A Hiding Place

At the back of one of the tall tents, a flap of cloth hung temptingly open. Emily saw her chance. Maybe there'd be clothes inside. And anything was better than crouching out here in the nude, waiting to be caught.

She ducked inside, her heart beating fast. She felt terrified, but also a little... excited? She wasn't sure why. Surely there was nothing for a good, sensible girl like her to get excited about. She just had to find some clothes, get properly dressed and go back to Mr. Jackson to find out what to do next. It was important to be a good employee. That was the only thing she had time to care about right now.

She stood inside the tent, looking around.

She was surrounded by strange machinery. Levers pumped and gears whirred. She wasn't sure what any of it was. A system of screens, made from wood and canvas, stood between her and the other side of the tent, the side facing the customers. She could hear excited voices, bells ringing and strange popping sounds like firecrackers. What on earth could this be? And were there any clothes involved in it?

She took another look. And she saw the horse.

It sat in the middle of the room, mounted on a set of pistons attached to something in the floor. A wooden horse. With a nice leather saddle and stirrups, and a smile painted on its wooden face.

Emily hesitated. She was supposed to be looking for clothes. That was definitely the right thing to do. But, for some reason, she felt strangely drawn to the horse. Strangely... tempted by it.

She'd always wanted a pony of her very own. She stepped closer, placing a hand on its saddle.

And realised, to her surprise, that it was vibrating.