Jack Vettriano The Runaways

long as a horse basking in the very middle of the road (the wheeled creatures divided to ride on either side of it, and it took no notice at all).
The sun was high in the sky when they began to slow down.
And in the air, unmistakable, was the salt smell of the sea. The road was rising toward a bluff, and presently they were on, and Will and Lyra were happy to walk among the hay-scented, grass-warm creatures who trundled beside them. One or two had gone on ahead to the top of the rise, and the children, now that they no longer had to concentrate on hanging on, were able to watch how they moved, and admire the grace and power with which they propelled moving no faster than a walk.Lyra, stiff and sore, said, "Can you stop? I want to get off and walk."Her creature felt the tug at the bridle, and whether or not he understood her words, he came to a halt. Will's did, too, and both children climbed down, finding themselves stiff and shaken after the continued jolting and tensing.The creatures wheeled around to talk together, their trunks moving elegantly in time with the sounds they made. After a minute they moved