No way in this world, no way could she sleep. Her grandmother went to bed. And she waited and she waited till she thought her grandmother was asleep. Then, lo and behold, the moon came out, the moon was shining clearly. Mary quietly slipped down the stairs, as quietly as a mouse, and walked out to the shed where she kept the bull. She put her arms round the bull’s neck and it rubbed its head against her.
    She said, “Little friend, Granny wants to sell you for money. But I’ll never sell you, no way, little bull. I’ll never sell you.” And the bull rubbed his head against her. She says, “Me and you, we’re going to run away – where they will never find us – we’ll go into the forest. I’ll take care of you and you can take care of me. We’ll run away into the forest!”
    So, the moon was shining and Grandmother was asleep. Mary quietly opened the shed and then she walked away. The bull went with her. Off they went into the forest and they travelled and they travelled, and they travelled for many, many hours.
    When old Grandmother wakened up in the morning she called for Mary. Mary was gone. She walked down and shecalled round the place, round the shed. But Mary was gone. And she walked into the little goose shed where Mary kept the bull. The bull was gone. Grandmother was upset and she wondered what happened, but Mary and the bull were gone. But the old grandmother worried. She went back in, she made herself a cup of tea and she was upset. She searched. She called and shouted and she tried her best to find them. She looked round all the fields and all the moors, thought they were out for a walk or something. But no way; Mary and the bull were gone. So, now we’ll